Tag Archives: singles

Cirque du Soleil “Amaluna”

January 4, 2020
Cirque du Soleil Amaluna

It’s time for a moment of truth. While I know that there are many fans and it is generally loved, I’m not a lover of Cirque.  The production values are great and the music always fun and wonderful, but it’s never thrilled me. Thankfully, I was able to see it through E&A eyes last Wednesday.

I booked the great rate through Cirque months ahead of time, and was able to even get a special deal for food, drinks, and a CD soundtrack souvenir of a previous Cirque show.  What made it “over the top” for me wasn’t the incredible feats of gymnastics (although the balancing act was truly elegant and exciting)  or the incredible costumes (someone please make me the lizard tail costume!) but the excitement and wonderful from the E&A peeps. Most were cold before entering the tent but the childlike anticipation in the group trumped any concerns over the weather.

I arrived to my seat late, and enjoyed the first half, but was surprised by the uncontrollable gasps and cheers from the great people around me.  I asked Jeff about what he thought.  He turned to me, jaw still gaping in wonder, and told me that this was his first show and that he hadn’t even heard of Cirque before E&A. “I never knew such things were even possible.” He said.  Whether or not it was their first visit, the smiles, energy, and pep in everyone’s step showed that everyone had a great time.  “How did you enjoy it?” someone asked me. “It was a great time.  Will be glad to do Cirque with you all again soon.”

Bryan Event Manager San Francisco

Events and Adventures Thailand Trip 2019
Business - Other, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, events, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle, Travel Events, Vancouver

Thailand Trip Q&A

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This February, Events & Adventures ventured out on a 14-day international trip to the exotic paradise of Thailand. What better way to learn about this amazing trip than hearing from the people that got to go on the adventure themselves?

We had a super fun Q & A with two of our members that joined Events & Adventures on our exciting Thailand trip: Rachel Wolfson from our Chicago Club and Susan Euing from our San Francisco Club. Here’s what they had to say about their time abroad with Events & Adventures:

Q: Have you ever been abroad before this trip?

R: Yes, but not with Events & Adventures. This was a first.

S: Yes, many times, but this was my first time with Events & Adventures.

 

Q: What was your favorite part of traveling with Events & Adventures?

R: My favorite part was meeting the different people from the other Events & Adventures locations and learning about Thailand from Natalie (our tour guide). It was fantastic exploring somewhere I had never been before.

S: The trip itinerary and it was a really great price!

 

Q: Out of all of the excursions you went on while in Thailand, which was your favorite and why?

R: I loved the floating river lodge. You got to be away from the rest of the world, no electricity, very peaceful while hearing the water underneath and relaxing overall. Also, we got to meet our first elephant, Wandi!

S: Personally, my favorite was the Hmong village. It was filled with very interesting people and culture.

 

Q: What was something unexpected that happened on the trip that left you pleasantly surprised?

R: When we got to play with baby tigers- they were so cute and surprisingly big at a month and a half old. I couldn’t believe the size of their paws at that age!

S: I had a wonderful and very compatible roommate. We are keeping up our new friendship even though we live two states away.

 

Q: Did you come back with any fun souvenirs?

R: A photo with frame (made out of recycled elephant dung) of one of my best friends from E&A and myself riding on U2, the elephant. We had lots of laughs on her and another elephant, as well as along the trip! Lots of great memories!

S: I bought a pig made out of rope for the year of the pig!

 

Q: If you could give someone going on Events & Adventures’s next Thailand trip a tip, what would it be?

R: Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never done before. And make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes; there are lots of stairs! Try sitting with someone new each time you are sitting on the way to one of the spots you are going to explore so you can get to know them! you never know what type of similarities you might have!

S: Bring more dressy clothes than  you think you’ll need and get a full-body Thai massage!

 

Susan and Rachel’s amazing memories prove you can create lasting bonds while traveling the world with Events & Adventures. We can hardly wait for our next journey to a faraway land!

What exhilarating vacation will you be joining us on? Will you be floating down the Amazon River with us in August or staying stateside in NYC during the Holiday Season in November?

The number one requirement to come along? Join Events & Adventures! When you do, you get to live a life you love!

AI and the Dating App
Chicago, Dallas, Denver, events, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle, Vancouver

Artificial Intelligence Is Entering the Dating Scene

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Over the last couple of years, Artificial Intelligence has started to appear in the dating app scene. With these new and “improved” apps, gone are the days of swiping. Now, data mining is the way of online dating future.

What are these Apps and What Do They Do?

The most prominent AI app stateside was created by Denver native, Kevin Teman. In an article published by 303 Magazine on April 4, Teman explains how his dating app hybrid works. His app, AIMM, is essentially Siri meets matchmaker. The app launched back in 2017 and has taken all of the techniques of dating apps, matchmakers, speed dating, and dating services to create a dating service hybrid.

Again, you talk to this app like you talk to Siri, answering questions like, “Tell me an embarrassing story about your childhood” then the app will analyze your answers, sort them into different personality categories, and introduce you to people on its own accord. It takes roughly a week for the app to “get to know you” if you use it for five to ten minutes a day.

So essentially, you’re dating a robot for a week so you can find a person you might have a connection with.

According to Mashable’s article, “What Will Online Dating Look Like in 2030?,” across the pond in the UK, Loveflutter, is their AI dating app equivalent. This app matches people based on personality traits it decodes from each person’s tweets. The founders also plan to use AI to coach Loveflutter users on where to meet offline after analyzing their chats with matches.

In the future, these apps may dive even deeper into our phone data and start using information like if you pay your bills on time (or at all), what websites you visit (or shows you binge watch), your camera roll, and how much you exercise (thanks FitBit.)

Is This Too Good to Be True? (Most Definitely)

At first, this shiny new approach to modern dating looks pretty nice. Why wouldn’t we want help weeding out people we probably won’t have compatibility with? And we can do it from the comfort of our couches? Win-win.

However, when you take off the cupid-inspired rose colored glasses of technology-fueled romance, you’ll realize that the founders of these apps don’t have an end goal of people’s happiness; they want people to use their services, not leave them.

As Jean Meyer, the founder and CEO of European dating app Once said in Mashable’s article,

 “The dating industry has zero incentive to create this perfect matching algorithm […] The optimum for a dating service is to show you profiles of people that might be good enough, but not perfection. People who you go on dates with, and then after two, three dates you realize it won’t work out and you go back to the app.”

In the long run, these developments in technologically-fueled dating services will result in more disappointment and discouragement for their users than anything else. Why not spend your time investing in your life and happiness than using newer and nicer apps that are being programmed to sabotage the fulfilling experience of finding meaningful relationships?

Events & Adventures is the Best Alternative to AI

Events & Adventures uses the greatest strategy of all to introduce people. It creates daily opportunities for you to meet actual people (yes, humans) while doing fun and interesting activities. You develop friendships and lasting relationships by getting to know people that want to take a step back from their phones and enjoy their lives.

Do you want to know what’s even better about Events & Adventures? If you meet someone, we consider that a success story, not a loss. We’ve done our job if you find someone special. What makes a better story anyways, meeting your person while jumping out of a plane or while staring at your phone screen? It’s time to cut out the electronic middleman and live a life you love with Events & Adventures.

Dating App Experiment
Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle, Vancouver

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!

Event & Adventures Winter Fun & Activities
Uncategorized

Starting The New Year with New Activities

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It might not come as much of a surprise, but studies have shown that the most common New Year’s Resolutions are losing weight and exercising more. These studies have also shown that enjoyment is a key factor in achieving any fitness goal and creating a happier and healthier you. Our clubhouses from Chicago to Vancouver took the time to incorporate new activities into their January calendars so members could start off their 2019 happier and healthier. Here’s a roundup of some of the new activities our club members enjoyed:

Burning Calories and Having Fun

On January 15th, Chicago kicked it into high-gear at a CycleBar class in Kildeer, Illinois. Members cycled their way through a class fueled by an enthusiastic instructor, fun club-like lighting, and energetic music. They were definitely feeling the burn once the class was done, but nothing brings friends closer together than a great workout! Chicago wasn’t alone when it came to featuring high-intensity workouts in January. Our Seattle club had an empowering and fat-blasting afternoon on January 20th at JabX Kickboxing and Fitness. They kicked and jabbed their way through more than 800 calories per member in the workout!

Cold Weather Activities

Three of our clubs embraced the cold weather to help burn away the extra slices of pie eaten this holiday season. Our Vancouver club swept calories away at the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster on January 13th and enjoyed the benefits of the quirky game of curling. Minneapolis members frolicked through the snow on January 19th as they snowshoed along two miles of trails in Pine City, Minnesota. Members got to learn about winter travel during the fur trade and got to participate in additional activities like throwing a curling stone and playing a round of Ojibwe snow snake. The Denver club enjoyed a winter-inspired activity the same day when they went ice skating at Evergreen Lake!

Dallas gave football a wintery twist during their Flag Freezeball game on January 12th. During their pick up game of flag football, members forgot their winter blues and had a great time! Also embracing another classic activity, Houston gave Throwback Thursday a whole new meaning while roller skating. Houston members managed to get a leg workout in at the Adults Only night, January 17th, at the Dairy Ashford Roller Rink. Reliving roller rink memories with new friends was just a bonus!

Outdoor Adventures

Archery Tag was Phoenix’s activity of choice. They combined a game of tag with the combative skills used in other fun activities like paintball and dodgeball. Add the timeless activity of archery into the mix and this event made January 19th a unique, fun, and unforgettable day for Phoenix members. Speaking of paintball, Santa Clara had a great time enjoying this adrenaline-filled classic on January 12th. This was a great and colorful way to run around with fellow E&A members. Their friends just down the road at the San Francisco club spent January 13th participating in a Scavenger Hunt throughout the boats found at the Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour. This low-impact activity managed to incorporate a leisurely walk into a fun afternoon with friends.

No matter what city you’re in, Events and Adventures will be sure to help you live a happier and healthier 2019 while you make new friends and stronger connections. With over 30 scheduled events every month you can experience so many new activities and exciting things. After all, it’s our mission to help you live a life you love.

St. Patrick's Day with Events & Adventures Phoenix
Phoenix

St. Patrick’s Day Party with Events & Adventures Phoenix

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Experience A New Kind Of St. Patrick’s Day with Events & Adventures Phoenix

Why celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in one place when you can party on the go? This is exactly what Events & Adventures Phoenix did when members boarded a giant London-style party bus and took to the fun-filled streets of Phoenix. This event was an exciting time for members to let loose and get to know each other during a familiar holiday while gaining an entirely new experience!

The evening began at a local hotel where the members met up. The Real London Bus Tour Company provided the mode of transportation, which was a giant double-decker party bus. The bus was a replica of the classic red-colored buses that roam the streets of London. It had tinted windows, more than enough room for food and drinks and an impressive sound system so that members could listen to their favorite tunes. Irish rock music was a popular choice since everyone wanted to get into that St. Patty’s Day spirit.

This was just the beginning of their evening as the party bus toured the city of Tempe and West Mesa

The group went to four different bars where they had special discounts waiting for them. These discounts were offered to Events & Adventures members only, which gave everyone a feeling of exclusivity. The members played games at the bars and enjoyed making new friends over some drinks and laughter.

After each bar, the members boarded the party bus and headed for the next one. This event was a round-trip occasion so that members didn’t have to worry about transportation or car-pooling. The party was kept alive when they stepped back onto the bus as the members were greeted with food, music and dancing. By the end of the night, the members were dropped off at the hotel where it all began.

The St. Patrick’s Day Party by Events & Adventures Phoenix was an outstanding event with a great turnout

Over 40 members attended and ended up having the time of their lives. Getting around and worrying about traffic while trying to focus on having a good time is difficult, so why not have the way of transportation become the main event? Spending St. Patrick’s Day on a double-decker party bus was a fun and unique twist to the holiday. Events & Adventures gave their Phoenix members an experience that they’ll never forget. Get excited for our next great event!

murder mystery event with Events & Adventures
events, Seattle

The Murder Mystery with Events & Adventures Seattle

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Events & Adventures Seattle had the amazing opportunity to be a part of Mystery Weekend 2018 in the city of Langley, Washington. The annual murder mystery on Whidbey Island was a new and exciting way for members to make friends and get out of town. Plus, who doesn’t love a good mystery? This year’s Sherlock Holmes type murder mystery invited members into an interactive experience as they attempted to solve a heinous crime.

The adventure began as members boarded a luxury ferry en route to the south side of Whidbey Island. During this enjoyable ride, they were given packets containing background information about their destination, the small town of Langley. Upon arrival, a local church offered the group a free breakfast, fueling them for the exciting day ahead. Each member received a local newspaper from the chamber of congress that detailed the murder and exactly what took place.

Now it was time to put their detective hats on and head out to gather clues

Townsfolk across the city were in character as the members asked them questions in order to solve the crime. The story was written by local authors and involved live actors roaming the streets as well as additional “suspects” including characters like the mayor, the police chief, shop keepers, the librarian and basically the whole city of Langley. Everyone was dressed in character, which added to the realism and fun of the event.

At this point, everyone split up into groups and toured the city looking for clues. Their first stop was the murder scene itself, which was roped off. The crime took place right outside of a new comedy club that was soon to be open to the public. Before the club even opened, the headliner was found dead on the doorstep. This set the stage for the members to begin their quest for answers and make new friends along the way as they worked together to solve the mystery.

The members had a great time touring the local shops, restaurants, hotels and other charming locations as they participated in such a unique event

At the end of the day, everyone came back together to bring the story to a close. Many of the member’s detective work paid off as they were able to successfully reveal the culprit behind the murder. The Langley Murder Mystery gave Events & Adventures Seattle the opportunity to make friends during an adventurous weekend. Visiting Whidbey Island was a chance for members to get out of town and experience new things with new people, we can’t wait until the next great event!

Super Bowl Party with Events & Adventures Houston
events, Houston

Super Bowl Party with Events & Adventures Houston

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This Year’s Super Bowl Party Was One to Remember for Events & Adventures Houston Members

Whether it’s for the game itself or the commercials, the Super Bowl is one of the most anticipated events of the year. It’s a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate with food, drinks and good old competition. Events & Adventures Houston members got to experience a Super Bowl Party like never before, partying at a house in the Heights with other fun-loving Events & Adventures members.

To go along with the big game, the event had several awesome activities in store for the members, including a party garage, corn hole, giant Jenga, beer pong, free cocktails and, of course, a super feast. Saint Arnold Brewing Company provided guests with complimentary beer, keeping their thirsts quenched for the entire night. Additionally, Railean Distillery provided spirits for the evening. Guests could cheer on their team either inside or outside, with two screening options to view the game.

What’s a Super Bowl Party without prizes?

Members got involved by participating in a football squares game, giving them the chance to win $25 gift cards each quarter. To raise the stakes, there was also a 4th quarter jackpot opportunity where one lucky member could take home a cash prize. Congratulations to Steven for being the lucky winner! Towards the end of the night, members got to wind down by roasting s’mores over an open fire pit.

Overall, this well-planned Super Bowl Party gave members the golden opportunity to make friends while enjoying the sports event of the year. The Events & Adventures Houston members got to join in on the preparation for the event by helping to cook food, set up decorations and prepare an amazing night for everyone. Although this wasn’t required of them, what better way to make friends than by coming together to create such a fun festivity?

This was the perfect event for brand new members

This get-together was coming off the heels of the monthly New Member’s Game Night, which took place the day before. During the game night, new members had the chance to get to know each other while playing games and eating a delicious spread of food, including briskets, pork shoulders, chicken, ribs and fajitas. They even got to show off their skills with a chili cook-off!

The New Member’s Game Night flowed smoothly into the Super Bowl Party the next day, as members had the chance to meet each other and get excited for the next great event. The Super Bowl Party was a great kick-off to an upwards of 30 events per month that Events and Adventures members get to enjoy.

European Trip with Events & Adventures
Travel Events

Lezzlie’s Amazing European Trip

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Read about our European trip from last fall through the eyes of Lezzlie, one of our great members

We just received a letter from one of our great members who joined us on our European trip last fall. We’re excited to share with you what she had to say:

“I loved it! I went on the Switzerland, Austria and Germany trip in September 2017 and I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun. The trip was very well planned. I would never have thought to do anything like that on my own. I also met some incredible people in the group who made the trip even more fun!

There were so many amazing things packed into the trip that it’s hard to remember them all

The area close to the hotel in Zurich was very quaint. Luckily, I found some girls who didn’t want to nap after lunch and we went bar hopping. Then we hung out in the hotel lobby with a bottle of wine which worked out wonderfully. No jetlag!

The bus tour of Zurich was very informative and gave us an opportunity to see some of the places farther away, while the walking part of the tour gave us the chance to experience the local sights. The highlights for me were the chocolates, cakes, and open air vegetable market.

The tour of Lucerne was fabulous

It’s such a charming city and we found some great beers there one Sunday morning.
The scenery was beautiful as we drove to Titlis. Once we got there, we all took the cable cars up to a giant rotating cable car near the top of the mountain. Also, at the top was a restaurant where we could arm ourselves with beers and food before enjoying Europe’s highest suspension bridge and the ice cave.

Lots of activities were offered in Interlakken, but we decided to take the train to Thun, which was very cool as well. There, I tasted the tiniest bite of horse tenderloin since one of the guys decided that was what he was ordering for dinner that night (gross…tasted like beef though).
Afterwards, one of us found the only nightclub in town and, of course, we closed the place down. It was a blast! Everyone was exhausted on the bus the next day.

The following day, we finally made it to Austria and found yet another club, partying until 4am or so. I missed the walking tour of Innsbruck the next morning, but one of the members took me on a personal tour later and pointed out the best sites as if she was the guide! It was a condensed version with a few bar stops in between. It was fun!

Then it was off to Neuschwanstein Castle, which was absolutely amazing (after you walked a mile or so up a steep hill and caught your breath). Coming down was much easier.

The scenery was beautiful and looked like it was right out of the Sound of Music

Lastly, we made it to Munich. Oktoberfest was incredible! Although Friday was fairly calm, we had lots of fun in the beer haus where we had lunch on Saturday.

Thanks so much, Events & Adventures, for this European trip, It was an unforgettable experience. I’m looking forward to Vietnam. If it’s anything close to this trip, it will be amazing! I can’t wait!”

~ Events & Adventures Member, Lezzlie

New Year's Eve Party with Events & Adventures Denver
Denver, events

“Sips Under the Sea” New Year’s Eve Party | Events & Adventures Denver

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Relive Our Amazing New Year’s Eve Bash with Our Denver Members

Imagine ringing in 2018 at an under-the-sea New Year’s Eve party, surrounded by tropical fish and immersive aquatic decor. You arrive at the venue, greeted by pleasant faces and the smell of delicious food. The Downtown Aquarium in Denver is lit up with life, welcoming you to an underwater adventure filled with spectacular marine life and extraordinary exhibits. Live music graces the airwaves as you enter an elegantly dressed crowd of people. Although some are familiar, there are many new friends to be made!

This is the New Year’s Eve that members of Events & Adventures Denver got to call a reality. The evening began with members touring the one-million-gallon aquarium, which houses five hundred-plus species of fish. The attendees were given an unexpected treat when they spotted the Events & Adventures logo inside of the actual tank. On top of that, the aquarium tour featured a private mermaid show produced especially for the Denver members. The tour ended in the Dive Lounge, which is an upscale bar and restaurant experience like no other. Guests were seated around a 50,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium, which allowed exceptional floor-to-ceiling viewing from all tables.

The Dive Lounge provided an intimate setting for the members for this New Year’s Eve party and featured a live band and dimly-set lighting.

It was a great time for the attendees to converse and get to know each other. A character artist and glitter-tattoo artist were also present, allowing members to have some fun as they let their creative side run free. The chefs out did themselves that evening by providing a variety of scrumptious foods, including a build-your-own bruschetta, a pineapple tree, a marvelous dessert bar and more.

Next up at this New Year’s Eve party, members broke out of their shells as they entered the ballroom, which was a wild experience filled with dancing and laughter! A magician roamed the floor, wowing the guests with card tricks and other impressive acts of magic. Some members relaxed in the calm environment of the Dive Lounge, while others completely let loose in the ballroom and threw it down on the dance floor.

The evening ended with the celebratory count down to the New Year. After a champagne toast, the guests moved outside onto the deck, which had in store for them an amazing view of the Denver fireworks show. Seeing the breathtaking explosions of color in the night sky was the perfect ending to an unforgettable evening. The Events & Adventures Denver New Year’s Eve party, “Sips Under the Sea”, gave its amazing members the experience of a lifetime!  Only with Events & Adventures can singles experience a New Year’s Eve like this without doing all the planning themselves!