Blind Date: Darien and Max test their mini-golf skills at Puttery

Our Blind Date series is proudly presented by Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery. Husband and wife team, Drs. Bryan and Kara Criswell, know how important it is to find someone who brings out your best features. Here’s to finding the Criswell to your Criswell.

It’s time for another installment of our popular Blind Date series.

• Ready to meet your match this year? Click here to apply for an upcoming date. It’s super easy!
• Editor’s note: Responses have been edited lightly for length and clarity.

This month, we paired Max and Darien.

First, let’s meet Max, a software engineer who loves soccer, mountain biking, reading, and trying new restaurants.

• He describes himself as “well-traveled, open-minded, and always down to do something fun.” 
• He’s looking for a partner who is “open-minded, values shared experiences more than material possessions, loves to travel, and is intellectually curious.”

Then there’s Darien, a project manager who loves visiting museums, hiking, and trying new restaurants.

• She describes herself as someone who is “easy-going, enjoys trying new things, and loves to laugh.”
• She’s looking for a partner who is “adventurous, kind, and ambitious.”

We sent these two to the new South End hotspot Puttery for an elevated take on mini-golf.

Let’s see how it went.

How do you typically meet your dates?

Max: Typically through dating apps like Hinge.

Darien: I was using the dating apps for a while, but I’m not a fan.

• I usually try to meet people out and about, like at the grocery store or something.

What was your date like?

Max: We spent probably three or four hours together.

• We went to Puttery. That was a 10/10 date spot.
• From there we went to Pins Mechanical, then we checked out QC Pour House, and then we went to Tyber Creek.
• They had a DJ at Tyber Creek and the music was good, so we danced for a bit.

Darien: We went to Puttery, which was my choice.

• I’m glad I picked it, it was super cute inside.
• We played mini-golf and got a few drinks and some food.
• Then we went to a few different bars nearby.
• Oh, at the end of the night, I realized my car got booted! Has that ever happened on one of these before? (laughs)

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your conversation?

Max: I’d say a solid seven or eight.

• Our conversation went all over the place.
• We talked about music, including Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, our worst first dates, and we covered deeper stuff too.
• It wasn’t just “How long have you lived here?”

Darien: I’d say an eight.

• We like the same music, we both like to travel.
• For the most part it flowed well.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your chemistry?

Max: I’d give it a seven or an eight.

• She was easy to talk to.
• She didn’t seem shy about talking about deeper topics.

Darien: I’d say a six and a half.

• I think there was more we didn’t have in common than we did.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the date overall?

Max: I’d say an eight.

• She was super cool and a great sport about the whole thing.

Darien: I’d say an eight.

• I liked that he came prepared with ideas about what to do after Puttery.

• I always like trying new places and Max knows a lot about the bar scene here, so that worked well.

So how did you leave it?

Max: I walked her to her car and we said goodnight.

• The next day it hit me that I hadn’t even asked for her number.
• But I’d see her again and see where it went.

Darien: After Tyber Creek, he walked me to my car.

• I was planning on going home and he was going to meet up with some friends.
• In that moment I was like, “I think he wants to ask for my number but I’m not sure” but then he didn’t.
• It was a fun date and we had a good time, but I don’t see a romantic vibe going forward.