Crossposted from a comment on another thread...thought I'd serve it up here for comments/discussion. Anyone else use this?

Winking. I do it a lot less now that I'm older and married, as it's creepier and creepier with each passing year. I put it to good use when I was single though. Catch someone's eye across the room, but instead of looking away like you usually do, just hold the gaze for 1-2 seconds, and wink right before your mutually-held gaze starts to get awkward...then smile and look away about a second later, right after they smile back, going back to whatever/whoever is immediately in front of you. Now you've shared a moment with an attractive stranger, which makes it easier to break the ice later, or--if nothing else--gives you a +1 Self Confidence. Here's how/why I think it works: Usually people just look away as soon as they are caught staring at someone of the opposite sex. This act of looking away doesn't hide the fact, instead it is a dead giveaway that you were, in fact, staring at them. This immediately confirms to them that you were staring, and feel like you shouldn't be, and are thus shy and unconfident, possibly creepy. This is what 90% of people do. Instead, keep looking at them, but don't make it obvious by tilting your head or moving any. They'll hold your gaze because they expect you to look away, and they're trying to figure out what you're looking at (because if you were looking at them, you'd have averted your gaze immediately). After eyes lock, it takes 1-2 seconds for them to realize that 1) you're probably looking at them, and 2) you're doing so deliberately, and not trying to hide it. This is, on a subtle, psychological level both unexpected and flattering. Right as their mind is starting to adjust to the fact that you are deliberately looking at them, you wink at them, and smile, immediately confirming it that you are staring because they are attractive, and also slamming home the idea that you are charming and confident, not creepy and shy. The wink itself should be quick, and not an overextended pinching of your brow and cheek, nor a tilting of your head like Groucho Marx trying to clue you in on something. The smile is reciprocated 99% of the time, as it is a sub-conscious response. While good feelings produce smiles, smiles also produce good feelings. Boom, you got a good-looking lady to smile at you, and have positive feelings at the same time. TL;DR: Wink/smile at strangers (opposite sex) that catch you staring instead of awkwardly looking away.