Asheville Speed Dating

September 9, 2012
Rather than the standard tags of "Beer City," "Cesspool of Sin," and freaks running amok, some people have oft complained about the dating scene here. [...]Asheville's a lot of fun to date in," said Katherine, 43, who with Sharon took over Speed Dating five years ago and has witnessed matches, marriages, even parenthood among couples who met during that quick format.

January/February 2009
Read about our Speed Dating and Networking tips!

Click here to see them or read the Verve Article below:

Asheville’s speed dating and networking experts weigh in.

The hardest part about dating is showing up, says Katherine Morosani, who founded Original Asheville Speed Dating two years ago with business partner Sharon Fenchak. The pair hosts monthly two-hour speed dating events that cost $20, and, as Valentine’s Day approaches, their events fill up. Morosani, whose day job is in e-business for Volvo Construction Equipment, also runs monthly Ladies Who Lunch networking luncheons, an ironic group name, since many women she knows never leave their desks for lunch, much less take a break to meet people.   

For time-crunched singles, or really anyone looking to make a meaningful connection, Morosani and Fenchak offer these pointers: 

Never misrepresent yourself. Outside of the usual stuff—understating your age or overstating your income—there are even more devious ways to mislead. Like married men who show up looking for dates. Asheville is a small town, says Morosani. People will eventually figure it out.

Show up mentally as well as physically. Listen to what the other person is saying instead of just nodding your head. And remember, everyone is as nervous as you.

Know your deal-breakers, but ask about them tactfully. Asking if he smokes is fine, but asking if he wants to be the father of your child is not. If it’s an easy deal-breaker—he hates cats, but you have three—there’s no need to waste your time and energy. Move on.

Temper your expectations and make your own fun. It’s up to you to offer conversation, ask questions and get what you want out of the experience. “People with great personalities win at speed dating,” says Fenchak. It helps to think about what you want beforehand.

Don’t blow people off. If something doesn’t work out, at least communicate with the person and follow up. “You never know who people know,” Morosani says. Someone may not be right for a date, but they could introduce you to Mr. or Mrs. Right. In the meantime, they might also make a good friend.

Hurry! Call 828-242-2555 or visit www.AvlSpeedDating.com.

The Speed Daters donated 225 pounds of food and $75 cash - With the food alone, we fed 150 people! Manna Food Bank Thanks the Speed Daters generosity!

February 28, 2008

ASHEVILLE — This may go down as the most romantic — and definitely most time-consuming and original — marriage proposal in years.

If ever.

Take a handsome, Furman-educated law enforcement professional and introduce him to an adventurous Englishwoman and the heart sparks seem to fly off the charts.

Brad Casanova — yes, that’s his REAL last name — pulled off a proposal involving a 17-destination scavenger hunt, a nearly seven-hour ordeal that took three months of planning, in order to give his bride-to-be a memory to last a lifetime.

Corina Round, a 25-year-old leasing agent from Surrey, England, now living in Asheville, considers herself the luckiest woman alive and said her fiancé should have a gift tag upon him that reads: “To Women: Love, God,” because he’s “God’s gift to women.”

An unexpected match

It all started out as unconventionally as it ended. Casanova wanted to check out Asheville’s Speed Dating to see if it would be a fit for another organization in which he belonged.

Round, who also does freelance writing and public relations, decided this time last year to help with working for Speed Dating.

Neither expected to make a connection, but as the two chatted for the allotted seven or eight minutes, they realized a connection had struck.

At first it was awkward. When Brad asked where she was from, Corina replied in her British accent, “Surry,” and he thought she was saying “Sorry.”

He also had another little problem. Fear. He was scared to ask Corina out.

Two weeks later, as luck would have it, he saw her walking downtown toward a local restaurant.

“I didn’t think I had a shot,” this handsome cop said. “I happened to see her and stopped to say hello.”

“That’s how it began,” Corina said, of the romance that started this time last year.

Cont'd http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880227111