EasyDates (because ‘DifficultDates’ was too hard a sell?)

Name: New York Easy Dates (http://www.nyeasydates.com)
What it is: Speed-dating, i.e. talking to about a dozen random people for strictly four (or five, or eight) minutes each
Cost: $37
COUPON CODE: Try typing "welcomeback" (without the quotes) in the promotional code box for $7 off. It may only work if you’ve gone to a New York Easy Dates event in the past, but it’s worth a shot. Or try "last minute" for events less than a week away.
Random fact: Speed-dating was invented by a California rabbi in 1998 as a new form of matchmaking.

The scoop: Before this past year, I’d found my first and only speed-dating experience five years ago excruciating. But when a friend was interested in trying it recently, I gave it another shot – and we had a surprisingly good time! It’s actually fun (or funny, depending on who you meet) – because how can you possibly take the idea of “dating” ten people for four minutes each seriously? You can’t. You just have to laugh. So if you’re going to try speed-dating for the first time, try to go with a friend if at all possible. Not only will you be less nervous, you can debrief afterward about everyone you met (which can be even more fun than the event itself).

And if you’re in the New York City area, start with New York Easy Dates (http://www.nyeasydates.com/) which hosts events primarily in Manhattan (and a few in Brooklyn). Of the companies I’ve tried, they seem to attract the nicest, most educated and interesting people, in my experience (not that I didn’t also meet a few weirdoes, but if you become a regular reader of this blog you’ll soon see that, like bacteria and Britney Spears articles, you can find weirdoes ANYwhere). Plus, New York Easy Dates is the only one that serves food like cheese and crackers, chicken wings and mozzarella sticks during the break. I’m all about the complimentary snacks.

The nice thing about speed-dating is, you meet people and see how normal they are in person right away, as opposed to the endless e-mailing that is an occupational hazard of online dating. And you only get each other’s e-mail address if you both choose each other, so you don’t have to worry about crazies getting your contact information – if you don’t like ‘em, just don’t pick ‘em.

My dates: The most recent New York Easy Dates speed-dating event I attended had the theme of “creative and artistic singles (and those who want to meet them).” The bar was cute but tiny. I’d only been there five minutes when I spotted Way-Too-Fast, and it was all I could do to keep from groaning out loud. I first met Way-Too-Fast at a previous speed-dating event two months ago, and went on one real date with him afterward. We each had one drink, and the next thing I knew we were kissing in his car and he was asking me to go back to his place for the night. He seemed genuinely surprised when I turned him down because, oh, I don’t know, I BARELY KNEW HIM! “I’ll call you,” he said as he dropped me off at the train station. “I won’t hold my breath,” I thought.

Sure enough, he never called. And now I’d have to speed-date him. Again. Blech. Since there were a few more women than men, at times I’d have no “dates” and pull out a newspaper to read. When Way-Too-Fast was sitting at the table next to me, I couldn’t help overhearing him say, “Oh yeah, I can see you’re getting some muscle” as he squeezed his date’s arm – exactly the same line he’d used on me (and probably a hundred other women). Unable to take it anymore, I got up and started grazing at the snack table. When the bell rang signaling it was time for our date, Way-Too-Fast came right over to me, asking, “You weren’t going to abandon me, were you?”

I said, “I figured we didn’t need the whole four minutes.”

“Sure, we do – we can catch up!” he said. Uh-huh. I asked him why he said he’d call me and then never did. That’s what bothered me. Why didn’t he just say, “I had a nice time, thanks, have a good night,” like an honest person?

First he claimed he hadn’t said that he would call. Then he said he’d been busy because his sister lost her job and he’d had to help her find a new apartment -- plus he’d taken on a new project at work. “I’m not B.S.-ing you!” he insisted. “Besides, you could’ve called me.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve read He’s Just Not That Into You! I know the deal!” is what I should’ve said. But instead I just said, “Oh, I figured you wanted more than I was willing to give,” and devoured more cheese and crackers.

So. That was awkward. But I did meet ten other creative men – filmmakers, writers, actors, musicians. An interesting bunch. The next morning I checked off my three favorites on the New York Easy Dates web site. I have a mutual match with one guy so far, and we’ve been sent each other’s e-mail addresses -- we’ll see if anything comes of it. They only tell you how many mutual matches you have, so it’s possible all these other men picked me that I didn’t choose -- or at least, that’s the ego-trip I can choose to indulge in. Ha!