quirkyalone.net

The first annual celebration of International Quirkyalone Day took place with parties in San Francisco, New York, Providence, Rhode Island, and Glasgow. The largest parties were in San Francisco and New York.

In SF, a multigenerational crowd gathered at Atlas Café for an alone-time table, classic party games, readings of quirkyalone thoughts to ponder, a belly-dancer, and more.

In New York, a diverse crowd assembled at Botanica Bar.

Thanks to all the hosts and organizers of quirkyalone parties in 2003 in San Francisco, California; Providence, Rhode Island; New York, New York; and Glasgow, Scotland: Bethany Cagen, Erin Loura, Jason Pontius, Jodi Whitelaw, Annie Millar, Shannon O'Leary, Danielle Jatlow, Halo Shapiro, Jenny Bitner, Liz Worthy, Jeff Ray, Sara Hayden, Jessica Longo, Reyhan Harmanci, and everyone else who helped to make February 14 more fun.

In the words of gossip columnist Beth Lisick, you helped make International Quirkyalone Day come off "feeling like some sort of social movement, as opposed to some flash-in-the-pan marketing ploy to sell more magazines."

Here are some links about the parties:

Here are some pictures from the SF party.

Here is a New York party report.

Working the Crowd in New York

By Bethany

On the night of February 14, it didn't take long for me to realize that the first-ever New York quirkyalone party would consist of more than just our friends. As each person arrived at Botanica Bar and picked up her quirkyalone gift package, I asked, "So how did you hear about the party?"

"The professor in my relationships class told us about it."
"I've been following quirkyalone since the original article in Utne Reader."
"I'm interested in writing about single middle-age women with children who are not looking for a relationship."
"My friend turned me onto the movement. I totally relate to the concept."

People arrived in groups, couples, and, in true quirkyalone fashion, by themselves.

Although many people at Botanica were not there to celebrate International Quirkyalone Day, it wasn't long before the energy of our party turned them on. At one point early in the evening, a woman in her twenties poked her head into the party room to ask what this whole thing was all about. I told her what a quirkyalone is. A few minutes later, another woman shyly entered the room and said, "My friend just told me you are having a quirkyalone party back here. Can I have some of the literature?"

About midway through the night, a group of friends entered the room with no idea they had stumbled into a party. After explaining International Quirkyalone Day to them, they became very enthusiastic. They inquired about helping out for future quirkyalone events, and declared quirkyalone to be "the coolest thing ever!"

A highlight of the evening was when Andrew Boyd had the entire room repeating a mantra from his book, Daily Afflictions, "I will find that special person who is wrong for me in just the right way." This was truly an accomplishment, as he had to compete with the music from the bar. Quirkyalone is not a defeatist attitude. It is hopeful, and one could feel this hopefulness throughout the night.

As the evening wore on, I decided it was time to do some PR. As I navigated the bar, the usual response was, "Quirkywhat?" I simply answered, "Quirkyalone. It's better to be with somebody than nobody, but it's better to be with nobody than just anybody." Their eyes would immediately light up. I handed each person a button, which they immediately pinned onto their shirts.

photos of actual quirkyalones featured in the book