Tag Archives: events

Dating Apps sharing Personal Information?
Chicago, Dallas, Denver, events, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle, Travel Events, Uncategorized, Vancouver

Are Dating Apps Sharing Your Personal Information?

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Are dating apps sharing your personal information?
It seems like almost every day we learn of another report on the news where a large company has been hacked, or maybe even intentionally, releases information. What does this mean though? Is it really applicable to us? The answer—ABSOLUTELY!

Information is one of the most coveted assets for online scammers–especially when it comes to your personal information. From dating to banking, we do it all online, automatically assuming these apps and services have the necessary protections in place to keep our information safe. However, dating services in particular have long been held up to scrutiny regarding the effectiveness of their security for their love-seeking members.

What’s Happening?
The most notable, and maybe most morally questionable, breach occurred with Ashley Madison in 2016. The dating site, which promotes discreet affairs for married individuals, uses the slogan, “Life is Short. Have an Affair.” to attract potential members. In 2016, the most popular dating site you’ve never heard of leaked information about 37 million of its members. Not so discreet!

Many dating apps and websites have since followed suit, with evidence of major security flaws, full breaches, and worst of all, intentional sharing of information. The sidestep shuffle around US and international security laws has allowed some sites to release private information such as location data, employment information, sexual preference/orientation data, personal details, phone numbers, and more. Not only does this expose us to potential financial security threats, but to a full range of interpersonal issues such as identity theft or harassment. For example, how comfortable would you be with your dating profile showing up in a potential employer’s search? Or if your neighbor could look up your sexual orientation? By nature, these sites host a variety of private details that may not be as protected as we are sometimes led to believe.

Meet People Naturally
There are more natural ways of dating that do not have to involve profiles, endless swiping, and potential exposure of your private information. Events & Adventures lets you put the phone down and truly meet people face-to-face, without the usual discomfort of first dates. A membership with Events & Adventures allows you to choose your favorite activities from over 30 dynamic events per month, and the best part is, everyone there will be single! It is the nation’s largest social club for singles where the only information shared is the kind whispered over wine at dinner, or yelled from the tops of your favorite mountain trails. With so many activities, everyone can find something they love to do, without the pressure of making a connection. It’s about making genuine connections and friendships, and learning to just have fun!

You could take the time to hack-proof your profiles or look into privacy agreements, or you could come to Events & Adventures, where none of that stuff matters. Besides, chances are you’ll find someone here who will spark your interest enough to delete all the useless apps. Break up with online dating and visit us at www.eventsandadventures.com.

Dating App Experiment
Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Seattle, Vancouver

The Dating App Experiment

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The Dating App Experiment

As a single staff member of one of the Events & Adventures clubhouses, I decided to do a bit of an experiment with myself. Like a lot of people, I’m a dating app user; as a person dating in the 21st century it often feels like there aren’t many other options. As a simultaneous member of Events & Adventures, I started to compare and contrast my experiences with my online relationships and the ones I was seeing develop at Events & Adventures.

I’ve been on the classic apps like Tinder and Bumble and have tried some of the more obscure apps like Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel. They each have different layouts and specialties that make them seem like lights at the end of a tunnel filled with fellow singles. In the end, each app seems to turn out to have a similar end: possible dates and little connection.

 

The Findings

Dating apps turned the very real and emotional experience of dating into a very numb and robotic game. I’ve found myself mindlessly swiping through people without even looking at them. The sensation of matching with someone seems to create more of an endorphin boost than an actual opportunity for a true connection.

I’ll never forget when I matched with a guy and mentioned meeting up for dinner with him pretty quickly, trying to bypass the small talk and make something out of a match that seemed promising. He agreed, we set a time and location. The next morning, he was gone. He deleted our match and seeing as that was the only form of contact I had with him, there was no way of getting in touch to see what happened.

The experience stung, but a part of me accepted it because we hadn’t even met. How could I hold this guy accountable when he was only a picture on a screen?

I’ve gone on my fair share of actual dates through these apps too. I’ve even been in short-term relationships with some of the men I’ve meet. The large majority of the time the connection I thought I had with these guys online didn’t come through in person. If we did actually have something in common, there seemed to be a pressure to put a definition on whatever we had right away, which ended up scaring one of us away. When you make dating the primary focus of any activity, there’s an expectation of trust and vulnerability almost instantly. How can you put that kind of pressure on someone you barely know?

Having heard friends express similar frustrations, I know I’m not alone in my dating app woes. I even hear us wondering aloud if there is something wrong with us because of our lack of success.

 

The Solution

Having experienced Events & Adventures for the last six months, I honestly believe it’s not us but the online dating system that’s to blame. Unlike the forced nature of online dating, Events & Adventures creates an organic environment for members to have fun being themselves.

Are you filled with random facts or a board game connoisseur? You can guarantee there’s a trivia or game night coming up with Events & Adventures. More of a sports fan? Every club has at least one viewing party or pickup game on the books. Are you a whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, or adrenaline junkie—or do you want to be? Events & Adventures has you covered there, too.

And the best part? Other people are doing all of these things with you. You’ll be able to build connections with people that have similar interests and have the opportunity to see these same people on a weekly, or even daily basis, without having to plan the get togethers yourself.

All of the romantic relationships I’ve seen develop between Events & Adventures members have come out of the weeks and months they have spent together at Events & Adventures events. When people have the chance to develop friendships, those friendships turn into trust, and that trust can very easily blossom into something more substantial like commitment and love.

Our members have the chance to cultivate relationships with each other without having to worry about defining their experiences, romantic or otherwise, because that’s not what Events & Adventures is about. Our goal is to help people live a life they love, and that definition is different for everyone.

As a self-proclaimed wallflower, I’ve really had the chance to soak up all of the wonderful benefits Events & Adventures provides its members. In a world so fueled by instant gratification, Events & Adventures slows things down and gives its members the change to enjoy their lives with friends, new and old. So why keep staring at a dating app filled with what-ifs and maybes and come have some promised fun with Events and Adventures? You never know where it might lead until you give it a try!

murder mystery event with Events & Adventures
events, Seattle

The Murder Mystery with Events & Adventures Seattle

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Events & Adventures Seattle had the amazing opportunity to be a part of Mystery Weekend 2018 in the city of Langley, Washington. The annual murder mystery on Whidbey Island was a new and exciting way for members to make friends and get out of town. Plus, who doesn’t love a good mystery? This year’s Sherlock Holmes type murder mystery invited members into an interactive experience as they attempted to solve a heinous crime.

The adventure began as members boarded a luxury ferry en route to the south side of Whidbey Island. During this enjoyable ride, they were given packets containing background information about their destination, the small town of Langley. Upon arrival, a local church offered the group a free breakfast, fueling them for the exciting day ahead. Each member received a local newspaper from the chamber of congress that detailed the murder and exactly what took place.

Now it was time to put their detective hats on and head out to gather clues

Townsfolk across the city were in character as the members asked them questions in order to solve the crime. The story was written by local authors and involved live actors roaming the streets as well as additional “suspects” including characters like the mayor, the police chief, shop keepers, the librarian and basically the whole city of Langley. Everyone was dressed in character, which added to the realism and fun of the event.

At this point, everyone split up into groups and toured the city looking for clues. Their first stop was the murder scene itself, which was roped off. The crime took place right outside of a new comedy club that was soon to be open to the public. Before the club even opened, the headliner was found dead on the doorstep. This set the stage for the members to begin their quest for answers and make new friends along the way as they worked together to solve the mystery.

The members had a great time touring the local shops, restaurants, hotels and other charming locations as they participated in such a unique event

At the end of the day, everyone came back together to bring the story to a close. Many of the member’s detective work paid off as they were able to successfully reveal the culprit behind the murder. The Langley Murder Mystery gave Events & Adventures Seattle the opportunity to make friends during an adventurous weekend. Visiting Whidbey Island was a chance for members to get out of town and experience new things with new people, we can’t wait until the next great event!

European Trip with Events & Adventures
Travel Events

Lezzlie’s Amazing European Trip

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Read about our European trip from last fall through the eyes of Lezzlie, one of our great members

We just received a letter from one of our great members who joined us on our European trip last fall. We’re excited to share with you what she had to say:

“I loved it! I went on the Switzerland, Austria and Germany trip in September 2017 and I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun. The trip was very well planned. I would never have thought to do anything like that on my own. I also met some incredible people in the group who made the trip even more fun!

There were so many amazing things packed into the trip that it’s hard to remember them all

The area close to the hotel in Zurich was very quaint. Luckily, I found some girls who didn’t want to nap after lunch and we went bar hopping. Then we hung out in the hotel lobby with a bottle of wine which worked out wonderfully. No jetlag!

The bus tour of Zurich was very informative and gave us an opportunity to see some of the places farther away, while the walking part of the tour gave us the chance to experience the local sights. The highlights for me were the chocolates, cakes, and open air vegetable market.

The tour of Lucerne was fabulous

It’s such a charming city and we found some great beers there one Sunday morning.
The scenery was beautiful as we drove to Titlis. Once we got there, we all took the cable cars up to a giant rotating cable car near the top of the mountain. Also, at the top was a restaurant where we could arm ourselves with beers and food before enjoying Europe’s highest suspension bridge and the ice cave.

Lots of activities were offered in Interlakken, but we decided to take the train to Thun, which was very cool as well. There, I tasted the tiniest bite of horse tenderloin since one of the guys decided that was what he was ordering for dinner that night (gross…tasted like beef though).
Afterwards, one of us found the only nightclub in town and, of course, we closed the place down. It was a blast! Everyone was exhausted on the bus the next day.

The following day, we finally made it to Austria and found yet another club, partying until 4am or so. I missed the walking tour of Innsbruck the next morning, but one of the members took me on a personal tour later and pointed out the best sites as if she was the guide! It was a condensed version with a few bar stops in between. It was fun!

Then it was off to Neuschwanstein Castle, which was absolutely amazing (after you walked a mile or so up a steep hill and caught your breath). Coming down was much easier.

The scenery was beautiful and looked like it was right out of the Sound of Music

Lastly, we made it to Munich. Oktoberfest was incredible! Although Friday was fairly calm, we had lots of fun in the beer haus where we had lunch on Saturday.

Thanks so much, Events & Adventures, for this European trip, It was an unforgettable experience. I’m looking forward to Vietnam. If it’s anything close to this trip, it will be amazing! I can’t wait!”

~ Events & Adventures Member, Lezzlie

New Year's Eve Party with Events & Adventures Denver
Denver, events

“Sips Under the Sea” New Year’s Eve Party | Events & Adventures Denver

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Relive Our Amazing New Year’s Eve Bash with Our Denver Members

Imagine ringing in 2018 at an under-the-sea New Year’s Eve party, surrounded by tropical fish and immersive aquatic decor. You arrive at the venue, greeted by pleasant faces and the smell of delicious food. The Downtown Aquarium in Denver is lit up with life, welcoming you to an underwater adventure filled with spectacular marine life and extraordinary exhibits. Live music graces the airwaves as you enter an elegantly dressed crowd of people. Although some are familiar, there are many new friends to be made!

This is the New Year’s Eve that members of Events & Adventures Denver got to call a reality. The evening began with members touring the one-million-gallon aquarium, which houses five hundred-plus species of fish. The attendees were given an unexpected treat when they spotted the Events & Adventures logo inside of the actual tank. On top of that, the aquarium tour featured a private mermaid show produced especially for the Denver members. The tour ended in the Dive Lounge, which is an upscale bar and restaurant experience like no other. Guests were seated around a 50,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium, which allowed exceptional floor-to-ceiling viewing from all tables.

The Dive Lounge provided an intimate setting for the members for this New Year’s Eve party and featured a live band and dimly-set lighting.

It was a great time for the attendees to converse and get to know each other. A character artist and glitter-tattoo artist were also present, allowing members to have some fun as they let their creative side run free. The chefs out did themselves that evening by providing a variety of scrumptious foods, including a build-your-own bruschetta, a pineapple tree, a marvelous dessert bar and more.

Next up at this New Year’s Eve party, members broke out of their shells as they entered the ballroom, which was a wild experience filled with dancing and laughter! A magician roamed the floor, wowing the guests with card tricks and other impressive acts of magic. Some members relaxed in the calm environment of the Dive Lounge, while others completely let loose in the ballroom and threw it down on the dance floor.

The evening ended with the celebratory count down to the New Year. After a champagne toast, the guests moved outside onto the deck, which had in store for them an amazing view of the Denver fireworks show. Seeing the breathtaking explosions of color in the night sky was the perfect ending to an unforgettable evening. The Events & Adventures Denver New Year’s Eve party, “Sips Under the Sea”, gave its amazing members the experience of a lifetime!  Only with Events & Adventures can singles experience a New Year’s Eve like this without doing all the planning themselves!

when janet met mark at Events & Adventures
Dallas

When Janet Met Mark

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Joining Events & Adventures after my divorce was the best decision ever!

I mainly wanted to learn to be more outgoing, make some new friends, and have fun things to do that I didn’t have to plan myself.  Of course, in the back of my mind the ultimate goal was to find “Mr. Right”, if such a person even existed.

Well, it’s been around three-and-a-quarter years since I joined. I have had so much fun! I’m not usually the kind of person who gets out and does stuff. But since joining I have gotten to try new things like wakeboarding, Whirlyball, and escape rooms. I’ve snuggled with llamas, learned some cooking skills, and discovered new forms of art like glass fusion. I’ve met some amazing people that I hang out with even outside the events, making friendships that will last even after I’m no longer in the group. I’ve met all the goals I had set when I joined. Yes, even that last one.

About a year and a half ago I met Mark at a Whirlyball event. And…he was a nice guy but didn’t exactly fit my “desired demographic”. Had I been on an online dating site, he and I never would have connected. The way Events & Adventures works, though, you often end up seeing the same person at many different events. You have a chance to really get to know people. The more I got to know about Mark, the more I liked him, until he eventually won over my heart. In July he proposed, and I said yes!

I am very happy with my investment, and recommend Events & Adventures to all my single friends!

~ Janet Pilkington, member Events & Adventures Dallas

Matt & Janet at Events & Adventures
Dallas

When Mark Met Janet

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I joined Events & Adventures because I was just tired of sitting at home.

I heard they get out and actually do a wide variety of exciting activities, and that really interested me. I had sort of met Janet at the New Member’s Orientation/Games Night, but it was just in passing and there were so many people being introduced to me that night. The following month I signed up for an event called Whirlyball, something I had never heard of before but the description sounded interesting. That’s where I really met Janet, who is totally into Whirlyball. We talked a bit during the breaks. A few days later she sent me a friend request on Facebook, and it wasn’t too long before we started chatting on Facebook regularly. She liked the Wednesday night volleyball games so I started going to those. We’d play a couple of games and then sit at the bar for drinks and chat for a while before jumping back into the fray to play a few more games.

The more we hung out at the Events & Adventures events the more we liked being together. I had just gotten out of a relationship and hadn’t really been looking for another one, but being with Janet was different. So just few short months after meeting at Whirlyball we started dating and 14 months later…I asked her to marry me. When I had first joined Events & Adventures, I thought I had made a mistake and tried to cancel, but after my first event I was hooked. Really glad I chose to stay. After all, she said yes.

~ Mark Currier, member of Events & Adventures Dallas

 

PS:  We don’t always dress like this.  Often, but not always.

sedona with Events & Adventures
Phoenix

Getaway in Sedona with Events & Adventures Phoenix!

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“But it’s a dry heat!” Yeah, right! With it being monsoon season, Arizona has been a little more on the humid side than any of us would like. It’s no secret that Arizona summers can be a tad brutal, but the humidity hasn’t helped. So instead of letting it cramp our style, Events & Adventures Phoenix recently decided to get out of town. We took the party up to Sedona where the weather is more comfortable and the scenery is a pleasant change from our typical urban sprawl. Who am I kidding—Sedona is absolutely beautiful!

We stayed at Sky Ranch Lodge and enjoyed horizon-to-horizon views of the gorgeous blue skies. We soaked in the red rocks and escaped into the quiet serenity of the six-and-a-half acre garden. It was a wonderful escape from the city; it’s hard to believe such beauty is just a few hours away and it was so awesome getting to indulge in the scenery and make memories with friends. We definitely didn’t waste any of the good weather just lounging around our hotel rooms!

On Saturday we went horseback riding through the working ranches of Sedona, riding our way through two stunning vineyards.

On Sunday we put our adventurous side to the test and headed to Flagstaff to challenge our fear of heights and strap up for an obstacle course that did not disappoint. The Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course has multiple large courses with a mixture of 10 to 17 different obstacles and zip lines. From rope swings and hanging nets to wobbly bridges and suspended “surprises”, the courses definitely didn’t let us down (pun intended)! Moving our way from the beginner’s course to the more extreme course brought us closer and closer to the sky. It actually started to get a little dark and gloomy, but the coming storm never interrupted our adventure. In fact, the sounds of thunder made our trek up into the trees quite thrilling!

Our Sedona weekend getaway trip was full of smiles and laughter, and the only obstacles we faced were at the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, which we tackled with a “bring it on” attitude. Needless to say, the memories and friendships we made over the weekend were amazing. I can’t wait to get out there and do it again! I guess the summers here aren’t all that bad when you get to escape to beautiful Sedona with good friends from Events & Adventures!

 

4th of July with Events & Adventures
Phoenix

4th of July with Events & Adventures Phoenix

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July 4th is so much more fun when you get to spend it with both old and new friends! Events & Adventures Phoenix took the holiday to the lake and spent a few hours dining, relaxing, and making memories that are sure to last a lifetime! We were spoiled with a buffet perfectly filled with everything you need for Independence Day. Our July 4th dinner cruise would not have been complete without a little BBQ, right? We had pulled pork, pulled chicken, beef brisket, BBQ beans, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad! I’m pretty sure a few of us made plates bigger than our stomachs, but can you blame us? The food was amazing and if you saved some room for dessert, there were fudge brownies to indulge in! I’m getting hungry again just thinking about it!

My favorite part of our July 4th evening had to be that the entire dinner cruise was VIP for Events & Adventures members only!

I think the best part about the club is knowing that everyone you interact with is essentially there for the same reason–to do things outside of their comfort zone, enjoy different events they normally wouldn’t try on their own, or to do things they already enjoy while getting to make friendships and potential relationships that are sure to last a lifetime. This dinner cruise really took the pressure off the holiday and it was so nice getting to hang back, relax, viewing a perfectly yellow orange beautiful sunset with such great friends.

To top the evening off we started a dance party on the deck and it was an absolute blast. Some Events & Adventures members rocked out dance moves like never before, others stepped out of their comfort zone and put on their dancing shoes, and some giggled at us lovingly in the distance. Don’t worry, we pulled them out onto the deck and had them join in on our fun and they did not disappoint!  All in all, this 4th of July was definitely one to remember and I couldn’t have been happier with the evening. Consider this 4th of July a challenge by to 2018, because it was surely one to try and beat!

~ Meggie, Events & Adventures Phoenix

United Kingdom tour with Events & Adventures
Travel Events

United Kingdom Tour with Events & Adventures

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We’re only a few days into our United Kingdom tour and I can say the country is truly amazing. The people are very friendly and welcoming and there is so much to see and do! After landing at Heathrow we immediately headed north to start touring. We started in the Cotswolds and visited the home of Downton Abbey. We moved on to Stratford-Upon-Avon and had our first classic English dinner, fish and chips. Over dinner it was great meeting and getting to know all the people from the other Events & Adventures clubs around the country.

It was drizzly, so everyone’s opinion on the weather varied depending on where they were from and the weather back home. The members from Phoenix thought the rain was refreshing, while Seattleites thought nothing of it at all. Those of us from the south packed for ‘winter weather’ and have been enjoying the break from our 100% humidity!

Our first full day started at Shakespeare’s birthplace. We loved the actors in period attire that were so full of information. And yeah, I think we all found a treasure in the gift shop. Our Beatles fans were overwhelmed by Liverpool. If the Beatles had even the slightest thing to do with a place in town there were had entire stories created around it. We loved to see the actual Penny Lane and visit and learn about Strawberry Fields. The song and John’s very generous donation to the orphanage keep it open for many years after it was almost closed down.

At the end of the first day of our United Kingdom tour we arrived at a spectacular traditional hotel in the Lake District.

We had a lovely dinner in a gorgeous venue and setting, and it’s obvious why the area is a top wedding destination. After a rainy first day, on the second day of our United Kingdom tour the sun came out and stayed out all day! We visited the William Wordsworth Museum and Home. We all loved the 18th century home and the history of the family. From there we enjoyed a great paddle boat tour on the largest of the lakes in the district. The warm sun made up for the cool breeze. We all decided we wanted to live at the imposing castle that was overlooking the lake.

After the boat we headed into the fabulous town center, which was right out of a movie set. We scattered for lunch and a bit of shopping. Some of us tried the traditional meat pie with fresh cheese and bread. Some argued that their soup or salad was tastier, but I know better. After lunch we headed back up to a part of the Lake District that had even more amazing scenery. We, like thousands of visitors before us, crossed the border into Scotland and stopped at Gretna Green. We stopped for the history and shopping instead of a wedding service though. There is so much cool (if not strange) history here!

We enjoyed the Scottish Shortbread and other treats from there on our way to our hotel in old town Edinburgh. Unlike a lot of cities back home, it’s walking distance to everything! Speaking of walking, in the morning we’ll walk out of our hotel and see the great Edinburgh Castle, and later we’ll finish our evening in the downtown part of the city. Only Events & Adventures can put together a trip like this just for singles!

~ Events & Adventures Dallas Event Manager Jacque