Glocally Newark

Up and down Broad Street, spray painted signs advertise $15 Acrylic Full Sets. I know that I need a manicure, but don’t trust anything acrylic. I believe you get what you pay for. My friend “K” and I pass about six salons as we go shopping for a date night outfit. “K” has a date with a new man off an internet dating site, and as we shop she finally convinces me to try it “as an experiment,” she says, “for the column. See if it turns into anything.” One new outfit later, we go to my apartment and create my profile. I finish answering the questions, and we hit up Kilkenny’s for a drink. Three hours later, I log back on, hoping for a message or two, and am greeted with 27. Wow! Only one stuck out though. The site had asked “What would you do on your first date?” I responded “Tops Diner- Breakfast for dinner. It’s low key and who says you can’t have pancakes at 7PM?” He agreed with my idea, didn’t ask for my phone number, screen name or bra size, so I responded.

Mr. TDH's actual message.

He is 6’4”, brown hair, brown eyes, has a baby face. So “K” and I dub him Mr. TDH, short for Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. She encourages me to really get to know him, so we exchange a few messages, and finally trade BBM Pins.

Ten days, a few phone calls and countless BBMs (Black Berry Messages for those of you not in the loop…) later, it was the night before our first date and I wanted to get my nails done. Driving down McCarter, I saw a sign for pink and white UV gels at Nails 21 and decided to check it out. 

The nail designs almost looked like wall art.

When I walked in, I felt like I was in a little spa. Everything was so clean and cute! They made quick work of my nails, and used the real UV gel which made them look fabulous, not cheap like the Broad Street nails do. After all, men…hold on, let me rephrase that, quality men don’t want cheap looking women. I told my nail technician why I wanted them to look so perfect, and told me that he has a good feeling about this guy. “If he calls and texts that much, then he is genuine.” This was reassuring.

So many cute colors to choose from.

Just after I finished paying my phone rang. Mr. TDH asked what I was doing. “Just got my nails done and now hitting up the Starbucks on Broad Street for a tea.” “Great,” he responded. “I was at Fornos of Spain for a work dinner, but I just got out. Can I meet you there in 10 minutes? I’d really like to see you and I don’t know if I can wait for tomorrow.” I agree and put on my coat to go meet Mr. TDH for an impromptu first date. As I’m walking out, I notice the salon offers a reasonably priced Brazilian bikini wax, and store that information in the back of my mind. You never know when it might come in handy; after all it’s all about the little details…

My nails, typing away a message to Mr. TDH.

Details: Nails 21 is located at 1421 McCarter Highway and is open Mon-Sat 9:30 to 7:30 and Sun 10:30 to 5:30.

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