Blind Date Challenge: Alex and Ryder
Hosted by Citizen Burger Bar
Alex is a 24-year-old petite blonde who loves fitness, music and shopping. She's a PR manager and recent UVA grad whose ideal man can be summed up in three words "A nice friend." She prefers dark-haired guys...
Ryder is a 6'1" dark-haired 2X-year-old executive for a consulting firm and a self-proclaimed "foodie," who says the myriad restaurants around Charlottesville are half the reason he lives here. He loves the outdoors, travelling, collecting wine, working out, happy hours, and cooking, and holds both a Bachelors and Masters from UVA. He’s looking for a girlie-girl— someone who likes to put on heels and a cocktail dress and show what she’s got.
Unless one of these two is hiding something, this date should be a shoe-in.
Did you do anything out of the ordinary before the date, to plan for it?
Alex: I went home after work to get ready.
Ryder: You know the opening scene in American Psycho when Bateman is going through his routine?
Were you 1st or 2nd to arrive?
Alex: Second.
Ryder: I made sure I was first.
Were you nervous?
Alex: Not really.
Ryder: I was filled with excited anticipation, which only turned into nervousness once I got to the restaurant and realized there was no turning back.
First impression?
Alex: I saw his back first at the bar and thought, oh, who’s that?
Ryder: She’s cute!
What was your date wearing?
Alex: He was wearing a blue button-down and khakis.
Ryder: A cute black dress and pretty earrings.
Would you say this person was your type?
Alex: Sure, although I don’t think I have a type.
Ryder: Absolutely.
What did you order?
Alex: Everything. We got three appetizers: fried pickles, French fries, and peppers. I ordered the beet salad for dinner. It’s my favorite at Citizen.
Ryder: They were all delicious and plentiful, so for entrees we just ordered salads.
What did you talk about?
Alex: Our jobs and backgrounds, a little cooking, and wine.
Ryder: Our UVA experiences, where we’re from, activities we enjoy – the usual stuff. It was the first time either of us had been on a blind date so we started there and just let the conversation go wherever.
Did you have a lot in common?
Alex: I think so. Wahoowa!
Ryder: I can’t really think of anything we DIDN’T have in common. We both went to UVA, are from Virginia, wine enthusiasts who enjoy cooking and the outdoors. I’m sure I’m forgetting things…
What did you find out that was interesting about this person?
Alex: He’s a wine connoisseur. And I enjoy conoisseuring.
Ryder: Her PR job is something straight out of Mad Men. I have never seen the show, but apparently this is a very cool thing.
Was there anything you really disliked?
Alex: We didn’t order dessert (we were both too full, but still, dessert is the best part of the meal.)
Ryder: Nothing comes to mind.
Did your date do anything that impressed you?
Alex: He arrived 10 minutes early.
Ryder: She’s really confident in herself, and I love that in a woman.
Was there "chemistry" between you?
Alex: To quote my co-worker, I’m not a chemist but we had a very lovely time!
Ryder: I wouldn’t call it chemistry, but maybe there was something there…
How did dinner end?
Alex: The check came, and we said we both enjoyed the date.
Ryder: With the check and a wink from our waiter who knew it was a blind date.
What was the very end like?
Alex: It was very natural. We said our goodbyes and wished each other a nice weekend.
Ryder: We exchanged numbers and said our ‘goodbyes’ as we were leaving the restaurant.
A hug? A kiss?
Alex: A hug.
Ryder: A hug – played it safe.
Did you have fun?
Alex: Yes, it was a nice time.
Ryder: Definitely.
Would you see this person again?
Alex: Definitely.
Ryder: Yes. That reminds me, I need to shoot her a text.
Overall date experience?
Alex: It was really fun and enjoyable.
Ryder: A major victory all around— she was attractive and interesting and I didn’t spill anything on anyone.
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the date?
Alex: 8.15
Ryder: 8
Another match made in Hook heaven. If you are single and game for the challenge, e-mail to get Hooked up!
8 comments
Anybody eva got mo den a hug on deez dates mane?
There are plenty of reasons to enjoy this area. Reading about the lives of 20 something executives and PR Managers who graduated from UVa is definitely not one of them.
I regret having clicked on this article, describing what has to be one of the most mundane of romantic encounters between two of the most banal people ever. Blue button down shirt and khakis? Little black dress? UVa degrees? Check, check, and check. Wahoowa. Check, please...
They said their goodbyes at the restaurant, after the bill was paid. Did they go home and watch TV afterward?
This date definitely was a shoe-in, as a cure for insomnia.
Here's a really original second date idea: go wine tasting, at Blenheim. Crank some DMB on the drive down. Live it up.
Meanwhile, don't be so mean. Didn't you read that the girl's job is straight out of Mad Men and that's a very cool thing?
That adorable couple had me rooting for them from start to finish with at least one audible mini-squeal of joy when I read about one of their three(!) appetizers being fried pickles. Nothing makes me feel prouder of all of us "foodies" than seeing one of the gang taking it to the limit like that.
The only thing that I can find fault with is the way too conservative rating of 8.075 (averaged) for what was clearly an 11 level experience. My guess that he's hoping his subtle "neg" is going to help him steal a kiss on the way back from their Blenheim date. I'd advise that he help himself out a bit on that score by switching local favs Parachute's latest for the DMB for that ride. They've gone all out with a hipper more electronic sound on that disk from what I hear.
ugh if someone put dmb or parachute on id drive the car into a tree.
Switching to the 'Chute after getting tipsy on some wine samples is straight out of the Playa's Handbook, y'all!!!
This boy will score for sure!
This is so sweet. Love is hard to find, even for the young, and those who keep on looking are brave.
"ugh if someone put dmb or parachute on id drive the car into a tree."
Yes!!!
I mean that in a yes, I would totally do that too and I am glad someone else in this lovely, lovely city feels the same way.