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Flirting workshop has help for that dreamed-of moment) Jennifer Dorazio KRT CAM PUS I PHILADELPHIA — “You should totally sign up for this,” my single — but attached — girlfriend says via e-mail. I look at the subject line: Flirting Workshop. I roll my eyes and type back, “Are you off your meds? No way.” Not another event that preys on lovelorn singletons wasting away in condos and cubicles, desperate to get noticed. Speed dating, singles booze cruises, mixers, and theme parties. Match and E-Harmony and It’s Just Lunch. All, in my cynical single-girl mind, money-draining endeavors that take advantage of singles’ innermost fear: waking up alone for the rest of our lives. What happened to fate, to karma? If I had a dime for all the times I’ve heard, “It will happen when you least expect it... . “ (“What if you’re always expecting it?” is my pal Laura’s smirking response.) I scroll down a bit on my e mail. What exactly is a flirting workshop, anyway? I envision pick-up line cheat sheets, tips on effective hair flips, and how to get properly fitted for sparkly tank tops. “Tap into your inner bad girl,” it says. “What signals do you send off?” (Uh, desperation?) “This isn’t a pick-up seminar,” the flyer says. So much the better, I think, because who knows what kind of freaks, er, singles, show up for these things. I’m a singles event virgin who’s heard too many stories from girlfriends about Match dates gone bad, and speed dates with 35-year old, basement-dwelling mamas boys. The host for this workshop, it says, is the owner of moxieinthecity.net. It’s $25. Is it bad that I’m 'wondering if that includes drinks? Well, what’s the worst that can happen, right? Sometimes karma needs a little nudge. Bourbon Blue, the casual chic hangout and restaurant in Manayunk, is the setting for this summer flirtfest. I park the car and wonder if we’ll be discussing pop culture’s famous flirters, the good — Joey Tribbiani’s “How you doin?” — and the bad — Anthony Michael Hall’s flashing his braces on the bus in “Sixteen Candles.” Bourbon Blue’s downstairs bar is set up with tables and chairs facing the back wall. “It’s like a classroom,” whispers one girl on her way down. There’s a nice cross-section of flirtees: women in their late 20s, 30s and early 40s, guys in their 30s and 40s — pretty evenly split between men and women, which is good. Workshop leader Moxie is really Christan Marashio, a down-to-earth, unintimidating 36-year-old Bostonian who says she’s hosted and organized singles events since 2001. Marashio, standing before her students, exudes confidence and, well, moxie. A guy toward the back whips out a huge fold-out leather notepad — the kind you’d bring to a stockholders meeting. Clearly some people are taking this very seriously. I, meanwhile, have a whole batch of eyerolls ready to make an appearance. Much to my surprise, I didn’t need them. Marashio’s advice is heartfelt and encouraging. “Appreciate being single,” she says, pacing the floor as a blender whirs upstairs. “Own your body, whatever size you are, you’re beautiful” — and this is directed at the guys, too. We should get rid of the stigma of “being alone equals bad,” she explains. “Don’t cross your arms and look down” if you’re out socializing with friends. “Force yourself to make eye contact.” Good advice, of course, and it all plays into what Marashio considers to be the four “areas” we singles should focus on to maximize our chances for a love connection: attitude/expectations, appearance, communication and body language. I won’t divulge all of Marashio’s secrets, but I will say that by “appearance” she doesn’t mean sparldy tops and the trendiest clothes. She says you can impress even when you’re not all done up, just by giving out a positive vibe. On to the post-lecture, interactive forum — a free-for all sharing session and Q&A. 0 A tall blonde, who I learn later is Audra Niszczale, 34, a research scientist from Norristown, Pa., is talking about gender roles. “They’re less defined now. Some guys like it if a woman asks for their number or asks them out. Some guys don’t.” The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Today “THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS”: 8 p.m. Russell House Theater. CAROLINA PRODUCTIONS' COFFEEHOUSE — CAUSEWAY: 6 p.m. Russell House patio. “MYSTERIOUS SKIN”: 7, 9:10 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre, 937 Main St. $5.50 with student ID. Thursday MODERN MUSIC STUDIOS BATTLE OF THE BANOS — MIND YOUR HEAD, MINX FLUX, XEMIR, THE AUTUMN OVERCAST: 8 p.m. New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. $8 under 21, $6 over 21. “THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS”: 8 p.m. Russell House Theater. “MYSTERIOUS SKIN”: 7, 9:10 p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre. $5.50 with student ID. BOXING DAY, MEAN WIENER: 8:30 p.m. Art Bar, 1211 Park St. $2. Over 21 only. CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Down for the night 5 Over the horizon 9 Diner 14 Zoom 15 Sit for a shot 16 Sleep noisily 17 Work for 18 Don’t Prpflrh” 19 Watchband 20 Grad 21 Not quite right 23 Latin being 24 Car-payt. fig. 26 Forensics series on CBS 27 Mr. Coward 28 Emotionally moved 32 De crease 34 Exiting sleep 36 Writer Ellison 40 Sty denizen 41 Peculiar 43 Sundial three oiuruy 46 Activates 48 Student’s mil. training 50 Trinkets 51 Austen novel 54_about time! 56 Gasteyer of SNL 57 Keep in check 58 La Scala’s city 60 Kind of roller or tide 64 Banks of baseball 66 Clamping device 67 Sole 68 Influence 69 Middle Eastern leader 70 Resting on 71 Contract components 72 Ocean parts 73 Alaskan port DOWN 1 Length x width 2 Jezebel’s idol 3 Hosiery shade 4 Copenhagen’s country 5 Obvious © 2005 Tribune Media Services, Inc. 09/14/05 All rights reserved. 6 Froth 7 Laurence Harvey film, “A Dandy in_” 8 Transferred to s different job 9 Snaky shape 10 Feeler 11 Bulk of the body 12 Expunge 13 Drive back 22 Knight’s title 25 Magician's exclamation 28 Fall guys 29 Jerk 30 Venetian villain 31 Orders 33 Beaver State 35 Bobbsey twin 37 Minnelli of “Cabaret” 38 Like one piper 39 Spy Alger 42 Complainers 45 Element in pitchblende Solutions 47 Boise boy 49 Mel Gibson film 51 Put up 52 Country singer Haggard 53 Small-scale 55 Slippery buildup 59 Large landmass 61 Division word 62 Grab hold of 63 Promotional excess 65 UFO crew Quigmans ♦ By Buddy Hickcrson * Soon h be buil+ or> this site' r UNOCCUPIED JO-STOH EYESORE # • % -me Paper Asylum ♦ By James Hickson/The Gamecock V?uld l!ke a taco Lgnd a tasY beverage." r^Thou shall not sully the words'*^ ^ of Mr. Samuel L. Jackson! X Run you fool! RurT ^ while I can still f Say what jL. again V V *#@A*! J HOROSCOPES ARIES Get friends to help you do the job so you can get done sooner, then go out to celebrate together. Foreign food is favored. TAURUS You’re not the sort of person who rushes into things, especially now when there are so many ideas to consider. Take your time, and do it right. GEMINI Travel is favored, but only if you go with an interesting partner. If you don’t have one already, you’re apt to meet someone out there. CANCER It might be difficult to tell how much you’ve got and what’s coming in. Finances are a . bit unstable, but all turns out well. LEO You need a plan and a partner who can help you follow through. Besides increasing certainty, it’ll make what you’re doing more fun. VIRGO More work’s coming in, and a lot more money. Don’t get rattled — get organized. LIBRA You ve been venturing into previously unexplored areas. Today, you’re quite likely to make a new friend out there. SCORPIO If you’re not finding what you want for your home at a price you can afford, expand your search area. It’s out there. SAGITTARIUS You’re pretty good at technical subjects once you settle down and concentrate. Tn achieve a dream, go ahead and that now. CAPRICORN Cash in your coupons. Get your old stuff appraised, as it’s gone up in value. Well, some of it has, anyway. The challenge is in figuring out which pieces have. AQUARIUS Friends are glad to offer suggestions, if you’re willing to listen. Admit where you’re clueless, and find another way to approach the problem. PISCES It’s time to do the planning, the organizing and the paperwork. Don’t pitch a fit — think of it as preparing for a test.