Why Columbus strangers are gathering for dinner
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
A new social experiment in Columbus is connecting strangers for dinner every week.
Why it matters: Making new friends as an adult can be challenging, especially in our digital world, but it's essential to our well-being.
The big picture: The Timeleft app says it is fighting "big-city loneliness," one dinner at a time, in 185 cities worldwide.
- Andrea Stambaugh, the company's U.S. growth manager, tells Axios that it launched in the U.S. in April, in Columbus in mid-June and is now in 35 cities nationwide
How it works: When you sign up for dinner, Timeleft asks a series of questions, such as what field you work in, whether you're introverted or extroverted, whether you're religious, whether you work out often, whether you have kids, and whether you're in a relationship.
- It also asks about your dietary restrictions and menu preferences.
- Then you pick a date when you want to have dinner, on Wednesdays at 7pm.
- The app matches you with five people based on your compatibility.
The catch: You don't know anything about those strangers. The only details come the night before, when the app tells you what industries your dining partners work in and their zodiac signs.
- The app will tell you the restaurant location on the morning of the meetup. Multiple groups meet in the same city, at various restaurants, every week.
Zoom in: There's an icebreaker game for dinner.
- Afterward, the app reveals a bar where everyone in Columbus who met through Timeleft that night can convene for an after-party. That allows you to meet more strangers beyond your table.
What they're saying: Before Timeleft launches in a new city, Stambaugh says they try to gauge the interest of locals.
- Columbus started with a handful of weekly tables and has grown four times that big.
- Favorite local meetup spots include ['plas], Nada and Marcella's.
If you go: It costs $16 to book a one-night dinner (you still pay for your meal and drinks). Subscriptions are also available.
- A one-month pass costs $26. It's $56 for three months and $86 for six.
Go deeper: Our San Antonio and Washington D.C. colleagues wrote about their great experiences with Timeleft.
- Email us at [email protected] if you try it — we'd love to hear from you!