Illustration by Danny Elchert
Flying solo on February 14 is fine, though there’s no shortage of spots to seek companionship: speed-dating events, grocery-store checkout lines, anti-Valentine’s Day parties. Then there’s another way to play matchmaker while forgoing that awkward one-on-one first date—visit Meetup.com. A quick search for “singles” near St. Louis yields a list of groups catering to a range of interests and ages. Live in Ballwin and in your 50s? Try West County Singles. Seeking that devout, debonair kind of guy? Try the Single Catholics Bible Study. Here are a handful of other groups that merge love and likes.
Singles Cinema
Members: 426 movie fans
About: This crew of 35-and-older locals takes movie-going seriously. Members meet at least twice a month for dinner and a movie, selected by a group poll.
Events: The St. Louis International Film Festival, Inglourious Basterds at the Moolah, To Kill a Mockingbird at Tower Grove Park
Website Quote: “All movie theaters update their movie showings on Thursday of each week,” so it’s not possible to post movies earlier.
Big Beautiful Women and Big Handsome Men
Members: 70 BBWs and BHMs
About: The name says it all: Open to singles and married couples, the group held four meetups last year.
Events: Meet-and-greets, dinner and conversation, a performance of “P.H.A.T. Girls Don’t Cry” at The Ambassador
Website Quote: “The game of love isn’t gonna change its rules because we don’t like them, so we have to play the hand we’re dealt...”
Singles Again
Members: 278 singles
About: Forty and older singles, divorcées, and widows. The group’s founders started Singles Again “so people can find new friends and have a wonderful social life.”
Events: Wine and conversation at Montelle Winery, “bar skating” along St. Charles’ Main Street, dancing to ’80s cover band Plastic
Website Quote: “It’s good to be a part of a singles group where I can say ‘I’m divorced’ openly.”
The Single Minglers
Members: 98 minglers
About: With members ages 25 to 35, The Single Minglers want you to know: “We are not a hookup group.”
Events: Speed-dating at Rookies Sports Bar, a Helen Fitzgerald’s Halloween costume party, Laughs in the Lanes bowling night
Website Quote: “If you begin a new relationship with someone, we ask that you remove yourself from the group. No offense, we just want to keep it honest.”
