'Delightful Dining' Club caters to singles in the western suburbs

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By Tom McPheron For Press Publications

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Diane Mustachio is in her 40s and lives in Woodridge. She said that she's not sure if it's true what they say about being single in the western suburbs. Many say it can be difficult, but Mustachio said it's been awhile since she's been available.

But when a girlfriend told her about Delightful Dining, a new singles dining club based in Lombard and specializing in the western suburbs, she said she was happy to join. She'd gone to another dining club about six or seven years ago, but that one was a long distance away.

"I just like the concept of it," Mustachio explained. "It's a nice way to meet people and have fun other than going to a bar, which I have no desire to do now. A few years ago, yes, but not today.

"It's a great way to meet people, interesting people, and make new friends, both men and women," she added.

Bonnie J. Lewis and her fiance, David, Successfully met at a singles dining club, but this one was in the city. There were no dining clubs in the western suburbs, so they decided to start one. Delightful Dining started in April, and has held several events, The club has taken off very quickly.

"Both of us were single for a long time," Lewis said. "We know it's hard to find other singles in the west suburbs. There is a lot of isolation, and yet it's such a nice place to live.

"There just hasn't been anything like that exclusive to the area," Lewis explained. "That's why it's gotten such a great response."

Too Busy

Delightful Dining of Lombard caters to busy professional singles by offering several social events at local restaurants every month. Lewis said that she often tries to incorporate dancing into each event, but this is difficult because few places in the area are suited to this.

The most important emphasis is creating fun events close to home. In this day and age, a professional's time is often limited.

"Many of our new members are first-timers, but some did dining clubs in the city ... but couldn't fight the traffic," Lewis said. "Their time is very limited for socializing, and there are limited opportunities to meet other professionals."

Lewis said she feels she has gotten a good response because, at $98 a year, not including meals, Delightful Dining is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to other singles programs, such as computer and video dating services. Membership includes a twice-monthly newsletter. Furthermore, there is a lot of pressure in those matchmaking services - a one-on-one date that both parties have paid a lot of money to take part in.

"A dating service tries to match you up, and it's a one-on-one situation... you've just met," Lewis said. "A dining club takes away that pressure. Men like it because they don't have to pursue."

First-timers can try out Delightful Dining for a one-time $10 fee. Usually about 30 to 40 singles show up to each event. The two to three events a month give people a chance to get to know one another in a nonstressful, fun environment.

Lewis said she runs Delightful Dining a bit differently from other dating services. For example, Lewis said she works with preassigned seating arrangements. She gets to know all her customers and tries to seat them next to or at a table with people they might find interesting.

Anybody attending an event must fill out a questionnaire over the Internet, submit it via mail, or go over the questions on the phone with Lewis. These cover profession, age, home life, hobbies, age range, gender, smoker/non-smoker status, physical activities and social habits.

"It's low pressure, and if you don't like who you're seated next to, you're not all alone," Lewis said.

Often these tables of six are broken up by general age groups, but not always. David and Bonnie play host and matchmaker.

"We're not a dating service, but we do make an effort to pair them up with others they would have much in common with," Lewis said. "A lot of singles organizations, you're kind of on your own when you get there. That's kind of awkward. So what David and I do is try to make introductions and try to take away some of that awkwardness."

Mustachio credited David and Bonnie for their smooth social graces. "They're really nice people," she said.

Connections

Delightful Dining has a Web site, and browsers can join up and make a reservation for events online. Lewis said this system appeals to executives who are often well-traveled on the Internet. It's also a time saver.

The Web page has information about upcoming events and a page called "Happy Endings," which lists steady relationships that have come about as a result of the dining club. So far, the only entry is their own relationship, Lewis explained, but that's primarily because the club is only about 3 months old.

Even so, there are already a few relationships, several couples, that have come out of the club.

"Not everyone comes to every event and so there are always s new people to meet," she said. "We've had a few people dating after meeting at just one of two events."

The club has more than 30 members so far, ranging in age from the late 20's to early 60's, but that number is growing steadily, and there are always many more people, first-timers, at every event, Lewis said.

Mustachio said the group is a bit heavy on women, and from her experience with dating groups in the past, that's pretty common.

While matchmaking is part of the fun of running a singles club for Lewis, she's not always right. So there is a mixer before dinner and sometimes something after dinner, which gives people a chance to make their own judgements.

"One couple I had seated next to one another, but another couple were at different tables," Lewis said, "Maybe I seat them with somebody they have mutual interests with, but they have chemistry with somebody else."

One duo has already dropped out of the group, Lewis said, because they've paired off. One man is currently dating two women from the dining club, casually, but is still coming to the events, regularly, Lewis said. There have been about five events since Delightful Dinging was started in mid-April.

For information on Delightful Dining, call 630.545.9377 The e-mail address is Brooke@DelightfulDining.com

(Article re-printed from the Lombard Spectator, June 17, 1998)


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