by RAF KATIGBAK

I've been thinking a lot about chick magnets lately. Spring has sprung and now that Friends is over, my single male friends have resolved to focus their energy toward wooing the opposite sex. While most of our weekly chip-and-beer symposiums often end in shouting matches over which is the worst movie in the Enter the Ninja trilogy (Ninja III: The Domination, obviously), lately the discussion has centred around the best way to get some female attention in this city. While novelty T-shirts with an arrow pointing to your crotch saying "Atkins Approved" definitely ranks at the bottom of the list (right next to "mumbling profanities to hand"), the top spots were taken by two tried and true techniques: walking dogs and/or babies. Nothing says "cute," "cuddly" and "I'm stable" more than this season's two hottest accessories (adding one of those protective radar dish things on the dog's head ups the sympathy "awwwww" factor by 30 percent… putting one on a baby: not so much).

Even though Mile-End got the bronze for "Next Hot Neighbourhood" in this year's BOM poll, there's no denying that it's the best place to see this baby/dog girl-stoppage in action. But nightlife north of Laurier has recently become something to talk about. While the yup-scale Mile End Bar draws most of the BCBG crowd to their pumping cinq à septs, those seeking a little more rough-around-the-edges affair are rocking out on Tuesdays at Casa del Popolo (Peaches and her crew were there, where were you?) to the rock anthems, rare gems and forgotten classics brought by DJ and fellow scribe Johnson Cummins. A few blocks north, over at the Green Room, DJ Simon and guests (like potty mouth DJ/MC Miss Matches) have been mixing it up for patrons with a blend of '90s hip hop, fist pumpin' rock, new jack and all sorts of musical exotica. A great space with good energy, this is definitely one to watch out for (especially after the upstairs show bar opens this summer).

Tonight, Germany's first lady of electro-tech Ellen Allien hits Parking for DJ Mini's Overdose weekly. Friday night, check out the new D&B and breaks weekly over at the Mint Bar with Dubcode, Aprime, Nitrous and the tastefully monikered DJ Punanny Business. House heads should drop by Boodha Bar's Reflection Friday for a dose of uplifting NYC flavour as Tony Desypris (of CKUT Utopia's Paradise show) drops more wax on the floor than my Filipina house-cleaning auntie Gilda. Also on Friday, for an evening of dubby minimalism, catch Vancouver's Granny Ark alongside locals naw, Scant Intone, Cyan, Mookh and José Garcia at Casa del Popolo.

After getting voted Montreal's Best Graffiti Crew, the Kops crew's KopAFeel party is going down Saturday, May 15, at 477 Richmond. Cover is $5. And finally, wind up your weekend at the next Space Tea Party happening at the SAT this Sunday with DJs Luv, Eva Brez, Tobias C. Van Veen and the Mole. It's free!

Also available in "Sober"… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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