Asking a girl's friend about her?

There's this girl I've met a few times that seems really interesting. Problem is, she's in none of my colleges classes and I meet her only rarely (as in, a couple times since the start of this school year), at lunch-time with one of her best friends (who also happen to be my friend). I'm not really sure how I could start anything with her and I'm not even completely sure she's single so... I figured I might as well ask her friend if she's single, and maybe make a few remarks that she (the girl I'd like to date) seems cool and so forth... would that be alright? Or is there a better way?

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2629984