Date night
IN January when friends and business partners Taurean Robb and David Moss- Solomon conceptualised the idea of bringing a new dimension to dating locally, little did they know that the feedback would have been overwhelming.
“We thought about the current landscape and realised there was a lot of monotony in terms of activities you could do as a family or as a couple. There was really just the movies, the beach, going for ice cream, and most people were used to that.
We thought of a way we could break the tradition of the environment by creating new experiences people could enjoy,” Robb said. As a result, Date Night — Couples Cooking and Build a Bear — came into being.
Couples, singles, friends and families could come out on a Sunday evening and learn how to make new meals or build a teddy bear from scratch and decorate it to their liking. The first event, Build a Bear, was held on Valentine’s weekend.
The second event was the Date Night Couples Cooking, which saw participants learning to make roast fish.
In Moss-Solomon’s words: “We alternate the nights. We have done Sushi Night, and our next event is Build a Bear on May 7, then we will have Making Korean Barbecue on May 21. We provide all the items. You come, you’re greeted with a glass of wine or your beverage of choice, and you relax until things kick off. We pride ourselves on the elements that need to be in place.The feedback is overwhelming, and some guests now see it as a routine where every two or three weeks there’s something to look forward to.”
According to Moss-Solomon, who handles the marketing of the event, 200 people had subscribed within the first three days of promoting the idea on social media, and a waiting list was established. Now, in order to accommodate everyone as efficiently as possible, subscription is done by way of a voucher system.
“From [the moment] you want to go, you purchase a ticket at the venue where it is being held. So far we’ve had it at The Haven on Hillcrest Avenue,” said Robb, who deals with the research and development aspect of the business.
“Each event carries a different number of people, and we try to limit it where everyone is comfortable and can have their own intimacy as a family unit, group of friends, or couple.” Tickets cost $3,000 for singles and $5,000 for couples, and can be bought at The Haven.
However, Robb encouraged those interested to make arrangements early as there is a cut-off point to ensure ample room, depending on the nature of the event.
“We don’t want it bundled, so 50-70 people, depending on the event or venue. We usually have an equal turnout of couples, singles, and families. It’s all about sharing an experience and bonding with someone you care about,” he said.
Additionally, both men said that by the end of the year they hope to open a lounge space for the events to be held more frequently; they also hope to expand and offer their services on the northern side of the island. They shared that the bonding experience brought about holistic benefits such as new relationships and strengthening of existing ones.
“Any experience where you are laughing and learning is a bonding experience. Friendships have been formed and no one feels out of place. It’s a new perspective to a date night. People feed into the fact that it’s different, we’re energetic, and the people putting it on are just as excited as they are,” Robb enthused.
