Archive for August, 2011

It’s Bank Holiday Weekend! What Are You Doing?

Friday, August 26th, 2011

This is the best weekend of the Summer. Though traditionally thought of as the unofficial goodbye to our favourite not so sunny season, there’s no reason to be down about it. Here’s some places you should be going to!

Friday
Barts "somewhere on Sloane Avenue"

It’s a secret not many know about but it holds the key to your Friday night. No one really knows where Barts is, and they don’t like to give too much away. There’s just one clue…it’s somewhere on Sloane Avenue in a 1930’s apartment block. Its style is appropriately “speakeasy”, giving you a taste of prohibition times gone by. Eclectic interior, tea cocktails and a fancy dress box, you shall not be bored here. Small yet intimate and devilishly exclusive. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the place that got London’s cool kids buzzing.

Saturday
SW4, Clapham Common

If you missed Glastonbury, V Festival and Lovebox, there’s one more celebration of music that the whole city is heading to. If the camping always put you off, fear not SW4 is a day festival. Electronic music is the name of the game on Clapham Common this weekend where Pete Tong, Ibiza favourite James Zabiela and Pendulum will headline on Sunday with their final live appearance until 2013.

Sunday
Notting Hill Carnival

Europe’s biggest carnival is here again at Notting Hill, the place made famous by Hugh Grant. Steel drum bands, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, 40 sound systems, colourful carnival performers – this is one lively day. You will forget the grey skies of London and be instantly transported to the hot Caribbean. This is helped by the fact that it promises to be the only sunny day of the weekend!

Monday
The Draper's Arms, a neighbourhood pub

Bank Holiday Monday is best spent recovering…in a pub. The Draper’s Arms in Islington will soothe that hangover with their delightful gastropub style menu. With all the comfort of a neighbourhood bar, The Draper’s Arms attracts from all over the city. The menu changes daily and according to what’s in season but if you’re lucky enough to see the Langoustines, aioli & salad and Braised Ox Cheek on the menu, you are in for a feast. If Sunday’s weather lasts, drink the rest of the day away in their cosy garden.

Happy weekend all!

Want to know what else is on offer this weekend? Visit our Places Page and check out our members’ favourites!

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Rule Brittania!

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Recently we interviewed a fellow dating blogger on UK Vs. US dating. I returned the favour by trying to answer the question on the mind of every American girl, how to date a British boy. In case you missed it, here it is. Was I off here or bang on the money? You decide.

We <3 English Men

1.Most British men enjoy three things 1. Sport (particularly football or rubgy) 2.  Beer 3. Drinking beer whilst talking about sport. If you want to date one, either be prepared to talk about it (brownie points for this) or understand that if you go out with his friends this is what they will talk about. If neither of these options appeal, you might have to make concessions in your dating schedule.

2. British men love a dry, witty sense of humour. Don’t be put off if they use this on you. Their straight talking “taking the mick” style of conversation is what is known as “banter”. If you can enjoy good “banter” with them, you’re already winning them over.

3. They love it when you have your own thing going on. British men like their women independent and able to challenge them every now and again. That said, avoid being too militant. Don’t shy away from vulnerability. Remember, British men are descended from a culture that bore the knights of the round table. Allowing yourself to be the damsel in distress appeals to their sense of chivalry.

4. Don’t forget your p’s and q’s! British men are big on manners. Someone who is polite, measured and remembers to say please and thank you is a princess worthy of their heart.

5. British men aren’t renowned for their immaculate style like the Italians are but they really do appreciate a sense of style even if they don’t know what label or designer it’s from. A woman who knows how to dress will score highly.

August Bank Holiday is the weekend of the Summer. If you don’t have plans, fear not! Make some now, it’s not too late.

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We Love Reverse Endorsement

Friday, August 19th, 2011

One of the most amusing news stories to come out this week amidst the riots havoc and the world economy going to hell, has been Abercrombie & Fitch offering Jersey Shore’s Michael“The Situation” Sorrentino cash in exchange to NOT wear their brand. Amazing.

Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino

Not your trad Abercrombie boy...

Apparently the ab-obsessed neanderthal from MTV’s reality show was seen to be “cheapening” the clean-cut preppy image of Abercrombie & Fitch. I wonder if luxury fashion brands Marni and Louboutin would feel the same about their fame hungry WAG patrons?? Anyway, the idea that The Situation has been approached to not wear certain clothes is brilliant. Imagine if this could be applied to all crap celebrities. Big Brother rejects, X Factor fall-outs and scripted reality show losers would be banished from looking good and banned from dressing too well for their own good.

Imagine if the people you date were also not permitted to look good whilst committing foul play. You could even write to the brands and explain why a particular person is damaging their image in the marketplace.

Dear Mr. Dolce & Mr. Gabbana,

I went on a date with a boy who looked amazing in your classic blazer but turned out to be an absolute ratbag with poor etiquette. I don’t think he epitomises the D&G customer and is doing significant damage to your brand in his representation of it.

Thank you.

I mean, it’s false advertising surely? To look amazing and behave so badly… We should all band together and wholeheartedly support “reverse endorsement”. The old saying “never judge a book by its cover” has never rung so true. It’s always a plus when someone looks great in what they wear but if they prove truly awful to date, you would have rather they has shown up [insert ridiculous outfit here] and you could have cut your losses there and then. Poor Sitch shall have to find another label to embarrass and ruin!

The weekend is here and the sun is shining. No excuses for staying in, make some plans for tonight now!

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Dating Across The Atlantic

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Do our American friends do anything differently to us? How do they feel about online dating vs. offline? What’s really going on in the US dating capital, New York? Forget Carrie, we have a real authority on dating in the big apple. A fellow blogger and dating enthusiast, Chiara Atik from HowAboutWe has helped me answer some questions and offer tips if you ever find yourself in NY and on a date!

NYC Dating, how does it compare?

Sex and the City? Daters in NYC have a relaxed attitude to online dating

I wondered how dating in New York compared with over here. It seems like they have a relaxed dating scene in the States and they are very proactive about arranging dates.

Couples will date casually for a long time before going exclusive. This means they’ll see each other one or two times a week, max, and this can go on for months before making a serious commitment.

I love this attitude towards dating. It’s a great way to break up the week and experience new things. You don’t have to feel pressurized to go exclusive, try what you like and then decide if you want to take things further.

Attitudes to online dating have dramatically changed over the last couple of years with online dating becoming the efficient tool for meeting people in our all too busy lives, of course it’s fun too.

Cooler sites aimed at younger audiences such as OkCupid and HowAboutWe have done a lot to make online dating a resource, and not a last resort.

Happy to count ClickTonight in that basket! The idea of actively engaging with people online to go and arrange to meet in person, is what it’s all about. I asked Chiara about the most popular dates in NYC as we are always trying to provide great date suggestions for our members. She had these ideas:

Alcohol-based dates are obviously immensely popular: brewery tours, cocktail dates, etc. We’ve also found that activity dates with some sort of competitive edge are really well-received: mini golf, beer pong (does that exist in the UK?), darts, etc. Outdoor movies are popular in the summer time, and any sort of unusual food date is a perennial favorite (for example, how about we try different types of cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, etc.).

Unfortunately beer pong is relatively unheard of here despite my attempts to introduce to friends but you never know, it might catch on. Other than that, I’m all for the above and will find out where these things can be done in the UK. Before I let Chiara go, I had to ask her about some of her most memorable dating experiences, the good/the bad/ the strange…

Funniest/most memorable dating experience? Hmmm. I went on a date once where the guy ended up talking to another drunk guy at the bar, and I ended up leaving with the bartender’s number. That was unusual! I’ve been lucky to have never been on a truly awful date…most have mine have been sweet! One guy knew I liked puppies so he organized a walk taking me to different pet stores in the city to look at the dogs.

And finally, what can we learn from our US dating counterparts?

New York daters are in general pretty relaxed and up for anything: we know that even a bad date can’t last forever, and at the very worst it will make for a great story to tell our friends later. So in general, we’re pretty open to putting ourselves out there and dating and meeting lots of new people in the hopes of eventually finding the right one!

Great advice and parting thoughts. Thanks Chiara! Get me on the next flight.

We would love to hear your thoughts on dating in the UK and ideas for dates. Add to our Places page and let our other members know your favourite spots.

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Snog, Marry, Avoid?

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

There is a lot of reality TV at the moment, well at least a sort of “curated” reality in that not much is really “real” but we are still loving it. Jersey Shore, The Hills and their UK derivatives, The Only Way is Essex, Geordie Shore , Made in Chelsea et al have seemingly filled that hole which Big Brother left. Only these shows are better. The people are trashier/ better looking and the careful editing means they can churn episode after episode of these “docu-soaps” with built in climaxes, love dramas and sympathetic background music. The result culminates in the ultimate guilty pleasure.

We all have our favourites, whether it’s Mark from TOWIE, Caggie from Made in Chelsea or even Snookie. The real question is, who would you snog, marry or avoid?

Girls

Agne Made in Chelsea
Agne,
Kiss! She might not be totally “switched on” but she is easily the fittest girl on Made in Chelsea.

Caggie Dunlop Made in Chelsea
Caggie
Marry! After a Ross/Rachel style romance with co-star Spencer, it’s hard not to adore her.

Amy Childs TOWIE
Amy
Once might do it, but Amy is one to avoid.

Boys

Joey Essex, TOWIE
Joey
His Ferris Bueller-style boyish looks mean that he would should be kissed and more. Lovely!

Francis-Boulle Made in Chelsea
Francis
Worried you’ve missed out on Prince William? Francis talks the talk and can ride a polo pony. An heir to a diamond mine, you would have a ring to rival Kate’s. Marry!

Mark Wright TOWIE
Mark
Love rat Mark just can’t seem to behave himself. Lauren lets him out of her sight for 5 minutes and he’s misbehaving. What happens in Marbella, stays in Marbella.

It’s Saturday night as Whigfield once said, need plans? Get some with our gorgeous click members tonight.

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Can I See The Wine List Please?

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

On a date this is the probably one of the first questions you will encounter. It’s not directed towards you, you might not be the one asking. Traditionally speaking it’s up to the boys to pop the question and the pressure is on to make the right decision. After all, what you drink says a lot about you and even more so when you’re choosing for someone else to enjoy.

Can I see the wine list please?

Leave it to the experts

A deep wine list is the mark of a good restaurant. A good selection is key so when you’re choosing the venue for your next date, maybe go online and check out their wine list first. If you’re really proactive, maybe you’ll even research the different wines on the list. No need though, there are a few simple guidelines to go by. In most situations it’s probably best to choose a good red wine. It speaks volumes that you pick out a classy wine to go with that sophisticated main you’ve suggested your date try (I’ve always like men to coach me on the best things to try). If you choose rosé, be wary of coming across a little feminine. If you know your way around rosé wines though, you’ll impress. Just avoid the sweeter types like Zinfandel.

So some good rules to stick to:

1. Do not order the house wine – this is a cardinal rule. Don’t do it. It shows your date that you care nothing for their dining experience by choosing a wine that is the norm to serve.

2. Do not order (or at least obviously) the cheapest wine on the menu – this doesn’t really need an explanation. No one likes a cheap skate.

3. Do not order the most expensive wine – I’ve often had to explain this to people when I’ve said that it’s a bad thing to take this road. Unless you’re taking out a WAG wannabe, for similar reasons why you don’t order the cheapest wine, don’t order the most expensive. No one likes a show off!

4. Do not order the pseudo wine lover’s choice – this being the wine you think you should order to try to impress but there is a chance neither of you will actually enjoy. In my opinion, this is the worst thing to do. The aforementioned wine ordering sins are awful but understandable whereas you’ll find it very hard to come back from this one. Choose the exotic wine with a difficult to pronounce name and then swill it round in the glass, inhaling and sighing when the waiter has poured it at your peril! Really guys, you make your choices from the wine list. The principal reason for testing is to ensure it hasn’t been corked or spoilt, NOT if you can taste “the aromatic woody notes”. The pseudo wine lover’s choice will change from time to time but is easy to spot as it seems to develop in trends among guys. I swear at one point all the boys were ordering Malbec and it was all a little too transparent.

Think about what you’ll order to eat. Ask your date what she’s thinking of ordering so that you can pick out a good wine. You’ll suss out from their choices whether to go for something full bodied or light. The seasons also help you out a little here. Cold night, think heavy and warm. Warm Summer’s evening (even though we haven’t seen too many of them), think light and refreshing. It’s also worth asking them their preferences and if they say red, you say “I know the perfect one”.

Looking for somewhere to wine and dine your date? Go to our Places page and check out Click member recommendations. They know best…


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Can We Be Just Friends?

Friday, August 5th, 2011

I truly believe that men and women can be friends and nothing more. My Dad says I’m naive. I rebuff his claims and explain that I have lots of male friends and they are just friends. (Though admittedly I have crossed a few boundaries). He responds by explaining that if men and women are good friends it’s usually because for some reason or other, they can’t be together. Maybe they’re with someone else, in another country or just emotionally unavailable. Or, one of the two wants to be more than friends and the other is blissfully unaware.

We all love or maybe just know about the tv series FRIENDS. No tight knit group of peers was ever so convoluted. They flirted, hooked up, went back “there” and some of them even decided to breed. Incidentally, a very good friend of mine from the US of A passed this little beauty on to me and I decided to reblog it for you.

This chart tells the stories and traces the connections between the characters from the ever revolving E4 sitcom. I even went one step further and made a chart for my own friendships/relationships between me and my friends. I have to say it was a little scary how insular we used to be with our relationships. How times have changed and thank god for online dating! Looking at my chart now, I think my Dad actually had a point but I’m not divulging the details of that one. Have a look at this one and enjoy. Happy Friday all!

Need some plans for the weekend? You only have to click tonight…

Friends Chart

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The (Four Day) Hangover

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

So last Thursday we partied like it was 1999, only it was 2011 and Prince wasn’t there. I think he would have liked to have been though. We celebrated our 4th birthday with our beloved members and toasted to another great year of People, Parties and Places.

Click Tonight 4th Birthday

Smile, you're on Polaroid!

Throwing parties, soirees and bashes over the years has been extremely fun work indeed but we can safely say that this was one party we won’t be forgetting in a hurry. It was truly stand-out. In fact, this blog is only being written now as it’s taken a weekend of rest and a few Bloody Mary’s just to get me through the aftermath.

It all began with cocktails…then we had shots at the bar. Then the Belvedere. Next came the dancing and there was lot’s of it. We even threw in a few comedy moves for good measure. The entertainment was great as always. I adored the body-painted beauties who were taking Polaroid snaps of us and guests (I have three of them on my mirror) and the music was a great mix of classic floor-fillers and new favourites.

Cinderellas stayed at home as midnight passed us by and we were still going into the small hours. A limbo pole made a debut Click Party appearance. But why am I telling you when I can show you?? Have a look at our video slideshow and see for yourself! Thanks to all who came and for those who missed out (and you really did), make sure you come along next time.

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