Racing towards romance. Speed dating parties in Moscow

  Racing towards romance 18/10/201019:07Overworked Muscovites looking for love find their refuge at speed-dating parties© Photo Courtesy of r-gorod.ru/english

Racing towards romance

by Lidia Okorokova at 18/10/2010 19:07Moscow, a city that never sleeps (according to DJ Smash’s 2007 single), has yet another activity to offer both locals and new transplants:speed-dating. On autumn and winter evenings, young and single Muscovites descend upon speed-dating parties to meet new people – and possibly their soulmates.

Speed-dating parties are organised by various dating companies across the city and are usually held in restaurants and nightclubs.
“We offer our clients a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere of a restaurant or a nightclub that we book only for them,” Maria, a party organiser, said.

On average a speed-dating party lasts two hours. During this time, 20-30 men and women get to get to know each on 10-minute mini-dates, each of them marked by a sound of a gong.
“Some 15 per cent of our clients are expats, so our services are available both in Russian and English. Our hostess speaks perfect English,” Maria said.

Speed-dating is considered a fairly safe way for people to find a partner, if they lack time for traditional searches.
“It used to be only for businessmen, but now other professionals come to our parties,” another speed-dating organiser said.

The origins of speed-dating © Photo / Courtesy of r-gorod.ru/englishThe ideal atmosphere for a speed-dating party is both romantic and relaxed.

It’s been 12 years since the first speed-dating event took place: Pete’s Café in Beverly Hills hosted the first known speed-dating party in 1998. Since then, speed-dating has spread across the US and crossed the Atlantic,  eventually reaching Moscow.
Today speed-dating is becoming more and more popular among residents of Moscow – perhaps because Muscovites’ lifestyles have been growing increasingly hectic and going on regular dates is a hassle. Where to speed date
Dozens of speed-dating societies and clubs are located around Moscow. The average price for a party ticket is 1500 roubles ($50) – it usually includes both a spot in your age group and a drink. Upcoming speed-dating parties in Moscow: Romantichesky Gorod
Phone: 8(926)610 1095 (English), 8(495)507 7213 (Russian)
When: Thursday, Oct 21st, 7 p.m.
Where: Restaurant Zarubezhye, Taganskaya metro (circle line), Ulitsa Nizhnyaya Radishchevskaya 2
Age Group: Women – 22-32, Men – 23-47
Price: 1800 roubles
http://www.r-gorod.ru/english/