Phillyin.com - The talk of Philly

I dance to Abba in my bedroom, spend entire days in sweatpants, climb trees barefoot and can eat an entire box of cereal in a sitting; so, when I got the call, “You’ve been chosen as one of Philadelphia’s Sexiest Singles,” I thought to myself, “Better hop on this train quick, before they figure me out!”

“In a bathing suit . . .? – In less than a week . . .?” My brain said “Eek!” but my mouth said “Sure! Why not?”

Anyway, that’s how it happened that I was up bright and early (and those who know me, know just how much I hate “Bright and Early”) to make it to my Sexy Single photo shoot on time. I rolled up to the enchanting, Fairmount Water Works restaurant with my over-sized sun-glasses and extra-large latte, wondering if sexy was even “plausible” at this hour of the day.

So you can imagine how my “morning eyes” danced when they spotted Bernard’s glam squad on the scene, ready to wave their magic wands, and whip me into a “Sexy Single” Cinderella.

As I donned the dangling Traci Lynn earrings, I felt myself melting into the role. Then, as I slipped into the golden, sequenced stilettos and smokin,’ red-hot bikini from South Moon Under, I confess, I began to feel more like Jessica Rabbit than a princess.

When the stylist chose my final accessory from my own jewelry bag, I knew I’d be just where I needed. The secret ingredient was my late Nanna B.’s bracelet, a cheap and stylish homage to my cheeky grandmother, who would have loved every minute of this! She would have adored the thought of having an assortment of potential suitors to choose from among. (Of course, she would have liked to do all the choosing for me!)

My Nanna B. had “quite a shape” in her day, and men would trip over themselves to throw their phone numbers and business cards her way … Or, so she told me. From all accounts of those who “knew her when”, I’ll need to step up my game to offer ample competition. Here’s hoping I’ve inherited some of those Aphrodite genes.

Then, lifting my spirits even more, I hear a familiar giggle in the background. Call it karma for me (and all the lucky guys that get to gawk at her picture), but Barette Vance is also sexy AND single! (PhillyIn readers may remember the ballerina from her In-Focus interview). How thoughtful of The Daily News to pick us both, so we could catch up on girlie chit chat during the shoot! You can be sure we took full advantage of the opportunity. We even helped each other fill out our questionnaires – what fun.

Not every question from the interview made the final cut. Here are some things you didn’t see in the paper.

Where are you likely to find her:
“Dancing the night away at G lounge or Recess”

If your love life were a reality show it would be called:
“Kiss Me Kate”

Men that need not apply:
Smokers – “Ick! That’s all I have to say about that.”
Serial Texters –“I don’t mind texting in general, but if you never learned how to use the call button on your telephone, I’m not interested.”
Actors – “You’d think I’d be interested in another actor, but honestly, my schedule is so crazy. I may barely work for 2 weeks, then for the next 3 weeks I’m busy every day all day. It’s hard enough for me to keep up with ME. Two of me in one relationship might prove disastrous. “

Where would you like to travel:
“Where would I NOT like to travel! I’d like to go back to Italy, England, Ireland, Costa Rica, or China. I loved them all. But, there’s so much I haven’t seen. Greece, Spain, Brazil, and Japan, are high on my list. But, Paris – Paris is on the tippy top. (Of course, I wouldn’t say no to a coconut tree, either.)”

Why no ring?
 “I feel too young to be married. Yet, all my friends seem to be racing down the aisle. I’ve spent most of my adult life in back-to-back, long-term relationships. So, after the last one, I decided to star in my own movie for awhile. And I’m so glad I did!”

What you’re looking for in a potential relationship:
“Honesty and loyalty are key! But, I’m a goofball; so, I want someone who enjoys a good laugh. I love to be outdoors and try new things; so, he better be able to keep up and keep an open-mind. Oh, and my dad says I’m not such “a walk in the park, either”; so, patience and understanding are a must.”

Are you strong enough to be ’her’ man:
“Mainly, it’s about someone to share adventures with. After all, a couple is like a team. When that “googly-eyed, lovey-dovey” stuff wears off, you want someone you can be in a car with for 17 hours without the urge to kill.”

Other moments not caught on camera:

My hair blowing into my face between every shot. (Thanks to the lovely ladies from Bernard’s Salon for staying on top of it!)

Me, scarfing down the hot-fudge, brownie-sundae from Scoop Deville, the moment I escaped that smokin’-hot bikini!

Me, again, buying up copies of the Daily News at my local WAWA. “Is there some reason you want three of these?” asks the attendant. “You bet. I’m on page 30.” Young guy behind me in line jumping into the conversation: “So that means you’re single? . . .”

Twitter:
You can follow me @katybeaver

If you didn’t get a chance to pick up the Daily News on Monday, you can still check out the article, pictures and see ALL of this year’s class of Sexy Singles on philly.com.

Be sure to keep a look out for several other Sexy Singles that have graced the PhillyIn.com site:

1. PhillyIn Cast, yours truly

2. In Focus Feature Barette Vance

3. In Focus Feature Jackiem Wright (Reggie Berry was a member of The 2009 Sexy Single Class)

4. Launch party Celebrity model, Philadelphia Wings Lacrosse player, Bobby Snider

5. Can you guess which other Sexy Single was already selected as a future PhillyIn Focus feature???

 YOU’RE INVITED TO THE SEXIEST PARTY OF THE SUMMER!

To celebrate this year’s Sexy Single edition, there will be a party at The Water Works in Philadelphia this Thursday the 29th!

The party opens to the general public at 9pm and has NO COVER.

So grab your Sexiest Single Friends and head down to the Water Works Thursday night to meet Philadelphia’s most eligible Bachelors and Bachelorettes.

WaterWorks is located behind the Philadelphia Art Museum. There is Valet Parking and meters nearby as well.

I would like to send a huge thank you to Jenice Armstrong, the Daily News and philly.com for including me in the 2010 Philly Sexy Singles issue. Also a huge thank you to photographer, David Maialetti!

Note: We are aware of the extremely slow load times of this site and are currently working to resolve the issue ASAP. Thank you for your patience.

I know most people from Philly go to the Jersey shore but I wanted to let people know there are other beaches out there.

Dewey Beach, DE
I find it amazing some people are unaware that Delaware has beaches at all. My family has a house in Dewey Beach, DE so I have had the privilege of experiencing the summertime there for almost 2 decades now. This small town has a few main bars which are decent sized and usually play live music by good cover bands such as Mr. Greengenes, Lost in Paris, Burnt Sienna, etc. The major bars that I go to when I am down there include: The Bottle and Cork, The Rusty Rudder and the Starboard. Each has its own unique offering.

The Bottle and Cork is actually a famous rock and roll bar that has hosted many famous musicians. Inside it is more of a concert venue than a bar. It is large and open inside giving plenty of room to stand and watch the band. They typically have multiple bands play on Saturday starting at 5pm and play all night.

The Rusty Rudder is a huge inside/outside bar/restaurant that has a huge deck right on the bay. Bands play out on the deck and inside, and there are also other rooms where DJ’s play music. This place is a great place to see a live cover band on a nice night.

The Starboard is the first bar you see entering Dewey if you are coming south on route 1. This place is another inside/outside bar that has a decent sized outside deck in the front and inside there is enough room for a cover band and a good sized crowd. This place is also known for its Bloody Mary bar during the day where they bring you a plastic solo cup filled with Vodka and ice and you can make your own Bloody Marys.

Note: Be aware if you go out in Dewey the bars close at 1 AM (Delaware state law). Because of this everyone seems to go out early, so don’t wait until midnight.

Ocean City, MD
I have been to Ocean City several times but I think I have only been on the beach there once and the reason is: Seacrets.

Seacrets (Jamaica U.S.A.) is a huge bar located on the bay in Ocean City, MD where they try to make you feel like you are in Jamaica. There are palm trees, lots of sand and an island decor. The major attraction is the bay. Seacrets sets up tables and stools in the bay and waitresses will bring drinks to you. Further out in the deeper water they have large rafts where you can lounge all day in the sun. This place is no secret, it gets packed on holiday weekends (see picture from the 4th of July). It is a good time, but if you like to drink bring plenty of money. The drinks are reasonably priced but the pina coladas, rum runners and banana frozen drinks are amazing and go down like water on a hot day. You can even get a plastic test tube shot in the drink.

So in conclusion there are other cool places to go besides the Jersey shore so you may want to check it out some time to change up the scene.

I will be down in Dewey Beach this weekend with a few friends so if you see me out, say hello.

If you’re anything like me, today you might be starting to contemplate your weekend plans. What to do? What to do?

How about…The Ballet?  That’s probably not what you were expecting to hear from me, but I actually love ballet. Now I realize that most of you men out there (and even some women) would never dream of spending your Friday night in a theater watching The Ballet, but just humor me for a minute. 

This Friday I will be attending Romeo and Juliet (being performed by the PA Ballet through June 12^th at the Academy of Music) with the Young Friends of Pennsylvania Ballet. They are a group of young professionals who are interested in supporting the work of the Pennsylvania Ballet through contributions, performances and events with the dancers. The Young Friends are arts patrons coming together to stand behind their belief that the arts are an integral part of a community.  One of their main goals is break the resistance some young people have with the ballet.  

To all the clueless men out there looking for a way to make the ladies happy, what could make a more romantic and unique date night?  You can thank me later.

And if you need further convincing and haven’t already read our In-Focus article on PA ballerina, Barette Vance, you should check it out. I assure you, it may change your perception of The Ballet.

I’m very much looking forward to this event. I’ll get to see a great show at a reasonable price, AND I’ll get to network with other young professionals and the performers themselves in the process. (Did I mention we’re all heading to the Devil’s Alley after the show?) … That means I will probably be doing a little dancing myself. ;-) Friday cannot come soon enough!