Rashi Mitchell (pictured above)
Marketer, Park Slope
Was it intimidating?
Yes, because I’m usually really shy. I was just focused on making it from one side of the room to the other. But since I moved to New York from Atlanta a year ago, I’ve become a lot more personable and open to new experiences. Speed dating would have been an Atlanta “no,” but it’s a New York “yes.”
How’d it go?
Really well. I met this woman, Wagaye. I’d noticed her right away because of her hair. She had a curly Afro that just stood out. And then when I saw her face, I was like, Wow, she’s gorgeous. When we talked, she told me she was from Florida but then moved to South Dakota. We both laughed about that because I was like, “Are there any Black people in South Dakota?” She said “yes” because her family moved there, so there are like ten Black people. I got her Instagram. I hope I can take her on a real date.
Jovannye Hill
Legal assistant, West Orange, New Jersey
Christian Lindqvist
Barback, Bushwick
Jada Draffin
College-enrollment director, Westchester
Any memorable conversations?
There was definitely one. Everything started off good but took a turn when he started talking about caring for his seahorses and proceeded to show me videos of them. I felt a little awkward, but I saw a video a couple months back about seahorses, so I brought that up to fill the silence.
Katrina Sainvil
Social-media associate, Bergen Beach
Vivek Sharma
Writer, Bay Ridge
Was this your first time?
Oh, no. I enjoy speed dating because it gets me out of my house and increases my emotional intelligence. It’s like a social experiment. The more you talk to other folks, especially of very diverse personalities, the more confident you are in yourself and your personal elevator pitch.
Taylor Cooley
Fitness instructor, Upper West Side
Randy Narain
MTA maintenance worker, Richmond Hill
Lenisha Nathaniel
Occupational therapist, Harlem
Charity Gates
Lawyer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens
Charnele Crick
Videographer and editor, Woodside
Adrian Kombe
Mechanical engineer, Crown Heights
Arianna Medina
Associate scientist, Fort Lee, New Jersey
What was your last good date?
It was in Europe a couple months ago. I tried using Tinder but ended up only finding people I was attracted to in real life: one guy at the beach and another on the street. Honestly, I have trouble with American guys. I’m a person of color, and I’m queer, and I just feel like they don’t like me. Although the women love me, not to be cocky.
Yesenia Ramos
Social worker, Garfield, New Jersey
Maxine Williams
News producer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens
David Drysdale
Student, West Hempstead
Yashiema Stephens
Nursing student, Williamsburg
Was it easy to get a ticket?
No. I tried to go to the last three, but tickets go on sale at noon and sell out at, like, 12:01. I’m a nursing student with a 12-year-old, so life is pretty hectic, but I wanted to take a night off for my love life, so I was on it this time. It was worth it. One guy opened by asking who my favorite civil-rights leader was.
Audrey Blackmore
Videographer, Fresh Meadows
Brianna Ramos
College recruiter, Park Slope
Jovannye Hill
Legal assistant, West Orange, New Jersey
Christian Lindqvist
Barback, Bushwick
Jada Draffin
College-enrollment director, Westchester
Any memorable conversations?
There was definitely one. Everything started off good but took a turn when he started talking about caring for his seahorses and proceeded to show me videos of them. I felt a little awkward, but I saw a video a couple months back about seahorses, so I brought that up to fill the silence.
Katrina Sainvil
Social-media associate, Bergen Beach
Vivek Sharma
Writer, Bay Ridge
Was this your first time?
Oh, no. I enjoy speed dating because it gets me out of my house and increases my emotional intelligence. It’s like a social experiment. The more you talk to other folks, especially of very diverse personalities, the more confident you are in yourself and your personal elevator pitch.
Taylor Cooley
Fitness instructor, Upper West Side
Randy Narain
MTA maintenance worker, Richmond Hill
Lenisha Nathaniel
Occupational therapist, Harlem
Charity Gates
Lawyer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens
Charnele Crick
Videographer and editor, Woodside
Adrian Kombe
Mechanical engineer, Crown Heights
Arianna Medina
Associate scientist, Fort Lee, New Jersey
What was your last good date?
It was in Europe a couple months ago. I tried using Tinder but ended up only finding people I was attracted to in real life: one guy at the beach and another on the street. Honestly, I have trouble with American guys. I’m a person of color, and I’m queer, and I just feel like they don’t like me. Although the women love me, not to be cocky.
Yesenia Ramos
Social worker, Garfield, New Jersey
Maxine Williams
News producer, Prospect–Lefferts Gardens
David Drysdale
Student, West Hempstead
Yashiema Stephens
Nursing student, Williamsburg
Was it easy to get a ticket?
No. I tried to go to the last three, but tickets go on sale at noon and sell out at, like, 12:01. I’m a nursing student with a 12-year-old, so life is pretty hectic, but I wanted to take a night off for my love life, so I was on it this time. It was worth it. One guy opened by asking who my favorite civil-rights leader was.
Audrey Blackmore
Videographer, Fresh Meadows
Brianna Ramos
College recruiter, Park Slope
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