Portland-based roving social club Meeting Mutuals pops off
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Meeting Mutuals founder Tiffany Hollon and a pop-up event at a Portland bar. Photos: Courtesy of Asal Mirsalimi and Tiffany Hollon
Meeting new people is hard, but Tiffany Hollon is hoping to change that with a pop-up social club that aims to bring Portlanders together IRL for friendship, romance or community — without the apps.
Why it matters: In the era of digital dating and social media, Portland-based Meeting Mutuals enlists a back-to-basics antidote to growing social isolation, especially after the pandemic, with a mix of casual in-person events in a city known for its introverted culture.
How it works: Since launching in June 2023, Meeting Mutuals has grown in popularity. It hosts up to six events per month and draws crowds of 30 to 100 people to local bars, restaurants and activity-based meetups like trivia nights, cooking classes and roller-skating parties.
- At the start of each event, participants choose from a variety of colorful stickers to signal who they are and what type of connection they're seeking — whether it's friends, dates or both.
- Users can also pass someone a "You're Cute" card to spark conversation if the feeling is mutual.
The latest: While most events are free and open to the public, Hollon launched a $30 monthly membership program in August for smaller, more intimate gatherings. Members get invites to exclusive dinner reservations, game nights and fitness classes.
What she's saying: Sick of dating apps herself, Hollon, a 36-year-old product manager for a tech company, wanted Meeting Mutuals to feel like a low-stakes living room party.
- "You can talk to people if you want to or you can be a wallflower if you want to," Hollon told Axios. "We don't have icebreakers or any sort of games. It really is what you make it."
Between the lines: The majority of attendees are single and between ages 25 and 45, Hollon said, with a mix of straight and LGBTQ+ folks too.
- Hollon and co-founder Victoria Holden market the meetups through Instagram and Eventbrite, though some people have taken it upon themselves to share the details on Reddit and Facebook groups.
The intrigue: One unexpected response to Meeting Mutuals has been the impact on local businesses. Hollon used to ask establishments ahead of time whether it was OK for the group to show up. Now, it's the other way around.
- "They're reaching out and saying, 'Yeah, we would love to have 100 people come in on a random Wednesday night to boost sales,'" she said.
What's next: Meeting Mutuals remains Portland-centric for now, but they've considered taking the model to places like Seattle or Austin, Texas, where Hollon is from.
- Until then, she's excited to see the group grow and maybe try her hand at individual matchmaking among members.
If you go: The next free public event is a singles mixer on Dec. 7 at 5 and Dime from 7 to 9pm.