No, I’m not back on JDate yet. But since I have 18 messages from unknown parties, curiosity will probably win over economic pragmatism in the next few days.

This post is about a new online dating “game,” EssenceDating.com invented by artist Theo Kisch (madd props to me for resisting puns relating to the similarity between “Kisch” and “Kiss” and “Knish”). His games ($4.95 each) involve between 2 and 10 players (split evenly between the sexes), and basically players talk to players of the opposite sex for 15 minutes about one of 12 paintings on the site. At the end of the game, players trade e-mail addresses with any two singles that piqued their interest.

From The Jewish Week:
Kisch said the idea is to use the painting to talk to each other, so all the conversation revolves around it. “You learn details that you wouldn’t necessarily learn otherwise,” he said, “ and those details help you to see the other person in a deep way.”

This opens up interesting possibilities. Perhaps I could assemble groups of people online to talk about my work, the nuances and annoyances, the good, the bad, and the gorgeous. Or maybe that’s too self-indulgent. But if it brings people together…

Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m realizing that the JCC of Manhattan already approached me to do a mixer program based on topics of interest to Jewish singles…so I’m already in the business of mixing singles and self-promotion…stay tuned for details on that event.