10 places to meet a man for the holidays

You can’t escape an evite to a holiday party. Every organization hosts them: employers, churches, college alumni groups, and the list goes on and on. Holiday gatherings are a great way to reconnect with old friends and to meet new friends. The opportunity to attend parties translates into an increase in opportunities to expand our social circle which can lead to more than just a winter boo!

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I have several friends who work for the company Steve Jobs built, and the data I hear is very compelling. In just one store in New York City, over the course of one year, four marriages and 12 commitment relationships were reported – that’s better odds than most online dating sites! Once you go Mac you don’t go back!

Bing: Finding things to talk about

It is important to emphasize “weight room” and not just the gym, in general. Women work out just as frequently (if not more frequently) as men. So next time you’re working out, walk over to the free weight area and no matter what gym you’re in, you’ll see that the ratio jumps to 1 billion men to 1 woman -– bingo! Even if you’re not interested in what you see, there is nothing wrong with a little friendly flirting… just say “Who can spot me?” and you’ll have your pick!

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If it starts with a “W” -– it’s a good look! Whole Foods & Wegmans are my favorite. Traditionally, supermarkets have been named as great grounds for meeting single guys. Take that a step further and frequent the aisles at high-end grocery stores and you’re likely to find a good catch. Anyone spending that much money on groceries is serious about their health and most likely their lifestyle, and he can probably cook.

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Home improvement chains are loaded with men. You can’t walk in one of these big-box stores without seeing an abundance of available guys roaming the aisles for tools, fixtures, wood — and dates. These stores even offer classes on home repair and construction projects. Debbie Mandel, author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul, explains the appeal: “Men are looking for self-reliant women who can fix things and take some of the responsibility off them.” She adds, “Some weddings have been celebrated at the Home Depot where the couple originally met!”

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Alignment in political affiliation is considered by many experts as a top determinate for a successful romantic relationship. Political fundraisers offer a quality of man willing to not just commit their time but their money to a cause.

Bing: Dating politicians

As we know from the hit movie “Social Network,” the origin of the biggest online destination in the world was simply a dating site. I personally use Facebook to match clients and have been very effective. One of my two marriages as a matchmaker came from an initial Facebook introduction. However, the tricky part with Facebook, just like with any online dating site, is how it is used.

When we volunteer, we dedicate our time to our passions and values. There is no better qualifier to meet “Mr. Right” than our values. There is no better expression of your values than the giving of your time. I so strongly believe in this concept that I have started organizing massive school rebuild projects called Give Love Build Hope. The purpose is to bring singles together to volunteer time and connect with like-minded individuals. If you are interested in our Jamaica School Project, go to givelovebuildhope.org

I travel from DC to NYC frequently and have personally witnessed a gold mine of men in my state-to-state excursions. Men hand out business cards like one of those people handing out free Bourbon chicken at the food court in the malls. The fact that these men are on the train and not a bus (no disrespect to my Mega Bus friends because you’ll catch me riding it on occasion) is a good sign… unemployed folks don’t take the train across the state line.

Hate it or love it, 1 out of 5 committed relationships is a result of an online dating site. As a power user of several online dating sites myself, I can tell you that even though many people say online dating sucks… it really doesn’t. Nothing is wrong with online dating tools. What does suck is how many people use sites not best suited for their needs or don’t spend enough time using the tools provided. Used effectively, online dating delivers results — more than 500,000 people who marry each year as a result would agree.