Lisa Loeb made her mark in music in 1994 with the number one hit, 'Stay' which earned her both a Grammy® nomination and a Brit® Award. Now at a major crossroads in life, Lisa recently ended her six-year relationship and is single for the first time in years. Now in her 30s, her latest venture is a television series called Number One Single which sees her travelling from LA to New York in search of 'Mr Right'. Here she reviews some of the latest dating phenomena coming out of the Big Apple and winging their way over to the UK
Lisa's top 3 dating crazes
'Date My Friend' parties
How does it work? For singles who would rather meet romantic interests through friends, than through a potentially awkward setup, 'Date my friend' parties are becoming an increasingly popular dating craze. Also called 'not for me' or 'not date' parties, these soirées adhere to one simple rule: All guests must be single and are required to bring at least one single friend of the opposite sex with them. Unlike typical singles events, everyone at 'date my friend' gatherings are handpicked, upping the odds for a love connection or two. 'Date my friend' parties have become so popular they've even spawned a party-planning business called Date My Friend, which has hosted parties in major cities across the US.
Lisa says: One of the best dating methods around. My friends organised one for me, but unfortunately the guy I was hooked up with sang one of my songs on karaoke and it all went down hill from there! Despite this, the likelihood is that you will meet someone you like who knows a friend of yours, or a friend of a friend so you can get some background info on them before your date!
More information: www.msn.match.com
'Airtroductions'
How does it work? A New York-based service called Airtroductions.com is helping travellers to pass their time en route by matching them with like-minded passengers. Airintroductions.com functions much like a typical dating site - fill out a profile, enter your itinerary and then search for a fellow traveller who shares your flight and some of your characteristics as well.
Lisa says: At the beginning of my show I travelled from LA to NYC and booked in for an 'Airtroduction' and it was really fun. I liked the guy but I recommend you just do this as a bit of a laugh and only do it if you are on a short flight. If you don't like him or you run out of things to talk about - you are stuck sitting next to him!
More information: www.Airtroductions.com
Cooking Classes for Singles
How does it work? A dating craze that has taken off in the States with the simple belief that the way to someone's heart is through their stomach! Several companies are betting that if you get single people together, teach them how to cook dinner - and let them enjoy the results together - you'll do more than boost culinary skills. In these classes, 'students' learn to prepare a gourmet meal, then break bread with a new group of friends - and maybe a new mate. You needn't have any culinary experience; in fact, sharing knowledge with those less or more skilled than you opens up all sorts of conversation paths. 'Having the activity of cooking to focus on made it easier to talk to people,' says Tamara Santos, who met her husband, Rick, through an event put on by Gourmet Gatherings which throws these parties in San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Chicago and Santa Monica.
Lisa says: If you are a bit shy then go for this one, it is a great ice-breaker and takes the pressure off. You might end up kneading dough with some gorgeous man! I know a friend who tried this out and had a really good time, focusing on cooking takes the pressure off and it's fun too. Even if you don't end up having a long relationship at least you will gain a new cooking skill!
More information: www.gourmetgatherings.com
'Cuddle Parties'
How does it work? The latest craze sweeping the US is the Cuddle Party, dreamed up by New York hippy guru Reid Mihalko. Groups of grown men and women don their pyjamas and spend an evening locked in non-passionate embraces or group hugs. If things get out of hand, a certified 'cuddle lifeguard' is on duty to bring things back under control. The craze has swept America since the first official party took place three months ago and looks set to hit Britain soon. Sex coach Reid, 36, describes his invention as 'affectionate play events for adults' where they can 'explore and enjoy touch, nurturing and communication'
Lisa says: I have heard of these parties and I know friends that have been to them. The thought of sitting around in pyjamas making conversation and having a 'cuddle lifeguard' watching is just too much for me though!
More information: www.cuddleparty.com
'Romance on the Rails'
How does it work' Think your everyday commute is just about getting from here to there? That may soon change thanks to Caltrain, a California commuter train that recently embarked on its maiden 'Romance on the Rails' voyage - a special section filled with singles raring to mingle and make sparks fly. Passengers are given a list of questions to ask people and are asked to switch seats every three minutes and make the rounds, speed-dating style. 'I think the way they went about it, where everybody had an opportunity to meet each other, was great,' says Dan O'Leary, a realtor from San Francisco who participated. 'It's always tough to meet new people.' Sceptics to the possibility of finding love on a train have only to meet Bill Laubenheimer and Carole Parker, who met on a Caltrain bike car and then got married five years ago.
Lisa says: Unfortunately I wasn't travelling anywhere by train so I didn't get to try this out. It sounds kind of fun - like speed-dating on the move! Speed-dating is huge in the US, a dating concept that helps you meet a number of people in a short space of time and then pick the ones you want to date. They say you can fall in love at first sight so you never know!
More information: www.msn.match.com
'The New Valentine's trend'
How does it work? If satin-covered boxes of chocolate, cards with dancing teddy bears and candlelit dinners aren't your thing, rejoice: There are now less sentimental ways to observe Valentine's Day, for couples and singles alike. Meet the Black Hearts Party (Blackheartsparty.com) - an annual New York event where around 500 sceptics dating cynics gather at a warehouse, clad in black, to drink black drinks, eat black wedding cake, play raunchy games, and write their most memorable love-gone-wrong stories on a big blackboard. 'For some people it's a hook-up party, for others it's a way to vent,' says Marc Leonard, who threw his first soiree 16 years ago in his college apartment. While couples are welcome (and strongly encouraged to spend the evening mingling rather than staying attached at the hip), singles make up the bulk of the guests. 'We've actually had a lot of couples meet at Black Hearts party, and one marriage that we know of,' adds Leonard.
Lisa says: I have never attended a Black Heart Party - it sounds slightly depressing - but I think getting together with other singles on Valentine's Day and having dinner or going to a party is a great idea. There is so much pressure around the 14th, so if you are single lighten it up and have fun with friends anyway, you never know who you might meet!
More information: www.blackheartsparty.com
Catch Number One Single starring Lisa Loeb on E! Entertainment Television (Sky 155 and NTL 170) Every Monday at 10.30pm
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