You could argue that dating is in a flop era right now. The proliferation of apps may make it seem like there are plenty of fish in the sea, but often the false security of a digital screen leaves people confused as to how to behave.
For anyone looking to meet someone in real life, a new initiative in McCarren Park is offering a great opportunity. Pique, a New York-based dating app, has partnered with local photographer PictureManBob for the Local Love Wall project, which makes swiping on the dating app a more tangible experience.
Here’s how it works: PictureManBob takes a Polaroid photo of you. You write a little information about yourself and what you’re looking for on a note card that’s hung on a wall in McCarren Park. Look for cute things on the wall that catch your eye, and people walking by in McCarren Park will do the same.
Since the beginning of summer, Pique has been hosting IRL dating events in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, such as meet-ups at Boris and Horton and Breeze and speed dating at McCarren Parkhouse. They launched the app in hopes of bringing some fun and authenticity back to the sometimes stressful dating process. The model looks a little different than other apps. Users answer a daily multiple choice question (QOTD) and are matched with six people who answered the same way.
“Instead of spending time swiping, users can use the QOTD to start conversations and instead spend their time putting more intention into getting to know their matches and, if desired, turning them into personal contacts,” said the Pique team Green hands. “And no matter how a particular day goes, the user can always come back the next day for a new question and a new set of matches.”
And for all the romance skeptics out there, the Local Love Wall has already seen some success. “Participants have shared stories of successful dates, and some of them have already been on their second or third date. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’ve even seen real dates start right from the wall,” said Pique, noting a similar reaction to her previous speed dating events.
The plan is to keep the wall up until the end of summer, so stop by and see what Cupid has in store for you 😉
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