Groups help singles mix and mingle

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By Nancy Luebke    Daily Herald Correspondent

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Delightful Dining members Denny Soch and Judy Arnold of St. Charles have a few minutes to talk before dinner at Tuscany Restaurant in Oak Brook. The singles group meets a few times a month for supper and socializing.

Valentine's Day may be a marketer's dream, but it's every unattached person's nightmare.

Happily, DuPage County singles don't have to wait for Cupid to improve their prospects; there are plenty of places here to meet new loves and friends.

Singles who like to dine and chat with interesting people, for example, may want to check out Delightful Dining for Discriminating West Suburban Single Professionals, which meets two or three times a month at area restaurants.

Bonnie Lewis and her husband David Bugniazet, started Delightful Dining last year to provide a forum for people to meet in a relaxed atmosphere.

"David and I met at a singles group, and we know how hard it is to meet other single people," Lewis said. "Our members, who are busy professionals, need to make the most of their time."

Lewis, who gets lots of word-of-mouth referrals, saw a surge of new members before the Christmas holidays.

Delightful Dining members Debbie Fischlewitz of Lombard and Don Bartyzel of Naperville chat before dinner at Tuscany Restaurant.

"I think with the holidays approaching, people were determined to get out and meet new people," she said.

Lewis and Bugniazet act as hosts, introducing singles during 45 minutes of mingling before dinner. Members are seated with people with common interests.

"Before joining, I talk to potential members to get to know them," Lewis said. "I want to know what their interests are, so I can seat them next to another member who is interested in the same things."

Delightful Dining's membership has grown to more than 150 people ranging in ages from their 30s through 50s.

"One of the couples just got engaged and will be married next year," Lewis said.

At The Social Network, a private introduction service, owner Eileen Messier noticed an increase in business last month but attributes it to the new year rather than panic at spending Valentine's Day alone.

Singles have to go through an interview process with Messier before joining the group.

"The Social Network is not a dating service," she said. "Our club is for people who won't join a dating service because it feels desperate."

The group, with nearly 500 members ages 25 to 57, goes on outings such as canoe trips, parties at hot spots like the Clubhouse in Oak Brook, or rooftop parties in Wrigleyville.

Another time-honored way to meet single people is at church.

Throughout DuPage, churches offer activities for singles Ê including some who aren't even church members.

DuPage Unitarian Church in Naperville's singles group is 10 years old.

"We offer something different. This is a very nonthreatening and friendly group of people. It's a good group to hand out with; there's plenty of opportunity to make new friends," President Terry Wood said.

The group for residents 30 and older offers year-round activities, including lectures, potluck suppers, picnics and movie nights.

On Sundays, after the 11:00 a.m. church service, members often go out to eat and socialize.

Single men and women who are parents also can attend Parents Without Partners.

The not-for-profit group is devoted to the interest and welfare of single parents and their children.

"We hold discussion groups, educational meetings and dances for the parents as well as going on family outings and picnics," said MaryLou Orlando, who has been involved for 18 years.

"Last week we had a murder-mystery event set in the 1920s, which was very well-attended. In the past we went on an adults-only cruise trip that many members would like to do again," she said.

(Article re-printed from the Daily Herald, February 10, 1999)


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