I couldn't even tell you all the ways people meet these days. There's all that online stuff: Facebook, Myspace, Friendster. There's the chance encounter over lunch at the street meat cart; love-at-first sight at a dinner party; an alcohol-fueled hook-up after a show. Your well-meaning real-life friends arrange not-so-hot blind dates; your parents wonder why you haven't found "the one".
Such is the messy dating life. But if you pretty much work all day then head home, it can be hard to meet people; even more so in this hide-behind-a-computer age.
To get back to face-to-face encounters, try one of Rochester's many singles groups. These are low-key forums you can use to make friends and network, but the hope is you'll stumble on some sparks. Here are a few gems:
Single Volunteers of Rochester
Members of this group sign up online to attend local volunteer-based events. On its website, the group says its objective is to "fulfill the volunteer needs of non-profit organizations in the Rochester area while having fun and meeting other single people."
The only requirement to join is that you've gotta be 21 or older and unmarried. The events are usually two to three hours long and are meant for groups of six to 20 people, a mix of men and women. Social activities -- lunch, dinner, or drinks - precede or follow each event. The next one takes place Monday, March 24 at Southeast Ecumenical Ministry (SEM) where volunteers will pack food bags. On Tuesday, March 25, there's a social dinner at Mykonos (3423 Winton Place) with cocktails at 5:30 and dinner at 6 p.m. You must sign up for the events at the group's website(singlevolunteers.org/svrny); walk-ins are not accepted.
The Rochester Singles Meetup Group
This group is out to have fun, and its aim is to get singles interacting at all sorts of events: think dinners, movies, and bumper cars. Last week it went rock climbing at Rock Ventures on University Ave; it hosts a happy hour/dinner on Wednesday, March 19, and there's a movie and dessert night on Friday, March 21. The events are all organized through meetup.com - you RSVP that way - but the group leader kindly hands out his cell number in case you can't find the group. For more information, check out rochestersinglesgroup.com
Parents Without Partners
This group's for single parents. It has over 150 members and runs three basic types of events: Educational (often group discussion led by a professional); family (these include the children at potluck suppers, hikes, picnics, camping, etc); or adult social/recreational activities that get the parents together not as parents but as singles.
This group meets the third Thursday of every month at the First Baptist church of Fairport (92 S Main St). On the third Friday of the month, social dances are held; call for info. Dinners and wine and cheese parties have also been recent events, but the group's big upcoming event is a singles weekend at 1000 Acres Dude Ranch in Stony Creek. For more information call 251-3647, check parentswithoutpartners.org, or find the Rochester chapter at groups.msn.com/pwp0683.
Cupid.com/PreDating
This is a monthly event that lets you "pre-date" people - essentially, screen would-be dates - by talking to them for six minutes. It's all organized by the people at cupid.com, and their involvement is supposed to cut down on the awkwardness of the first meeting. It costs $45 and happens at Mex (295 Alexander St); the next event is for ages 22 to 34 and happens on Tuesday, April 8. For more info check pre-dating.com/speeddating/ROC.php.
The Cloverleaf Squares
A western square dancing and round dancing singles club, The Cloverleaf Squares holds dances every Sunday through May at the First Baptist Church of Chili (3182 Chili Ave.). After May the venue changes; check the club's website at cloverleafsqaures.org or call 987-5972 for updates. It's $4 for members and $5 for guests to get in. The club also hosts other events including hayrides, horseback trail rides, picnics, clambakes, and more.