Inside Our Dating
Game Soirée on February 2nd, we hosted something refreshingly different from
the usual singles gathering. Instead of quiet mingling and awkward
introductions, our Dating Game Soirée was designed to spark real connection
through laughter, creativity, and shared experiences. And judging by the number
of guests already asking about the next event, the night delivered exactly what
people were hoping for.
Guests traveled from across the city and beyond, with attendees coming even from Brooklyn. The room reflected the beautiful diversity within our community, bringing together Ashkenazi, Georgian, and predominantly Bukharian Jews in one energetic space, held at the Millennium Hall in Queens. The atmosphere was warm, lively, and full of possibility, and yes, it didn’t hurt that many attendees (108 to be exact!) were remarkably good – looking and genuinely open to meeting someone new, not just a soulmate, but any other new people who resonated with them for the new connection in future life – work, business, recreation…
To encourage connections, guests participated in a simple
anonymous matching system. Everyone wore name tags with numbers, and if someone
caught their interest, they could discreetly place both numbers on a heart –
shaped sticky note and into a box. Anonymously! Quickly! And throughout the
entire night! This created excitement and curiosity while keeping things
comfortable and pressure – free.
The night unfolded through a series of interactive games.
We started with a playful Red Flag / Green Flag round, where guests voted on
dating scenarios, debating everything from sharing social media access to
living with parents after marriage. The discussions were animated and often
hilarious, instantly breaking the ice. Next came interest – based group
challenges, where guests joined tables based on shared passions: travel,
cooking, business networking, and creative arts. Each table faced its own
challenge, from designing the perfect fruit platter to inventing jobs that
don’t yet exist, or writing a four – line comedy skit about marriage. Teams
competed, winners were crowned, and strangers quickly became teammates and
friends. Then came the crowd favorite: speed dating. With just 45 seconds per
conversation, participants exchanged quick questions and impressions.
Ironically, the biggest challenge was getting people to move on to the next
partner, as many were already deep in conversation.
The highlight of the evening in my opinion was my live
version of The Dating Game, where one bachelorette questioned three unseen
contestants separated by a divider. After hearing their answers, she chose her
match purely on personality. And what a great match that was! Handsome, smart,
romantic and very kind soul. Once revealed, the new couple received a dinner
certificate to King David restaurant (one of the event sponsors), with their
first date scheduled on the spot, much to the audience’s delight.
As the evening wound down, guests enjoyed music and light
mixology, though many wished the night could continue longer. DJ Sebastian (one
of the event sponsors) kept the energy high throughout with music and live
performance, ensuring the dance floor stayed active between games.
Events like this are never possible without incredible
teamwork. Special thanks go to Yelena Kalendareva, whose creativity, dedication
and lack of necessity to sleep – put in countless of hours, and brought the
décor, materials, and countless details to life. A heartfelt thank you also
goes to Dr. Zoya Maksumova, who masterfully organized the event from start to
finish by pulling the strings and making the calls to get an arsenal of
incredible people on board who achieved miracles. And of course, gratitude goes
to all the women and volunteers whose efforts made the evening run so smoothly.
Most importantly, many guests left having made real
connections, and several promising matches were formed. That alone made the
evening a success. And judging by the repeated question of the night, one thing
is certain: everyone wants to know when the next Dating Game Soirée will be. Stay
tuned.
Еugenia Aronov (JEKA)
Event Host, Author, Actress, CPA
