The Best Place to Meet If You're Looking For:
A Hot Guy
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And at Viking Home Chef classes in San Francisco, there are firefighters. "A lot of the firemen take the 12-week series," says Viking's Irene Towler. "Every fireman needs to take his turn cooking in the firehouse, and if they can't cook they hear about it." Towler recommends "macho" classes like "Grilling and Broiling" or "Steak and Potatoes." Better yet, sign up to be a prep assistant. You'll have to chop veggies before class, but you'll pay less and interact more with your classmates. Firemen often go the prep route because they like hands-on work. But watch your fingers, Towler says. "These fireguys are hot!"
Classes are at 3527 California St. (in Laurel Village). They cost $49; $389 for a 12-week series. Call (415) 668-3191 or go to www.homechef.com.
A Low-fat Lover
Whether you're a health nut or just in the market for a little eye candy, Trader Joe's is your one-stop shop. "We get good-looking people putting quality food into their quality bodies," says one TJ's crew member. "I used
to come here all the time to check out women before I became an employee." Or, in the succinct assessment of another crew member: "It's goin' off all the time!" There are two Trader Joe's in San Francisco, at 3 Masonic Ave. (at Geary) and 555 Ninth St. (at Bryant).
A Thespian Experience
If your love life is a one-person show, you can stage a comeback at BATS Improv. General manager John Kovacevich calls BATS courses "the great hidden love connection." Classes are 16 students max, with an even number of men and women. In the six-class beginner series, "people learn to be relaxed, take risks, and be themselves. It's a great environment
to get to know someone," Kovacevich says. "Everyone in my class hooked up," adds one student. "We would all get together beforehand for a drink and then go act our asses off!" Classes are at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The series costs $220. Call (415) 474-6776 or go to www.improv.org.
A Good Wonking
Maybe it's time to start thinking with the big head. At Commonwealth Club Inforum events, the cerebral sparks fly as the 20-to-30-ish crowd debates burning issues of the day. Founder Nicole Grant created the group to lure brainy professionals from behind their newspapers. There are now more than 1,000 members, so it's not difficult to make a connection at the pre-event socials and happy-hour gatherings. Inforum speakers in the past have included Alexandra Pelosi and Ethan Hawke. Inforum meets three times a month at locales in San Francisco. Call (415) 597-6700 or go to www.commonwealthclub.org.
A Real Dog
Barking up the wrong tree at the singles bar? Unleash your passion at the dog park instead. Claudia Kawczynska, editor of Bark, a Berkeley-based canine zine, recommends César Chávez Park at the Berkeley Marina. So do Sarah and Lawrence Wolfson, who met there while walking their dogs. "You can tell a lot about someone based on what he looks for in a dog," says Sarah (whose husband owns a husky-shepherd mix). "Etchings
are out," agrees Dr. Alan Beck, coauthor of Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship. "Now it's ‘Do you want to come back and meet my dog?'" Tails really start wagging at the César Chávez evening socials. Cheese and wine are provided, but BYOD. Dog park evening socials take place at César Chávez Park at the Berkeley Marina on the last Friday of every month. call (510) 869-5686 or go to www.bpfp.org/AdoptAParkGroups/CesarChavez/.
A Movie Buff
"Microcinema" films are short, raw, and shown everywhere from cafés to parking lots. They're way cooler than indie flicks. In San Francisco, regular screenings are held at a club called 111 Minna. Buy a beer, grab a spot on the floor among the youngish crowd, and peep features that run the gamut from Super-8 to Japanimation. There are plenty of intermissions when you can start a conversation. If the evening doesn't end in romance, at least you'll have reveled in the melodrama of My Love, My Umbrella.
Shows are $5 and run the first Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m., 111 Minna St., S.F. Call (415) 864-0660 or go to www.microcinema.com.
A Raving Beauty
The Arête Center for Excellence seminar, held in Mendocino every six weeks, explores "the human being as revealed and celebrated in community." Or as Austin Powers would say, Groovy, baby! Arête's instructors are graduates of leading relationship and sensuality organizations. Over three intensive days and nights, they teach their 14 to 18 students to be seen for who they really are and to see others in the same nonjudgmental light. Cofounder Jerry Candelaria says that "a lot of people have found their partners here because people learn how to be real with themselves and each other." The Mendocino seminars are $595. Call (510) 231-6913 or go to www.aretecenter.com.
A Speed Queen
Calling Erik Estrada. Gay traffic violators commiserate, cruise, and discharge their points at Joey Randall's Gay...community Traffic School. For eight hours, students trade traffic jokes and play "Traffic School Jeopardy." Randall says classes are bumper-to-bumper because "people know they're going to meet others they might be interested in." An instructor at Randall's L.A. school teaches in drag, so watch what you say about women drivers. Classes meet weekly. Call (800) 429-4968.
A Giving Person
If your social cause includes a good time, check out Debauchery for Donations, where you can mix with hundreds of young philanthropists. Founded post-9/11 by eight San Franciscans, the party series is meant to raise money and hormone levels, says cofounder Lisa Ludwig. "The chance of meeting someone special at one of our events is very high." The group has organized four events so far, including Disco for Diabetes and the '80s-themed Don't Stop Believin' benefit for lung cancer research.
Tickets are $20. Go to www.sfdebauchery.com.
A Sloppy Kiss
Last year it was Hi Fi, the year before, City Tavern. Now the Marina District's hottie spot is the raucous Bar None. "You can't dance on the bar," says general manager Mark Lyons, "but a lot of girls have tried." Patrons buy more Jägermeister here than at any other bar in the city. Weekends are rowdiest, but Thursdays ($3 cosmos) are also packed. Any night is good to get phone numbers—the problem might be matching them to a face in the morning.
Bar None, 1980 Union St., S.F. Call (415) 409-4469.
A Home Run
Nothing like a little competition to get the heart racing. At the Golden Gate Sport and Social Club, you can join a coed league and play anything from softball to flag football. Then the real action begins, as everyone meets at the evening's sponsor bar for drinks. "We're not a singles service," says general manager Mike Murphy, "but people are out on the field sweating and bumping into each other. It sets the mood for attraction." Call (415) 921-3235 or go to www.playinthebay.com.
A Real Knockout
If you don't mind a few cuts and bruises—or, even better, if you're into that kind of thing—a bloody good way to meet lesbians and gay-friendly gals is by joining a women's rugby team. Even if you've never played the sport, they'll show you the ropes. After games there's beer guzzling and drinking songs that'd make a frat boy blush. "During a game, you'll knock the crap out of the opposing team," promises Carrie Peterson, president of the San Francisco Golden Gate Women's Rugby Club, "but when the game's over, you're all sisters." Email Carrie Peterson at cpeterson@hotmail.com.
A Copilot
Singles life is daunting enough. Might as well try it 2,000 feet in the air. Works for Bodhi Kroll, owner of San Francisco Hang Gliding and the only
guy in town guaranteed to sweep you off your feet. On singles day he plays Cupid for solos, prescreening classmates to ensure mutual interest. Students soar over Mount Tam and later talk about their first time over dinner and cocktails at Stinson Beach. Sessions are $349. Call (510) 528-2300 or go to www.sfhanggliding.com.
A Valley Guy
Finding action in Napa Valley can be like squeezing wine from a turnip. Unless you park yourself on a stool at Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa. The 15 spots around the bar are a magnet for local singles, who range from twentysomething restaurant staff to seventysomething retirees living at the Silverado Country Club. Gals get attention with no expectation besides lively conversation. "You definitely meet a lot of people here. The bar is friendly and fun," promises Aaron Rodriguez, one of several single and charming bartenders. Bistro Don Giovanni, 4110 St. Helena Hwy., Napa. Call (707) 224-3300.
A Space Cadet
You can quit scanning the horoscope and consult the cosmos directly at the Lawrence Hall of Science. The hilltop museum hosts saturday-night stargazing with uninhibited views of the constellations, planets, even the occasional shooting star. Etiquette discourages lights and loud talking. But sharing telescopes, chatting quietly, and asking questions are encouraged. What better way to meet a kindred soul than under a blanket of stars, whispering about the mysteries of the universe? The group meets the first and third Saturdays of the month at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley. Call (510) 642-5132.
A Dance Partner
Consuelo Faust knows how personal a dance studio can be. Faust, the artistic director of Rhythm & Motion Dance Center, met her husband while teaching a class. "When people dance, they open up," she says. Especially at Rhythm & Motion's "Barefoot Boogie" improvisational dance jam, the center's most popular class, which attracts 50 to 100 men and women. There's no instructor, just an open space for connecting with the people around you. The music ranges from world beat to oldies. It's a great way to learn about your body—and someone else's. Rhythm & Motion Dance Center, 1133 Mission St., S.F. call (415) 621-0643.
A Good Feeling
Every month, 30 or so people sign up online through the nonprofit One Brick to sort canned foods, spackle drywall, or build playgrounds, all for that feel-good feeling. Well, mostly. "We dangle a social carrot to get people off their butts," says One Brick executive director Dave Shefferman. When the good deeds are done, the crowd of young One Brick volunteers gets together for dinner and drinks. Go to www.onebrick.org.
A Little Coppolation
The suburban woman fell in love with a caveman, and the circus freaks
got amorous. Just another night at Zoetrope Live Story. Orchestrated by Francis Ford Coppola, the monthly events feature local actors dramatizing a work of fiction from Coppola's literary magazine, Zoetrope, at Café Niebaum-Coppola. The atmosphere gets intimate as the restaurant fills to capacity with fiction and theater aficionados. Some even stay for dinner.
Zoetrope Live Story is the first Tuesday of each month at café Niebaum-Coppola, 916 Kearny St. (at Columbus), S.F. Call (415) 788-7500 or go to www.all-story.com.
A Fine Wino
When you're tired of those wine-tasting parties for one, head for the Hayes and Vine Wine Bar, where you can share your love of the grape with other oenophiles. The soft music and low-key vibe at the white onyx bar encourage conversation. The place is popular with thirtysomething women but attracts a regular crowd of varied vintage. Hayes and Vine Wine Bar, 377 Hayes St. (between Franklin and Gough), S.F. call (415) 626-5301 or go to www.hayesandvine.com.
A Savior
For 15 years the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church has been a mecca for singles on the path to flirtation. Father John K. Ring's Young Adult Group involves hundreds of eligible Catholics in activities from tutoring Tenderloin kids to river rafting. Ring has even nudged 80 of them to the altar.
"People don't center on themselves here," he says. "They form a community through their worship and service." Amen to that. And who's the hot blonde in the back pew? St. Vincent de Paul, 2320 Green St. (at Steiner), S.F. Call (415) 922-1010 or go to www.svdp-sfparish.org.
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And at Viking Home Chef classes in San Francisco, there are firefighters. "A lot of the firemen take the 12-week series," says Viking's Irene Towler. "Every fireman needs to take his turn cooking in the firehouse, and if they can't cook they hear about it." Towler recommends "macho" classes like "Grilling and Broiling" or "Steak and Potatoes." Better yet, sign up to be a prep assistant. You'll have to chop veggies before class, but you'll pay less and interact more with your classmates. Firemen often go the prep route because they like hands-on work. But watch your fingers, Towler says. "These fireguys are hot!"
Classes are at 3527 California St. (in Laurel Village). They cost $49; $389 for a 12-week series. Call (415) 668-3191 or go to www.homechef.com.
A Low-fat Lover
Whether you're a health nut or just in the market for a little eye candy, Trader Joe's is your one-stop shop. "We get good-looking people putting quality food into their quality bodies," says one TJ's crew member. "I used
to come here all the time to check out women before I became an employee." Or, in the succinct assessment of another crew member: "It's goin' off all the time!" There are two Trader Joe's in San Francisco, at 3 Masonic Ave. (at Geary) and 555 Ninth St. (at Bryant).
A Thespian Experience
If your love life is a one-person show, you can stage a comeback at BATS Improv. General manager John Kovacevich calls BATS courses "the great hidden love connection." Classes are 16 students max, with an even number of men and women. In the six-class beginner series, "people learn to be relaxed, take risks, and be themselves. It's a great environment
to get to know someone," Kovacevich says. "Everyone in my class hooked up," adds one student. "We would all get together beforehand for a drink and then go act our asses off!" Classes are at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The series costs $220. Call (415) 474-6776 or go to www.improv.org.
A Good Wonking
Maybe it's time to start thinking with the big head. At Commonwealth Club Inforum events, the cerebral sparks fly as the 20-to-30-ish crowd debates burning issues of the day. Founder Nicole Grant created the group to lure brainy professionals from behind their newspapers. There are now more than 1,000 members, so it's not difficult to make a connection at the pre-event socials and happy-hour gatherings. Inforum speakers in the past have included Alexandra Pelosi and Ethan Hawke. Inforum meets three times a month at locales in San Francisco. Call (415) 597-6700 or go to www.commonwealthclub.org.
A Real Dog
Barking up the wrong tree at the singles bar? Unleash your passion at the dog park instead. Claudia Kawczynska, editor of Bark, a Berkeley-based canine zine, recommends César Chávez Park at the Berkeley Marina. So do Sarah and Lawrence Wolfson, who met there while walking their dogs. "You can tell a lot about someone based on what he looks for in a dog," says Sarah (whose husband owns a husky-shepherd mix). "Etchings
are out," agrees Dr. Alan Beck, coauthor of Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship. "Now it's ‘Do you want to come back and meet my dog?'" Tails really start wagging at the César Chávez evening socials. Cheese and wine are provided, but BYOD. Dog park evening socials take place at César Chávez Park at the Berkeley Marina on the last Friday of every month. call (510) 869-5686 or go to www.bpfp.org/AdoptAParkGroups/CesarChavez/.
A Movie Buff
"Microcinema" films are short, raw, and shown everywhere from cafés to parking lots. They're way cooler than indie flicks. In San Francisco, regular screenings are held at a club called 111 Minna. Buy a beer, grab a spot on the floor among the youngish crowd, and peep features that run the gamut from Super-8 to Japanimation. There are plenty of intermissions when you can start a conversation. If the evening doesn't end in romance, at least you'll have reveled in the melodrama of My Love, My Umbrella.
Shows are $5 and run the first Tuesday of each month at 8 p.m., 111 Minna St., S.F. Call (415) 864-0660 or go to www.microcinema.com.
A Raving Beauty
The Arête Center for Excellence seminar, held in Mendocino every six weeks, explores "the human being as revealed and celebrated in community." Or as Austin Powers would say, Groovy, baby! Arête's instructors are graduates of leading relationship and sensuality organizations. Over three intensive days and nights, they teach their 14 to 18 students to be seen for who they really are and to see others in the same nonjudgmental light. Cofounder Jerry Candelaria says that "a lot of people have found their partners here because people learn how to be real with themselves and each other." The Mendocino seminars are $595. Call (510) 231-6913 or go to www.aretecenter.com.
A Speed Queen
Calling Erik Estrada. Gay traffic violators commiserate, cruise, and discharge their points at Joey Randall's Gay...community Traffic School. For eight hours, students trade traffic jokes and play "Traffic School Jeopardy." Randall says classes are bumper-to-bumper because "people know they're going to meet others they might be interested in." An instructor at Randall's L.A. school teaches in drag, so watch what you say about women drivers. Classes meet weekly. Call (800) 429-4968.
A Giving Person
If your social cause includes a good time, check out Debauchery for Donations, where you can mix with hundreds of young philanthropists. Founded post-9/11 by eight San Franciscans, the party series is meant to raise money and hormone levels, says cofounder Lisa Ludwig. "The chance of meeting someone special at one of our events is very high." The group has organized four events so far, including Disco for Diabetes and the '80s-themed Don't Stop Believin' benefit for lung cancer research.
Tickets are $20. Go to www.sfdebauchery.com.
A Sloppy Kiss
Last year it was Hi Fi, the year before, City Tavern. Now the Marina District's hottie spot is the raucous Bar None. "You can't dance on the bar," says general manager Mark Lyons, "but a lot of girls have tried." Patrons buy more Jägermeister here than at any other bar in the city. Weekends are rowdiest, but Thursdays ($3 cosmos) are also packed. Any night is good to get phone numbers—the problem might be matching them to a face in the morning.
Bar None, 1980 Union St., S.F. Call (415) 409-4469.
A Home Run
Nothing like a little competition to get the heart racing. At the Golden Gate Sport and Social Club, you can join a coed league and play anything from softball to flag football. Then the real action begins, as everyone meets at the evening's sponsor bar for drinks. "We're not a singles service," says general manager Mike Murphy, "but people are out on the field sweating and bumping into each other. It sets the mood for attraction." Call (415) 921-3235 or go to www.playinthebay.com.
A Real Knockout
If you don't mind a few cuts and bruises—or, even better, if you're into that kind of thing—a bloody good way to meet lesbians and gay-friendly gals is by joining a women's rugby team. Even if you've never played the sport, they'll show you the ropes. After games there's beer guzzling and drinking songs that'd make a frat boy blush. "During a game, you'll knock the crap out of the opposing team," promises Carrie Peterson, president of the San Francisco Golden Gate Women's Rugby Club, "but when the game's over, you're all sisters." Email Carrie Peterson at cpeterson@hotmail.com.
A Copilot
Singles life is daunting enough. Might as well try it 2,000 feet in the air. Works for Bodhi Kroll, owner of San Francisco Hang Gliding and the only
guy in town guaranteed to sweep you off your feet. On singles day he plays Cupid for solos, prescreening classmates to ensure mutual interest. Students soar over Mount Tam and later talk about their first time over dinner and cocktails at Stinson Beach. Sessions are $349. Call (510) 528-2300 or go to www.sfhanggliding.com.
A Valley Guy
Finding action in Napa Valley can be like squeezing wine from a turnip. Unless you park yourself on a stool at Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa. The 15 spots around the bar are a magnet for local singles, who range from twentysomething restaurant staff to seventysomething retirees living at the Silverado Country Club. Gals get attention with no expectation besides lively conversation. "You definitely meet a lot of people here. The bar is friendly and fun," promises Aaron Rodriguez, one of several single and charming bartenders. Bistro Don Giovanni, 4110 St. Helena Hwy., Napa. Call (707) 224-3300.
A Space Cadet
You can quit scanning the horoscope and consult the cosmos directly at the Lawrence Hall of Science. The hilltop museum hosts saturday-night stargazing with uninhibited views of the constellations, planets, even the occasional shooting star. Etiquette discourages lights and loud talking. But sharing telescopes, chatting quietly, and asking questions are encouraged. What better way to meet a kindred soul than under a blanket of stars, whispering about the mysteries of the universe? The group meets the first and third Saturdays of the month at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley. Call (510) 642-5132.
A Dance Partner
Consuelo Faust knows how personal a dance studio can be. Faust, the artistic director of Rhythm & Motion Dance Center, met her husband while teaching a class. "When people dance, they open up," she says. Especially at Rhythm & Motion's "Barefoot Boogie" improvisational dance jam, the center's most popular class, which attracts 50 to 100 men and women. There's no instructor, just an open space for connecting with the people around you. The music ranges from world beat to oldies. It's a great way to learn about your body—and someone else's. Rhythm & Motion Dance Center, 1133 Mission St., S.F. call (415) 621-0643.
A Good Feeling
Every month, 30 or so people sign up online through the nonprofit One Brick to sort canned foods, spackle drywall, or build playgrounds, all for that feel-good feeling. Well, mostly. "We dangle a social carrot to get people off their butts," says One Brick executive director Dave Shefferman. When the good deeds are done, the crowd of young One Brick volunteers gets together for dinner and drinks. Go to www.onebrick.org.
A Little Coppolation
The suburban woman fell in love with a caveman, and the circus freaks
got amorous. Just another night at Zoetrope Live Story. Orchestrated by Francis Ford Coppola, the monthly events feature local actors dramatizing a work of fiction from Coppola's literary magazine, Zoetrope, at Café Niebaum-Coppola. The atmosphere gets intimate as the restaurant fills to capacity with fiction and theater aficionados. Some even stay for dinner.
Zoetrope Live Story is the first Tuesday of each month at café Niebaum-Coppola, 916 Kearny St. (at Columbus), S.F. Call (415) 788-7500 or go to www.all-story.com.
A Fine Wino
When you're tired of those wine-tasting parties for one, head for the Hayes and Vine Wine Bar, where you can share your love of the grape with other oenophiles. The soft music and low-key vibe at the white onyx bar encourage conversation. The place is popular with thirtysomething women but attracts a regular crowd of varied vintage. Hayes and Vine Wine Bar, 377 Hayes St. (between Franklin and Gough), S.F. call (415) 626-5301 or go to www.hayesandvine.com.
A Savior
For 15 years the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church has been a mecca for singles on the path to flirtation. Father John K. Ring's Young Adult Group involves hundreds of eligible Catholics in activities from tutoring Tenderloin kids to river rafting. Ring has even nudged 80 of them to the altar.
"People don't center on themselves here," he says. "They form a community through their worship and service." Amen to that. And who's the hot blonde in the back pew? St. Vincent de Paul, 2320 Green St. (at Steiner), S.F. Call (415) 922-1010 or go to www.svdp-sfparish.org.
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