2/6 Queer Event Recap

On Thursday, February 6 2025, We Met IRL hosted another incredible queer speed dating event at The Lodge in Bryant Park Winter Village, marking our second year of our “We Met at The Lodge” partnership with Bryant Park. The cozy, festive atmosphere of The Lodge provided the perfect backdrop for a night of meaningful connections and community-building among queer women and non-binary attendees.

One of the evening’s highlights was Gabrielle Ford stepping up as MC for her first-ever We Met IRL queer event. Her energy, warmth, and humor set the tone for the night, making everyone feel welcome and at ease. With 35 attendees in the room, the turnout was fantastic, and the energy was electric from start to finish.

Beyond the fun, what made the night truly special was the overwhelming gratitude shared by our attendees. Many expressed how much they appreciate our events, noting that while many spaces claim to be "queer-inclusive," few actually take the time to thoughtfully center queer connections in environments often dominated by heteronormative dating norms. This is exactly why We Met IRL’s queer events are designed specifically for queer women and non-binary people—creating a space that feels intentional, sacred, and truly reflective of our community’s needs.

Two speed daters are all smiles after the event.

We recognize that New Yorkers have an ever-growing list of dating event options, so we’re especially grateful that so many choose to show up for ours. Seeing the joy, excitement, and genuine connections made at our events reaffirms our commitment to curating these experiences with care. While we currently don’t see as much demand for queer men’s events, we remain open to the possibility when the time comes.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, to Gabrielle for her incredible hosting and the rest of the team, and to Bryant Park Winter Village for being such a wonderful partner. Be sure to check out the photos from the night—we love capturing these moments of joy and connection! We can't wait to see you at the next one.

See you at the next event!