REGO PARK, Queens—Last Thursday, we hosted something refreshingly different from the usual singles gathering. Instead of quiet mingling and awkward introductions, our Dating Game Soirée was designed to spark real connection through laughter, creativity, and shared experiences. And judging by the number of guests already asking about the next event, the night delivered exactly what people were hoping for.
Guests traveled from across the city and beyond, with attendees coming even from Brooklyn. The room reflected the beautiful diversity within our community, bringing together Ashkenazi, Georgian, and Bukharian Jews in one energetic space, held at Rego Park’s Millennium Hal. The atmosphere was warm, lively, and full of possibility, and yes, it didn’t hurt that many attendees (108 to be exact!) were remarkably good-looking and genuinely open to meeting someone new.
To encourage connections, guests participated in a simple anonymous matching system. Everyone wore name tags with numbers, and if someone caught their interest, they could discreetly place both numbers on a heart-shaped sticky note and into a box. Anonymously. Quickly. And throughout the entire night. This created excitement and curiosity while keeping things comfortable and pressure-free.
The night unfolded through a series of interactive games. We started with a playful Red Flag / Green Flag round, where guests voted on dating scenarios, debating everything from sharing social media access to living with parents after marriage. The discussions were animated and often hilarious, instantly breaking the ice.
Next came interest-based group challenges, where guests joined tables based on shared passions: travel, cooking, business networking, and creative arts. Each table faced its own challenge, from designing the perfect fruit platter to inventing jobs that don’t yet exist or writing a four-line comedy skit about marriage. Teams competed, winners were crowned, and strangers quickly became teammates and friends.
Then came the crowd favorite: speed dating. With just 45 seconds per conversation, participants exchanged quick questions and impressions. Ironically, the biggest challenge was getting people to move on to the next partner, as many were already deep in conversation.
The highlight of the evening, in my opinion, was my live version of The Dating Game, where one bachelorette questioned three concealed contestants separated by a divider. After hearing their answers, she chose her match purely on personality. And what a great match that was! Handsome, smart, romantic and a very kind soul. Once revealed, the new couple received a dinner certificate to King David restaurant, with their first date scheduled on the spot, much to the audience’s delight.
As the evening wound down, guests enjoyed music and light mixology, though many wished the night could continue longer. DJ Sebastian kept the energy high throughout with music and live performance, ensuring the dance floor stayed active between games.
Events like this are never possible without incredible teamwork. Special thanks go to Yelena Kalendareva, whose creativity, dedication — and total lack of need for sleep — led her to put in countless hours to bring the décor and materials to life. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Dr. Zoya Maksumova, who masterfully organized the event from start to finish by pulling the strings and making the calls to get an arsenal of incredible people on board who achieved miracles. And of course, gratitude goes to all the women and volunteers whose efforts made the evening run so smoothly.
Most importantly, many guests left having made real connections, and several promising matches were formed. That alone made the evening a success.
And judging by the repeated question of the night, one thing is certain: everyone wants to know when the next Dating Game Soirée will be.
Stay tuned.
Eugenia Aronov,
Program Creator and Emcee