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Loving the Ladies

Submitted by admin on August 20, 2010 - 9:20 am

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Bonjour!

Every once in a while I read or hear something so beautiful that I get all teary eyed and emotional. This seems to be happening a lot lately as I’m five weeks into the Duchess Summer Loving course and I’m hearing some really beautiful things from the women in class. Tales of first dates that have turned into third, then fourth, then more. Tales of long term relationships turned into the sweetest and most loving engagement stories. Tales of happily married women now moving on to the next part of their journey with their partners, the starting of their own families.

And so even as I write this I get all sobby and emotional because I feel so grateful to be standing where I am today. Yes I wanted to be standing here with a partner by now. But now that I’m here, while the partner is still something I will openly welcome when he comes, he seems less important to making a complete and blissful life at the moment. Not because he doesn’t matter, but because I know that our meeting and coming together will happen effortlessly when it’s started and until then, look at all the love.

It’s easy when we get our hearts broken to say, “fuck love. I’m never getting hurt again.” But while some people may have thought my foolish to open up to it so totally again with someone, I am actually really grateful I did because I know now what it feels like and how to do it. I have loved someone totally and fully and bigger then I ever thought possible. And perhaps the point of that love was just to learn that I could do it, and lose it and still survive so that when I get another shot at it, I won’t be scared. I’ll actually be able to go even bigger because I know now what I’m capable of and that there is no reason to fear losing it, because “it”, love, is the reason. It’s the point.

I understand that love doesn’t pay the electricity bill. I know it doesn’t purchase the Porsche or solve the mortgage situation. It doesn’t do much of anything really, in that respect. But it does make life fun. It creates the moments that we carry in our hearts for life. It fills up the supply of courage, strength and support that we need in reserves to be bold and live fully. It’s the reason we’re all here. And I think it’s the reason we all long for the perfect partner, even those of us who have been so hurt as some point that we say we don’t care or don’t need it. Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone. I don’t know one single person who doesn’t need to be loved and cherished. It’s the best feeling in the world.

And as I’ve secretly hoped and loudly preached from my Duchess pulpit these past few years, there are good, nay, great men everywhere who want to join in this kind of union just as much as women. And to back me up is this beautiful article from the Huffington Post, written by a bold man explains, all men do dream of falling in love, just like women.

Whether you’re a man or woman, you should read it. There is something to be learned here, even if it’s just honesty.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arjuna-ardagh/goddess-worship_b_660896.html?ref=fb&src=sp

I’m in Love!!

Submitted by admin on July 27, 2010 - 11:22 am

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Lately I just keep meeting the best people! They seem to all be fabulous men in NY and England (why LA – why?!) but distance and longing aside, here’s a great little preview of one of the “Lucky in Love” and Date Like a Duchess tips from your truly on TJ Kelly’s “Non Society” fun and fabulous site. I love him! He’s all things fabulous!!

http://bit.ly/bUGmvX

100 Places to Meet Great Single Men in L.A. (Part I)

Submitted by admin on July 14, 2010 - 8:08 am

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Bonjour!

The number one complaint I hear from single women who want to date is, “Where do I meet great single men?”

This single question in all its forms has accounted for probably eighty percent of what I’m asked by clients now that I live in LA and the answer is ultimately simple. The best way to meet great new guys is to get ‘out there.’ You aren’t going to meet a soul sitting in your apartment bitching that there are no great men because the five guys in your office are married or gay. You have to take accountability for your life and if you WANT TO MEET A GREAT SINGLE MAN, get out of the house and start meeting LOTS of guys. Dating is ultimately a numbers game. Sure, every once in a while you hit a home run in the first swing, but most times you either hit strikes or you only make it to first or second before the game ends and you’re sent back to the dugout. But don’t use that as an excuse and quit playing. Enjoy the game! Enjoy the process. Get back up to the plate and date again.

So in an effort to get you motivated and have your feet hitting the pavement (or I guess being LA, the pedal) I have created a list of 100 Places to Meet Great Single Men in LA. Now you can no longer say online dating is the only option for meeting anyone in this city. If you go through all 100 places on my list and follow my key tips below and you still don’t meet anyone, well, then you can call me personally and bitch. Seriously. The office line is on my website.

A few key things to keep in mind; a) getting out of the house is step one, however if you’re out and you see someone cute, you have to talk to them! Don’t always count on the guy to come to you first! Initiate, take control, be accountable, and say hi! b) If you’re in a big group of women a guy is never going to come talk to you. So it’s up to you to either break away from the girls and say hi or start going out alone – you’re just simply more approachable that way. It’s hard enough striking up a conversation with a girl – if you’re a guy and you have to strike up a conversation with five women, forget it! Put yourself in his shoes for a moment! Plus if you’re really as hot and smart as you think you are (and as I totally think you are!) you’re probably a little intimidating to walk up to – make it easier by, c) smiling and making eye contact. Not in an “I’d like to stalk you and cook your daughter’s bunny” kind of eye contact way but a nice flirt with the eyes for a few seconds and then a smile and then break contact. BAM! Done. Then, d) don’t underestimate the importance of talking with people in incredibly ordinary situations. I’m a HUGE advocate of lines. Love them! Lines at the bank, the grocery store, the security check-in at LAX, movies, you name it, if it has a line – you need to work it. Be aware and start looking around when you’re in totally ordinary situations where you would normally be whining and observe! Is there an attractive guy in line anywhere near you? If the answer is YES then why aren’t you talking to him? Comment on the line itself (obvious) or ask him about free checking, or his favorite bottle of twist-top red wine from Trader Joes or the reviews he’s heard about the film you’re both waiting to see. Capitalize on the in-your-face, totally obvious places you’re missing every day. I met two of my absolute greatest relationships in lines (one in a lift line skiing and the other in a coat-check line) and it wasn’t until I put this list together that I even realized the brilliance of this every-day reoccurring meeting place! And finally, e) this list is obviously exclusive to LA, but if you live in any large city you could easily find ideas and inspiration for similar activities in your own home town.

The trick is to be having a great time and to be out amongst the living!

So without further adieu, here is Part One in the Duchess Guide’s Two-Part List of:

100 Places to Meet Great Single Men in Los Angeles!

1. Dimples Karaoke Bar in Burbank – sing karaoke and maybe your way into a new date’s heart.
2. Mel’s Drive-In on Sunset – come in after midnight and who knows who you might meet.
3. Bouchon Bistro – enjoy a summer cocktail in the open porch seating of the more casual downstairs bar and mingle with the fabulous men.
4. Catch a show at The Mint on a less crowded weeknight and strike up a conversation at the bar over great music.
5. Pinks – there’s a reason Bruce proposed to Demi in this line – it’s both legendary and horrific! Scope out your placement amongst some cute men and you’ll have hours to strike up a conversation (plus you’ll survive a true experience together!)
6. If you’ve got a pooch – try hitting some of the great dog parks in Los Angeles, like the unofficial one under the Hollywood sign!
7. Catch one of the free Public Star Parties at the Griffith Observatory and maybe you’ll rub elbows with a cute braniac while sharing a telescope.
8. Enjoy breakfast between ten and noon at Joan’s on Third for the best chance of a great asparagus crème fresche omelets and possible a table share option with a handsome single dinner (seating is limited and if there’s a spare chair to share . . .)
9. Enjoy a special exhibit at LACMA during a peak time solo and see if you can get art appreciation advice from a wandering single.
10. Reserve a strategic seat in between two groups at the ArcLight Hollywood and hope your luck of the draw pays off with an attractive neighbor to chat with before (or after!) the film.
11. Giddy-up with a sunset ride to a local Mexican restaurant with Griffith Park Horse Rentals. You may meet a buckaroo to get along with little doggie!
12. Attend a show at the Hollywood Bowl and share your packed picnic with the cute guys in front of your seats.
13. Score some great seats and hope for some sweet music of your own at a performance of the LA Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
14. Join a pick-up co-ed Volleyball game on Hermosa Beach and make some new friends.
15. Get your groove on to some local up and coming musicians at the Troubadour and see if you can find someone to dance the night away with for good.
16. Get a latte at Urth Café and share a table with someone new or maybe strike up a conversation or debate about the Dolce Cinnamon vs. the Green Tea.
17. Give surfing a try through a local surf shop and ask to be put in a co-ed group lesson (or at least request a male instructor).
18. Take a language class at the Beverly Hills Lingual Institute and you may learn the language of love too.
19. If you like sports then go to one of the local major sports events like the Dodgers or the Lakers (depending the season) and ask for tips on following the game.
20. Hit up the World Cafe on Main Street in Santa Monica, where the hunks and the coffee are both out globally complex and interesting.
21. Really love coffee? Well then you’ll really love the cool coffee shop with really cool people on Abbot Kinney in Venice called Intelligensia. People watching and fresh brewed beans; an intelligent combination you may end up enjoying with another.
22. Lots of men and women love their dogs – what a great way to strike up a conversation and get your best four-legged friend out of the house! Try the dog beach in Huntington Beach and find a Pongo and Perdita moment of your own.
23. Visit the driving range at any of your local public golf courses and you’ll surely be improving your game! Both on and off the green.
24. Try the public courts at Westwood Park and see if the guys playing before or after your match would be interested in playing doubles.
25. One of LA’s greats is the Loews hotel – grab some cocktails solo or with a girlfriend and chat up some of the other fun guys in the crowd.
26. The pool at the Roosevelt is a sure way to chat and rub elbows with the fabulous and fun young Hollywood types. Just beware! I’ve seen everything from amazing little polka dot bikinis to a fur vest paired with a Speedo poolside – you’ll see it all!
27. Attend the LA art walk and chat it up with other aspiring artists.
28. Stroll the Grounds of the Getty on a Saturday afternoon and chat up strangers in the tram on the way up to the museum from the parking lot.
29. Enjoy a massive Peanut Bubba French Toast plate from the Griddle on a Sunday morning and see if someone wants to split the portions with you! (and if that doesn’t work the waiters are hot too!)
30. Join a local hiking group and maybe meet someone new, active and fun (for great local hikes try following @Hike_LA on Twitter!)
31. Attend one of LA’s numerous and amazing film festivals! Everything from the Polish Film Festival to the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival – options abound! So get some tickets and mingle over cinematic discussions! Try the upcoming August ones Feel Good Film Fest & Downtown Film Festival.
32. Grab a scotch at the overly plaid Seven Grand bar downtown and see if you don’t get lucky with some hunter/gatherer type.
33. Go Cruella DaVil style at Nic’s Martini Bar where you get the cheetah print coat gratis for a venture into the deep freeze vodka tasting room and more varieties of Martini’s then you can shake an aluminum mixer at.
34. Attend a popular Sunday spiritual service at the Agape Center and meet like-minded men looking for a great message in the morning.
35. Volunteer for a local charity like Food Not Bombs or the local Habitat for Humanity and do good while meeting good-natured souls.
36. Get your grub on by trying out one of the numerous Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles locations and perhaps shake slightly greasy hands with a fellow appreciator of comfort food.
37. Learn to cook and maybe your kitchen partner will be a more permanent fixture with classes at Hipcooks (with both an east and west locations!)
38. Get a cupcake at Sprinkles and for once enjoy the wait by chatting up the guy in front of you about how to read that complicated color coded dot flavor labeling!
39. Attend a free Mac instructional class at any of the local Apple Computer chain locations and find other tech savvy attractive partners: i-Like!
40. Borrow your niece and nephew or the neighbor’s kids and head on down to Disneyland. There are plenty of hands on single-dads as well as good Uncles with visiting family that may be interested in more than just a spin on the teacups after spending the day together.
41. Get hot and sweaty by running a hash house harrier race with the local Los Angeles group. They say intense settings lead to intense romances . . . what better way to meet someone? Unless of course he’s the hare!
42. Enjoy one of LA’s smaller museums like the Hammer in Westwood and see some intense modern art (hint: maybe the cute guy next to you knows what the symbolism means – because you sure won’t!)
43. If you’re into movies in the park, try the summer movie series in the cemetery. Make sure to set up your picnic blanket close to a group of fun, cute guys to strike up a conversation or share your tapenade.
44. If you’re not so into the cemetery thing . . . there’s a great Outdoor Cinema Food Fest with an $8 admission and all the catering trucks you could hope for safely encircling you like a chuck wagon round-up. Stand in line and spread out camp with some great guys if you can!
45. Looking for fresh produce and local wares? Try any of the Farmer’s Markets in your local area like the market in Los Feliz, where you may find some tasty local options beyond the veggies.
46. Still working on that novel or script you moved here seven years ago to finish? Well get on it and maybe meet fellow scribes who are motivated and into learning just like you at some Extension Classes offered by UCLA. A full schedule of workshops, semester classes and fun courses can be found online and it may open you up to a great new writing partner.
47. If you’re into the Bohemian type, try grabbing a beer in the upstairs bar of the Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake. Ask the attractive brooding bearded man next to you to help recommend any of the numerous Oktoberfest inspired entrees or his choice on the Hefeweizen options.
48. Hike Temescal Canyon on the weekend and be amazed at all the handsome, active men you will quite literally be crossing paths with! It offers great views, lots of shade most of the hike and a great chance to meet other people outside of the over-crowded Runyan Canyon option on a Sunday.
49. If it’s the quiet and more introspective soul you’re looking for – visit the Self-Realization Center on Sunset just above PCH and enjoy the company of spiritual seekers. While this is a place of quiet it still offers many opportunities to talk and genuinely connect with others in the center’s various garden settings & benches, lake walk, organized services, book shop and visitors center.
50. Attend a Writer’s Guild lecture if you can score seats or know a friend who can. They’re amazing opportunities to hear great Writer’s and you’ll be seated in amongst many equally amazing, if lesser recognized, men. Write your own feel good ending by chatting with a literate lad who sparks your interest before or after (just never during!).

If you found this list helpful so far, why not spread the word by emailing, posting to FB or tweeting it out. Help some singles in need in your area and spread the word on how they can get a date (it means they’ll be more fun! People in love are always more fun!). And while you’re at it I’d love for you to leave comments below (which I always respond to).

And if you’re a single woman who found it helpful or insightful – you should check out the Duchess Programs page and sign up for one of our seasonal dating workshops or email me directly for private coaching packages (more info by clicking HERE now). Make sure you’re signed up for the Duchess newsletter too, The Diary of a Duchess, for loads of great tips, updates and advice on where and how to meet great single men and enjoy healthy, happy relationships with your dream dates. Great dates become great mates – get out there!

BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE. IF YOU’D LIKE TO READ PART TWO (#50-100) CLICK HERE.

Love in the Dumps – Ain’t No Surprise

Submitted by admin on July 8, 2010 - 7:35 am

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Bonjour!

What is life if we don’t have a little humor and a little honesty? I leave all the blunt, unapologetic honesty I need in this life to my guy friends. And Matt over at Love in the Dumps is a new guy friend extraordinaire! He’s representing for all my East Coast love with his absolutely LMAO site – so check out his guest post for this week’s column (and then go hook him up with some Love of your own by visiting: LOVE IN THE DUMPS (dot.com)!

And in the meantime – don’t lie about your age (he’ll tell you why in this week’s column): DUCHESS DIGEST THIS WEEK!!

Mrs. Darcy

Submitted by admin on May 18, 2010 - 9:38 pm

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Bonjour!

Oh oh oh . . if ever I had a love it is Pride & Prejudice. The book, the BBC Series, the Keira Knightly movie, the soundtrack – I LOVE Elizabeth Bennett. Having been born a Miss Jill Elizabeth – I always fancied that I took after the great Elizabeth’s of the world. Queen Elizabeth (the Tudor kind not the modern, but her too I guess) Elizabeth Taylor but mostly, Elizabeth Bennett. I loved her. From the moment I met her I loved her. She read books. She loved her beautiful older sister. She loved her mother and was terribly close to and cherished by her father. I always felt as though I was a bit of this character. That I too loved literature, was born the somewhat witty (if not incredibly pretty) second oldest daughter. I could relate to her loving his big sis – who was always more beautiful. I could understand having a father that was her dear friend and beloved parent.

And then there was Darcy.

Oh Darcy.

When I was going through my divorce I very strongly remember it being the dead of winter in Park City. And my favorite thing to do was hike in my snowshoes with labrador to the top of the highest point on the hill behind our house. I would come prepared with my iPod in my pocket and would spend an hour tracking through the fresh fluffy snow to reach a lookout point. Then I’d stand up there in that spot and listen to ‘Liz on Top of the World’ or ‘Your Hands are Cold’ from the Pride & Prejudice Soundtrack on repeat for what seemed like hours. I don’t really know why. It just helped. Listening to that music, standing next to Betty and looking out over Park City, the snow, the hills and breathing in all the cold, clean air – it just felt like I would be able to survive into whatever happened next. I’d stay up there for so long. Sometimes I’d cry, sometimes I’d actually smile and laugh about how strange and great a thing life is – but that music and that book have been such an important part of my life. I don’t know how you can watch Mr. Darcy cross that field in the movie and not shed a tear or two. Who hasn’t wanted that with someone at some point in their life? It’s so beautiful and the music is amazing.

Apparently I am not the only one with a small obsession with P & P – in particular the mythical Mr. Darcy. My best friend, truly a soul mate if I ever had one, sent me a text this morning to say – if you haven’t seen the Design Sponge blog today – you have to look at it – it totally reminded me of you.

Now – nearly thirteen hours later – I finally have gone to look and would you believe Design Sponge is all about Mr. Darcy & Miss Bennett. It’s a beautiful sight to see – far better than my personal much adeau about nothing . . . so if you love P & P like I do – check out their amazing spread on Design Sponge.

Here’s to the Elizabeth in all of us – and the Mr. Darcy for all of us.

long may you reign in optimism and beauty.

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/05/living-in-pride-and-prejudice.html

Red Said – And I happily Listened!

Submitted by admin on May 3, 2010 - 1:01 am

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Bonjour!

I spent the weekend with my mom again; she’s been in town from Denver. She has a passion for Renoir after reading Luncheon of the Boating Party, and wanted to see the Renoir exhibit at LACMA. Last summer she visited me in D.C. to see the original Luncheon of the Boating Party at the Phillips Gallery back there – this woman loves her Renoir! She’s devoted and I can appreciate that in a mom and an art lover!

The best part was that my mom is here with her hubby, and my aunt came up from Carlsbad and my cousin happened to be in town again from Sydney – so forces and worlds collided on LACMA as we got to all spend the day together getting cultured, enjoying the sun and having a leisurely lunch in Beverly Hills.

More on the weekend later, but I wanted to share with you my good friend and funny enough, basically my life twin, with Red in South Africa. Red and I stumbled across one another through a mutual friend’s blog in Paris and we have been fast friends since – sharing a pension for pasts peppered with men named Andy in D.C. and a love of Labradors – she’s amazing! And she’s joining us for our ‘Random Acts of Blogging Event’ in May/June – so I wanted you to get a chance to check her out. She’s another writer too! You’ll love her instantly, as I did – enjoy!!

http://redsaid.net/2010/04/why-ill-be-accosting-some-hapl.html

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