Each month, we set two daters up, give them free food and drinks, then wait for the magic to happen. This month’s Blind Date we set Erica and Ben up at Rocky Mountain Tap & Garden Craft Kitchen & Pizza

Meet the Daters

Name: Erica

Occupation: Art Teacher

Star Sign: Aries

Why are you going on Rooster’s Blind Date?  I’m a long time reader of the section. I wanted to try an old school way of meeting someone.

What’s a good way to win you over? Being a weirdo. Cracking jokes. Compliments. 

Most irrational fear: Centipedes. They have too many legs and they’re too fast. 

What’s your greatest strength? Creativity and passion.

Do you want kids? No, I want cats. Cats not kids. 

What do you geek out on? Art, film, music, moths. July through September is peak mothing season. 

Immediate red flags: Voted for Trump. Doesn’t make eye contact. 

Immediate green flags: Number one is someone who is kind. Likes cats. Alignment in values and politics. 

What is your toxic trait as a partner? I eat all the candy in the house.

One thing you can’t live without? Coffee and, Kofi, my cat. 

Why did your last relationship end? Long story short, it wasn’t a healthy relationship and I wasn’t happy. 

Celebrity crush: Jason Momoa, Jon Hamm, Tim Curry, James Gandolfini. 

Guilty pleasure: I don’t feel guilty about pleasure. 

Name: Ben

Occupation: Certified Integrated Mental Health

Star Sign: Sagittarius

Why are you going on Rooster’s Blind Date? To meet new people. It sounded like a fun experience. My sister signed me up. 

What’s a good way to win you over? Engaging, listening and considerate. 

Most irrational fear: Death, but it’s not irrational. 

What’s your greatest strength? Communication. 

Do you want kids? I don’t. 

What do you geek out on? Mental health and quantum mechanics.  

Immediate red flags: Not considerate of others. 

Immediate green flags: Putting a rogue shopping cart back. 

What is your toxic trait as a partner? Self-isolating after a long day. 

One thing you can’t live without? Pizza and family. 

Why did your last relationship end? We wanted to live in two different places. Colorado won. She moved to Florida. 

Celebrity crush: Phoebe Bridgers. 

Guilty pleasure: Pizza. 

ROUND 1

It’s not often a Rooster Blind Date starts before the daters meet at the restaurant, but for Erica and Ben, they met in the parking lot before even knowing they were on the date together (Erica admits she almost ran into his car). Once inside, the daters quickly warm up to each other over seasonal cocktails. We pull them aside before they order food to see if there’s any animosity from the parking lot. 

How are things going so far?
E:  I like him so far. I did a shitty parking job and we met in the parking lot before the date. He has some tattoos which is what I asked for. I thought he was cute and hoped it was the guy.
B: It’s going really well. She’s easy to talk to and the conversation is easy. She’s a very pretty girl. 

What were your first impressions of the dater?
E: I thought he had pretty eyes and I liked his tattoos. He has kind eyes.
B: I parked next to her when I got here. It was shocking that we met before the actual date. She was very personable. 

What was the first thing you noticed about your date?
E: His big truck because it was right next to me. He does not have the energy of a truck guy. 
B: Her eyes. 

Is this the type of person you’d normally date?
E:  He seems perhaps nicer than a person I would normally date. I date assholes. He has tattoos and self expression.
B: Probably not. She’s a little bit more indie hipster is my type. 

Where do you normally meet partners?
E: In my early years it was work or school. It’s Instagram these days, or Bumble’s been good meeting new people.
B: Dating apps. That’s not where I want to meet them but that’s where it happens. I’m meeting new people which is cool. 

What are you most nervous about for tonight?
E: Getting here on time. I had to work today, get ready and I had to feed my cat.
B: The end of the date and what will happen. 

Did you get any advice for the date?
E: My sister told me to not wear a bra. I didn’t listen to her.
B: No. 

How did you prepare for the date?
E: I got a substitute for my finger-drawing class. I got off work early.
B: I put on music and drove here.

How did your date dress tonight?
E: Good! I’m trying to figure out his pants situation. I have a feeling it’s sweatpants adjacent. It’s casual. He has a baseball cap on, which could be problematic since I don’t know the hair situation.
B: She’s beautiful. She’s wearing a nice dress for the occasion. 

What are three words that you’d use to describe your date?
E: Observant, kind, attentive.
B: Artistic, personable, engaging. 

What are you looking forward to in the next round?
E: Getting to know him more. I’d like to know what his political and religious beliefs are and why his last relationship ended.
B: Learning more about her: her work as an artist, what she’s looking for, and what her experiences are. 

ROUND 2

The conversation is flowing, the pizza is warm and the daters can’t stop talking. Apparently a near car wreck can actually bring two people together. Erica’s liking Ben’s kind eyes and Ben loves her artistic energy. Once dinner is over, we check back in to see where the night could be going. 

How was Rocky Mountain Tap & Garden Craft Cocktails and Pizza?

E: I thought the cocktails were elevated. The gluten free pizza was amazing.

B: Exceeded expectations. The old fashioneds were phenomenal, the bruschetta was awesome. 10 out of 10 I’d recommend. 

How’s the date going?

E: I think it’s going well. As far as a first date. I’ve enjoyed talking to him and the conversation is flowing. He’s engaging, but he’s hard to read. 

B. Good! She’s engaging and I feel like we’re aligned on a lot of political and religious topics. 

Do you two have anything in common? 

E: We both like cats. We have younger sisters that we’re close to. Our beliefs are similar.

B: We both have a cat. We are aligned on world views. 

What do you like about your date? 

E: I like his energy. He’s been very engaging and kind. Very polite. I like that he seems to be in touch with his emotions.

B: I like that she’s respectful, open and honest. She’s following her passion of art and teaching. I appreciate the way she shows up. 

What’s the most attractive thing your date has done so far?

E: Told me that he has a cat and he’s a cat guy. I’m a cat girl. 

B: She ordered pizza. My favorite thing. 

How would your parents feel about the date?   

E: My dad would like him because my dad grows psilocybin mushrooms. He’s working with someone in the mental health field. They’d have something in common. 

B: They would like her. She’s super sweet. 

What’s been the best part of the date so far?

E: I was nervous that I wasn’t going to be attracted or bored. But it’s been really nice and pleasant. 

B: I just like meeting new people and hearing about where their journey has taken them. 

What could make the date better? 

E: If he gave me a compliment. I’m not looking for much, just something. 

B: Maybe adding an activity like minigolf. 

How’s the chemistry on a scale of 1 to 10? 

E: 7. I’m hoping to feel the physical attraction from him a bit more. 

B: 7.

Where would you like the night to go from here?

E: I’m open. If he wants to get another drink, I’m down. 

B: I’d like to wait and see where it goes. 

What’s a fun fact that you learned about your date? 

E: He doesn’t want to live in Florida—and he plays piano and guitar. 

B: She used to live on a farm and grow her own produce. 

Do you think there’s going to be a second date?

E: I’ll leave that up to him. If he expresses interest, I’d be open to it. 

B: I don’t think there will be a second date. 

Do you think there will be a hug, a kiss, or an exchange of numbers?

E: Your guess is as good as mine. 

B: There will be a hug. 

ROUND 3

When Rooster left the restaurant, things seemed to be going well. When we called the next day, things seemed to have cooled down. We talked with the daters to find out how the end of the night went and if there’s hope for a second date in this gluten free love story.  
What happened after Rooster left? 

E: We hugged and exchanged niceties. He let me know he did not feel a romantic connection, and we drove off into the night. 

B. Said goodbye and let them know there wasn’t a romantic connection for myself, but I really enjoyed my time getting to know them. 

What was the best part of the date and why? 

E: I’d say the highlights included the rainbow that appeared in the sky and my excellent “Bad Teacher” cocktail. 

B. Getting to learn someone’s story and hear about their life’s journey up until this point 

Would you have changed anything about the date?

E: To start, I would have appreciated a compliment! Even if you’re not attracted, it’s just common courtesy to acknowledge your date’s efforts to look cute. At first, I thought my date was guarded and maybe a little nervous about the situation. As the night wore on, I realized he had no interest in getting to know me and that the attraction was not there. By round 2, he was visibly checking his watch while I was talking. If I could change anything, I would have been less agreeable at the end because I was really annoyed. 

B. I would have had the people on the date leave at separate times and then let you guys know if we were interested in a second date.

Will there be a second date? 

E. No.

B. There will not be a second date. 

Any advice for future blind daters? 

E. Go in with no expectations and an open mind. Have fun and take a moment to marvel at the absurdity of the situation. Advice for men specifically: Try to get to know the person in front of you and please don’t wear a baseball cap, sweatpants, or anything sweatpants-adjacent to a first date. It’s disrespectful!

B. Have fun and just enjoy it. The people sound good. The magazines are really cool and help make it fun  and less nerve wrecking. 

CONCLUSION

It looks like Erica wasn’t getting the compliments she wanted and Ben wasn’t feeling the vibe—not even delicious pizza and old fashioneds from Rocky Mountain Tap & Garden could provide the social lubricant for a next date. You win some and you lose some! Until the next Blind Date! 

Are you tired of ordinary dating? Do you like free food and drinks? If you are 21 or older, then you may be entitled to a  Rooster Blind Date!

Click HERE to sign yourself or a friend up!