INTERVIEW
Rebel rebel, dating offline? Words by MARTINE AAMODT HESS
Whether it is the time-consuming nature of curating the perfect profile, the struggle to move beyond the talking stage or the ghosts you meet along the way, you are not alone in feeling defeated by dating apps. So why not try the hottest new trend of dating in real life?
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t is a cold afternoon, but inside Little Nan’s bar in South East London, it is toasty. Twinkle lights are glowing softly against the arching brick walls, and the eclectic trinkets and kitschy mugs radiate a warmth of their own. The space is booked for a Fruit Salad Social, a monthly meetup for queer people wishing to take dating offline. As the sky turns dark blue, people start to appear, ordering mulled apple juice and sinking into crushed velvet chairs. Awaiting the night’s group of singles is a bundle of roses alongside a stack of conversation cards. Questions like “your thoughts on lemurs?”, “your favourite tradition?” and “the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?” will keep awkward silences at bay. Nervous laughter and sweaty introductions quickly turn into lively
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discussions involving Fiona Apple, queer cinema and what side of Tumblr you were on as a child. The atmosphere feels so organic, you almost forget that gathering for a night of in-person mingling is bold in this day and age. In charge of it all is matchmaker Kim Malone Crossley, who is striving to offer an alternative to the all-too-familiar online dating fatigue. “There are dating apps or super expensive ways to be looking for your future wife, but there is nothing in the middle,” says the 26-year-old. Under the name ‘A Whole Orange Matchmaking’, Kim decided to fill that gap with their own singles’ mixers, one-to-one sessions and matching for queer people searching for romance. “When it’s solely on dating apps, you can lose the purpose of it.
FRUITY ISSUE 1
Kim ahead of the Fruit Salad Social.
Photo by Martine Aamodt Hess
