Here's the Male, it never fails...

I'll start by saying I had the most incredible date last night. It was literally the best date that I've had in months. I'll get to the details at the end, but of course, I have other things to cover before the juicy date details.

Is there any question...

This week I was able to connect with an old friend from college. It was great to reminisce, share old stories. It was also great to be reminded that one time, while spending time in London, I tried talking to the pigeons. And a picture exists. So in case, after several blog posts and countless hours of questioning "Why is Joe Fox still single?", I present Reason #489. This photo.

Everyone who has ever been in the single-bar-scene knows the scariness of "the approach". You are standing there, you see him from across the bar, you think he's adorable in his purple shirt, glasses and incredible smile. But aside from the superficial, you know nothing else about him. Is that guy next to him his boyfriend? Is he just visiting? Does he have any interest in you? If I approach him, what will happen....

I have a problem with "the approach". There isn't enough liquid courage or wing-man-coverage that can help me approach this hottie from across the bar. That's half the appeal of online-dating. You don't have to deal with the rejection, you don't have to question his interest (or, in some cases, his sexuality), and you don't have to create some 'line' to get his attention (A personal favorite of mine: Were you a nursing major? Because you've been nursing your drink for 15 minutes, and I've been waiting to buy you a drink, but it's damn near impossible with all of that nursing you've been doing) (subtle, I know).

Helllllllllllo nurse!

The first step in the approach is analyzing the situation. There could be a variety of situations, but each one needs its own unique approach. Is it 3am at Berlin? The approach is easy. Just have a pulse. Is it 9pm at SideTrack? The approach becomes more complicated. The good news and bad news about SideTrack is that SideTrack allows you to have conversation (GASP) with someone. An actual, audible, conversation. So in analyzing the situation, know that it's so much more than your cute shirt and smile. Is is Sunday night at Roscoes? The approach is called Male Call.

Male Call is a gay phenomenon. You have to see it to believe it, but every Sunday night, gays in Chicago flock to Roscoes and throw a number on their shirt. You cruise the bar, check out other guys 'numbers' (Shout out to Grandma!), and then write a message to a specific number. "Number 38, you are lookin great. Love, Number 140." A drag queen then takes your note, posts it to a board at the front of the bar, and voila. Love at first sight. This method of dating combines the online with the actual. It allows you to have multiple "Clarinet Boy" experiences without actually having to have a conversation with them if you don't want to.  It allows you to remain anonymous while still being able to put yourself out there. Tonight, I head to Male Call. Tonight, I participate in the weekly mating ritual of Male Call, all for the sake of my loyal readers.

"The approach" has many layers, and I'll work to cover all of the intricate levels in the coming weeks, as I struggle with the approach myself.

I was thinking about you all night, too.

So about that date. This juicy, amazing, incredible, date. I was celebrating a good friend's birthday last night, and we had tapas. And me, being the lush that I am, ordered #67, The Bacon Wrapped Dates. They were SO good. For a taste of my date last night, I provide this very-PG-video showing you how you, too, can have an awesome date every Saturday night. (And a special thanks for MySpace for providing that video. Myspace: Keeping Justin Timberlake in business while he attempts to start a music career again)

Lesson learned: Don't get too excited about the dates, because you might get burned in the end. Especially if they are right out of the oven, they are a little too hot to handle. But hey, #67 (Bacon wrapped Date), you had me thinking about you all night.

Love,

Joe Fox