Highlands Bar Hosts Blindfolded Speed-Dating Event July 6

HIGHLANDS, NJ — Is love really blind? We'll find out when The Seafarer Bar in Highlands presents a unique opportunity for New Jersey singles when they host their second annual Blindfolded Speed Dating event on July 6.

Somewhat mimicking the methodology of Netflix’s popular dating show, "Love is Blind," 15 men and 15 women will be presented the opportunity for their own real-life love experiment.

Upon check-in, guests will be assigned a number and given two poker chips and a name tag with their corresponding number on it along with a blindfold. The women will then be seated at an individual “station” and will be instructed to put their blindfolds on. Then, each blindfolded man (along with their designated “helper”) will maneuver through the stations where the women are seated and chat to their prospective “match” for two minutes.

The event is co-hosted by Brianna McCabe, a Woodbridge woman who wrote a dating book The Red Flags I’ve (Repeatedly) Ignored.

During each round, McCabe will guide the conversation between the blindfolded man and woman by presenting unique questions to get the conversations started.

“Individuals can sometimes become blinded by physical traits in the sense that you can fail to see who a person really is at their core,” said McCabe. “So, by restricting your vision, it’s interesting to see just how in-tune you become as you allow your remaining four senses to guide your decision-making — especially while dating.”

If one of the guests feels a connection during one of their pairings, participants will be instructed to leave their poker chip at the station for the other participant to receive. At the end of the night, each guest will tell McCabe which poker chips, if any, they have received. As the host, McCabe will then identify potential matches.

If there are several matches, the pairs will proceed to play a game inspired by McCabe’s self-help book.

The winning couple will receive a gift card for a subsequent date night at The Seafarer.

“Last year’s event was such a hit with the community and it was really beautiful seeing two pairs connect in the end,” reflects Harrison Baker, one of the owners of The Seafarer Bar. “Although not everyone left with a romantic match, there were so many friendships that we saw form, too.”

This event is open to singles looking for a heterosexual relationship within the ages of 28 to 35. Tickets must be purchased in advance to participate in the event, which includes one free drink ticket.

Both McCabe and Baker are exploring opportunities for additional events for those ineligible for this particular grouping, including LGBTQ+-inclusive events and additional groupings for various age ranges.

To learn more about the event or sign up to participate, visit: https://thebriannamccabe.com/events/blindfolded-speed dating