I ASK YOU TALK: 100% of New Yorkers would date a Texan

I will admit that when I lived in NYC, it was the center of my universe and no other place even mattered. I realized that I should probably learn more about the rest of the country. I found myself relocating to Dallas, TX for a job.

I definitely had my stereotypes about Texas (and I've found many proven to be true), and call me ultra-ignorant (but only once please), but I didn't really know where Oklahoma was. I only found out after I insulted someone from Kansas, which is a moment I'd like to forget. I still don't know where the "panhandle" is, but now I realize that Dallas and TX are pretty cool and I'm embracing my new life here.

I wanted to find out how other New Yorkers truly felt about Texas and its surrounding areas, so I accosted some friends, and some randoms who became friends at my bestie's birthday party and show at Don Pedro's this past weekend.

Name: Anna
Years in NYC: 30
What comes to mind when I say TX? Big hair and BBQ.
Would you ever date a Texan? I'd date a Texan, but not a Republican Texan.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? YES.




Name: Dee
Years in NYC: 12
What comes to mind when I say TX? A**holes.
Would you ever date a Texan? 4 dates, max.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? It's Texas' hat. I kinda like Oklahoma City. I spent a nice afternoon there doing laundry.



Name: Ricardo
Years in NYC: 35
What comes to mind when I say TX? The Bible and oil.
Would you ever date a Texan? Yes, as long as she is not into The Bible and oil.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? Yes, I do! It's above TX, and the home of the Sooners!



Name: Jerome
Years in NYC: 10
What comes to mind when I say TX? BBQ. Good food.
Would you ever date a Texan? Yeah!
Do you know where Oklahoma is? Northwest border of TX, near the panhandle.




Name: Lauren
Years in NYC: 1
What comes to mind when I say TX? BBQ? I don't know why but BBQ is very hot in NYC right now.
Would you ever date a Texan? I'm married but I wouldn't rule it out, especially if he looks like the guys from Friday Night Lights.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? Is it above Kansas?



Name: Jim
Years in NYC: 2
What comes to mind when I say TX? Oil, yeah.
Would you ever date a Texan? I HAVE dated a Texan, from Austin. She's now a lesbian.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? Yes, just north of Texas.




Name: Steve
Years in NYC: 47
What comes to mind when I say TX? 6th St. in Austin
Would you ever date a Texan? I'm married to a Texan! We met @ Rodeo Bar when I played there 20 years ago.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? North of TX, west of Arkansas. I've been there a few times.



Name: Joseph
Years in NYC: 3
What comes to mind when I say TX? Lots of cool things in Dallas. Also a lot of oilmen and cattle raisers.
Would you ever date a Texan? Yes, for that wild frontier spirit.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? Panhandle.



Name: Peter
Years in NYC: 13
What comes to mind when I say TX? Tumbleweeds and revolvers (like the gun).
Would you ever date a Texan? If she was slammin'.
Do you know where Oklahoma is? *no comment* and I stand by that.


There you have it. 100% of New Yorkers who took this poll would date a Texan*. Yeehaw!

*certain restrictions apply, obviously.

I ASK YOU TALK: The Drink You Draaaaaaaaaank At 21

What is it? It was your ol' standby at the bar, what you brought to parties and draaaaaaaaaaaank a lot of to have fun. At 21, I draaaaaaaaaank a lot of vodka gimlets, a favorite of grandmothers who play bridge. It was served in a martini glass, which was fancy to me at the time, green - a good conversation starter with greasy guys at the club, and a popular girl at school once told me it was cool. However, I haven't ordered one since!

After a HUGE win over 2nd place team "I'd Hit That", I asked my softball teammates, the Bayside Tigers, what they draaaaaank at 21.

Name: Rachel

Hometown: Seattle, WA
Profession: Marketing

Drink she draaaaank: Vodka martini, straight up.

Why? Because it got me drunk really fast.

Would you drink it now? No, I'd barf!

Name: Mike
Hometown: Ramsey, NJ

Profession: Selling Slurpies/Real Estate
Drink he draaaaank: Guinness

Why? 2 weeks after I turned 21, I studied abroad in Dublin for 6 months.
Would you drink it now? Oh yeah.

Name: Chris
Hometown: Schnenctady, NY

Profession: Account Manager

Drink he draaaaank: Stoli O & 7up

Why? I worked at a bar at the time, and we all drank it.

Would you drink it now? Yes!

Name: Kathleen
Hometown: Dallas, TX

Profession: Marketing
Drink she draaaaank: Strawberry Hill Wine Coolers

Why? It tasted like fruit juice and it's what people bought me.
Would you drink it now? Hell no!

Name: Aaron

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Profession: Auditor

Drink he draaaaank: A tie - PBR and Olde Style

Why? PBR - cheap. Olde Style - cheap and a Chicago thang.
Would you drink it now? Yes, and yes in Chicago.

Name: Randy
Hometown: Detroit, MI

Profession: Executive Cashier
Drink he draaaaank: A shitload of Red Dog

Why? Cheap, cool branding (ed: executive material at such a young age!), and readily available.

Would you drink it now? I think so.



Name: Katy

Hometown: New York, NY

Profession: Marketing

Drink he draaaaank: Single Malt Scotch
Why? Because I dated a Scotsman and became a fiend. Also, it tasted like bacon.
Would you drink it now? Yes.





Do you have a special drink you'd like to share with everyone? Post it here.

I ASK YOU TALK: What is your 2009 Summer Jam?

I'm starting a new and HIGHLY journalistic venture. It's called I ASK YOU TALK and it's where I ask people I know and don't know random, yet pertinent questions that everyone needs answers to. And I also need a reason to meet interesting people in Dallas.

For once, I'm NOT doing the talking! Don't be shocked. Also, please don't make any comments about the alignment of the content - i just can't get it to work right now. Digest and enjoy.

Vol. 1: "What is your 2009 summer jam?"

Summer is upon us - some of us will do 108 sun salutations to celebrate the solstice...others will sit by the pool and chupan los polos (today was my last day of spanish 1)...but we all need a playlist to chill to. Want some ideas? Here are some suggies from my very best Dallas pals.

1. Name: Whitnee
Hometown: Pittsburg, PA
Profession: Summer Intern
2009 Summer Jam: Christian Baleout
Why? "It's really good for running."

2. Name: Chris
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Summer Intern
2009 Summer Jam: Rockin That Thang - The Dream
Why? "It's hot."

3. Name: Shana
Hometown: Mansfield, TX
Profession: Producer
2009 Summer Jam: Cool Summer - Bananarama &
Miami - Will Smith
Why? "Four words - Caribbean cruise, underage drinking. Oh yeah and "Sweep the leg"."

4. Name: Brian
Hometown: Austin
Profession: Airline Merchandising
2009 Summer Jams: Word Up - Cameo
My Girl Likes To Party All The Time - Eddie Murphy
Mr. Robato - Styx
Why? "My cousin had a Cameo tape and he played it a lot."

5. Name: Beth
Hometown: Iowa
Profession: Sales
2009 Summer Jam: Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard
Why? "This is what I used to listen to on my way to Wilmington Beach (NC) and it sets the right mood for a day of fun in the sun."

6&7. Name: Matt & Ashley

Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC & Marrietta, GA

Profession: Finance & Real Estate

Matt's 2009 Summer Jam: Roof Gardens - Al Jarreau

Why? "Jazzy and catchy!"

Ashley's 2009 Summer Jam: Letters From Japan - Burts and the Bees & Lovely Day - Bill Withers

Why? "They make me happy!"

8. Name: Randall
Hometown: Jacksonville, AR

Profession: Producer

2009 Summer Jam: Movin On - Gnarles Barkley
Why? "Saw the music video at SXSW."

Was this a success? Who knows. Did it help you get a few minutes closer to happy hour? Maybe. Offended? I don't know how you would be! Have some ideas for my next edition? Comment and maybe I'll use it next.