Speed dating comes to the Valley

May 27, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

GIRARD

Speed dating is coming to the Mahoning Valley this Friday.

As the name indicates, it’s a way of getting to know another person – in a hurry, and in person.

The event, likely a first for the area, will begin at 8 p.m. at Creekside Golf Dome, 1300 N. State St.

“Unlike the Internet [dating sites], where the other person might be living in Nebraska, speed dating is all local people, it’s tangible, and it’s in a safe environment,” said event promoter Joseph Bleacher. “If you meet someone new, even better.”

Speed dating will be in three sessions divided by age groups:

25-34: 8 p.m

35-44: 9:30 p.m.

45 and up: 11 p.m.

Admission is $25 in advance ($28 at the door); to register, go to tricityspeeddating.wordpress.com. A drink and appetizers are included with ticket price. There will be a cash bar. Each session will be preceded by a short social period.

The guidelines, according to Bleacher, are simple: dress casually, and come with your own questions. Name tags will be provided.

“Depending on how many people are in each category, you will get between two and six minutes to talk [during each ‘date’],” said Bleacher. “It will be like musical chairs. There is a whistle, and then you go on to the next person.”

The emcee for the evening will be Janet DePizzo of Cortland, who is a Miss Ohio contestant.

At the end of each speed-dating session, the participants will discreetly receive the contact information of other people who indicated on a questionnaire that they liked that person.

“Say if Mary likes Johnny, and Johnny likes Mary, we will give both of them the other’s contact info,” said Bleacher. The liking has to be mutual, said Bleacher; otherwise, contact information will not be given out.

Bleacher said that roughly 50 percent of the people who meet at speed dating go on to make a date with someone they met at the event.

A Youngstown native, Bleacher lived in the U.K. for 25 years, and promoted many speed-dating events there. He returned to Youngstown two years ago.

He is expecting a turnout of at least 100 people, and is hoping for more. “It’s new to the area,” he said.

Participants are asked to register in advance if possible, because it makes it easier to manage the event.

A portion of ticket sales will be donated to First Tee, a youth program that teaches children both golf skills and life skills.