Dinner with Cupid - Boston Globe

Boston, Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T00:01:00.005-05:00

Boston, Happy Valentine's Day

Readers, thank you for your continued support of this Love Blog! We've reached almost 10,000 readers over the course of the year and couldn't do it without each and everyone of you. As a token of thanks, please enjoy a free dessert this Valentine's Day from our friends at Boston Market. Click the coupon for a printable version!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,

The Editors of the Dinner with Cupid Blog

Boorish Woman Causes Man to Lose Appetite

2012-02-12T00:01:00.005-05:00

Sherry Brody and David Sottilaro

It was an appetite of destruction for one Boston music teacher, Mr. David Sottilaro, the "cute brother" of legendary Pokemon programmer, Mark Sottilaro, in a what turned out to be a controversial and uncomfortable Dinner with Cupid. According to her date, Sherry Brody made boorish comments, causing him to feel ill at-ease and unable to eat his dinner. Ms. Brody was most appalled that Mr. Sottilaro likes to make his own coffee and would not booze it up with her on the date. How awful! Or perhaps, was Mr. Sottilaro wrong in ordering only appetizers on the Boston Globe-paid date?

Read on for the disturbing details! Make sure to comment below.

SHERRY BRODY > 45

Marketing consultant, writer, and producer

COMEDIAN WHO SHARES HER TASTE > Jerry Seinfeld

HER PERFECT MATCH > Creative but not a tattooed hipster

DAVID SOTTILARO > 44

Music teacher

COMEDIAN WHO SHARES HIS TASTE > Jerry Seinfeld

HIS PERFECT MATCH > Artistic and creative with a sense of humor

7:30 P.M. > LA MORRA > BROOKLINE VILLAGE

>THE WARM-UP ACT
SHERRY I was a little preoccupied with work, but I did manage to hit the gym.
DAVID I taught a few music lessons with my students, rushed home, and then headed over to the restaurant.
SHERRY I was on time and was waiting at the hostess stand when he came up and said who he was.

>HELLO, NEWMAN
DAVID Sherry seemed a little bit nervous.
SHERRY He wasn’t the type of guy I normally date. The date started awkward and remained so throughout the evening.
DAVID We spoke about our careers, where we were from. I usually shy away from those standard things, but I see how they are necessary.
SHERRY David repeatedly admitted how nervous he was. He drank water and I asked him what he did for a living.
DAVID The conversation seemed like typical “job interview” stuff.

>NO SOUP FOR YOU
SHERRY He said he wasn’t hungry and didn’t care to eat, which I found odd and awkward for a dinner date. He ordered bar snacks and I had a salad, pasta, and panna cotta and a cappuccino for dessert.
DAVID On a first date, I often can’t get interested in eating a lot. I like to try and focus on the person and to talk, so I suggested I would like to get a few appetizers. Sherry seemed taken aback.
SHERRY The waitress found it odd that David wasn’t eating or drinking either.

>YADA, YADA, YADA
DAVID We didn’t have that much in common, but Sherry did mention writing, which I love. Music is my main passion, but it didn’t really seem to interest her.
SHERRY We’re the same age and live in the Boston metropolitan area, [otherwise] we really had nothing in common.
DAVID At one point, I was telling a story about drinking coffee throughout the day, saying I make my first cup at home. Sherry cuttingly said, “Trying to save a buck at Starbucks?” or something to that effect, implying I was cheap. Not friendly behavior on a first date, but maybe I was too sensitive.
SHERRY At the very least, I got to speak with a pleasant person and have a delicious meal.

>ROLL CREDITS
SHERRY David is a nice guy, but not for me.
DAVID Sherry seems like a nice woman, but I knew from the very first that this was not going to work. I basically did not feel at ease with her.
SHERRY We exited the restaurant, he hugged me, and gave me his card. He walked to his car and I walked to the T.

>POST-MORTEM
DAVID B-
SHERRY C

>A SECOND DATE?
DAVID I don’t think another date is likely, but I wish her luck.
SHERRY No, we’re not a match.

Will Ostentatious Doctor's Appetite for Pate Doom Date?

2012-02-05T00:01:00.002-05:00

Courtney Davis and Ricky Saini

The opposites attract relationship between Paula Abdul and a Cartoon Cat inspired the Boston Globe matchmakers in the latest Dinner with Cupid episode. Dr. Ricky Saini, an 80's style yuppie who makes his own artisanal cider and disdains reading, was for whatever reason paired up with Courtney Davis, a punk rock librarian who enjoys dining on peanut butter and jelly. Will Dr. Saini and Ms. Davis be able to overcome their differences and find love like Ms. Abdul and the feline? Will this end horribly? Or maybe, will both parties politely compliment each other in a generic way by the end?

Read on to find out!

COURTNEY DAVIS, 25 > Librarian

VISITORS TO HER HOME NOTICE > My picture of Groucho Marx

HER HOBBIES > I make the best pies.

LAST BOOK SHE READ > The Marriage Plot

RICKY SAINI, 33 >Physician

VISITORS TO HIS HOME NOTICE > My cookbooks

HIS HOBBIES > Cooking, music

LAST BOOK HE READ > The Sun Also Rises

7:30 P.M. BLUE OX > LYNN

>INTRODUCTIONS

COURTNEY I had quite some time to kill between coming home from work and leaving for the restaurant, so I played my ukulele for a bit.

RICKY When I got stuck in traffic, I got a little nervous about being late.

COURTNEY On the drive to the restaurant, I thought to myself, “Hmm, this is kind of what I imagine bungee jumping to be like!”

RICKY As I walked in, I looked around and saw her sitting at a table in a corner.

COURTNEY Ricky seemed very sophisticated and sure of himself. He was dressed well, but not overly fancy.

RICKY My first impression was very positive. She was very pretty and well dressed. She has beautiful eyes and a very nice smile.

>THE PLOT THICKENS

RICKY The first thing she asked me was how my day had gone. Then we talked about our jobs.

COURTNEY He’s a doctor, which is an extremely admirable profession. He likes hiking and taking walks with his truly adorable dog and is a connoisseur of wine and French cuisine.

RICKY She is very well read and works as a librarian. She likes to watch classic movies, listens to independent bands, and is currently helping her friend establish a cupcake business. We had a long discussion about our families.

COURTNEY He’s from India originally, spent a lot of time in Virginia, but now loves the crisp New England weather. He makes his own cider with his friends in the autumn, which I thought was pretty neat.

RICKY She told me about having lived in London for a year and half and doing a master’s in art appreciation, which was very cool.

COURTNEY We talked a bit about French cinema and expressed a mutual admiration for the Jimmy Stewart classic Harvey. Though our music tastes aren’t exactly the same, he had heard of my favorite band.

>EPILOGUE

COURTNEY It became clear to me through our conversation that we both lead very different lifestyles (he’s pate, I’m pb&j), and my awareness of that kept any increases in attraction in check.

RICKY I had an amazing time with Courtney. I was quite taken by her charming and witty personality. However, I did not feel any sparks.

COURTNEY We both sort of figured out during the course of our conversation that we weren’t on the same wavelength. I got the impression that I wasn’t his ideal, and that was perfectly fine by me, as he wasn’t quite mine, either.

>POST-MORTEM

COURTNEY B

RICKY B+

>A SECOND DATE?

COURTNEY He’s clearly a very intelligent guy, but at one point he told me that he hates to read. As a librarian, that’s kind of a deal breaker.

RICKY I would hang out with Courtney as a friend.

Long Ride Satisfies Woman; Leaves Man Chafed

2012-01-29T00:01:00.004-05:00

Eric Ritvo and Jen Depippo

Will Somerville's Eric Ritvo and New Hampshire's Jen Depippo find forbidden love like Romeo and Juliet? Or do Slummervillians and people of New England's Answer to the South have too much natural conflict? Or is it just that an hour is too long to drive for love? Or is it that's what she said? Read on to find out!

ERIC RITVO > 37, Entrepreneur and former attorney

THE FIRST THING PEOPLE NOTICE IN HIS HOME > The paint colors, then the view from the deck

WHEN HE’S HAPPIEST > Thanksgiving with my family

HIS PERFECT SATURDAY > Apple picking, a Harley ride, dinner party with friends

JEN DEPIPPO >33, Teacher

THE FIRST THING PEOPLE NOTICE IN HER HOME >It’s nicely decorated and extremely organized and clean.

WHEN SHE’S HAPPIEST >Having a great time with friends and family

WHAT MAKES HER A CATCH? >I’m confident, levelheaded, and a “glass half full”-type person.

7:30 P.M. JOE FISH, NORTH ANDOVER

FINDING THEIR WAY . . .

ERIC Everyone has had dates that range from “that’s my future spouse” to “please come stab me so it ends,” but you have to approach every experience [as if] it will turn out amazing.

JEN I never have any expectations going into a date, never mind a blind date. I just hoped for something enjoyable and nothing disastrous!

ERIC Jen was a couple minutes late – we both had to drive quite a distance. I proceeded to wait at the bar and did an appearance check in the bathroom. I came out to discover Jen had just arrived, and the hostess introduced us.

JEN I would have been early if I didn’t get lost! When Eric came out of the men’s room, I was pleasantly surprised. Eric was dressed nicely, good-looking, and around my height – and I had heels on.

ERIC Jen seemed completely at ease. Poised. Confident. Spunky. (Wonderful smile. Cute earrings. Soft, caring eyes.) It was immediately clear that she is a people person and the conversation would flow easily.

>CRUISIN’

ERIC The first topic was obvious: How did we wind up on a blind date in North Andover? I had driven an hour (Boston rush-hour traffic), and she had been in the car [from New Hampshire] for 30 minutes. JEN There was quite some time between ordering drinks and food, which was fine, because neither one of us was ever at a loss for words.

ERIC I lived in seacoast New Hampshire for 10 years, so we shared a common admiration for people-watching on Hampton Beach.

JEN Eric let me in on his new business adventure, [told me] he rides a Harley (very cautiously). The topic of conversation was wine for a bit, and much more.

ERIC We’ve both tried sky-diving and loved it. We’ve both vacationed in Jamaica. She is a first-grade teacher, and I come from a two-educator family.

>THE TRIP HOME

ERIC The longer we spoke, I found myself more attracted to her.

JEN I left thinking, “That was a great date.” He made me laugh.

ERIC After 2½ hours, it was time to go. We realized that our waiter had closed out every table but ours.

JEN There was no exchange of numbers or contact information. I’m not used to going on blind dates, and it never really dawned on me to ask for his number.

>POST-MORTEM

JEN B+

ERIC B+

>SECOND DATE?

JEN I would go out on another date with Eric if he was willing.

ERIC I don’t think [so]. Jen is certainly a catch. But you have to factor in the drive from Boston to New Hampshire. I did not get the sense either of us wants to sign up for that much car time.

Alcohol Lubricates Pleasurable Night of Sports Injury Pillow Talk Between Two Jocks

2012-01-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

Sarah Kane and Luke Wilson

Will the non-AT&T Luke Wilson's ploy to use Oysters as an Aphrodisiac help him seduce Sarah Kane on this blind date? Read on to find out!

LUKE WILSON > 26

Staffing manager

LAST THING HE READ> ESPN The Magazine

ON A DESERT ISLAND HE WOULD WANT >Music, ChapStick, someone to chat with

WHO PLAYS HIM IN THE MOVIE OF HIS LIFE? Luke Wilson

SARAH KANE > 26

Client operations account manager

HER HOBBIES > Sports, from field hockey in college to softball on Thursday nights

ON A DESERT ISLAND SHE WOULD WANT > Pen, paper, and stamps

7:30 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD > KENMORE SQUARE

>GAME FACES ON

SARAH My co-workers wanted to set up a mock blind lunch in the conference room to help “get my mind right.” I had to settle for a five-minute pep talk in my cubicle instead.

LUKE I was a little nervous.

SARAH To say I was nervous would be an understatement.

>THE TIP-OFF

LUKE I arrived early and went to the bar for a drink.

SARAH I checked in with the hostess, and she took care of the introductions.

LUKE I thought she was attractive and had a great smile and beautiful eyes. Sarah seemed like she was really calm.

SARAH I thought he was handsome and really well dressed. He didn’t seem nervous at all.

>PLAY BALL!

LUKE We started with calamari for an appetizer. Then Sarah ordered chicken and I ordered steak frites.

SARAH The service was great. I’m pretty sure everyone knew we were on a blind date, so they were all anxious to help the cause.

LUKE Sarah mentioned that she had never had oysters before, and I love oysters, so we had a couple and she said she liked them.

SARAH Turns out Luke enjoys cooking. I think it’s safe to say he wasn’t too impressed when I told him about my usual breakfast-for-dinner routine. He convinced me to try oysters for the first time. That was fun.

LUKE We talked about pretty much everything. We were both college athletes, and we still coach on the side for a hobby.

SARAH We were able to compare injury stories – romantic, right?

>OVERTIME

LUKE After dinner we went out for a couple more drinks.

SARAH It was nice to continue the conversation.

LUKE Sarah was easy to get along with. I was so worried that I was going to meet someone who was quiet and shy. There was never an awkward silence.

SARAH I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but there was definitely a point when I noticed Luke was a complete gentleman, which would make it hard for any girl not to like him.

>POSTGAME

LUKE You could say there were sparks. We never had a dull moment.

SARAH We both remembered we had work in the morning and decided to call it a night. I am a firm believer that it’s better to quit while you’re ahead.

LUKE I helped Sarah get a cab and kissed her on the cheek.

>POST-MORTEM

LUKE A

SARAH A

>A SECOND DATE

LUKE Yes. We exchanged phone numbers.

SARAH I would go out with Luke again.

Will Taste of Woman's Special Sauce Leave Man Smiling?

2012-01-15T00:01:00.005-05:00

Todd Heyman and Nancy Hamilton

Will a former Boston lawyer, Todd Heyman, find love and smiles with fellow foodie, Nancy Hamilton, a food sauce entrepreneur? Read on to find out if there was a class action lawsuit or if the two parties would settle out of court!

TODD HEYMAN, 40, Lawyer leaving job for culinary school

HIS PERFECT SATURDAY > Run, yoga, brunch, walk, dinner

WHAT MAKES HIM A CATCH? > I’m about to give up my secure job to try out a new life.

NANCY HAMILTON, 41, Entrepreneur in the food business

HER PERFECT SATURDAY > Run or yoga, coffee, swimming, dinner

HER PERFECT MATE > I want someone who is confident and a risk taker.

7:45 P.M. 80 THOREAU, Concord

>PREHEAT

NANCY I did yoga in the morning and had a drink before I left for dinner.

TODD I tried to figure out how long it would take to get to Concord and whether I should trust my GPS.

NANCY I was a few minutes late, and he was sitting next to the hostess stand when I walked up the stairs.

>FIRST BITES

NANCY They sat us immediately, so there wasn’t much time for a first impression. I can’t remember who started talking first, but it wasn’t awkward at any point.

TODD She seemed at ease, joking around. Our friends both put us up to doing this.

NANCY Dinner was delicious. I had the tuna and Todd is a vegetarian, so he had a sweet-potato something.

TODD I had no idea that Concord had such high-end food.

>TRYING SOMETHING NEW

TODD Shortly after we started talking, I could tell Nancy was genuine and nice and we would get along.

NANCY We talked about where we were from, school, and then got into where we’ve traveled. He has never been married and I’m divorced with a 10-year-old. He didn’t seem fazed by that, which is good.

TODD She left a job to go back to business school and start a business selling cooking sauces, which I thought took some courage and was pretty interesting. She also has a daughter who is an accomplished swimmer.

>THE MAIN COURSE

TODD As the night went on, we realized that we shared some interests. We both do yoga, run, and have an interest in food.

NANCY We both like to entertain. The weirdest commonality was that we both want to ultimately run some sort of inn or B & B on an island. We have both lived outside the US, so we had expat experiences in common. It was fun to relive travel experiences, as we’ve both been to quite a few places, some in common.

TODD She is a nice, smart, attractive woman. I also admire people who give up their jobs to try new things out or go back to school.

>AND FOR DESSERT . . .

NANCY We had to take a photo and it was weird to do it where they seated us. The restaurant was emptying out, so we went to a place around the corner.

TODD We were the last people to leave. We had a pleasant goodbye and exchanged numbers.

NANCY He texted me to make sure I made it home, which was nice.

>POST-MORTEM

TODD A-

NANCY B+/A-

>SECOND DATE?

TODD I would think we would see each other again.

NANCY I think we will be friends, and it would be fun to see each other again.

Man's Rite Aid Cologne Seduces 'Good Looking' Bank Manager

2012-01-08T00:01:00.003-05:00

Chris Callagy and Kathryn Fruggiero

Will a drugstore cologne unite these two "finance" workers? Read on to find out how a trip to Rite Aid may have worked wonders for Mr. Callagy with Ms. Fruggiero date!

KATHRYN FRUGGIERO > 29

Assistant bank branch manager

WHAT HER EXES SAY > I’m a planner. I am very loving.

WHAT MAKES HER A CATCH? > I’m outgoing, fun, and good-looking.

HER PERFECT DATE > Dinner, cocktails, and laughs

CHRIS CALLAGY > 31

Recently laid off from a job in financial services

WHAT MAKES HIM A CATCH? > I’m fun and a gentleman.

SECRET HOBBY > Sometimes I watch a little too much HGTV.

WHO PLAYS HIM IN A MOVIE > Matt Damon . . . or Conan O’Brien

7:30 P.M. ZOCALO, SOUTH END

>ALL INDICATORS POINT TO YES

KATHRYN I worked all day, and it was hectic as always, so I did a little retail therapy to help me relax. I was definitely nervous but excited at the same time.

CHRIS I had a good workout earlier in the day and stopped by Rite Aid to sample the latest cologne from Men’s Health.

KATHRYN Since I arrived first, I was at the bar and saw a guy walk in and come to the bar. I could tell he was looking for someone, so I asked if he was Chris.

CHRIS I thought she was cute. I like brunettes and was happy with Cupid’s choice. She seemed very relaxed, but then again, my mom says I have that

effect on women.

KATHRYN He looked nice, seemed relaxed and calm. I asked him where he lives, where he’s from, what he does for work – the usual 20 questions.

>ONE WAY

CHRIS We had guacamole before the meal and both ordered the chicken enchiladas.

KATHRYN We actually have a lot in common. We both spend time on the Cape and are beach people, we both work in the finance industry, we have both lived on the west coast of Florida, love to travel, and have a similar sense of humor.

CHRIS We are both sick of traffic on summer drives to the Cape, and we are looking forward to the always promised Cape Cod Canal tunnel. Conversation was easy. She had a lot of interesting things to say, was a good listener, and seemed interested to know more about me as well.

KATHRYN I felt really comfortable from the start of the date and that increased even more over the evening.

CHRIS I definitely got more comfortable as the night went on. Good margaritas and good conversation made the awkwardness of a blind first date disappear.

KATHRYN We kept the conversation pretty light.

CHRIS No deal breakers were shared.

KATHRYN I’m not sure about “sparks,” but there were a lot of laughs.

CHRIS I thought things went well at the beginning, but when we both ordered the chicken enchiladas, I knew it was meant to be!

>BACK SOON

KATHRYN We both were up to grab another cocktail, so we went to the Brahmin,

[a bar] next door, and had another drink.

CHRIS I thought [it] was a great idea. I was enjoying myself.

KATHRYN Unlike some first dates, the end of the night wasn’t awkward.

CHRIS It involved a nice goodbye, a quick kiss, and an exchange of phone numbers.

KATHRYN I gave him my number and told him to call me.

>POST-MORTEM

KATHRYN B+

CHRIS A-

>SECOND DATE?

KATHRYN I might. We got along well, and I had fun.

CHRIS Yes, I would go on another date.

Preppy Guy Meets Fast and Furious ATV Driver

2012-01-01T00:01:00.008-05:00

Henry Pynchon and Ainsley Onstott

Will a woman named Ainsley who enjoys a fast ride find love on the first date? Read on to the find out the untainted details!

HENRY PYNCHON > 27

Investment bank financial reporter

A PERFECT DATE > A lot of laughs and a lot of good food and wine

LAST BOOK HE READ > The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides

HE’S LOOKING FOR > Mrs. Right

AINSLEY ONSTOTT > 26

Nonprofit special events manager

HER IDEAL MATE > Brown hair, blue eyes, fit. He would have a good job.

WHAT HER EXES SAY > I am caring, a great listener, always there for friends. I can be a perfectionist.

7:30 P.M. TRADE > WATERFRONT

>WARMING UP

HENRY I like to meet new people, but it’s not every week I get set up via the Globe Magazine, so it didn’t feel like a typical first date.

AINSLEY My job requires me to meet new people on a regular basis, so this is something I have become relatively comfortable with.

HENRY We showed up about 45 seconds apart.

AINSLEY I walked up to the hostess stand and he had just walked in. He said, “Are you by any chance Ainsley?”

HENRY It was pretty convenient, actually.

>THE STARTING LINE

AINSLEY I thought he was cute. Preppy, dressed nicely, but not overdoing it.

HENRY Ainsley seemed very relaxed from the beginning of our date. She was tall, well-dressed.

AINSLEY We headed to the bar and got drinks before we went to our table. We talked about where we were from and where we live now, small talk. It was raining so we talked about where we had to walk from.

>ZERO TO 60

HENRY We shared a starter of fried squid. She ordered the rigatoni, which was recommended by our server, and I ordered the skirt steak.

AINSLEY We seemed to have a lot in common. Our conversation touched on friendly topics such as our families, friends, education, and sports.

HENRY Ainsley likes to drive fast; she told an entertaining story about driving ATVs in Mexico on vacation, but I won’t go into details.

AINSLEY I felt more comfortable as the date went on. We seemed to get along pretty well. We joked how we were both pleasantly surprised with who we ended up with.

HENRY It was nice making her laugh.

>PHOTO FINISH

AINSLEY I have been on a few bad dates – I just wanted the night to be over before dinner. Luckily, I never felt this way [with Henry]. If you both want to stay for dessert, which we did, that is a good sign.

HENRY Ainsley was clearly intelligent, which I find very attractive. She was well spoken. I became more attracted to her as the night went on and I learned more about her.

AINSLEY We probably could have sat there and chatted for the whole evening, but 2½ hours is long enough for a first date. You have to save something to talk about next time.

HENRY After dessert wrapped up, I got our coats from the coat check. I asked if she would like to go somewhere else for drinks, but she had a work obligation. She gave me her number and told me to call.

>POST-MORTEM

AINSLEY B+ (I am a tough judge!)

HENRY A, for sure

>SECOND DATE?

AINSLEY We had a lot in common, and we have already talked a bit since the date.

HENRY I would like to get to know Ainsley more.

UMass Chef Seduces Ms. Knowles with Jazz

2011-12-18T00:01:00.004-05:00

John Hendron and Christina Knowles

It was a hot ZooMass date in latest Dinner with Cupid! Chef John Hendron met with Lobbyist Christina Knowles (no relation to Beyonce) in what became a sexy night for the two UMass alums. Will a invite to some 'Jazz' end with more to come? Read on to find out!

JOHN HENDRON > 30, Chef

LAST THING HE READ AND ENJOYED > An article on the dangers of factory farming

HIS IDEAL MATE > A woman with purpose, drive, and a seriousness about life

CHRISTINA KNOWLES > 28, Senior public policy specialist

WHAT MAKES HER A CATCH > She’s ambitious, believes in equality for all people, and lives life by the golden rule.

HER EXES WOULD SAY > She’s too affected by the injustices in the world.

8 P.M. RED LANTERN > BOSTON

>TUNING UP

JOHN I had the day off, so I was home cleaning up from weekend guests.

CHRISTINA I didn’t do much pre-date prepping. I tried to touch up my makeup and said a prayer that it wouldn’t rain on my walk over to the restaurant.

JOHN I was calm beforehand. I was excited to check out the restaurant.

CHRISTINA We were both a little bit early, which was good. I like punctuality.

JOHN The hostess pointed her out to me. Her hair was long and straight and looked nice from behind. I put my hand on her shoulder and asked if it was her. I thought she was cute.

CHRISTINA I was relieved! John was handsome and a good height. I’m tall, and he was taller than me, which I like.

JOHN She suggested a drink at the bar.

>PERFECT HARMONY

CHRISTINA It was apparent right from the start that we’re both good at making conversation. That made things easier.

JOHN We talked about where we grew up, our families, and siblings. We realized we both went to UMass Amherst.

CHRISTINA I love to cook, so it was fun to hear about his job as a chef and the different places he’s worked. It was refreshing to be out with someone who works in a totally different industry.

JOHN It was clear she is as passionate about [her job] as I am about my career.

CHRISTINA He didn’t seem fazed by my line of work, which was great; I’ve met some gentlemen who were not down with the political thing.

JOHN I was clearly attracted to her. She seemed very confident and comfortable in her own skin. It seemed to me we had a lot in common and it was working out.

CHRISTINA A deal breaker would have been if he professed his undying support for Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann. Luckily, he didn’t seem to be harboring a deep love of the GOP – or if he is, he concealed it well.

>IMPROVISATION

JOHN Toward the end of dinner we talked about music. I suggested we go to Wally’s jazz club, since the Tuesday night house band is phenomenal.

CHRISTINA It sounded like fun, and I was into continuing the evening.

JOHN We found seats near the stage and ended up staying until closing. I was glad we continued the night; I thought we seemed to have good chemistry.

CHRISTINA John knew people there, so we hung out with his friends, one of whom decided that my figure resembled that of Marilyn Monroe’s. For the rest of the evening everyone in the group proceeded to call me “Marilyn.” This was both hilarious and a little embarrassing. I guess I have next year’s Halloween costume lined up.

JOHN I got her number, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and said goodnight.

CHRISTINA John texted me that he had a fun night, and I wrote back that I did, too.

>POST-MORTEM

JOHN B+

CHRISTINA A-

>A SECOND DATE?

JOHN I would. I like her style.

CHRISTINA There’s a good chance there’s a second date in the future.

Will a Senior's Vitamin Story Lead to Silver Loving?

2011-12-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

Ismet Isman and Jane Burke

Read the raw details on the Ismet Isman and Jane Burke encounter! Come back later this afternoon for some detailed analysis on this mature Dinner with Cupid in Plymouth date!

ISMET ISMAN - 66

Retired maitre d’

THE LAST THING HE ENJOYED READING > AARP Magazine

WHAT MAKES HIM A CATCH > Reliable, honest, caring, sincere. Wants to be happy with his future queen

JANE BURKE - 52

Waitress

HER INTERESTS > Interior design, driving her convertible VW bug, Aretha Franklin

WHAT SHE’D NEED ON A DESERT ISLAND > Indoor plumbing, cute flip-flops, and lipstick

6 P.M. ALDEN PARK BAR AND GRILL > PLYMOUTH

>ALL ABOARD

ISMET I went to a nearby mall for a one-hour morning walk, then went for coffee, then some grocery shopping. I came home to start getting ready.

JANE I was busy all day and didn’t have time to think to much about it. I was nervous, but went into it with an open mind.

ISMET I arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes to 6, and I ordered a blueberry-lavender lemonade.

JANE I was late; my GPS failed me and I had to call for directions.

ISMET The hostess brought her to the table. I got up and greeted her. My first impression was very positive; she looked very nice, bright, pleasant, and pretty.

JANE [I thought] that he looked like an acquaintance of mine. [We talked about] how nervous we were about being on a blind date; it was a first for both of us. He is from Turkey but became a US citizen so he could vote. I thought he was very interesting. We talked about life, interests, hobbies, travel, family, and work.

ISMET I discovered that she works in a restaurant with her brother. She likes to cook and I do the same.

>SAIL AWAY

JANE We had a lot in common. We both are in the hospitality industry. He worked on a cruise ship for 17 years and I had just gone on a cruise.

ISMET I told her I want to go on a cruise as a passenger, not as a crew member.

JANE We shared an appetizer. We each had dinner and shared dessert. Everything was very good. I would definitely go back to the restaurant.

ISMET I wanted her to feel comfortable during our date, and I often tried to open her up. [We have] several things in common: She takes vitamins, so do I, and I told a little story regarding vitamins.

JANE We got more comfortable with each other as the date went on. We didn’t run out of things to talk about. I enjoyed his company.

ISMET At one point, I thought that I really liked her, but I did not [get] my hopes up. I am not sure what impression I left on her. I was scared that she would say, “You are not my kind.” She also [stayed] low-key. Maybe I was not [what] she was expecting.

>BON VOYAGE

JANE It was getting late and he wanted to get home. I think he gets up early.

ISMET We had our cappuccinos and signed the bill. It was getting late and I asked if she would like to leave. She said yes. We got each other’s phone numbers.

JANE He walked me to my car, kissed my hand, and said goodnight.

ISMET I kissed her hand – but no kiss [on the mouth], no hug. I wished there was but . . . I opened her car door for her, said goodbye. Since we were driving, I said to her “Follow me,” as I was going [in] her direction.

>POST-MORTEM

JANE B

ISMET A

>A SECOND DATE?

JANE Nothing romantic; maybe a friendly lunch or dinner.

ISMET Yes, I would like to go out again with her.

Nude Degas Heats Desire on MFA Blind Date

2011-12-04T00:01:00.016-05:00

Lauren Brousell and Dale Jalkut

Will this date at the Museum of Fine Arts between Lauren Brousell and Dale Jalkut mirror the canvas nudes on the wall? Come back later for some Art History analysis on this sexy MFA blind date! For now, read the raw details below!

LAUREN BROUSELL > 23

Editorial assistant

FIRST THING PEOPLE NOTICE IN HER HOME > The creaky floors
HER IDEA OF THE IDEAL MATE > Tom Brady

DAVE JALKUT > 25
Sales operations analyst
FIRST THING PEOPLE NOTICE IN HIS HOME > A 6-foot painting of a neon pink girl. It is hideous!
WHO PLAYS HIM IN THE MOVIE > Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights

7:45 P.M. BRAVO, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS > Boston

>BLANK CANVAS
DAVE I was cutting it pretty close after work, so I raced home to change.
LAUREN I wanted to make sure I could find the exhibit, so I grabbed a map and made my best educated guess on where we were supposed to meet. I was mostly focused on trying to not get lost.
DAVE I was completely relaxed. I just crossed my fingers and hoped for [the] best-case scenario.
LAUREN We found each other outside the exhibit. Finding someone in a museum is a challenge. He came right up and asked if I was Lauren.
DAVE The MFA is not the easiest place to navigate. I knew it was her because we both walked up at the same time with the same confused look on our faces, like “Is this where I’m supposed to be?”
LAUREN He was cute. I don’t typically like long hair, but I think it worked on him. He was dressed like a gentleman, which was nice to see. I liked the scruffy unshaven look, too. I think he carried it well.
DAVE She was an attractive girl with a nice smile and once she realized she was in the right place, a lot more relaxed.

>GALLERY TALK
LAUREN He seemed pretty much on the same wavelength with me. He was friendly and interested in talking – no awkwardness at all.
DAVE Neither of us are really “museum” people, so we just wandered around and laughed a lot at what we were looking at.
LAUREN It helped to break the ice. We didn’t pay too much attention, just wandered, talking the whole time, trying to get to know each other.
DAVE We were easily the loudest people in the museum.
LAUREN He was funny, definitely had some good commentary as we were looking at art and sculptures. I think he understood my sense of humor.
DAVE During the dinner we talked about college, where we had recently been on vacation, our jobs, and the various crappy TV shows we both watch. Both of us are drawn to really bad reality TV.
LAUREN We ordered the lobster bisque, beef Wellington, and a white chocolate dessert. It was all delicious. We talked about everything, from our similar taste in music to our favorite TV shows, like Entourage.
DAVE She had a great sense of humor.
LAUREN He reciprocated the witty banter. He stayed focused on me and seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying.
DAVE Right away we seemed to have a very good back and forth.

>DRAWING TO AN END
LAUREN It was a work night and getting late, so we decided to head out.
DAVE I had my car valeted, so I walked her back to the garage where she parked. We exchanged numbers and said we would get together soon.

>POST-MORTEM
LAUREN B+
DAVE A++

>A SECOND DATE?
LAUREN I’d be open to it. It takes longer than one date to tell if I’d have romantic feelings.
DAVE Yeah, I think we could go out again.

'Cut and Dry' Man Finds Short-Haired Woman Attractive

2011-11-27T00:01:00.003-05:00

Rachel Syzman and Derek George

This week's South Shore Sexy Dinner with Cupid date features Rachel Syzman and Derek George, both graduates of UMass-Amherst. Will this Minuteman be bewitched by this pixie-haired Minutelady? Read on to find out!

RACHEL SZYMAN - 28
University program coordinator
WHAT PEOPLE NOTICE FIRST IN HER HOME > Her 12-pound guard dog

HER IDEA OF THE PERFECT MATE > Colin Firth

DEREK GEORGE - 30
Investment product specialist
LAST THING HE READ > The Count of Monte Cristo - They call ’em classics for a reason.
WHAT MAKES HIM A CATCH > He is genuine, fair, and honest.

7:30 P.M. BRIDGEMAN’S > HULL, MA

>DIVING IN
RACHEL I considered way too many outfits and attempted to get every piece of white dog fur off of my coat. I probably used five sticky roller sheets.
DEREK I looked at the menu and made sure I knew how to find the restaurant. I was pretty calm, slightly optimistic. The only thing I was a little nervous about was her not showing up.
RACHEL I was unexpectedly nervous. I must have had that blind-date look about me. The host greeted me by name, brought me to the second floor, and introduced me to Derek.
DEREK She is definitely a woman who can have short hair and look good. Her face is really pretty. She has a beautiful smile and nice skin.
RACHEL I thought Derek was nicely dressed and pleasant looking. Derek seemed calm, calmer than I was!
DEREK She didn’t seem nervous at all. She ordered a drink, not wine, which I liked.
RACHEL We had a calamari appetizer. Our meals came with salads too. I was stuffed by the time the entrees arrived. I was glad to have a doggie bag.

>OPENING THE FLOODGATES
DEREK We talked about all the things I would expect on a first date: where we came from, where we live, work stuff.
RACHEL We both have large families and attended UMass Amherst. Derek loves baseball. He studied abroad in Spain during college.
DEREK We both came from the same area, although my town is probably considered more blue collar.
RACHEL I relaxed once we sat down to dinner. Derek made me laugh out loud a number of times, which helped me relax.
DEREK A couple times I got her to genuinely laugh, which is usually a very good sign for me. I felt at ease almost the entire time. There were not a lot of awkward pauses or silence. The first couple minutes and the last couple minutes were the only parts where I was not completely comfortable.

>A WASHOUT?
RACHEL The end of the date was a tad bit awkward. I felt like we had exhausted most first-date topics. The conversation died – complete silence. The waiter asked if we wanted dessert and we both said, “No, thank you!”
DEREK I felt it ended rather abruptly. I paid the check, she finished her drink, and we got out of there.
RACHEL Derek was a gentleman and walked me to my car. I shook his hand and said it was nice to meet him.
DEREK We had a professional goodbye; I was expecting something a little warmer.

>POST-MORTEM
RACHEL B-
DEREK B

>A SECOND DATE?
RACHEL I would like to see if a second date was better. Neither of us asked for one another’s contact information. I didn’t think of it till I got home. Doesn’t seem like a good sign!
DEREK I don’t think we’ll go out again. I don’t think she’s looking for someone as cut and dry as I am.

Bush-Loving Snooki Look-Alike Meets 'Not My Type at All' Hipster

2011-11-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

Amanda Pluta and Corey Plante

Will Amanda Pluta, a George Bush-loving Snooki look-alike fall in love with Corey Plante, described by Ms. Pluta as "not my type at all"? Will this be a Jersey Shore disaster? Don't you love reading my questions? Read and comment on the latest Boston Dinner with Cupid episode below!

AMANDA PLUTA > 25

Property management consultant

HER DREAM JOB > Being a sportscaster for NASCAR
LAST THING SHE READ AND ENJOYED > Decision Points, by George W. Bush

COREY PLANTE > 22
Production assistant
ON A DESERT ISLAND, HE’D NEED > Notebook and pen to write down random ideas
HIS DREAM JOB > Screenwriter, author, or English literature professor

7 P.M. BELLA LUNA > JAMAICA PLAIN

> SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED AMANDA I spent the day visiting friends and family out in Western Mass.
COREY I took a nap on my friend’s couch before [the date] so I’d be nice and rested. But come to think of it, I almost wish I had downed a beer to calm the nerves!
AMANDA I was few minutes early and had the waitress bring me to the table. It made no sense to wait at the bar.
COREY I had some issues with the train and wound up getting there at 7:04 p.m., so nothing too crazy.

> GETTING A TASTE
AMANDA [He was] young and had a hipster vibe. Not my type at all.
COREY I was honestly pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous she was. When I got there, she was halfway through a martini.
AMANDA I had ordered the drink special of the night called Bad Romance (a premonition, perhaps?).
COREY We talked about her martini choice. It was [called] Doomed Love, or something silly like that, so I joked that it hopefully wasn’t some sort of premonition. Thinking back, it was a terrible joke to open with.
AMANDA Corey was a really sweet and genuine guy. I learned he studied martial arts for 10 years and lives in Rhode Island. We played two truths and a lie. He told me he’s lactose intolerant. I don’t think I could ever live without ice cream!
COREY One thing that amazed me was that at one point, Amanda was the fifth best tap-dancer in the world. I’m still surprised even when I think about it. We played two truths and a lie, but she did two lies instead. That threw me for a loop!

> SOBERING UP
AMANDA Corey is just out of college and still trying to figure out his future. We’re in very different places in life. I think we shared a mutual understanding we weren’t meant for each other but were both willing to have fun.
COREY Amanda was really nice, mature, and down-to-earth and I really liked that about her. I wouldn’t be surprised if me admitting to living at home with my parents was a deal breaker for a mature 25-year-old woman, but it’s definitely a temporary thing. It was intimidating, knowing that she was older and really successful. Amanda is pretty enough to be stuck-up or mean, but totally isn’t.
AMANDA Toward the end of dinner, I was ready for it to be over. Corey and I shared a great conversation but never broke the friendship barrier for me. We exchanged numbers and I gave him a hug goodbye.
COREY She dropped me off at the station and we said goodnight and hugged goodbye.

> POST-MORTEM
AMANDA B-
COREY A

> A SECOND DATE?
AMANDA Corey is someone I would like to work with on a group project, but would never date.
COREY I think it’s certainly possible. I’ll have to text her and see.

Female Counselor Excited Math Teacher 'Was a Good 5 or 6 inches'

2011-11-13T00:01:00.014-05:00

Katelyn Welch and Jack Haley

Read on for the juicy details of the date between disability counselor Katelyn Welch and mathematics teacher Jack Haley in this week's Dinner with Cupid episode. Leave your comments below.

KATELYN WELCH > 25

Counselor for adults with disabilities

HER INTERESTS > Photography, art, kickball
HER PERFECT DAY > Beach, barbecue, then head into the city to dance the night away
JACK HALEY > 28
Math teacher

HIS PERFECT SATURDAY > Watch SportsCenter, work out, head to a dance club
HIS IDEAL MATE > The girl next door [with a] sweetheart aspect to her

7 P.M. DANTE > CAMBRIDGE

>ONE PLUS ONE
JACK [I] got home from school, worked out, shaved, and showered. I wasn’t nervous, so it was business as usual.
KATELYN I got ready, then listened to some music on the train to relax myself.
JACK I was pretty fired up, actually. I had never been on a blind date before, and I’d often thought how fun one would be.
KATELYN I was definitely nervous, but I remembered that I had nothing to lose.
JACK I got there early, so I had a drink at the bar. A hostess brought Katelyn over. She was cute and had a nice smile.
KATELYN He was attractive. He had a beard and it was well groomed, much to my enjoyment. He had nice eyes and a nice smile. I couldn’t tell how tall he was at first, but after he got up, I could tell he was a good 5 or 6 inches taller.
JACK [She was] extremely calm – almost to the point where I thought to myself, “Does she do this often?” I found out later it was her first blind date, too.
KATELYN He seemed very at ease and excited to get the date started.

>EQUALS ZERO?
JACK We talked about everything from work, school, old cars, music, sports, you name it. We seemed to shift topics quickly, since we really didn’t have much in common to elaborate on.
KATELYN I learned that he went to college to be a radio DJ but realized it wasn’t right for him. I also learned about his current job [as] a middle school math teacher, which I thought was really cute. Also, I learned he got a new car recently, which he is really excited about.
JACK Cape Cod and country music were really the only two things we had in common, and I feel like we talked about them as much as we possibly could. I had the deepest conversation about Taylor Swift that I’d ever had.
KATELYN Overall, I enjoyed his company. Conversation flowed pretty easily.
JACK I sensed her vibe and realized it didn’t mesh with mine. She seemed really calm, which unfortunately brought my excitement level down. Her saying that she “didn’t have the energy” to go out into Boston on weekends confirmed what I’d thought. I’m the total opposite: I have tons of energy and love going out.
KATELYN It was a first date, and for a blind one, I was pleasantly surprised.

>FINAL TALLY
JACK The night seemed to end at the right time – we were both getting tired.
KATELYN He was a gentleman and walked me to the T even though I led us in the wrong direction. He told me he was glad I turned out to be normal. We exchanged numbers and hugged.
JACK The goodbye wasn’t really pressure-packed. She seemed like a genuinely nice person who just wasn’t my type.
>POST-MORTEM
KATELYN A
JACK B
>A SECOND DATE?
KATELYN Well, we exchanged numbers so we’ll see what happens.
JACK No. We’re two totally different people, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The search continues for the girl next door who loves fun . . . and me!

What Time is Millionaire Matchmaker On?

2011-11-11T11:11:00.005-05:00

Patti Stanger and Too Much Cleavage

The editors here at the Dinner with Cupid Blog are big fans of Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker. We recently conducted an affinity analysis with a local advertising consultancy and discovered that many of our readers also love to watch Millionaire Matchmaker. The dating tips of Patti Stanger have even influenced one spinning Dinner with Cupid date.

Recently, our office DVR failed to tape the latest two episodes due to Bravo moving the show's air date. What time is Millionaire Matchmaker on? A look at a search ad for the show and the Bravo website did not clear up the confusion.

The search ad says Millionaire Matchmaker is at a "new night" on Thursdays at 9pm, while Bravo.com says Tuesdays at 9pm. Which time is right?

Turns out the advertisement was wrong, and the Bravo website is correct. Millionaire Matchmaker's 2011 Season Five is on Tuesdays at 9pm. If you missed any episodes, you can always find it on Amazon On-Demand too.

Dinner Theater Date Turns XXX

2011-11-06T00:01:00.018-04:00

Andy Boyd and Amanda Hines

A night at the theater turned into some probable XXX action in the latest, steamy Dinner with Cupid episode. Mirroring a scandal recently exposed by South Park, sales specialist Andrew Boyd benefited from the subtext of theater to help seduce his blind date, account executive Amanda Hines. At one point the sexual chemistry turned so palpable on their Broadway-style date, Ms. Hines lamented that she and Mr. Boyd were in a "family friendly venue." Read more to find out how the date ended between these two sexy Boston singles. Thanks to South Park, Boston's theater district is surely going to experience a surge in ticket sales from the male demographic.

Broadway Gets You Blow Jobs

ANDY BOYD, 27, salesman at 3M

WHAT’S THE LAST THING HE READ? How To Win Friends and Influence People

HIS HOBBIES Fitness, healthy living, sports, cribbage, being social, and cocktails

AMANDA HINES, 27, advertising account executive at Isobar

HER HOBBIES Rides motorcycles, loves photography, performs in Mortified Boston

WHAT MAKES HER A CATCH She’s loyal, a great listener, and can roll with the punches.

7 P.M. MYSTERY CAFE, ELEPHANT & CASTLE PUB AND RESTAURANT > BOSTON

>PRELUDE TO A KISS?

AMANDA I had a kickball tournament all day, so I didn’t have time to be nervous.

ANDY Workout, lunch, college football, cafe Americano en route. No nerves, just great anticipation.

AMANDA I got there and ordered a glass of wine and watched college game day highlights. I missed an entire day of football and wanted to get caught up.

ANDY I struck up a conversation with the bartender; minutes later, a young lady occupied the seat to my left.

AMANDA He leaned over and asked if I was Amanda. Turns out he was sitting next to me!

ANDY Hey now! Beautiful (long, wavy) brunette hair, hazel eyes, and a ridiculously contagious smile.

AMANDA He’s handsome, a pleasant surprise, given the blind date horror stories my friends shared. Great smile, tall, nice hair, well dressed – definitely all pluses.

>OPENING ACT

ANDY When she engaged me in an intense conversation about Southeastern Conference college football, I knew we were going to make it through dinner.

AMANDA We lost track of time and almost missed the beginning of the show.

ANDY She’s been all over the world, loves food and wine, the Celtics and the Bruins, whole foods and Irish whiskey. She is very much a people person, like me, and we ended up knowing everyone at our table. We talked about Vegas, her upcoming birthday bash in South Beach. Oh, and she rocks a motorcycle eight to 10 months out of the year!

AMANDA [We had] lots [in common]: both lefthanded, really into fitness/nutrition, love for travel, drink whiskey on the rocks, consider the Fourth of July a favorite holiday. The list goes on .

ANDY We actually ended up challenging each other to find something we didn’t have in common and . . . I forgot the results, which leads me to believe that we didn’t come up with any.

AMANDA His sense of humor and spontaneity won him points. He was easy to talk to (not to mention easy on the eyes).

ANDY Yes, there were sparks . . . plenty.

AMANDA There was a mutual attraction. It was a family-friendly venue; I wanted to keep it classy.

>GRAND FINALE

ANDY I was quite excited to continue the date; we still had a lot to learn about each other and were both still thirsty! We enjoyed beverages at two locations: cocktails at Kingston Station, [then] a nice little French spot. We caught the last 10 minutes of a three-piece jazz set.

AMANDA After Les Zygomates, we decided to call it a night. We got lost, but Google Maps got us back where we started. He asked if he could kiss me good night; I said yes. Why? Why not?

ANDY We spun the bottle . . . and won.

>POST-MORTEM

AMANDA A-

ANDY A

>A SECOND DATE?

AMANDA Yeah, I think there’s a good chance for a second date.

ANDY Definitely down for Part Deux.