Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Articles Sections >> Arts + Words Bars + Clubs Dating Festivals Fitness Food Lifestyle Music Theater Travel + Tourism Who's Who > View All Carnal Consultant Love, Sex, Life

There's more than one way to get to second base in Wrigleyville.

Wednesday Jan 02, 2008.     By Anna Pulley

Dating Feed

Perhaps, yes, I was a little too excited to attend something called the Hump Night Variety Special. (Nobody told me Hump Night meant Wednesday.) Perhaps, also, the notion of "adventure dating" got me hot and bothered, even though I knew I was going to be spending the evening in Wrigleyville and not engaged in any type of extreme sport, like sky diving or fondue night at the Republican National Convention. Still, I have to admit that I was disappointed by Meet Market Adventures' Hump Night Variety Special as a way to meet people.

It started, like many things in my life, with Kevin Bacon and a lawn chair. Actually, Centerstage threw a party at Motel Bar the same night as Meet Market Adventures hosted a soiree there. Slowly, the men from MMA started trickling over into our territory and hitting on us, before the MMA staff came over. "You're Meet Market Adventures?" I asked, cradling my seventh too-strong whiskey sour of the evening. "I'm the Meet-Market Maven! Isn't that amazing? No, I didn't name it. Who are you, my mother?"

Meet Market Adventures is different than speed dating and online dating, but similar to brunch with the Osbournes. It's a dating service, kind of, for active singles who want to meet other singles in a low pressure, but high octane environment. Adventure dates can include anything from after-work drinks to skeet shooting and mini golf to skydiving. There are no profiles to create or embarrassing matchmaking interviews with questions about your "hopes and dreams." In this respect, MMA is unlike any other social event service out there. They also don't charge a membership fee, but you have to pay for each event you want to participate in, which can be pretty lofty, especially if it's an activity (like the aforementioned skydiving) that might cause you to die.

There were 10 people at Hump Night, plus about five staff members from MMA; unless they were there to up the hotness quotient, I couldn't figure out why so many of them showed up. (Editor's note: I figured it out later that the extra staff was there to provide karaoke backup for "Rollin' on a River.") The drink specials consisted of your standard pub crawl deals: $3 Old Styles and Old Milwaukees (in the can) and $3 SoCo lime shots. I was surprised to learn that drinks weren't ever included in MMA's events. Not even while skeet shooting? Essentially, the fees you pay are for the opportunity to meet people and for equipment, like artillery.

While I was there as an observer, and not as a participant, it was difficult to engage the singles there. Maybe they were camera shy or maybe I left my game in my other bra, but, regardless, the vibe remained cordial throughout the evening. We started at Sluggers with an icebreaker game that tried to find out what everyone in our small groups had in common. The group I was hovering over shared three things: They were single, in their thirties and liked to drink. It's amazing they didn't all start making out right then and there. Some singles played video games beforehand, though none were brazen enough to attempt the batting cages, except me. They don't call me Swinger just because I look like John Goodman!

An improv show at IO Theater was next. And at that point it was pretty clear that no one was making any love connections, so I started trying to make some of my own, which is why, I think, the two older Russian ladies didn't join us after the show. "That's not what I had in mind by adventure!" said one of them after I asked for her number.

About half the singles stuck around for the third portion of the evening, which took us to the Cubby Bear for live band karaoke. I was grumpy, and not just because Bette Midler wasn't on the menu. But the singles themselves seemed to be having a good time. There was a certain ease about the group dynamic and some of the singles already knew each other from past adventures, which helped some. The low-pressure atmosphere created an easier space for "being yourself," which was refreshing. And even though no matches were made, at least you got the chance to play Grand Theft Auto and sing White Snake. While I'd hoped for a little more "hump" and a tinge more "variety," all in all, it wasn't a bad way to spend a Wednesday night.

Want more of Meet-Market Maven's Hump Night fun? Watch her and the singles at youtube.com

Anna Pulley, our Meet-Market Maven, has been on more bad dates than J. Lo's been to divorce court. She's been a one-date wonder and Wonder Woman. She's bi, and no she doesn't want to sleep with your boyfriend, thanks. When she's not giving advice, she enjoys theme parties for every and any occasion and working as a Carnal Consultant for Early to Bed. Buy her a drink or ask her a question already.