When the leaves start to fall and the temperature starts to drop, cuffing season is upon us. But with run clubs and pickleball courts wrapping up for the season, Now Toronto compiled a list of indoor spaces in the city where you can meet your next fling.
The age of the dating apps is dwindling down, as more singles seek to meet their potential partners through more organic means. But Andrea Lo, dating coach and founder of Toronto Dating Hub, does not think people will stop using dating apps altogether.
“Why people don’t like apps is because they’ve had really bad experiences with them. … With deep fakes and stuff, you’re never sure if that person’s real or even of that gender,” Lo tells Now Toronto. “[In-person meetings] cut the crap. You’re there in person, so you can’t lie about your height or your face.”
In lieu of dating apps, we compiled a list of places where you can “cut the crap” to find your next boo.
Book Clubs & Writers’ Groups
What’s better than meeting the love of your life? Meeting the love of your life who shares your taste in books, obviously. Various Toronto Public Library locations host book clubs and writers’ groups for adults looking for good reads and stimulating discussions. It’s all about reading between the lines and finding romance among the dewey decimal system.
Indoor Fitness Clubs
Not much of a runner? That’s OK. There are plenty of fitness clubs that take place indoors. Whether it’s a rock climbing gym or a yoga studio, you can find like-minded people who also take their health seriously.
Here are a few options around the city:
- Pure Yoga – Liberty Village
- Basecamp Climbing – Bloor West & Queen West
- One Academy – Leslieville
- F45 Training – Multiple Locations
Dog Clubs
If a four-legged child needs to approve of your romantic relationships, what better way to weed out potential heartbreaks than to bring your furry friends along to your first meet? Dog parks have always been amazing places to strike up conversations with strangers, but being wrapped up in puffer jackets in knee-high snow does not make for an ideal first-meet setting. However, places like the Hound House allow dog owners to sit down over a cup of coffee, with their pets.
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Co-working Spaces
Workplace romance is often discouraged but co-working spaces are fair game. The COVID-19 pandemic brought major shifts in the way we work and date. With roughly 20% of Canadians spending most of their working hours from home as of 2023, it means the chances of you finding your life partner is that much higher. Cheeky little chats by the water cooler can heat up to a shared cup of joe during break. It’s the classic fin-tech guy meets girl boss, interdisciplinary networking at its finest.
Here are a few co-working spaces around the city where you might just find your next fling:
- Acme Works – King West
- Spaces – Multiple Locations
- WeWork – Multiple Locations
- East Room – Multiple Locations
Volunteering Opportunities
The holidays are the season of giving, with many non-profit organizations always looking for extra helping hands. You never know if you’ll lock eyes with your future partner as you help put together care packages, or ladle up a warm meal.
Here are some spaces around the city that are actively recruiting volunteers:
- Ronald McDonald House – Multiple Locations
- Daily Bread Food Bank – Multiple Locations
- Covenant House Toronto – Downtown
- YMCA – Multiple Locations
- Toronto Police Service – Multiple Locations
If you do decide to try out some of our suggestions, Lo has one piece of advice for weeding out potential partners who might not be on the same page.
“I’d ask, ‘What are you looking for?’…. There’s nothing to hide and you’d be quick to answer that. … People who dodge questions or feel uncomfortable, they’re not ready.”
