The All-Ages Speed Dating Files

The recruitment, the ratios and the results of our most recent Single in Saratoga event.

After speed dating at The 408, Cantina’s second-floor event space, attendees got coupons for buy-one-get-one margaritas at the downstairs bar.

I’ll preface this story with an apology to all the single women over the age of 55 in the Capital Region. I truly tried my best to find eligible men for you to speed date. If anyone knows where the single men over 55 are hiding, please let me know.

After a week spent asking everyone I know if they know any single guys, I decided to try to go out and find them myself. “I’m looking for older single men,” I told the young hostesses at 58 Roosevelt Bar & Grill, the Saratoga Spa Golf Course’s onsite restaurant, not bothering to explain myself. “Oh, they’re all in there,” one of them said, gesturing to the bar. After dropping off some flyers with the bartender, I continued on to Bailey’s, Harvey’s, Mark Thomas, Saratoga National, the East Side Rec pickleball courts and finally, the Italian American Club, a place I’d never imagined I’d find myself on a Thursday afternoon. After I explained what speed dating was, the guy smoking outside told me that most of the members of the club were married. “The rest might want to date you,” he said. I ran away.

An espresso martini was the drink of choice for at least one woman at Monday night’s speed-dating event at Panza’s.

Despite my efforts, we sold only three 55+ male tickets, and decided to combine the 40-55 and 55+ groups for Monday night’s Single in Saratoga speed-dating event at Panza’s. While one 59-year-old named Maria asked for a refund, she tagged along with her younger friend, waiting for her at the bar and chatting with me. “I have no desire to meet anyone under 50,” she said, before pitching her ideas to attract more men: