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Hey Chicagoland Singles!
Let’s be real. Dating-app scrolling is essentially another member of your doom-scrolling lineup nowadays. The difference between popular dating apps and social media apps like Instagram and TikTok is that with dating apps, you are almost always sold the illusion that the boo of your dreams is a swipe away.
But here’s the plot twist: America is starting to swipe left on dating apps and right on real-life connection. Match Group (Tinder parent company) and Bumble are facing user churn and revenue declines (Read further to see the data).
Speed dating has been making a comeback recently. Eventbrite data shows that in 2023 and 2024 there were more than 1.5 million searches for dating and singles events, proof that singles are hungry for face-to-face chemistry again. (Source: AskMen – “Is Speed Dating Making a Comeback?”)
IRL (In real life) events are coming back and are here for you. And in my opinion, you will see more in the coming days to meet the growing demand.
So saddle up! If you have lost hope in finding your boo, it’s time to start believing again!
Singles Events Happening This Week
Even if some of the events below are booked, you have an option to add yourself to a waitlist for many of them. So don’t lose hope, you could be a last minute entry!
Tuesday, October 7
Meet IRL | Curated Speed Dating | Women’s tickets sold out! (Ages 35-49) -Oct 7 @6:30pm - Solemn Oath's Still Life, Chicago
Break The Ice Social Events | Singles Social Mixer – Schaumburg Fox & Hound (Ages 25-45) — October 7 @ 6:30 PM • Fox & Hound (Schaumburg, IL)
Wednesday, October 8
Chicago First Dates | Singles Ages 30s & 40s – In-Person Speed Dating (Ages 30s & 40s) — October 8 @ 7:00–9:00 PM • WineStyles Norwood Park
CitySwoon | Speed Dating | Chicago | Singles Event 7212 (Ages 33–45) — October 8 @ 7:30 PM • Carnivale, West Loop, Chicago
Thursday, October 9
Meet IRL | Curated Speed Dating | (Ages 30-39) -Oct 9 @6:30pm - Hopsmith, Chicago
Shuffle Dating | Speed Dating (Ages 32-42) (Ages 32–42) — October 9 @ 7:00 PM • Albion Manor, Chicago
West Town Social Club | Thirsty Thursday Singles Night (Ages 35+) – Oct 9 @7pm – The Low Horse
Friday, October 10
Jigsaw Dating | Chicago Singles Event: Ping Pong Social (Ages 25–45) (Ages 25–45) — October 10 @ 6:00 PM • SPIN, Chicago
Thursday Events | Singles After Dark at Bandit (Ages 21+) — October 10 @ 7:30PM • Bandit, West Loop (Chicago)
Saturday, October 11
Jigsaw Dating | Chicago Singles Event: Speed Dating (Ages 25-45) at Coffee Shop (Ages 25-45) — October 11 @ 3:00 PM • October Cafe, Chicago
In Good Company Singles and Friends | Meet & Greet Mixer (Ages 30+) — October 11 @ 6:00 PM • Tony Spavone’s Ristorante, (Bloomingdale, IL)
Jigsaw Dating | Chicago Singles Event: Happy Hour Mixer (Ages 25-45) (Ages 25-45) — October 11 @ 7:00 PM • Never Have I Ever, Chicago
Sunday, October 12
Break The Ice Social Events | Singles Social Mixer – New Lenox Cooper’s Hawk (Ages 25-45) — October 12 @ 1:00 PM • Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, (New Lenox, IL)
Chicago First Dates | Single Professionals, 20s & 30s – Westmont, IL (Ages 20s & 30s) — October 12 @ 5:00–7:00 PM • Neat Kitchen & Bar (Westmont, IL)
Chicago First Dates | Single Professionals, 30s & 40s – Schaumburg, IL (Ages 30s & 40s) — October 12 @ 5:00–7:00 PM • Finn McCool’s Irish Sports Pub (Schaumburg, IL)
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Data Point of the Week:
Tinder/Match Group
Metric | Decline |
Workforce cut | 13% |
Paying users (YoY decline) | 5% |
Source: “Tinder Parent Match Group Cuts 13% of Jobs, Paying Users Decline,” MSN
Source: “Tinder Parent Match Group Cuts 13% of Jobs, Paying Users Decline,” MSN
Bumble
Metric | Decline (YoY) |
Bumble revenue | 7.6% |
Bumble paying users | 11% |
Source: “Bumble App Revenues Decline; User Churn Bigger Threat to Growth,” Nasdaq
I’m not showing this data to bash dating apps. If you find your boo on Hinge or Bumble, amazing! In fact, swiping and showing up at singles events might just double your chances of meeting your future boo.
I show this data because the way we want to meet is changing! As the demand for IRL connections like speed dating and mixers grows, companies like Match Group and Bumble will likely evolve to serve that craving for real chemistry.
So keep your apps if you like, but remember, your next great match might not come from an algorithm. It might come from a smile across the room!
Know a single friend who’d love Where’s Your Boo? Forward this email to them, or send them this link to sign up!
And a Sneak Peek into a Few Events Coming Up in the following weeks:
Shuffle Dating | Shuffle Dating Chicago Events (Ages 33-45) — October 15 @ 6:30 PM • The Parlour at Park & Oak (Glen Ellyn, IL)
Throwback Dating | The Ultimate Gen X Singles Party (Ages 45–60) — October 18 @ 7:30 PM • Galeria, Near North Side (Chicago)
Single Professionals, 30s & 40s ‒ Westmont, IL (via Chicago First Dates) — October 19 @ 5:00-7:00 PM • Neat Kitchen & Bar, Westmont (IL)
Tantra Speed Date | Tantra Speed Date® - Chicago! (Meet Singles Speed Dating) (Ages 18+) — October 25 @ 5:30-8:30 PM • Moksha Yoga Center, Armitage & Wicker Park (Chicago)
OnLoveXperiences | Halloween Bash (Ages 35ish to 50) – Oct 29 @5:30pm – Chicago Chop House (River North)
MeetIRL | Meet IRL Singles Only Halloween Party (Show us your best costumes!) (Ages 21+) — October 30 @ 6:30 pm • Hoste, Chicago
‘Where’s Your Boo?’ is also partnered with Variants.
Looking for a word game experience with a modern twist! Well look no further! Variants sharpens your mind just like other popular word games, but the challenge is different. Guess five words with a special constraint!
Check it out at this link!
That’s it for this week.
And as always, thank you for reading another edition of Where’s Your Boo?. Your boo is waiting for you. So get out there, and let us know how it goes!
And for more, subscribe to Where’s Your Boo?