The Grace List

Online dating services require spending countless hours wading through likely fabricated profiles in the hopes of finding someone worthy of spending 3 hours with over dinner -- a hilarious waste of time, since no one is worth spending 3 hours with over dinner. Alleviating the grunt work and offering more enjoyable excursions, The Grace List

Just launching in San Diego, TGL -- formerly Save the Date(ing) -- was started by a veteran of the romantic wars for whom "dating had become daunting", steering her towards low-pressure group dating/networking events where personally vetted interesting & attractive folks would be free to flirt/network/flirt-work in a "real-world" setting, but not a Real World setting, because you don't want to be bitch-slapped as you're pulling away in your cab. Clients begin by filling out a website application, to be followed by a face-to-face interview with the founder and/or the San Diego Director, who'll appraise their physical appearance, conversation skills, capacity for enjoying life, and career success as defined not by money, but by accomplishment in your field (so, teachers are welcome). Once you've been accepted and forked over the one-time $250 initiation fee, you'll be invited to 4 pay-as-you-go, ratio-controlled, food & booze-stocked group events per month, with upcoming action including hands-on tequila/guac sessions, surfing lessons, lawn bowling, casino nights, and single-malt tastings (mess with an engaged malt, and an angry fiance is likely to peat the crap out of you).

The founder and/or local director keep a close eye on who's signing up for each event, so people they view as potential matches can be encouraged to attend. Upon request, they'll also set you up 1-on-1 with a particular client, provided they feel the two of you will be compatible -- because going out on a date isn't fun unless both of you hate it.