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Dating App Experiment
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The Dating App Experiment

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The Dating App Experiment

As a single staff member of one of the Events & Adventures clubhouses, I decided to do a bit of an experiment with myself. Like a lot of people, I’m a dating app user; as a person dating in the 21st century it often feels like there aren’t many other options. As a simultaneous member of Events & Adventures, I started to compare and contrast my experiences with my online relationships and the ones I was seeing develop at Events & Adventures.

I’ve been on the classic apps like Tinder and Bumble and have tried some of the more obscure apps like Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel. They each have different layouts and specialties that make them seem like lights at the end of a tunnel filled with fellow singles. In the end, each app seems to turn out to have a similar end: possible dates and little connection.

 

The Findings

Dating apps turned the very real and emotional experience of dating into a very numb and robotic game. I’ve found myself mindlessly swiping through people without even looking at them. The sensation of matching with someone seems to create more of an endorphin boost than an actual opportunity for a true connection.

I’ll never forget when I matched with a guy and mentioned meeting up for dinner with him pretty quickly, trying to bypass the small talk and make something out of a match that seemed promising. He agreed, we set a time and location. The next morning, he was gone. He deleted our match and seeing as that was the only form of contact I had with him, there was no way of getting in touch to see what happened.

The experience stung, but a part of me accepted it because we hadn’t even met. How could I hold this guy accountable when he was only a picture on a screen?

I’ve gone on my fair share of actual dates through these apps too. I’ve even been in short-term relationships with some of the men I’ve meet. The large majority of the time the connection I thought I had with these guys online didn’t come through in person. If we did actually have something in common, there seemed to be a pressure to put a definition on whatever we had right away, which ended up scaring one of us away. When you make dating the primary focus of any activity, there’s an expectation of trust and vulnerability almost instantly. How can you put that kind of pressure on someone you barely know?

Having heard friends express similar frustrations, I know I’m not alone in my dating app woes. I even hear us wondering aloud if there is something wrong with us because of our lack of success.

 

The Solution

Having experienced Events & Adventures for the last six months, I honestly believe it’s not us but the online dating system that’s to blame. Unlike the forced nature of online dating, Events & Adventures creates an organic environment for members to have fun being themselves.

Are you filled with random facts or a board game connoisseur? You can guarantee there’s a trivia or game night coming up with Events & Adventures. More of a sports fan? Every club has at least one viewing party or pickup game on the books. Are you a whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, or adrenaline junkie—or do you want to be? Events & Adventures has you covered there, too.

And the best part? Other people are doing all of these things with you. You’ll be able to build connections with people that have similar interests and have the opportunity to see these same people on a weekly, or even daily basis, without having to plan the get togethers yourself.

All of the romantic relationships I’ve seen develop between Events & Adventures members have come out of the weeks and months they have spent together at Events & Adventures events. When people have the chance to develop friendships, those friendships turn into trust, and that trust can very easily blossom into something more substantial like commitment and love.

Our members have the chance to cultivate relationships with each other without having to worry about defining their experiences, romantic or otherwise, because that’s not what Events & Adventures is about. Our goal is to help people live a life they love, and that definition is different for everyone.

As a self-proclaimed wallflower, I’ve really had the chance to soak up all of the wonderful benefits Events & Adventures provides its members. In a world so fueled by instant gratification, Events & Adventures slows things down and gives its members the change to enjoy their lives with friends, new and old. So why keep staring at a dating app filled with what-ifs and maybes and come have some promised fun with Events and Adventures? You never know where it might lead until you give it a try!

Curling class with Events & Adventures
Minneapolis

Curling Class with Events & Adventures Minneapolis

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Warmer Weather in Minneapolis Means….Curling Class?  Curling may seem like the last thing a winter-weary Minnesotan would want to do in spring, our club had a full turnout for Curling 101 at the Chaska Curling Center. Our members were eager to re-don their winter hats and mittens to try their hand at learning this medieval Scottish tradition.

The Chaska Curling Center was more than happy to accommodate us with the necessary equipment to start our curling adventure! First opened in December 2015, the Chaska Curling Center is home to over 1200 members with a six sheet arena, locker rooms, and a player’s lounge.

During our two-hour Learn to Curl class, our members learned curling etiquette, rules, scoring, delivery, and sweeping. Some members showed some real promise at possibly pursuing a new, and unusual, career in sports. At the end of the class, they had the option of obtaining a membership with the Chaska Curling Center and even the opportunity to enter a local league for competition.

When asked about their curling class experience, our members had this to say:

  • “If you’ve ever watched it, don’t understand, but feel like you should because you’re from the land of ice and snow, this is something to check out! Judgement free and highly encouraging. What a fun time.” ~ Lisa Ghylin
  • “I loved it, I expected it to be a little harder but I had a great time.” ~ Jeffrey Mark
  • “Amazing experience with knowledgeable instructors.” ~ Tiffany Osterman

Events & Adventures make it easy to live a life you love by finding new and exciting things for our members to do.  Contact us today to learn more about the curling class and the many other great events we host every month right here in the Twin Cities, not to mention our other clubs around the US and Canada.

Events & Adventures New Year's in Minneapolis
Minneapolis

Events & Adventures Goes Back to the 20s

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Events & Adventures Minneapolis started off 2017 with a bang!  More members came out for our New Year’s Eve Roaring ’20s Gala than any event we’ve put on before.  And everyone was dressed to the nines from flapper dresses to zoot suits! The food was amazing and offered a little of everything, including, of course, the cocktails.  The fabulous 514 Studios hosted the party, where the night kicked off with live music from a wonderful local duo who entertained everyone while they checked in before turning it over to the DJs to make sure everyone was able to dance the night away!  Here is what our members had to say:

“I cut my trip short just to come back for the party. The 18-hour non-stop drive from Texas was so worth it! Sorry fam, but I’ve already made my plans for next year! Loved getting dressed up in theme; everyone was looking fabulous! The dance floor was hopping and the people were great. It was an amazing night! Definitely one of the best New Year’s Eves I’ve had.”  – Amanda

It was an incredible night! Met many great people, with the gems in the women’s hair to their sparkle on their dresses, the men geared to the nines with their shiny shoes!” – Preston

“My favorite part of the night would have to be dancing. Seeing people so free and living it up is contagious! It was definitely a night to remember.” – Raquel

There were so many more great members in attendance, each with their own story to tell.  New Year’s Eve should always be a night to remember, and Events & Adventures puts on a party you’ll never forget.

Hiking To Beautiful Place With Events and Adventures Minneapolis!

September 10, 2014
Hiking

I love Saturday mornings when spending them with friends, enjoying the summer weather and what we have left of it!  We hiked in Taylor Falls Park today… well, hiked AND climbed I should say.  Most of the trails bring us to a boulder or two to climb up on and over to keep going on with our journey.  We even discovered things we haven’t seen before on the trails… devil’s cave, natural potholes carved into the rocks, and so much more.  We tried new trails, and even “off-roaded” a little… we crossed the border and went over to the Wisconsin side of the river and took in the views and trails from that side… most people we happy to cross back over to the Minnesota side… especially after seeing some Packer fans hiking as well.  So our “Welcome to Minnesota” sign pictures, were truly a relief (to some… I’m a Packer fan… SHHH don’t tell!)  After we crossed back over, we headed to this old-fashioned ice cream shop and rewarded ourselves for our accomplishments that morning!  We conquered our fears and met some new people… as we do every day as a part of E&A!

A Thanksgiving Potluck!

December 5, 2013
minneapolis thanksgiving

In preparation for the upcoming holiday, we have a pre-Thanksgiving potluck dinner. Each year I make not only a turkey, but also a ham (even though I’m not much of a ham fan), but most people are! We gather at the office and start snacking on the appetizers that were assigned per each members last names. Last year, we were lacking stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so I made sure this year that they were covered! We had some wonderful salads and awesome desserts to accompany our potluck meal! And the best part about it was the “together-ness” of sitting around a large dinner table all decorated up for the Thanksgiving Holiday, and toasting our friends to another great time together. I think for this Thanksgiving, we should be thankful that we have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends through E&A!

Cheers!

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis

Have You Ever Been Rock Climbing?

November 19, 2013

For me, this is only my second time, but it is one of the coolest things I’ve been able to try with E&A!  Our most recent event was cosmic style where we climbed to the beats of our favorite songs with glow-in-the-dark rocks and colors changing all around us.  Imagine this… strapping on your shoes and then tightening the straps on your harness, and walking up to the glowing rock wall… looking up… while the beat of the music is matching the beat of your pulsing nerves.  A 30 foot wall?  Looks like no big deal… until you get halfway up and you realize you’re officially off the ground… JUST DON’T LOOK DOWN!  And it’s not that I have a great fear of heights, it’s just something that I’m not used to!  Much like it is meeting new people… but once you control your breathing and focus on one step at a time, you are calm again.  And before you know it, you are at the top and rapelling down… You touch the ground and smile to yourself in victory!  This is something I never would have tried if it hadn’t been for E&A… I’m slowly getting over my fears of trying new things, but each time I do, I’m one step closer to finding myself, and who I truly am!  Now onto the 60 foot walls… NEXT TIME!!

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis

Halloween Bash in Minneapolis

November 1, 2013

 Imagine walking into a room, full of dressed up fellow E&A members, whether it is your first event or your fiftieth… it has got to put a smile on your face!  From super original to super heroes, from scary to humorous, and everything in between!  Some had masks where you had to guess who it was, but eventually they would laugh or say something, and you’d have it figured out!  If this is your first event, it might take you a little longer, but that is what’s great about these big parties that E&A has every year… it’s an ice breaker in itself!  You all have something in common tonight… you’re all dressed up as someone other than yourself!  Tonight… you can be anyone you want to be!  This is a night where “nerds” get along with Gangsters, and flappers get along with ghosts, and a devil can sit on an angel’s lap… tonight… anything goes!  So whether you met someone new (or will have to re-meet them again, when they are out of costume) or got to catch up with someone you already knew, then mission accomplished!  All of you super heroes did your job and saved the night!  Especially on the dance floor!  Two words:  DANCE-OFF!  So until next year….

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis

Haunted House Party Bus Tour Minneapolis

October 24, 2013

 Tis the season of Halloween and E&A celebrates in style!  For our thrill-seekers, we have a Haunted Houses Party Bus Tour… first of all, you have the party bus… seats lining the bus so everyone is facing one another, not one, but TWO light up dance poles in the center aisle, and a bathroom with wrap around mirrors (I don’t know the point of that, but it goes with the experience, I guess!)… so we start off with some dance music and pretty soon you see people cheers-ing and laughing and then, of course, dancing! Getting from the front of the bus to the back may be a challenge, but it didn’t stop most of us from mingling throughout the bus until we arrived at our first haunted house!  TerrorFest… and that it was… well done by these folks, even though I may have been the one who was the most reluctant to go in!  I’m glad I did… it was a blast!  And after the screams and the laughter, we were exiting and getting back on the bus, and onto the next haunted house experience.  This time to the “Halloween Capital of the World”:  Anoka, MN!  Held at the fairgrounds, we were able to donate some canned goods for the local food shelf for a discounted entry fee!  What a great idea!  So as we weaved through the gates, the laughter continued in anticipation of what was to come.  I was in the last group to enter… and I want to thank my members who told the actors my name… “Megan…. Meeeeegaaann….” was being screamed and shouted as we walked through… and after all of the scares and screams, the fog and cobwebs, and not to forget the chainsaws and electric chairs… we were once again free into the night and boarding back on the bus to laugh, drink, and dance again… now this is a way to have a party AND to enjoy the Halloween season!  

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis

Meeting New People in Minneapolis!

October 17, 2013

The best part about Events & Adventures is the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends…. not in a forced one-on-one kind of way, but a casual, group setting.  For us in Minneapolis, it was just last Friday at our New Member Ice Breaker and Cosmic Bowling event!  I think the scariest part for new members, is going to that first event… not sure who you will meet, wondering if you are wearing the right outfit, making sure you’re not late, looking for others who might be in your same boat… but guess what??  There ARE people in your same boat, wondering that same things that you are!  You may be a little tense when you first walk in, but after some chatting with the others, you realize that you have hobbies in common, or that you grew up in the same city, or that you live in the same city now… and your nerves ease a little bit.  Then we move into the bowling alley where current members are waiting to meet you… you may tense up again, but as soon as the lanes are chosen and the bowling gets rolling, it’s a no-brainer!  This was one of the best decisions you could have made!  So cheers to making new friends and to many more to come… this is just the beginning!

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis

​My favorite time of year is here in Minneapolis!

October 10, 2013

 The smell of bonfire fills the air, the leaves start to change and then fall… hence the name of the season.  And because of these changes, our events have to adapt and change too!  We are on our last week of outdoor volleyball before we move it indoors!  So no more cold toes from the wet, chilly sand and playing with bare feet, instead we are tying up our tennis shoes and hitting the hard courts!  But no matter where we play, we have smiles on our faces, because we are among our E&A friends!  So here’s to the outdoor sand courts… until we meet again… in spring (hopefully)!  It is Minnesota after all!

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis