Bid high, bid often at the Bachelor Auction

Every singleton needs a hunky guy to go with the new sundress, sexy sandals and hot-pink pedicure.
The First Annual Bachelor Auction, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, takes place Saturday at the Pub of Love, 123 12th Ave. N. Tickets are $25; 329-9191.

So the spunky Susan St. Denis spent months persuading some of Nashville's most eligible bachelors, including Claude McKnight of Take 6, to get up onto the auction block at the first annual Bachelor Auction, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

A saleswoman, marathoner, and Big Sister herself, St. Denis even attended a successful bachelor fund-raising auction in Illinois to see how it was done.

"With all the great guys I know and these [dating] shows being so popular now, I thought a bachelor auction would be great for Big Brothers Big Sisters," St. Denis said.

Did she get shot down, so shy single women with a fat checkbook wouldn't have to?

"Oh, a lot," St. Denis said. She searched without shame for men among her pool of friends, at the gym, on the street, at football games, and "some I just went up to in some random bar and asked if they were single," she said.

Bachelor no. 13, Phillip Hancock, met St. Denis' "little sister" Amanda at a football game and just loved her, so he wanted to help out.

"This is going to help some kid who needs a positive influence in [their] life," Hancock said. "And it's a great opportunity to meet someone new."

The event begins with a cocktail hour to get to know the "lots" face to face; an auction catalog with pictures of each guy and their stats helps women decide where to place their bids.

Each hunk-to-the-highest-bidder comes with a date package that includes a bottle of wine, restaurant gift certificates, dance lessons and tickets for sports events, music or movies that the bachelor and bachelorette can enjoy together.

Bachelor no. 9, Mark Forrester, claims the reality television show he most resembles is Who Wants to Marry a Thousandaire. He comes with dinner for two at Dan McGuiness, two tickets to a Tennessee Titans game (jokes included), a bottle of Penguin's Kiss wine, and two private dance lessons at National Dance Clubs.

Women who prefer spending Saturday night with friends can bid on "For the Girls" dateless packages that include movie passes, tanning bed sessions, spa treatments and massages, speed dating certificates, wine and more private dance lessons - because you never know who you might meet doing the tango.