"I have boxes filled with journals that I used to write in, everyday. I need to look back at those again, said Ronald Vautour, a concierge at the Vancouver Convention Centre. I had just met Ronald 15 minutes ago and now, like old college buddies, we were discussing the merits of journal writing with embarrassing examples over wine and food on the patio of Yaletown LAntipasto.
The evening I met Ronald was hosted by Tangoo, a service that helps Vancouverites have memorable evenings by planning the locations and people of a night out; people book online, pay one fee and Tangoo takes care of the rest.
The best nights are when you meet the right people, you go to the right places it all sort of happens by chance, said Tangoo founder Paul Davidescu. I wanted to re-create that organized spontaneity.
Around us was the din of conversations between new acquaintances, feeling more like casual dinner party than a structured event.
You can expect a very effortless night where you can sit anywhere you like in our area and people will start to show up and chat, Davidescu explained earlier when I asked what I should expect.
Itll be very low-pressure and relaxed.
Davidescu said the idea for preplanned effortless nights came to him about a year after the Olympics.
During the Olympics, when there were things to do, people flocked to them, he said. The No Fun City title doesnt make any sense I find that when things are organized, people in Vancouver
participate.
And Vancouverites have been participating.
Tonights dinner and wine at LAntipasto (and later Hamilton Street Grill for desert) is the 15th evening Tangoo has planned with groups of 30 to 100 people attending.
The attendees range from singles to clients wanting to hold private parties or corporate events.
When people attend a Tangoo night, they realize Vancouver has a lot to offer there are great restaurants and great people in this city, said Davidescu.
Tangoo approaches restaurants that they feel could accommodate the social focus of the service.
Davidescu said they give establishments the birthday test picturing if you could hold your birthday celebration at the restaurant.
The restaurants have been great and really open; and they get, like, 30 new customers. We talked to customers and about 75 per cent of people who had never been to the establishment before said they would be back.
Like the Tangoo namesake, these evenings allow you to tango across the city, anticipating what the next step will be.
People arent into getting out of their comfort zone but when theyre in social environment, Vancouverites are very friendly and open minded, he said.
We take that first step for them.
