Tired of dating apps? ‘Meet irl’ revives real dating

Swiping left, swiping right, endless scrolling through dating apps has become the modern ritual of love. But in Chicago, Penny Gibbons is flipping the script by trading pixels for presence. Her brainchild, meet irl, is rewriting the rules of romance, bringing singles together in the most human way possible: face-to-face.

"I started meet irl because I was hearing so many of my friends despair over their experiences on dating apps," Gibbons explains. "The constant swiping, the misrepresentation, the ghosting--it was all taking a toll. I knew there had to be a better way for people to connect."

And connect they have; Gibbons' events, which now number up to 10 per month across Chicago, have facilitated countless meaningful encounters. From couples who met at a single event and have been together ever since, to those who took multiple meetups to realize their compatibility, the success stories are piling up. Gibbons does as she preaches and met her partner irl (in real life) through her friends, instead of a dating app.

"When you meet someone in real life, you get to know them in 3D," Gibbons said. "On an app, you make so many judgments based on a few photos and some brief text. But as human beings, we're so much more than that. An in-person interaction, even if it's just for a few minutes, can open up possibilities that would never have existed online."

Gibbons' meet irl events, which range from crafting workshops to curated speed dating nights, provide the perfect antidote to the digital dating grind with an upcoming singles craft night on Jan. 16 and a curated speed dating event on Jan. 21.

"The craft night is a really fun, light-hearted workshop where people can get creative and break the ice," Gibbons explains. "And the speed dating event uses new technology to find the most compatible matches in the room. We're really excited about that one."

The events range in different age groups, usually 25 to 45, as well as events that are hosted specifically for queer people.

While the events attract a diverse crowd, Gibbons is particularly eager to see more men in attendance. 

"We hear all the time from men that they assume these events are going to be all guys, with no women,” Gibbons  explains. “We actually have a thriving community of amazing women looking to date men, and our female tickets sell out for every event, and we manage our guest lists for an equal balance of people attending."

Ultimately, Gibbons' vision for meet irl is simple: to help people find genuine connections and cultivate meaningful relationships. 

"It's so special to be a part of people's love stories," she reflects. "Whether they meet their person or just make a new friend, the joy of seeing those connections form is what keeps me going."