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X&O Trattoria: Fast Lane X's and O's
Restaurant and Bar Magazine

Matchmaking can be a dangerous endeavor, but the X&O European Trattoria in Quincy, Mass., has borrowed Cupid's arrows with the introduction of 8minuteDating. The romantic promotion will be held every other Tuesday this fall for singles between the ages of 25 and 35.

This nation-sweeping craze is being touted as a new way for time-challenged professionals to possibly meet the man or woman of their dreams. Interested parties can sign up on the web sites of X&O (xoonline.net) or 8minuteDating (8minuteDating.net). The cost is $33.88. When the participants arrive at X&O, they are handed a name card and directed to a table where another participant meets them with the same table number. The pair has eight minutes to talk, and if either party is at a loss for words, the back of the cards provide some conversation pointers.

At the end of eight minutes a bell rings, and each participant makes notes on the back of their cards and moves to the next table. After four eight-minute "dates," there is an intermission where participants enjoy free appetizers, a cash bar and conversation with other participants.

Then there is another round of four eight-minute dates, after which the assembled lovebirds are encouraged to stick around to continue chatting with anyone they may have been interested in.

At no point are participants allowed to ask for contact information, but instead, after the night is over, participants simply log on to 8minuteDating.net and type in the names of people they want to meet. If a match occurs, the service sends both parties the match information.

"8minuteDating is the 'perfect match' for X&O clientele," X&O president/owner Manos Gregoriades says. "It further compliments our concept." return to top

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