From the News and Observer:

"Mosaic Wine et Lounge: If you're like me you don't need the whole wine thing, but this spot is so cozy you could drink V8 juice and it would still be romantic. The lights are dim and they have these couches with big pillows in each corner. It's one of those joints where you can go and whisper sweet nothings in her ear and not have people all in your mix. And if you need it, there is a sick wine selection. "

It's 'bout to be summer and Mike Williams has already started to get prepared. A few things you must get: Get in shape, get your paperwork (money) right and get some chrome (meaning wheels). That's what the summer is all about. That feeling you get when you're riding down the street and all eyes are you because you're the fliest. That's summer. If I were single, my summer would be totally different than it's going to be. But since I'm locked down, the whole dynamic of summer changes.

So for you, my peoples, I'm going to break down some summer fun for both sides. If you're looking for love or looking for some place to take your love, Mike Williams has got it covered in Do What You Do: Mike Williams guide to summer.

Where to court

When I was young, my grandmother used to say I was courting whenever I talked to that Coca-Cola-shaped girl from up the street. I didn't know what she was talking about then, but now I know and she was right. I couldn't drive then, so I searched the neighborhood. But now, if I were looking, I would check out three places:

Bahama Breeze on Friday nights: Whew! Fellas, you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it. Not only are most of these women Janet- and Halle-like, but also, and most important, they have careers and are going places. Good looks and intelligence: What more do you need?

The lakes: Before you laugh, go jog around Lake Lynn or Shelley Lake. Then come see me. I'm telling you, it's crazy. You could potentially meet someone and take 'em out that night!

Cookouts: We all know people who have cookouts during the summer. Everyone has them and single people are always there. Remember in that movie "Poetic Justice" with Tupac and Janet Jackson when they crashed a cookout where they didn't know anyone? It's the same thing, baby! The girl of your dreams might be standing in line for the ribs and potato salad.

Summer 'couple' activities

When you find that nice lady, you gotta take her out to do things.

Fellas, I know we don't tend to want to do stuff like this but sometimes we need to sacrifice stuff we want for them. Or just make the stuff we want for them too.

Concerts: In the summer it's all about concerts and shows. So that's why Walnut Creek Amphitheatre -- formerly Alltel Pavilion -- should be one spot you check out this year. My boy Toby Keith will be here Saturday and he has that new girl, Miranda Lambert, touring with him. Don't act like you don't know who Miranda Lambert is.

The beach: Fellas, you can't lose if you take your lady to the ocean. Forget that urban myth that says you can't take sand to beach. That's crazy. Take her. Show her off. She'll love the attention. Plus, your stock will rise with her and other women will notice you even more. It's a win-win, man. Oh, just make sure your lady isn't out-of-pocket and looking at other dudes!

Art galleries: Hey, these places are pretty hot. Check out this place called Visual Art Exchange. It has this thing going on now called "Movement and Music" and it's pretty hot. Most places like this sell art, too, so you and your lady can pick out a nice piece for the wall or mantel. Some other places like this are Artspace and April & George Gallery and Wine Bar.

Romantic spots

These could be for dinner or for after. For dinner, I'm talking about somewhere nice. We're talking suit-and-cute-dress nice. I have been to the following places and can tell you that they meet the Mike Williams standard.

Mosaic Wine et Lounge: If you're like me you don't need the whole wine thing, but this spot is so cozy you could drink V8 juice and it would still be romantic. The lights are dim and they have these couches with big pillows in each corner. It's one of those joints where you can go and whisper sweet nothings in her ear and not have people all in your mix. And if you need it, there is a sick wine selection.

Riviera Resto and Mediterranean Lounge: Looking for that big city restaurant in Raleigh? This is it, peeps. I tell you what, I don't even like Mediterranean food but this place is classy. I had a really romantic dinner there, and I told friends about it. They also enjoyed themselves there. You can sit outside and enjoy the air or sit inside comfortably, which is not something common in the places downtown.

The Duke gardens: Now I know you think I'm nuts. But I'm telling you if you take her to the gardens, she will love it. I mean, there's so much to see, from how the place is designed to all the plants and sculptures. The key is to tour the place alone, not with one of the groups. This way you can really stop and admire how nice it is. In college, if I had a nickel for every time a "lady friend" of mine would ask to go to Duke Gardens, I would have more money than Oprah. Really, this place is hot. There are even little trails for you to steal kisses from each other if you want. But make sure you go in the evening when it's cooler and not in the middle of the day. There's nothing romantic about sweaty palms.

Ladies' summer wardrobe don'ts

Cork it! Stop with the shoes that have that cork scrap on the bottom that ads six inches to your height. High heels are cool because they make the legs look sexy. But cork should be used to close wine bottles; it's not for wearing. So cork the cork!

Stay fresh: So there's nothing worse than a beautiful woman with chipped nail polish on fingers or toes. Your nails are a major part of your outfit. In the summer, your toes are out almost everyday so you have to keep them up to par.

Sundresses: The era of the sundress might be over. I know this because everyone wears them!! That's all we see now. What happened to the skirt and short skirt? The capris? Bring them back, please. The dresses were cool at first. But like any other trend, it gets old. And some of y'all don't need to be wearing sundresses.

Top three summer songs

Everyone thinks that DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's (Will Smith) "Summertime" would be a top summer song. Not for me. Here are my top three summer hits and why:

Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang": To me, this is the best rap song to ever come out -- period. Totally the best rap song for the summer. In 1992, it introduced the world to what would become arguably the best music producer ever, Dr. Dre. What he does to his beats to make them stand apart is crazy. And this song, a classic, featured a young Snoop, who is the most popular rapper today. This song is for people who like their trunk rattling with bass.

Nelly, "Country Grammar": This was hotter than summer when it came out. I first heard it at Myrtle Beach and thought it was horrible. But then as I saw how people reacted to it I realized that this is a summer of 2000 classic.

Coolio, "Fantastic Voyage": This joint came out in 1994 and was all over MTV and BET. This guy really can't rap, but the song had heat to it. The video helped because it was set at the beach and in the summer all you care about is the beach. A lot of people would disagree with this choice; I don't care 'cause this song was hot.