The Feelings of Others

We recently had an experience we thought to share with our daters - Gabriela G. on Yelp. Gabriela wrote a review on Yelp finding our event - shall we say - not her cup of tea. From points of 'my candle went out' to the 'venue was too dark to conduct proper make-over's in' - she also went on to say some awful things about her fellow daters in attendance. Among the lines were '15 out of the 20 ladies were at least 20lbs overweight' and 'the men were painful to look at'. We wrote back on the Yelp review and stated "What you may consider to be an overweight woman another might find to be perfection. Beauty comes from the inside out - some of the most beautiful people I have ever met have been a few pounds overweight but I found it to be more loveliness to enjoy. We don't like to see daters insult daters."

"Comment from Tina A. of SpeedLA Dating 4/5/2012
Hi Gabriela,

We're sorry you didn't enjoy yourself at our latest event at the fabulous Beso in Hollywood.

Let me address a few points; Our events always begin at 8pm - 8:15pm. Our Make-up artist always arrive a half hour before the event. This is listed on the website in detail.

In regards to appetizers - I'm sorry you didn't find them to your liking. Beso provides us with 8 lovely dishes ranging Eva's fabulous guacamole to the Lobster Quesadilla. They are culinary perfection :-)

I appreciate you didn't fancy the guys and we note none of the guys wrote you down - so perhaps it wasn't a match on both ends. :-( Many of the ladies did fancy the gentlemen and we had loads of matches - so while they may not be for you and you not for them - it's not fun to insult people. Stating that men were 'painful to look at' is upsetting to daters.

I also noticed you also said some less than nice things about the ladies in attendance. I'm not sure I understand the relevance of stating in the review that 15 of the 20 ladies were overweight. That's very unfortunate. What you may consider to be an overweight woman another might find to be perfection. Beauty comes from the inside out - some of the most beautiful people i have ever met have been a few pounds overweight but I found it to be more loveliness to enjoy. We don't like to see daters insult daters - you can see the original review at: http://speedladating.b...

We are proud to be entering our 5th year in Los Angeles with over 500 events in the LA area alone since 2007. We're also in 10 other cities in the US which is also a lovely bit of fun. Proud to be BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. We are the only speed dating company to have events in such venues as Beso, the only company to offer complimentary make-over's and the only to offer such personable - lovely hosts. We don't offer 'games' or 'free drinks' but do offer a laid back - sophisticated approach to speed dating without bells, whistles or name-tags. We're sorry it wasn't your cup of tea.

Cheers,

Tina


Unfortunately, defending our daters further upset this reviewer. While she quickly edited her review to be considerably nicer, she also became quite upset that we would dare defend our crowd and went on a tirade - each more bizarre than the previous. Her updated review had a nicer tone yet many of the original points that upset her had suddenly changed. In the original review, the event started an hour late. In the revised - it did not. Lines about how awful the lads were at the event - were suddenly changed. Gone was the line '20 ladies were at least 25lbs overweight' and replaced with 'voluptuous' in her revised review. Who knows why other ladies weight upset her - but upset her it did.

We love our daters and will go to any lengths to defend them and us. Every so often we may have to ban a dater who other daters find less than lovely. We think this has added to our incredible popularity. From CitySearch, to YP.com, to Trustlink to Judy's Book - we garner hundreds of extraordinary reviews about us and our daters. Loveliness attracts Loveliness - you get what you give. It's never right to judge others on what you perceive to be 'not as attractive'. What one finds unattractive another absolutely loves. Let us always try to reflect what we would like in return. I think it would make us all a little happier. :-)

Top Chef Masters * First Date Dinner

Top Chef Masters * First Date Dinner

Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters' sizzle for 60 of our Matchmaking daters!

We had the pleasure of hosting Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters' and their world-renowned chefs for a very special, 'First Date Dinner'. See if our Matchmaking daters found love or fell in love with their dishes!
Top Chef Masters' - *First Date Dinner *

Written by: SpeedLA Dating & Matchmaking

Say it with Style...

When saying it with Hallmark just won't do, I offer you the Lemon Tree Bungalow on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. An uber boutique of gifts, cards, stationary, Dyptique and Illume candles, handcrafted soaps and sensual lotions with a generous helping of all things fun. With something for everyone, say it with a personal touch and go the extra mile with Lemon Tree Bungalow. This charming citrus-colored cottage is filled with beautiful gifts for the home. Brick floors and vine-framed windows create a peaceful and fanciful oasis from the bustling traffic outside.

Although famous for supplying movie studios and high-powered agents with stunning gift baskets, they can create something as large or small as you need. Tell them what's on your mind, your budget and watch them go to work. Complimentary gift-wrapping includes a frosted gift bag, colored paper, and lemon-yellow ribbon. Or for $3, you can get a custom job.Items tend to be a drop on the expensive side, but I think the extra attention, thoughtfulness, and uniqueness the gifts bring, more than outweigh any extra dollars you might spend.

Lemon Tree Bungalow - 8727 Santa Monica Blvd.
(310) 657 - 0211 - West Hollywood

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Glitz and Glamour...Indian Style!

Looking for Vegas without the Vegas? Someplace to feel like a King on a pauper's budget? Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula is just the spot. Located 50 miles outside of LA, is this Four Diamond Resort dripping with amenities. Take your love by the hand and head to the 188,000 square foot casino with over 2,000 slot machines and video machines. Of if your prefer, stop by the one of many Casino Bars, grab yourself a martini and slide up to one of the 160 table games one can impress or embarrass, ones self with.

Much more than a Casino, Pechanga is a Resort. With 522 spacious guest rooms and suites, each is oversized with floor to ceiling windows, 4 star luxurious accommodations, 24-hour room service as well as complimentary use of the fully equipped health club, seasonal pool and sundeck with private cabana and a knowledgeable concierge service. Should a massage for two strike your fancy, Pechanga is sure to accommodate. Call ahead to the Concierge or Health Club for in-suite massage appointments. The best part of Pechanga is the value for money. Most weekends out of the year, expect to pay about $200 a night for a Deluxe Room. Rates drop significantly during the week. One splurge I highly recommend is the 1 Bedroom Suite and if your feeling extra flush, the Jacuzzi Suite. The 1 Bedroom Suite offer sitting rooms with a wet bar, separate sleeping quarters and one-and-a-half baths. Expect to pay about a $100 premium for the 1 Bedroom Suite. As for the Jacuzzi Suite, lavish in the Jacuzzi situated perfectly, overlooking the Temecula Wine Country, in the rather grand living room. For this treat, set aside an additional $200 a night above Deluxe Room rates.

Considering how much one can spoil themselves here for relatively little, a visit to Pechanga Resort and Casino can not be missed.

Pechanga Resort & Casino - Temecula

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

It Takes All Types in LA

It’s about 10 minutes before he’s supposed to arrive and instead of anticipating the evening, I’m nauseous. My palms are sweaty, I’ve stared at myself in the mirror so long my eyes are beginning to cross and I’m actually planning who to use as my scapegoat in case things go wrong. This is typical behavior for me when it comes to the first date. Sure some call it the jitters, others may call me delirious, but when you live in LA dating can be stressful.

There are roughly 89,000 more single men in Los Angeles than women. With that many more eligible bachelors, a girl should feel like a kid in a candy store. However, just like all of the restaurant and entertainment options this city serves up, it also offers various types worth avoiding; and on those occasions when I give someone a chance and decide to try a formal date, my mind runs wild of what sort of person I’ll actually be getting to know.

Someone once told me that Los Angeles was loaded with “pockets of cool”; this is undoubtedly true, but here are four guys that may make it past Date One, but should definitely never enter any girls’ “cool” zone.

Mr. Pretentious – He’s the guy every girl thinks they want from afar. He looks confident and carefree and all you could think is, he may actually be cooler than me. He teases you and compliments you, but rejects social norms and mentions his Rolex, BMW or Limited Edition lime green Chad Muska’s any chance he gets. He’s old enough to act like an adult, but somehow that slid right past him. He has more feminine qualities and lower self-esteem than Ellen Page’s character in 2007’s The Tracey Fragments. Don’t let this guy fool you, he’ll never shut up about his material possessions and he will emotionally drain you during your role as his mother.

The Gift Giver – This one is really tricky. He’s the guy who shows up with a gift every time he sees you. Sounds amazing, right? No! Erase that idea from your head. He’ll use gifts to mask his horrible personality and plant little seeds of guilt when you want to break it off with the gorgeous Peonies bouquet and shining cutlery he brought over last week. Again, this one lacks self-esteem and the understanding that you need more than a wallet to impress a real woman.

The Party Boy – The one you hate to love. You met him at a bar and you hit it off instantly, you laugh and never want the night to end. The next day when your friends ask about him, you dodge all the obvious signs that he’s not right for you by reiterating over and over that, “he’s really fun”. Unless you’re just looking for a good time, run the opposite direction. Don’t mistake his goofy, laid back, no-long-term-goal-self as a promising specimen you can mold. We can’t change men, so why waste your time trying.

The Push Over – Every girl likes a challenge, so it’s no wonder that a few dates with this guy and every single lady in the country wants to throw him to the side. He’ll do whatever you want. He’ll take your abuse. He’ll dance when you say dance. He’ll always be available and he willingly gives up all interactions with his friends. Sure he’ll be your best friend, your shopping buddy and your punching bag, but who wants a man who isn’t manly?

Written by: Crista Michelle - SpeedLA Dating Resident Blogger

From Frizz to Fabulous...

Ladies - it's here! The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived...in Brentwood. No cuts. No color. Just blowouts. Only $35. Yes, $35. I was so excited to learn that this mecca of all things last minute and fabulous, had opened it's doors and turned on the blow driers! As if getting a blow out, isn't fun enough - the people behind Dry Bar, have added a unique element of creating a 'menu' for your preferred hairstyle. How much fun is it to order a Mai-Tai at 10 am or a Cosmopolitan at noon - finish me off with a Manhattan at 6pm!

Depending on how you are feeling or how many butterflies you have in your stomach for that first date tonight - you can order a blow dry to suit your mood. Feeling sassy and ready for spring, I ordered up a Cosmopolitan for 35 bucks and left feeling like a million dollars! My loose cosmopolitan curls had heads turning and prompted questions of "Who does your hair?" from all I came in contact with. On top of that - my hair continued to look great for the next few days. How is a girl ever to wash her own hair again?

One of the best perks, for a mere $40 more -they will come to your house! Sheer fabulousness at it's best. We all get too busy to sit in the chair for two hours or we don't want to spend $200 on cut and colour just yet -that's when it's time to call the Dry Bar! A great fill in between cut and color visits with your stylist and a fantastic way to put you into Supermodel gear, just before your Date-Night. Walk in or better yet make an appointment online or on the phone - check out their Happy Hours with complimentary cocktails.

http://www.drybar.com/main.html

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

"And Away They Go..."

Maybe it's the excitement. Maybe it's the roar of the crowd. Maybe it's the mountains standing tall over the track as my #4 Horse hits the daily double, but I find Horse Racing at Santa Anita Race Track to be incredibly romantic. While for the most part, Horse Racing Tracks are anything but glamorous, Santa Anita stands out from the crowd with it's rich history, impeccably maintained park and it's amazing view. There are quite a few options when it comes to taking in the track, depending on your wallet and if you want to stop by for a few races and a hot dog or take in racing as only a big shot can. If you're dressed a bit on the casual side, I would recommend saddling up to your date and sliding past General Admission into the Club House. Guests of the Club House enjoy great views of the track's first turn, complete wagering services and access to the Box Seat area and dining overlooking the track. Although a few bucks more than General Admission, it is a few pounds well spent. Grab a hot dog, slide into the dining area and place your bets. Now if your trying to make an impression, I've got just the thing.

Purchase your Club House tickets and head for the 5th floor restaurant. The dress code tends to be a bit more formal in the restaurant so be prepared. It is recommended you make reservations ahead of time so call ahead to (626) 574-6366 and ask to be connected to the Fifth Floor Restaurant. If your not quite the planner, a well dressed smile with a generous tip ought to see you past the Maitre' D. Ask to sit along the railing and be prepared for a view that will truly take your breath away. Sip on a lovely glass of champagne, nibble on gorgeous treats and wager your paycheck in style.

Lastly for those that want to make an event out of your date, there is the Turf Club. Up until a few years ago, admission into the coveted Turf Club was strictly by membership only. Considerably more than General Admission, with only a slight increase over Club House, the Turf Club is well... The Turf Club. More formal, more glamorous and more posh than you ever imagined horse racing could be. Dine in the Turf Club with White Linen service overlooking the track all while you check your winnings on your own personal TV at your table.

Santa Anita Race Track - Arcadia

Written by: SpeedLA Dating

Good Morning, My Love!

So you've managed to get to the 'Next Day Breakfast' stage. Well, telephone the queen as we Brits say! However, a great breakfast isn't always the easiest to find in LA. Splash a bit of water in your face, give a kiss to your mate and stroll on over to Brighton Coffee Shop in Beverly Hills. A true coffee shop in every sense of the word... breakfast bar, friendly waitresses and food that you can count on to be consistently spot on. On the corner of Brighton Way & Camden Drive is perhaps one of the smallest dining rooms I've seen in LA that always seems to be full of eager diners looking for good coffee shop food and saving a pound to boot. Sidewalk service is quite nice and fun to people watch the 'tourists', watching back.


The oldest coffee shop in Beverly Hills, it's been around since 1934 serving traditional American food. This might be the best value in all of Beverly Hills. Breakfast, which is served all day, includes all the standards as well as a meatloaf & egg platter. Lunch is sandwiches, meatloaf, six varieties of baked potatoes and various meat dishes.

Brighton Coffee Shop - Beverly Hills - 9600 Brighton Way

Written by: SpeedLA Dating