I went back and looked at her reviews.  In 36 months she amassed 10 pages of reviews.  For a top end provider she was reasonably  priced at $$$/hr. Her performance numbers are mind-boggling.   In ten pages she had 2-  6"s, nothing lower than that.  She had 4- 7's, 24- 8's, 51- 9's and 17-10's.  Amazingly consistent at a very high level.  What were those 2 guys who gave her 6's thinking!  lol   She had almost become  an icon when she quit. Perhaps she had.  My question is this.  Does anyone currently come anywhere close to this woman?  We have a lot of good providers,  but is anyone currently close to icon status?  I'd enjoy some feedback.

I have not seen her but I believe Mellissa has very high reviews.

I've had the pleasure,  and yes she is one of the good ones we have here.  I don't know if we can give her icon status yet.  Maybe someday.

What made her so popular,  so in demand and what was it about her that men raved so much about her and gave her such high marks?

....but it would be hard to have this conversation and not mention Wendy. This Wendy:

http://www.theeroticreview.com/reviews/show.asp?id=79315

I just looked her up and Wendy has no 6's and only one 7 and mostly 9's with a few 8's and 10's spread over 5 pages of reviews.

I also see there is another woman in the cities called Wendy now which makes the case that imitation is the best form of flattery!  



-- Modified on 8/24/2007 11:18:40 AM

An icon should have consistency of quality and reliability of service over an extended period of time and that list would need to be short to have any value. While many in the area have the potential to reach such status, any list in the Minnesota area would need to include Anastasia and Tuzdae for starters.

To me,  an icon is one in whom there is almost universal agreement that she is the best in our local area.  I know that it is impossible to get everyone to agree on just one,  but it needs to be close.  I think that was the case when Catherine retired.  I looked at her 2-6's.  One was written by a first timer who never wrote another one and if you read the other one,  it seems he had the time of his life and then gave her a 6.  You figure!    As for Wendy,  I've had the pleasure to see her also and she certainly warrants consideration.  Reminds me that I've neglected her to long,  I  should probably do something about that!

How many icons can we have? One,two.... I agree the list needs to be short.  Perhaps no one reaches that level at the moment.   I also agree the consistency of quality and reliability are important. How about longevity?  I don't think you can become an icon overnight.  Any other factors that are necessary?  Is affordability a factor?    I've had the pleasure of both of these ladies,  and they are both worthy of consideration.  They have both been on the scene for some time,  and both provide quality service and reliability.   I've seen Tuzdae several times and she is special.  What a darling.  I've only seen Anna once and she is also a darling.

Gentlemen...

FRANCESCA

Top notch in all things including those darn intangibles.

Well,  I'd agree that she has many of the qualities to be an icon.  But,  by definition isn't a courtesan more limited, in the sense that she doesn't want to see as many people.  It's going to be hard for those who haven't seen her to to agree.   Maybe you're right in your phrase iconic courtesan,  but I'm not sure that Francesca has been on the scene long enough to be considered an icon.  And how many true courtesans are there.  I'm sure that Francesca doesn't want the title by default.     She may deserve the title eventually,  she certainly has the qualities.

Though I have not had the pleasure to spend any time with Wendy, I would say that Franchesca would be a candidate to compare if she maintains her high standards over time. Catherine was young, liked the nice hotels, was intelligent, dressed nice, smelled nice, tasted nice, looked nice, was organized, very sensual, and very skilled. And reasonably priced for a premire provider. Pretty much the whole package.

I agree with everything you've said.    I'm amazed that someone hasn't used her business model to take that role her in town.  of course,  it would have to be someone very special,  who really enjoyed her work.  Maybe that's what made her so special.  That combination of enjoying her work, being organized and responsible, not letting anyone realize it about the money,  and making it fun for everyone.

Catherine Spiga – Average 8.42 - Performance 8.78

Of the ladies that have more than 10 reviews

Average
Francesca 9.07
Melissa 9.03
Wendy 8.83
Renity 8.79
Bridget 8.6

Performance
Renity 9.5
Melissa 9.39
Francesca 9.33
Wendy 9.09
Katelyn 8.92

Who says we don't have some great local talent?

I agree wholeheartedly John!  But two points need to be made.  One,  Catherine amassed those 98 reviews in 3 years.  That tells me she was immensely  popular and maintained those numbers while working steadily.   Two,  I do believe that we have had grade inflation over the last couple of years.  I don't know why,  and of course its unprovable,  but a nine or ten today seems the norm,  and in a lot of cases I just don't see it.   Maybe its pressure from the ladies seeking good performance grades,  I don't know.  but I know it exists.    My final point is simply lets see where those performance averages are when these ladies get close to 100 reviews like Catherine had.  It's hard to maintain those high averages.    We are only talking performance here,  looks is too subjective, an eye of the beholder thing.  Although as stated above,  performance grades can change over time also.    By the way,  I've seen all of those top 5 you've listed as current and I'd add they all deserve their grades.  But they will be hard to maintain.  You're going to get some poorer grades that are probably unjustified,  but it happens.

you've provided here.  Without doing any of that work myself but relying on my poor memory instead, I'd say that Sunny and Hilary probably are close to those averages too.

-- Modified on 8/24/2007 7:53:11 PM

As the one who introduced Francesca to the board (my god, was it really already a year ago), and took a lot of flack for it at the time, I find the discussion here illuminating in that it goes to the heart of the matter with regard to discrimination and taste... something Catherine obviously had and something Francesca possesses in great abundance.

Of course, a year is probably not enough to attain "iconic" status (whatever that may be), but Francesca's goal has always been to be the courtesan... not by default, but by effort.  And yes, the clientele she sees is limited and, I suspect, will be even more so in the future.

No one disputes that the courtesan had, as one fundamental driving force for her work, an economic agenda.  But, more than that, she was a friend, a confidant, an intimate, and even an advisor, in both personal and business affairs.  This is what sets her apart and what, with time, evolves into legendary or icon status: a commitment to the work and to the clients -- an atmosphere of mutual respect and discretion.  In my mind, Francesca is well on the way to achieving that status, as did Catherine and as, I suspect, will a few others presently gracing us with their services in Minneapolis.

The answer to the earlier question about why Catherine alone seemed to achieve such status is, I believe, due to the fact that at that time there were fewer quality providers and she had a rare and wonderful youthful beauty.  These days, it is our great fortune that there are a few brave and special women willing to pursue such service.  With these women, the vocation becomes so much more than a hobby... it is a balm for our souls and, I believe, makes us better men.

reputation of being the queen of the NCNS, but her numbers (over three years!!) are right up there with the best.

someone who hasn't been reviewed for almost 2 months to someone who compiled 10 pages of reviews in 36 months?  Is Katie still providing?  Does anyone reading this think that Katie needs to cut down the number of clients she has?

I'd agree with you if not for the reliability issues.  I've had some fun times with Katie,  and also been stood up way to many times.  If,  and that's a big if,  she could straighten out,  she could rise rapidly to the top.  But as it stands now  I don't think she could be considered an icon in the sense that we have been discussing.

he acknowledged that Katie has a rep for not showing up.  Chill out.

all he does well is hit.

the TC Discussion Board has a rep for being harsh. This Board really outdoes the so-called negative tone where I'm from - NYC. I think, killerbil, you need to chill and, ilvmbg, you need to take a pill or two.

-- Modified on 8/25/2007 4:26:43 PM

http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=102906&boardID=2&page=1.
There's no negativity here?  You're just mad because Boston now has half of the MN sports Hall of Fame.  The board would be boring if every post was all lovey dovey.

Crisro,

Good, thoughtful comments. I agree with almost all of them.

If you know Catherine, you know that she has more qualities than can be encompassed by the TER scoring system. As one who has been doing this for a long time and has seen most of the higher rated ladies, let's just say that Catherine is one of the all time best. But then again, we all have different tastes. Your all time favorites might be different. There are ladies that are great looking, there are ladies that have exceptional skills, there are ladies that have great personalities and attitudes. Catherine was exceptional because she was the complete package and scored high in all areas.

Anyone who has been around for a few years knows that there has been a great deal of "rating inflation" going on for the last 3 years. So, in order to make a close comparison you would have to discount today's scores by a half a point or more.
For some reason, in today's world, I often see ladies rated as 8 or 9 that in reality are only
6 or 7. We should be writing the ratings to help each other, not to shill for our favorites.

....we base a system on numbers and herald someone's "high" numbers and then when that system doesn't prove the point, we claim the the system doesn't work...lol.

I think Lookin, that you should see all of the women in the top 5 list there often and close your eyes when you are with them and visualize that server in the restaurant!  Sounds like a 10-10!  lol



-- Modified on 8/26/2007 7:50:49 AM

Love all the choices and see many of my favs listed!!! But from April of 06 to April of 07, my ATF had 9 pages of reviews.......Kristian!!!

In 8 months, 3 pages of reviews and all very high scores.  

If she keeps this up, we'll be talking about her in the same context in a couple of years.  

I think I alluded to this above.  I couldn't agree more.  I think that some reviewers thing that the higher the score they give,  the better MAN it makes them.  lol  Just way to much egotism in lots of reviews.

If the woman I saw was indeed Catherine I can see why some seem so obsessed with her or the idea of her. She didn't have the body of a porn star or the body of a model but she had a classic look that would catch any mans eye.

This woman I saw had a particular air of confidence that would set her apart in this circle. I have met a number of providers of all types over the years and the one thing they all had in common was that they seemed like, acted like, smelled like, talked like, looked like a provider. Any young lady setting herself apart from the norm would easily be able to attain icon status in my book.

If it was indeed Catherine she did not look like, smell like, talk like, or act like any provider I have ever met. Most ladies in the biz  are attainable at a price. And even at a price most of us were never able to attain even an appt with her.