Post-Bulletin (Life Section - Out and About), April 28, 2006

A few good men

Faced with a problem -- meeting like-minded single professionals in Rochester -- Jill Topness found a solution -- hosting Savvy Singles Happy Hours.

The free, casual, monthly gatherings, which are not affiliated with any bar or professional dating service, have been going well, attracting a growing contingent of singles in the 28-48 age range. Then came the hitch, or what's been called the "male deficient predicament."

Like many singles events in the area, the happy hours attract a disproportionate number of men and women.

Determined to find a solution, Jill and company sought ideas on how to increase male attendance.

One suggestion was to get everyone to invite or recruit a friend of the opposite sex. Basically saying, that just because the two of you are just friends, doesn't mean that person wouldn't make a connection at the singles event.

However, just knowing that there's a bar full of single, young, professional women should be incentive enough to get plenty of men to attend the next Savvy Singles Happy Hour, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 3, 2006 at Beetles Bar & Grill in Rochester. Plus, it's free.

The singles crowd is also working on a Web site to give newcomers an idea of what the
loosely-defined group is all about.