08/30/07

The Breakup

In my estimation, I've been dating—and breaking up—since I was 10. My first boyfriend was in the fifth grade, and I'm pretty sure he broke up with me by asking his friends to tell my friends that he didn't want to do the Walk with Israel (a charity walk sponsored by the Jewish United Fund) with me. In my world, that was pretty harsh. I give that breakup a 10 on the rude scale.

In junior high, things became a little more complicated. I fell in love with my seventh grade boyfriend, the cutest boy in school. We dated for two years—until I found out I wasn't the only...

Posted at 01:00 PM in Relationships | Permalink | Comments (6)

08/27/07

Celebrity Beat: Kanye West

The Kanye West Foundation raised more than $500,000 for education-related programs Friday, through West's concert that night at the House of Blues and the foundation’s inaugural benefit earlier in the evening at the Crimson Lounge in the Hotel Sax Chicago. Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson emceed the reception, and celeb attendees included Mos Def, who later performed with West at HOB; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade; and comedian-actor David Alan Grier...

Posted at 05:37 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (3)

08/23/07

If Not Now, When?

Ah, new relationships. As exciting as they are, when you're in your 30s, there's more pressure to make responsible decisions. You're not young enough to get away with certain behaviors (so long, flings) that would fly in your 20s; every move you make could come back to haunt you—and sooner rather than later. This new person in your life could be the one you've been waiting for all along, so you don't want to mess things up...

Posted at 03:11 PM in Relationships | Permalink | Comments (5)

08/20/07

Celebrity Beat: Carmen Electra

Carmen Electra made a local stop Saturday to host RedHot Midnight Kiss, an event benefiting the West Side homeless shelter Primo Center for Women and Children, at the just-opened club Bon V (1100 W. Randolph St.).

It was a commendable cause—the 27-year-old Primo keeps mothers and children together, and helps its clients locate permanent housing—but it was the night’s sexy host who catapulted attendance...

Posted at 05:23 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (4)

08/16/07

I Love the Seventies

Love them or hate them, concept bars—watering holes that serve up a gimmick with that shot and a beer—just keep on coming. The latest example, and my new favorite, is the Reagle Beagle, located on Grand just off the Mag Mile. If the bar’s name doesn't resonate with you, then you were either born after the mid-eighties or never had an affinity for Chrissy Snow's ample assets (hello, Three’s Company). Who hasn't wanted to hang out at the Beagle with Jack Tripper and his rotating cast of sexy co-stars?

Posted at 03:44 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (4)

08/13/07

Dog Spotting

I grew up with dogs: a white German Shepherd named Gabby, a Norfolk Terrier named Jake, and, later on, another German Shepherd named Woody (the latter two were named for Jake and Elwood of The Blues Brothers). These days, my parents have Harry, the Yellow Lab, and Oliver, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel—but I'm practically the only one among my group of friends who doesn't have a dog; my hardly-at-home schedule just doesn't allow it...

Posted at 05:06 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (11)

08/09/07

Not Tonight, Honey

According to a recent study on human sexual behavior by two University of Texas profs, there are 237 reasons why humans—specifically, college-aged humans—have sex (No. 21: “It feels good”). OK, so now we know the factors driving us into the bedroom...

Posted at 04:09 PM in Relationships | Permalink | Comments (2)

08/07/07

L.A. Times

This past weekend, I was sent to L.A. to cover the Midsummer Night's Dream party at the Playboy Mansion for my full-time gig, playboy.com. More on that—and a fashion trend coming soon to Chicago—shortly, but a weekend in L.A. is nothing if not star-studded, so first, a Celebrity Spotting update, West Coast edition...

Posted at 05:29 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (6)

08/02/07

The Exclusivity Clause

I think I'm dating someone. Yes, wait, I know I am... at least, I'm pretty sure. But I don't know what that means exactly. Here's where the confusion comes into play. I've "dated" guys and then I've really dated guys. I've hung out, hooked up, had breakfast, talked on the phone, texted, IM'd, met for drinks, had dinner even—but these weren't guys I'd consider boyfriends. I knew that the nights they weren't with me, they were probably with someone else, or would be if the opportunity presented itself...

Posted at 04:21 PM in Relationships | Permalink | Comments (3)