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Brooklyn dating wall draws many NYC singles
Finding a perfect match in the modern world might involve using a dating app or two, but in a recent trend in Brooklyn is swiping left on the apps. Instead, people are lining up at McCarren Park to physically post up their Polaroid photos. FOX 5 NY's Kendall Green shows us there's plenty of fish in the sea and now photos on the brick wall.
BROOKLYN - In the age of dating apps, some say they've hit a brick wall, but in Brooklyn, a brick wall is where dating opportunities are sprouting.
Singles in New York City are lining up on weekends to have their photos posted on a wall in Brooklyn's McCarren Park in hopes of finding their perfect match.
The brick wall is a special place for singles looking for their next match as the co-founders of the Pique dating app behind the movement play cupid.
"I think what people have been really enjoying is sort of the organic-ness of what this provides, even something small like handwriting," said Vaishnavi Sesetty, one of the co-founders of Pique Dating App.
To participate, you must scan a QR code at the park and donate a suggested $25-$60. For that price, you will have two Polaroid photos taken.
"They’ll get two photographs taken. One goes on the love wall, the other. The other goes home with them for memory. Then we fill out a little cupid card with some information for people to know a little bit about your personality and from then from that the rest of the work is on us," said Co-founder Cyrus Belsoi.
One photo you can take home, the other is posted on the wall, a real-life wall with an index card along with details about yourself.
"It's awesome. It saves my fingers from swiping, so I’m pretty appreciative of it," one user shared.
For the last 6 weeks, their partner pictureman Bob has been tasked with capturing hundreds of singles in their best light.
Each photo posted has a single's name, their age, what they're looking for, and a few handwritten words about themselves giving other singles a peak into their potential partner.
"Just the energy around it, seeing people observe all of the other singles on the wall and have that understanding that they’re not alone in this experience, all of these other beautiful people are also looking for love," Bob told FOX 5.
While spending time on those dating apps can feel like a fulltime job, the founders of pique are getting singles offline scrolling and finding potential in a person in person.
The duo explains match making is a lot of work, logging their client's interest, exchanging their contacts, and following up, but the results are worth the effort.
"It’s honestly been so much fun cause all most every single person who walks up here no matter how they approach a wall, hesitant or not, they’ll always leave with a smile on their face," Sesetty added.
"I’ve even seen people start talking to somebody that they found attractive from the space from being here because they have such a confidence boost, you know sit down for 20-30 minutes and walk away with a date being made without having to use the dating app," Bob shared.
Romantic hopefuls like the new idea.
"Dating can be hard when it's all virtual, so this is a good opportunity to do something a little more authentic and just see who's like close by me in Williamsburg," a Brooklyn resident said.
According to organizers, over 600 people from 19 to 55 years old have added their photos to the wall.