Here's the situation, I live in downtown Portland but I find my places to go out and sarge during the day limited. The coffee shops here always have the hippies or hipsters and they're really not my type. Powell's (a huge bookstore here) churns out a lot of the artsy types but from my experience they're too into their work there to care to be spoken to. Lastly, the malls here aren't great for gaming. One mall is in a sketchy section of town and let's just say I don't mesh well with the social groups there. The other mall downtown just doesn't have that many targets. It's usually women in their forties, which isn't a problem but they just have twenty years on me. I've been thinking of hitting up the art museum on the weekend, does anyone know if that seems like an okay place to go for day game or will the artsy types shrug me off to stare at some piece of work? Any other suggestions would be appreciated as well...

_________________
<Jac>

The museum is a great place because you have obvious built in situational openers!

Stand far away from the target and observe the work they're looking at. Then develop some insight into the art and share it.

"I love the use of red. It lends a sort of anger to the serenity of the rest of the image. Don't you think?"

"I was never much for Cubism. Did you check out the Impressionists?"

"I love Dali. Are you a fan?"

etc.

Thanks for the suggestion! However, I know little to nothing about art or styles of art. I can barely tell the difference between some cubist stuff and some modern stuff. Can you give me a run down on some art basics so I don't look like an idiot when I use a situational opener.

Thanks!

_________________
<Jac>

AS far as art styles go, it'd be easier for you to just google/wiki/library it.

But, to be perfectly honest, I don't think you need to. If you don't know that much, that's fine--make it a part of the conversation. You don't need to know the difference between Monet and Manet to figure out which one you like better (and the artwork always has little tags telling you what is what and by whom).

Like: "I love this stuff with the splashes of paint. I don't know what it is, but this guy Pollock's name keeps popping up every time I notice a painting I really like. What do they call this sort of art, again?"

Something like that.

Does that help?

Great suggestion, thank you! Would you recommend from there getting a number close or going on an 'instant date' to grab some coffee after looking at the art? I'm a big fan of the instant date but I'm not sure if this would be the right scenario to use this in.

_________________
<Jac>

The instant date is probably an excellent idea, since most museums have a coffee/bakery/diner thingy in them where you could go right away.

Also, between the pieces of art, in the interest of DHVing and being Alpha, make sure you lead her every once in a while. "Oh, let's go look at this one." You'll also be able to test for compliance very easily with this.

Good luck!