By Jae-Ha Kim
CHICAGO magazine
July 2002 issue
At the best spots where singles mingle, people are focused on something besides meeting a date. With something (ostensibly) in the air besides romance, sparks can fly as if by serendipity. Here are some fresh ideas for getting out and about, along with some hints about who’s there and what to wear. The rest is up to you.
BUtterfield 8, a lively new restaurant at 713 N. Wells Street The crowd: Celebrities, politicians, and socialites mingling with other Chicago scene makers. The attire: Fashionistas and their followers are out in full force, so dress accordingly. You cant go wrong in a halter top, flat-front slacks and black sandals (or spiky boots, if your pedicure is lacking). Guys, leave the jeans at home. Got leather pants? Go for it. Meetability quotient: High. The thumping music and the eclectic decor by Laura Pedian give the place a nightclub vibe. The decibel level is quite high, so you’ll have to lean in close to ask that hottie next to you to flag down the bartender. Drawbacks: The rock star atmosphere may make it difficult to concentrate on your meal..
Wrigleyville’s Cafe Avanti (3706 N Southport) The crowd: Easygoing coffee lovers who dont like the coffeehouse chain mentality. One couple bonded over the latest installation by local artist John Bleck. Another twentysomething flirted with the kewpie doll cute cashier, the woman standing behind him and a mom tending to her baby. He went home with two telephone numbers. You guess which. The attire: Shorts, T-shirts, baseball caps, little summer dresses–preferably not all worn together. Meetability quotient: High. Drawbacks: Don’t be like the German tourists who sampled the free bone-shaped biscuits by the cash register. They’re for your dog, who deserves a treat, too.
Ice skating at McFetridge Sports Center (3843 N. California) The crowd: Don’t be intimidated by the sprinkling of hard bodies who look like competitive speedskaters, figure skaters or hockey players. Many of the skaters are fun-loving novices who enjoy getting a few laps in before heading over to the beer garden at ODonovans (2100 W. Irving Park) to have a drink and relax. The attire: Long-sleeves, light gloves and pants with some stretch (do you really want everyone to see what color underwear you’re wearing if your seams split during a nasty fall?). Meetability quotient: Moderate. You have to be careful not to skate over a toddler while you’re trying to get to his hottie uncle. But where else do you have an excuse to hold someones hand when you first meet? Doesnt matter how well you skatehandholding while skating is a given. Drawbacks: Those off-season hockey kids whizzing by can be a menace if you’re a novice. Stick to the adults-only skating on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Kenneth Cole (540 N Michigan) The crowd: Chic, hip and modern shoppers browsing for more than just shoes and handbags. The attire: Anything by Kenneth Cole, of course, or something that looks like it could be Kenneth Cole. Sleek and black always is fashionable. Meetability: High. The traffic in here is steady. Spot a cute guy? Chances are hes a regular and you can bump into him again. Don’t like those odds? Its not difficult to start up a conversation. One woman asked another customer, “Do you think my brother would like this?” She got his attention. Never mind that her only siblings are sisters. Drawbacks: In appearance, the good-looking sales staff often outshines the customers. Also, the stylish selection of shoes makes it hard to visit too often without buying something.
Afternoon tours by the Chicago Architecture Foundation (http://www.architecture.org) The crowd: Leave the Frank Lloyd Wright bus tours to the tourists. These lunchtime tours attract young, professional architecture lovers taking a breather from their workday to tour some of the citys most famous treasures. The attire: Business casual. Try to leave the briefcase at the office. Itll cramp your style. Meetability: Moderate. The atmosphere is relaxed. You see many of the same faces on these tours, which leads to invitations to parties, which leads to meeting more singles, which leads to a date. Its a win-win situation. Drawbacks: All eyes wont be on you when youre competing with the grandeur of the Art Institute for attention.
Well Clean Car Wash (1520 N. Halsted) The crowd: Twenty- and thirthsomethings who enjoy a little eye candy while waiting for their cars to be washed. The attire: Weekend duds, jeans, flip flops, baby T’s, hair in ponytail. Meetability: Surprisingly high, especially on Saturday mornings. Good news for gals: There tend to be more men than women, so work the waiting room and don’t shy away when someone compliments your car. You may drive away with more than just a clean interior. Drawbacks: This is only good for people with wheels. You may consider borrowing a friend’s car and sweetly offering to get it cleaned ($19.99 for cars; $22.80 for SUVs).
FastDater, which is this years answer to online dating (http://www.fastdater.com) The crowd: Professionals who arent coy about admitting they want to date. Singles pick which age group they want to meet, congregate at a locale and go on a series of 3-minute “dates” with a few dozen members of the opposite sex. Like him? Mark “yes.” Cant stand her? Check “no.” The FastDater gurus will match up the yeses and e-mail you with the results. Then its up to you to set up solo follow-up dates. The attire: Business casual to modern cool. Meetability quotient: Very, very high. You’re all there to make dates. Drawbacks: Your voice will be raw at the end of the 3-hour event and even the men will be tired of talking about themselves.
Dog beach at the lakefront. The crowd: Dog lovers are a breed of their own. They’re usually receptive to talking to strangers–especially if a puppy is involved. The atmosphere is laid back and they tend to go with the flow. The attire: Jeans, T-shirt, sneaks. Meetability quotient: High. You have an instant conversation piece. Plus, you can innocently set up play dates for your pup. Drawbacks: Most people dont look too cool holding a bag of their dogs fresh, uh, business.
Your local YMCA. The crowd: Low monthly fees don’t equal poor clientele. Some are East Bank expatriates tired of competing with the clientele in the makeup room. The attire: Adidas T-shirts, Nike runners, GAP shorts. Mixing brands is quite A-OK here. Meetability quotient: Moderate. Attitude is minimal and the patrons have a genuine love of working out. Plus, what you see is what you get–physically, anyhow. Drawbacks: It can be difficult to hit on the cute guy doing mat pilates next to you when his tween daughter is giving you the beady eye. Stick to adults-only classes.
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glenco The crowd: The eye candy quotient is high. Laid-back people who enjoy pretty things, fresh air and the outdoors. You’re doing something active, but youre not sweating nearly as much as working out at the health club always a plus. The attire: Capris, chinos, khakis, walking shoes, hats. Meetability: Moderate. Go with friends and “accidentally” get lost with that group of singletons you’re dying to meet. Ask about the name of a plant. Or a flower. Or their own. Drawbacks: Poison ivy. Just kidding. But allergies can kick up, so stock up on antihistamines before foraging through nature.
Sushi Wabi (842 W. Randolph) The crowd: Hip, good-looking and adventurous, the patrons are knowledgeable eaters who pass on the California Maki for unagi and raw sweet shrimp. The wait can be cumbersome on weekends, so make a reservation. The attire: Casual but chic. Meetability quotient: High. The tables are close together and the wait is long. Very easy to chat up the gal/boy of your dreams at the cozy bar. Drawbacks: The sushi is so good you won’t want to concentrate on anything but your meal.
