Denver residents are growing tired of dating apps. With their scams, fake profiles and inexplicable ghosting one Redditor named Imcoveredincathair (not joking!) said “As a 30-something woman, it’s no secret that the apps are a fruitless time suck. There are so many Reddit posts asking how to meet people organically, everyone seems to go to the parks anyway, so I’m just throwing out a time, place, and way to identify each other. Bring your dog, wear a cool hat, have a fun fact about yourself ready to go! Fuck it, let’s try something different.”
The Denver area has a population of almost 3 million people and while not the biggest in the Western Hemisphere, finding love is possible without the use of modern-day dating apps such as Tinder or Hinge. Perhaps the 300 days of sunshine encourage residents to go outside and have impromptu conversations in the park or the diverse performing arts culture makes for a great date night.
Regardless, Denver residents are not completely glued to dating apps and have found ways to form romantic connections elsewhere.
“I preferred not to use dating apps due to how impersonal texting feels and how disingenuous a connection over text felt to me,” Christian Holguin, 24 said. “I preferred to connect spontaneously rather than searching for it.”
Hulgiun, a Denver resident, values interpersonal connections that form during in-person interactions. His aversion to dating apps stems from his belief that genuine connections are formed through complementary actions.
“I made pleasant small talk in my day-to-day life, such as asking for a recommendation at the grocery store or complimenting someone’s outfit while walking down the street, which led to more in my case,” Holguin said.
However, there’s no denying that dating apps have made an impact in Denver, with one study reported by 5280 citing that 32.8% of Denverites meet their significant other on dating apps, with 28.6% of those being directly correlated to Tinder.
On the other hand, meeting at a bar or a party of some sort only amounted to 4.7% in the study. While the apps have dominated the Denver dating scene in recent years, there still is the wish to meet your significant other in person like in romantic movies.
It’s a Saturday night and Casey Taylor, 35, is on her way to meet her partner from her Krav Maga martial arts class for dinner. Her goal? To continue their conversation about similar interests and life goals.
She texts her new beau and agrees to meet him at Menya restaurant; however, there are several locations, and neither of them is aware of this. Taylor arrives at Menya on 16th St., while her friend arrives on time at the Little Raven St. location; both are confused.
Following some back and forth and even a quick phone call, Taylor bursts out laughing as she realizes that, while they agreed on the same restaurant, they could not be more apart in a moment meant to bring them together. After determining a suitable location for both of them, Taylor decides to continue meeting with her new love interest.
Taylor offered her opinion on having decent conversations at social activities she attends, such as team sports that get her out and active in the dating scene.
“The amount of outdoor activity lends itself to you finding like-minded people in a lot of different circles,” Taylor said. “I am also in a VOLO (social team sports) league for volleyball and one of the reasons you can select for joining up is ‘to meet someone new.’”
Taylor recaptured a sense of comfort for old-school dating as she explained that the desire for in-depth conversation is still at the forefront of people’s intentions and outweighs the experience that dating apps offer.
“I need some banter, chemistry and trust before I date someone, so messaging generic 21 questions doesn’t really do anything for me,” Taylor said.
Finding authenticity in other people is something that is more than possible in Denver, but being able to step outside your comfort zone and take the initial steps to meet your partner is a vital step in the right direction.
Denver resident JJ Alvarado, 24, explains that to do so, you need to accept the active lifestyle and culture that Denver has to offer, as most people within this city like to enjoy the weather and physical activity offered outdoors. Exercise is something that Denver is into, as the Denver Post reported that 82% of residents who live here exercised within the last 30 days. Alvarado meets people working out at the gym, running and rock climbing.
“We live in a state that really values physical health and that’s what attracts many transplants to move here,” says Alvarado. But there’s a caveat. “You’re going to have to understand you’re fighting against great odds and a deeply casual dating culture here in Denver.”
Going to the gym or for a run in the park is an excellent way to meet others who enjoy being active and want to meet new people. Furthermore, the Denver area has over 325 different parks where you could potentially meet your significant other. However, not everyone agrees.
“I will say the hard part is due to the state of the world and heightened awareness around safety; a lot of women that I know, including myself, are trepidated about being approached by strangers,” Taylor said.
While Denver is a large city with its share of flaws, it still provides a safe environment in which two strangers can meet and fall in love. Knowing where to look is a place to start. For Maddie Heath 22, a girls’ night out at a local Denver piano bar was a chance to have fun and meet someone unexpectedly.
“Denver, in my experience, has a really positive, loving culture and environment that could push and foster people to have relationships,” Heath said. “A couple months ago I went to a piano bar with friends and I started bonding with a guy over having the same taste in music.”
What was supposed to be a quick drink and an ear for good music turned into Heath now having a cute guy’s contact information, and it all started with a simple conversation in a public setting.
Every week, Denver hosts an array of events specifically aimed at singles who need an excuse to get out and start flirting. Everbrite is the quickest resource for those needing dates to save. Events such as hip-hop dance parties, Christmas-themed balls and standard speed dating opportunities are available and an easy way to increase your sociability.
As for Casey Taylor whose date was almost a disaster, the ice was broken by the minuscule yet comical mishap in addition to the chemistry already created from her high-psychical contact Krav Maga class. “Because some of the wrestling positions we did are pretty intimate, it felt like we didn’t need to break the ice any further,” Taylor said.
