The prospects have gotten so bad that some singles have decided to try for good old-fashioned, IRL meet-cutes just like our grandparents had. And as with everything else in life, social media influencers have just the product for these woes.
Dallas foodie account Abbey’s Appetite took to the apps last week to pitch a singles meetup on the Katy Trail appropriately called "The Date-y Trail." This Thursday, June 26, attendees will meet up between 6 and 7 p.m. for a walk and to mingle on the Katy Trail with red wristbands to indicate that they’re looking for love.
“That gives you plenty of time to do a lap with your new crush,” Abbey explains before adding that she herself is single and will be participating.
For those who want to keep the potential first date going, there will also be an optional happy hour at Berkeley's following the meet-up.
On paper, this sounds like a successful matchmaking effort. However, offline flirting usually feels like a high-risk game, especially among younger generations, for whom dating apps have always been the norm.
And though a spark is never guaranteed, knowing in advance that the person you like wants to be hit on certainly takes a lot of pressure off the situation. Bare minimum compatibility also seems like a given, as the Katy Trail largely attracts Uptown regulars who are no strangers to upside-down Dallas hats.
Abbey’s initial video now has over 50,000 views and hundreds of comments encouraging the cute idea. We do have one concern about Date-y Trail, however, and it’s kind of a big one: Are men actually going to show up to this? Or is it going to be all pilates princesses with nary a prince in sight?@abbeys_appetite Replying to @Beefstew calling all Dallas singles !!! Thursday June 26th from 6-7 Knox trail entrance come get a wristband to participate in Date-Y Trail activities 🥰❤️ #dateytrail #dallas #single #dallasdating #dallasevent ♬ original sound - Abbey
We apparently weren’t alone in this assessment, as Abbey made a follow-up video addressing this potential issue.
“I have seen so many guys comment on my TikToks and follow me on TikTok and on my food Instagram where I’m talking about this,” she says, referring to the video where she stated she was single and was also hoping to meet someone at her event. “That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t invite your guy friends, your brother, your cousin — whoever it is — just to make sure it isn’t so female-heavy.”
The male commenters we could identify seemed overwhelmingly concerned about whether the event was only for a specific age group or not. (It's not, so keep that in mind.)
Jokes aside, the event is free, lowkey and in a safe, well-lit area, so we can’t think of a reason not to check it out if this appeals to you. And if you’re sick of the apps and want to use Date-y Trail as a segue into your newfound romance era, don’t let chronically online snarkers like us stop you. At the very least, you'll get your steps in.
