My friend Linda just sent me this AsianWeek article on “Baring it All: Speed Dating for Asian Singles” (Note: Linda is profiled in the article as one of the co-founders of Bay Area Asian Rendezvous Events. The article goes on to discuss the busy nature and lives of Asian-Americans and how speed dating is one additional venue for meeting that special someone. Speed dating, much like how online dating, is becoming somewhat mainstream.
“Speed dating, contrary to popular belief, is not for losers who can’t get a date,” the hostess of HurryDate explained. “Even Yul Kwon tried speed dating, and this was way before he got on Survivor. There used to be a stigma about it … it was embarrassing. But now, with the popularity of dating sites and online social networking, the tables have turned.”
I must admit that I’ve attended Linda’s speed dating events in the past (with not much luck – then again, my friends say I’m too picky… where can I find my Zhang Ziyi? 🙂 ). There are also other speed dating organized events such as Click2Asia, and Asian-American social events organizers ELEMENT/2degrees’ “20firstdates” where you have to “apply” and submit a photo. I know someone who met their wife at a Hyphen Magazine-organized speed dating event.