Singles Scene Newsletter 3/6/00 issue 14 sing-@primenet.com In this issue: * The Best Opening Lines * Singles Site of the Week * All Singles Dance Schedule * Arizona Date Ideas * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The best opening lines by Janet L. Jacobsen Whether you're attending a Connections party, other singles event, or are just out "mingling" with the opportunity to meet new people, one of the difficulties when approaching someone interesting is what to say to get the conversation going. Resist the temptation to think that you have to say something terribly clever. Terribly clever almost always sounds terribly phony. Actually, some research has shown that the very best way to get a conversation going is to say "Hello." Let's face it, some people are not going to be interested, no matter what you say. If your best efforts get you a blank stare or little response, smile and move on. Fortunately, some people are going to be interested, no matter what you say. With them, "Hello" will do just fine because they'll "Hello" back and help you get the conversation going. But that leaves the great middle ground of people where it's going to take more than a one word greeting to move the conversation along. 1. Commenting on whatever you have in common is one of the best conversation starters, and that generally has to do with what's going on around you. "The lines can really be slow in this supermarket" or "This place has the best band in town" give the other person an easy opportunity to pick up the conversation. 2. Ask a question. The best questions take more than a "yes" or "no" answer (which is why "Come here often?" does not qualify as a best question). For instance, "I could use some advice on how to word part of my personal ad, if you have a minute" at a Connections party can get the conversation going and help you write a better ad. Or ask a question about something you clearly have in common; "How long have you been in the volleyball league?" is a natural after a match. 3. Tell the person why you noticed them. For instance, "We seem to keep turning up at these events at the same time. I'm Chris." Or, "You're a wonderful dancer. Could you recommend a good place to take lessons?" This method is a little more personal, so it has a slightly higher rejection risk, but most people are flattered to be noticed, if you take a gentle approach. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Singles Site of the Week - Mark's Apology Note Generator. Need to send off an apology but unsure just what to say? Let this handy web page write the note for you! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALL SINGLES DANCE SHEDULE: MARCH Fri. 10 Camelback Inn, 5402 E. Lincoln Dr. Fri. 17 Mountain Shadows, 5641 E. Lincoln Dr. (50 cents off if you wear green for St. Patrick's Day) Fri. 24 Sheraton Crescent Hotel, 2620 W. Dunlap, Phoenix Ballroom Fri. 31 Scottsdale Radisson, 7171 N. Scottsdale Rd. Call 480-949-8076 (press 1) for more info or see *********************** DATE IDEAS Tues., March 7: Don't be "typical." Make a breakfast date at a funky neighborhood diner. Wed., March 8: Rent a video, or check some out from the library; pop popcorn. Thurs., March 9: Free night every Thurs. at Phoenix Art Museum (donations appreciated). Til 9 p.m. 1625 N. Central. 602-257-1880. Phoenix Irish Step Dancers program, free, Glendale Public Library Auditorium, 5959 W. Brown St., Glendale, 7 p.m. 623-930-3530. Fri./Sun., March 10-12: 12th Annual Ostrich Festival, Chandler. Parade, carnival, arts & crafts, entertainment, ostrich races. 623-842-8434. Scottsdale Arts Festival, Civic Center Mall. 10-6 Fri. & Sat., 10-5 Sun. $5 adm. 480-994-ARTS. Sat., March 11: 17th annual St. Patrick's Day parade & Irish Family Faire, Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix. 10 am - 6:30 pm. 602-674-8844. Sun., March 12: Free admission Sundays at the Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington, Phoenix, on southwest archeology and culture. 1-4:45 Sunday. 602-495-0901. Mon., March 13: Walk around at Rawhide, 23023 N. Scottsdale Rd., til 10 pm. Tues., March 14: See "Fantasia 2000" at the IMAX at Arizona Mills, northwest corner, Baseline and Priest, Tempe. Wed., March 15: Fun skate for adults, (need your own skates or rent them), 7 p.m., El Dorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Rd., Scottsdale. Winds thru city. Free. 480-942-4156. Thurs., March 16: Antique Walk, downtown Glendale. 623-435-0556. Pack a picnic to eat in the downtown park. Thurs./Sun., March 16-19: 10th annual U.S. West National Festival of the West, Rawhide, Scottsdale. 4 stages of western entertainment, poetry and culture. 200+ exhibitors. Demonstrations, rodeos. 602-996-4387. Fri., March 17: St. Patrick's Day! If you like rowdy crowds, visit an Irish pub. Sat., March 18: 10th annual O'Odham Day Celebration, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ajo. 10 am - 4 pm. Exhibits, demonstrations, crafts. Free. 520-387-6849. Sun., March 19 (begins 17th): WorldPort 2000, Glendale's Celebration of the Nations, live music, dance, ethnic food, bazaar. 10 am to 5 pm. Free. 623-930-2299. Mon., March 20: The moon is full; take a walk at the Desert Botanical Garden, Encanto Park, or the Indian Bend Wash in Scottsdale. Tues., March 21: Visit a bookstore for coffee and dessert, browse the books together. Wed., March 22: "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," free lecture in Turquoise Room, Scottsdale Community College, 11 a.m. 480-423-6518. Wed.-Sun., March 22-26: Pinal County Fair, fairgrounds, Casa Grande. 9 am - 10 pm. 520-723-5242. Thurs., March 23: Standup comedy night every Thurs., 8 p.m., Star Theatre, 7111 E. McDowell, Scottsdale. $4, reservations required. 480-423-0120. Fri., March 24: Visit the classic car gathering, 5-9 p.m., 35th Ave. & Bethany Home, Phoenix. Have dinner at a diner. Go swing dancing. Sat., March 25: Hogs in Heat, all-you-can-eat barbecue & dance, Rock Springs Cafe, Black Canyon City (exit 242, I-17 n. of Phx.). 4 pm-? 623-374-5794. Sat./Sun., March 25-26: 11th annual Phoenix Folk Traditional Musical Festival, 200 artists performing a variety of music. 10 am - 5 pm, Encanto Park Clubhouse, 2605 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix. 602-261-8993. Mon., March 27: Take a walk at Tempe Town Lake park, south side of lake off Mill Ave. Have dinner on downtown Tempe. Tues., March 28: Poetry in the Park, Encanto Park Clubhouse, Phoenix. 7:30-10 p.m. 602-261-8993. Wed., March 29: 6-9 p.m., Classic car gathering, Wigwam Outlet Stores, I-10 & Litchfield Rd., Goodyear. Thurs., March 30: International Folk Dancing every Thurs., Encanto Park Clubhouse, Phoenix. 7:30-10 p.m. 602-261-8993. Tucson women's improvisational theatre, free, Glendale Public Library Auditorium, 5959 W. Brown St., Glendale, 7 p.m. 623-930-3530. Fri., March 31: Poetry reading, Changing Hands Bookstore, McClintock & Guadalupe (sw corner), Tempe. 7-9 pm. Fri./Sun., March 31-Apr. 2: Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts, downtown Tempe. Largest arts & entertainment festival in the Southwest. Free. 480-967-4877. Sat., April 1: Make a Difference. Be volunteers together. 7th annual day starts with registration from 8 to 9:30 am at the Phoenix Civic Plaza, then volunteer teams depart to over 90 project sites across the Valley. 602-973-2212. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PLEASE FORWARD THIS ISSUE ---------------------------------------------- If you haven't already done so, please forward this issue to one or two of your friends or business associates. Thanks so much! 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