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Everyone knows what it’s like to be a single in NYC from watching
episodes of "Sex and the City".
Though my life is incredibly different from that of Carrie and her
girlz, I can certainly relate in many ways. What single girl in her
30’s hasn’t felt a lil’ anxious at the prospect of
growing yet another year older and still not married, engaged, pregnant
or ready to do those things anytime soon? But by the end of most episodes
you realize that Carrie and her friends are actually pretty happy with
their lives, despite the fact that things might not have turned out
according to plan. Yes, some of them are still single but they are
definitely not alone.
I feel the same way. I really do love my life here in NYC! If I should
meet someone and things develop into a long-term relationship that
could be super fun but, until then, it’s also pretty fun just
trying to figure the whole thing out. Which brings me to this month’s
episode of Lulu in the City...
One recent Friday night we were hanging out with our friend Heather
at Blu Lounge when Chris mentioned that he had a great idea for my
next column. He’d witnessed a dating phenomenon called "HurryDate" at
a bar near his house. HurryDate is a series of speed-dating parties
held for singles at bars all over the city. You can meet up to 25 people
in an evening through a string of three minute dates. From there, it’s
up to you. Pretty easy, right?
This is something I would never ever do, though. I never look for the
perfect match on the internet or even go on blind dates. But for whatever
reason – it probably was the beer – Heather and I agreed
to do it. We may not be single forever and thought it could be fun.
Besides, it was research for the column. On Monday, before we had a
chance to change our minds, Chris had us already signed up!
That was a hectic Monday at the fredflare.com warehouse.
In addition to all the usual craziness, the Japanese magazine Relax was doing an
interview with Chris and Keith as well as photographing our warehouse.
Chris insisted I take this very moment to immediately fill out my online
HurryDate profile. Once I began I could not stop laughing! I even had
to pull Chris away to help me. With him there we only laughed harder.
The magazine people either thought we were crazy or had the happiest
work environment ever!
The questions were all multiple choice but hysterical. Do you drink
like a fish? Do you smoke like a chimney? I got nervous when they asked
me, "If your body was like a cocktail glass, what would it be?" I
wanted to be a champagne flute so bad! But I was probably closer to
a beer mug or a brandy snifter... I checked "that’s for
me to know and you to find out," just to be safe.
A week before our HurryDate adventure Heather and I had a meeting at
Blu Lounge. We had to plan our outfits! I figured I would need a new
skirt or dress, new shoes and whatever else I could find... I’d
never had 25 dates in one night before and a good outfit always helps
soothe the nerves.
I went shopping on Friday night and decided to just buy anything in
sight. I’d simply return it the next day if it wasn’t right.
This is a new strategy for me and it worked great! I came home with
tons of packages and was still able to come home with tons more the
next day after I had completed my returns. I ended up with a 40’s
pinstripe skirt, a cowl neck sleeveless top, an 80’s-looking
colored denim jean jacket and new cherry
earrings by Cody. Heather
wore a great polka dot number, a sexy black cami and a cute blazer.
We were ready to date!
That night Heather met me at the fredflare.com warehouse
to do my make-up and a lil’ photo shoot. As Chris snapped our picture we felt
like we were in high school again, on our way to the Homecoming dance.
All dolled up at 6 pm!
On the subway we were oddly nervous about meeting our mystery date – I
mean mystery dates, all 25 of ‘em! I’ll admit it seemed
a little strange putting yourself out there like that. But we soon
got over it and started laughing about who else on our subway car might
also be hurrying to HurryDate.
The festivities were held at a Tribeca bar called Flo. The hosts met
us at the door, checked our names off the list and gave us a number
and scorecard. For the rest of the evening I was known as Lulu-13!
We immediately got a drink to help take the edge off and found our
seats.
We did make a friend who had been to HurryDate before. She gave us
the skinny. Our new friend was very serious, though! She was ready
to meet The One. It must take a lot of courage to attend this alone,
I thought. I was glad to just be there with a friend, to drink and
do research. It really took the pressure off!
The hosts explained that we would be sitting at lettered tables-for-two
where we would talk to the bachelors for only three minutes. When the
time was up, they would blow a whistle and the boys would rotate. After
each date you were supposed to ever-so-discreetly circle a "yes" or "no" next
to each person’s number on the scorecard. Sounds easy enough.
The only problem was the lightning at Flo was terrible! You couldn’t
even see your date’s facial expressions, let alone fill out a
tiny scorecard. At the end of the night our cards were pretty much
still blank which, unfortunately, says it all.
Neither of us met any real winners that night but most of the dates
were harmless. There was the fireman from Stanton Island (hot), the
French horn player from the Philharmonic (boring) and the chef that
lectured me on the virtues of a gin martini over a vodka martini (lush).
There was one creep though, this guy who told me he worked in a sweater
factory but told Heather he had his own fashion label and designed
couture. Couture what? He couldn’t say exactly.
We hightailed it outta there as fast as we could to go have a nightcap
with Chris and Keith at the Maritime Hotel. We sat outside on what
must have been one of the last warm evenings of the year and took in
the rush of the city, laughing all the while about the whole experience.
So maybe we didn’t meet Mr. Right but we sure had a super fun
night out in New York City!
11/03/2003 |
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