Markeshia Ricks Photos
As speed dating comes to Crown Street.
Twenty-five singles braved the chilly spring and its pouring rain to mix and mingle under those guidelines at the Crown Street restaurant Monday night with hopes of meeting people in the city they didn’t already know and possibly making a love connection.
The speed dating event is the brainchild of Weinreb (pictured above) and a group of friends who wanted to try their hand at helping singles in the Elm City connect beyond the usual bar and club scene. They cooked up the idea over a potluck dinner. On Monday, those gathered for the event made small talk over drinks and small bites.
There was no time for first-date jitters. Soon after people arrived, Weinreb and his assistants Sarah and Sergio were explaining the flow of things.
Since the women outnumbered the men, the men did the honors of moving from date to date each time Sergio rang a bicycle bell.
Markeshia Ricks Photos
During the second connect and play prompts, the daters had the option to either explain to their date what kind of deli sandwich they would be or play charades. J.R. and Laurel (pictured above) chose a spirited game of charades. J.R. acted out a movie title; Laurel successfully guessed it was “Forest Gump.”
Laurel said a couple of her friends came to the first Elm City Speed Dating event held back in March. The idea of speed dating appeals to her because it differs from the traditional bar scene, where “people are always looking.”
“And there’s always the apps to fall back on,” she added.
Alas, dating in the 21st century, where people swipe left or right on profiles on their phone to find love, leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in terms of genuine in-person connection. Speed dating, Weinreb said, makes it fun but efficient.
J.R. (pictured above getting his palm read by Paula) said he was interested in the speed dating event because he liked the idea of being in an environment where everyone shares an interest in making a love connection.
Paula said Weinreb encouraged her to come to Monday’s event. They work together at Fair Haven School, where Weinreb is a fifth-grade bilingual teacher.
“I talk to kids all day,” Paula said. “It’s cool to talk to adults.”
Paula roped another colleague, who asked to be identified only by her first initial, A. A said she was initially reluctant to attend. But since she too is tired of the scummy bar scene and not a fan of the dating apps, she decided to give it a go.
“I’m having a really good time,” she said. “I’m ready for the next one.”
That’s a good sign for Weinreb, who sees matchmaking as “a great gift to give people.”
It’s also a gift he received. Weinreb is celebrating his first year of marriage with his partner of five years, the result of being set up on a blind date in New York City. Before that, he did a little speed dating himself and liked the efficiency of it. He has since matched two couples who are now in long term relationships, he said. The speed dating event could prove to have a multiplier effect on his matchmaking skills.
Not that he’s counting.
Weinreb said feedback from Monday’s participants will dictate how soon the next event might be. He’s looking for ways to improve the event by making it more diverse. Monday’s event attracted mostly people between the ages of 25 and 35, mostly heterosexual men and women. He wants it to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA community and has reached out to the New Haven Pride Center for ideas.
“I want to help people do this work that can be jarring,” he said. “This puts people in a room and lets them figure it out.”
And figure it out they did. After 13 rounds, the daters played a game of human bingo that gave everyone one last opportunity to possibly ask someone out directly.