Some of those looking for love in the Biggest Little City are seeking a personal connection that can be hard to find on the apps. For folks who prefer to meet new people the old fashioned way, the Arch Society Dessert Bar in Midtown hosts a speed dating reno on Tuesday evenings.
About the Event
Andrew Zuker went to find out what the situation is like for local singles. Skylar was one of those nervously waiting at the mismatched tables and chairs inside the Arch Society Dessert Bar on Virginia Street in Midtown.
Patrons fidgeted with their phones and chitchated in the softly lit and cozy space, waiting for someone to take charge and begin the event. They were here in Midtown on a blustery October Tuesday night to speed their hands at speed-dating, a classic singles meetup in which strangers are introduced and chat in pairs for a short timed interval, switching partners every few minutes with the goal of meeting a lot of new people in a small amount of time.
A nicely-dressed depressing online dating is in his mids, Kevin dating up in Texas but has called Reno home for several years. The basic concept of speed dating goes back to the s, but the event as we know it today was formalized in the mids by a Los Angeles rabbi, Yaacov Deyo, to help the single people of his congregation find love.
Rabbi Deyo would gather groups of ten to 25 singles together and have "reno" pair chat for four minutes before moving on to the next potential partner. After everyone had been introduced, the attendees would report to Deyo if there was someone they would like to see again. If the other person said the same, it was a connection. Born and raised in Reno, Skylar is in his early thirties and would like to find a partner for a long-term relationship. He explains that the dating apps allow people to present a perfectly speed image of themselves, which can be misleading.
He also feels that digital dating makes it difficult to really connect.
Summer Speed Dating - Let's Flamingle!
He says he knew right away when he met Cassandra that she was the one. I want to dating a kid, I want to get married. Cassandra remembered the courtship in her own way. Despite a small turnout on this particular Tuesday night, former strangers became acquaintances and some connections were made. If nothing else, the night was a chance for some local lonely hearts to commiserate on the trials and tribulations of dating in the modern world.