True story:

I was walking up Sixteenth Street on my way to work. As I was crossing Locust, a gentleman approached me. "Excuse me. Do you know where the Glaxo Smith Klein building is?"

As it happened, I did. "Yeah, it's about seven blocks up, on the other side of the street."

"That far, huh?"

"Afraid so." I started walking. We were walking in the same direction, he and I, but I was trying to walk quickly, so as not to be late to work, and I wasn't paying much attention to the fact that he hadn't yet crossed to the other side of the street. The light at Sansom changed colors, and I became aware of the fact that the man I'd given directions to was still behind me, and I heard him say something. I turned around to see if he was talking to me, then saw he was holding his phone and began to turn around again, thinking he was just getting off a call. But he saw me look, and then repeated himself: "Have lunch with me today." It wasn't a request. It was a command.

"Ummm... no thanks!" The light turned green and I took off as fast as my high heels would let me.

This is not the way to ask a girl out.

There are plenty of ways to ask that special lady out, though. We like to think that perhaps that special lady is a little more than a kind stranger who gave you directions to an early-morning business meeting. Maybe you at least bought her a drink first. But even if you're in a situation like mine, there are ways to be smoother about your request.

Look after the jump for pointers on getting that first date.

• Start with a smile. Make eye contact. Let the lady know that you find her attractive. Then begin your approach. Asking her for a date when you're walking behind her only means that you admire her ass.
• Don't use a line. Unless your line is so unbelievably brilliant that the lady will go home with you based on your wit alone, you're only going to annoy your potential date. And then she'll have all kinds of stories to tell her friends about what a loser you are. Some of those stories may end up in a Phillyist column one of these days.
• Ask, don't tell. Assertiveness is sexy. Strong men can certainly be sexy. But pushiness is not sexy. Do not be that young man on Sixteenth Street. Ask your special lady if she'd like to have dinner or a drink, but don't expect that she'll say yes. Believe me, you're no more special than the next guy, when it comes right down to it. Give the lady a reason to go out with you. You'll both be glad you did.