Furdiburb

This is pretty pathetic that I'm nearly twenty-four years old and still playing with a Tamagotchi practically. But after just converting to the Android from the Blackberry last week, I will honestly admit that I downloaded probably one of the funnest time wasters on Earth; Furdiburb. A Harajuku-chic alien pet for your phone, the Furdiburb has a home which you can decorate, puzzles that I needed to find cheats to unlock they were so good, and plants that grow nigiri sushi after watering them. Yes, while I probably shouldn't be channeling any energy on a video game with my schedule, Furdiburb is totally addictive and, apparently, a new update is coming out next week (which means- OMG- more planets!). If you want something to feed and bathe that doesn't cry, wake you up in the middle of the night, or demand any kind of romantic reciprocation, this virtual pet is the perfect time waster/procrastinator and was developed all the way from Japan (so you can feel super cultured while playing it). Angry Birds, who?

I Want to Have this Moment 4 Life

Pink lipgloss? Check. Cinderella story, complete with a Fairy Godmother? Check. And one of hip-hops finest who is totally my brother’s doppelganger? Huge check. Yes, I’m stooping to the level of every sixteen-year-old Washingtonienne high school girl, but Nikki Minaj’s newest video, Moment 4 Life (and I’m loving the ‘4’ in lieu of the ‘for’, FYI), is truly dessert for my eyes and ears. With an adorable introduction of Nikki getting ready for the grand ball, straight up Cinderella-style with a Queens-laced accent, I felt like a little girl again wishing that I was the girl going to the hip-hop inspired ball, complete with Black male models and a pink wig. While the song is romantical and fun in and of itself- Drake’s verse is completely off the chain, I might add- the Sophia Coppellaesque colors and fireworks that shape the video give me vibes that I’m a combination of Marie Antoinette meets Romeo & Juliet. But most importantly, I’m finally happy to see a female rapper in the hip hop community not just riding on her sexuality, but instead, combining elements of art, fashion, and lyrical creativity for the perfect girlie masterpiece. Is it Shakespeare, go-down-in-history worthy? Not exactly. But it definitely pumps me up, and has me wishing for there to be fireworks and Drake rapping at my wedding one day.

Check out the Moment 4 Life by Nicki Minaj video by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QFU1FrWvXk

Millionaire Matchmaker, DC Style

Okay, so maybe not millionaire matchmaker, but I have felt like Patti Stanger as of late. Call me a yenta, but I get so much joy out of setting up two hotties who just need that extra push to meet the perfect person for them. And while I don't have the 99% success rate of Patti Stanger, I still have fun doing it, and after learning that overbearing isn't necesarrily the route to take when introducing two new people to one another, have actually done a little bit better than usual lately. But in carefully studying both sides of the equations, realize that there are some important steps for both males and females to take if they're looking to seal the deal and ensure that there's a date number two in the future. Below, I've put together so many tips from Glamour, The Millionaire Matchmaker, He's Just Not That Into You (a must-read for all keep-it-real women out there who want to tame their psyco habits), and my mother that have definitely shaped the way that I've given advice during the times that I've played matchmaker over the past months:

LADIES:

• Be friendly, but let the guy be the guy. Don't carry the whole conversation even if you're fun and usually do so in a social setting. He needs to take charge, and a little bit of awkward silences thrown into the mix might put him up for more of a challenge.
• Don't show too much cleavage on the first date, if any at all. Trust me, I think boobs are the best accessory out there, but if you let the ta-tas hang out too much, no matter how cute the top is, he's going to be thinking DTF instead of DVF.
• Drink, but don't drink too much. Don't be one of those idiot girls who isn't going to have ONE glass of wine because it's a Wednesday night. I'm sorry, but you're going to appear uptight and completely lame. On the flipside, don't get sloshed on your first night out with him; you could say something stupid, fart outloud, or go home with him when you really didn't even want to.
• Offer to pay but don't be too persistent about splitting it should he suggest otherwise. You're on a date, not at a girl power convention.
• Don't be entirely closed off because you don't like his top/where he went to school/the drink that he ordered/the type of wallet that he has. Seriously, I've seen way too may girls do this over something petty, and they miss out on totally great people.
• DO NOT call him immediately after. This is stupid and you've got to make him sweat at least a little bit. HOWEVER, it's a nice gesture to text him and let him know what a nice time you had. Sure, play hard to get a little bit, but in the end, be an adult and keep it real; if you want to call him, call him!

GUYS:

• Own the conversation. Take charge. Make the night effortless for her and woo her with your confidence; even if you're chubby/not wearing a great outfit, this will go a LONG way and detract from the negatives.
• Please, DO NOT bring a friend along with you unexpectedly. This is not a group affair, aka ARE YOU STUPID?!
• Wow her but don't wow her too much that she thinks you're just pretentious. For example, drinks at Rosa Mexicano, Poste, or Bodega are perfect, middle-of-the-road places that are nice without being too upscale. Don't ask her to go to drinks with you at Bourbon Steak on your first date- you'll be broke, she'll be intimidated, and you'll have a huge standard to live up to going forth in the relationship. On the flipside, don't take her to Rocket Bar.
• Don't wear sneakers or an athletic hat.
• Compliment her. Don't be crazy about it- if you do it too much you'll sound like a psyco, but giving her one or two confidence boosters will lighten the mood and make her feel more comfortable around you. Plus, you'll reinforce the idea that you're looking for a romantic connection.
• Don't smoke pot/get drunk before you meet her. Seriously, that's tactless and I'll never want to introduce you to any of my friends again.

So, you've got the tips and you know how to carry yourself, but boys, where do you take the hotties out for the first time? Here are some great suggestions for first date spots in DC that will impressive your chick without totally breaking the bank and making her feel like you're a stuffy idiot:

• Marvin's on U Street: It's fun, casual, and you can bond over your love for hip-hop and your hatred for the hipster style.
• Masa 14: It's well lit, has a warm atmosphere, and if you get bored, multiple televisions that you can pretend to watch the game on if necessary.
• Cafe Citron: Because who doesn't love Dupont Circle, mojitos, and Salsa?
• Circa: A very white-person place but cozy nevertheless. Totally take her here if you want something simple and classy.
• Bodega: I feel like I'm in Espagna whenever I go here, great spot.
• Mien Yu: A little bit pricier, but the pan-Asian decor will impress her regardless of the mediocre food.
• Oyamel: I've never actually been, but I know a lot of guys who've taken girls to the bar here on their first dates so it could actually be a good choice.

Time to do it up and get a date for Valentine's Day, people. And remember girls, no boobs- and boys, no athletic gear.

Me Gusta Calle 13

Everyone who knows me knows that I pretend to speak Spanish. And because of that, have had a huge affixtion with Latin music ever since my Greek-Mexican cousins introduced me to Selena in the fourth grade (who I will add, still is considered to be one of my musical idols). But despite my steadfast love for Aventura, Wisin Y Yandel, Marc Anthony, and a total hodge-podge of other Latino and Reggaetone artists both old and new, have definitely felt that the Latin music scene has been stagnent in its sound. Well, the alternative-Reggaeton-infused boriqua duo, dubbed Calle 13 after the street they grew up on in the barios of San Juan, Puerto Rico, totally proved me wrong.

Everyone who knows me also knows that I don't discover music until about three years after something was dubbed as cool. And while Calle 13 has been around for some time now, my Pandora hasn't left their station, so it wouldn't be fair to not include them in my Paint the Town Leopard Madness. With reggaeton-infused beats that are as fun to dance to but also good for a work out, their lyrics are supposedly as dirty as any Eminem song, but witty and poetic enough that they're given a pass by Puerto Rican parents. And with a lead singer as good looking (minus his nose ring) as Residente (AKA Rene Perez, because that's obviously not his real name), you can't help but like this group. Infusing salsa, reggaeton, cumbia, and even a little bit of Trinidadian congo rhythms, Calle 13 does an incredible job in showing the fact that you can still be a Reggaeton artist without the chains, facial tattoos, and "pimpin-ain't-easy-esque" lyrics.
Check out Atrevete-te-te or Un Beso de Desayuno. I've been playing them multiple times a day for the past two weeks and will probably hate both of the songs a week from now. Regardless, the music is fun, the lyrics are funny, and their good looks with definitely make you caliente.

Please Give

On January 14th, two of DC's hottest nightlife legends, Radovan Vulikic and Milos Milicevic, both tragically lost their lives in a car accident caused by the recent icy weather. Most recently working at Josephine and Fly, the two Serbian natives were definitely known by the city, and in their roles in the hospitality industry, had a true knack for acting like gentlemen and treating everyone-from friends to clientele- with the upmost respect. I knew the two of them since early college, and they were both great guys and will be greatly missed.

In the process of trying to transport their bodies back to Serbia, several of their friends have put together a fundraising opportunity in order to help Radovan and Milos rest in peace with their respective families. Please click the below link and consider making a donation no matter the size. Thanks

http://bit.ly/hqwVby

Everyone in the DMV is sick right now

Even Beyonce gets boogers sometimes.

So it's time to either get the flu shot, wash your hands more often, or stop making out with randos. Seriously, my office is a petrea dish right now, along with many other offices in the city, as I've heard through the grapevine, and having had to lay low on my Martin Luther King Junior weekend (relatively speaking, people... I did manage to make it to Zengo, Oya, and Zaytinya for restaurant week already), hate the fact that germs have the potential to poorly affect my social life- and you should too. In lieu of forcing everyone to wear one of those SARS-esque face masks for the next three weeks, here are some practical tips to make sure that you're NOT one of the ding-dongs spreading the stomach flu, sinus cold, or whatever it might be in your office:

• Take a multi-vitamin: I like the High Potency Chewable (not a sexy title) from Trader Joe's. It's got tons of Vitamin C and makes me feel healthy. Plus it makes you regular (also not sexy).
• Don't lick your fingers after you snack. Acrylic nails are a huge carrier of germs and it's a stupid idea if you're trying to avoid feeling sick. 
• Don't be tasting everyone's drink at Happy Hour. This is not the Holy Communion during Sunday Liturgy. 
• Don't ride the bus. Period. Unless it's the Circulator. And then still don't ride it at all costs. 
• Don't get any new piercings. The belly button and tounge are the parts of the body that cause for highest levels of infection. And if you do decide to get a belly button during flu season, make sure that your boyfriend doesn't kiss it within the first four months of having it.
• Get lots of sleep. Even if you're not feverish, sometimes we all need to take PTO so that we don't deal with exhaustion issues. Your time off doesn't roll over to the next year, so take advantage and put your health first.
• Throw away your tooth brush if you start to feel ill. My mom always told me to just boil it with water, but I always end up just burning myself, so the $3 on a new toothbrush is worth it. Plus, they now carry the Hello Kitty line of dental products at Target which should be an incentive in and of itself. 
• Don't exchange chewing gum with anyone, even your boyfriend.
• Jet set somewhere warm and fabulous if you can afford it until flu season is over. Germs don't really exist in rich and tropical places.

And there you have it- your stay healthy tips from Dr. Leopard! Until next flu season...

Why does every DC adolescent pretend they're Wale?

I currently live about four blocks away from Chinatown and absolutely love my neighborhood. Would I walk to the Metro at 1 am? Not necessarily. But aside from its sometimes urban-esque atmosphere, love the cultural offerings of the neighborhood, have great neighbors, and totally embrace the fact that I had my first Halloween in years that I could actually pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. But while I thoroughly respect DC-bred rapper Wale (or Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, if you're referring to him by his Nigerian roots), don't understand why every single sixteen year old boy trying to holler at me when I'm just trying to go get my eyebrows down tries to dress like him. He's made "dc chillin" Facebook status-worthy lingo and has made DMV an abbreviation that stands now for more than just the place that you go to get your driver's license, but come on boys! Literally every single sixteen year old male in my neighboorhood now sports long dreadlocks, ball caps, skinny jeans, and a hipster (ew) inspired graphic tee with some other neon accessories. They can also normally be found sitting on the steps of the National Portrait Gallery, looking for cuties and thinking that they have chances with girls who are nearly double their ages.

Now, I'm sure most of them are good kids and are just having fun embracing Wale's getup. And who am I to judge? When I was fourteen, I think that I thought I was Gwen Stefani for a year, Manic Panic pink hair dye, bindis and all (my Catholic high school wasn't pleased). But, on the flipside, no one else was rocking the look at the time, nor was I wearing jeans so tight that you could see the outline of my private parts (yes, some of these boys now do it... in a ten year time frame we've gone from the off-the-butt gangster look to "nutthuggers", so to speak). I'm just saying, while Wale definitely reps DC and have some good songs that I rock out to in my sorority-esque white Jetta, these boys need to get a new long- and stop wearing jeans that are so tight and yelling at me when I'm leaving Vida Verizon Center!