Becoming Q. Pidd {A Valentine's Party Theme}

 

Valentine's Day may be one of the most hated holidays of the year, but even when I've been sans sweetheart I've always really liked it (which may be why I married a man born on February 14th!). I suffered through my share of date droughts when I was single, and I spent many a Heart Day without exciting plans. But back in 2003, my friend Annie Laurie and I decided if we couldn't beat cupid, we'd BE him...

Since it's February and hearts are a flutter, I feel inspired to share with you one of the most fun parties I have ever planned - The Q. Pidd Party!  

If you don't have a hot date lined up and would like to ensure some excitement on Valentine's Day, or if you just love playing matchmaker....you should organize your own Q. Pidd party!

Here's what we did:

 Stay with me...this ends in wedded bliss!

• A brand new bar called Lounge 201 had JUST opened on Capitol Hill. It needed customers; we needed a venue. We negotiated a happy hour price with the owner and promised to bring him a spirited crowd. You'll need a neutral location if you want to keep Q. Pidd's identity top secret!

• We created an Evite from a "QPidd@" address that popped mysteriously into inboxes all over DC. It read like this:

LOVE MAY BE BEAUTIFUL, LOVE MAY BE BLISS...IF YOU'RE DATELESS ON VALENTINE'S, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE JUST PISSED

WE CAN'T OFFER ROSES, CANDY OR GEMS

BUT WE'VE A ROOM FULL OF SINGLES - REBUPLICANS AND DEMS...

SO THROW ON YOUR BEST LOOK, HEAD OUT WITH A SMILE...

JUST MAYBE YOU WILL FIND LOVE FOR A WHILE!

BRING ALL YOUR FUN FRIENDS ON THIS DAY OF HEARTS...

FOR DRINK SPECIALS, DANCING, POOL TABLES AND DARTS

WHILE WE CAN'T PROMISE ROMANCE

WE'LL ENSURE A GOOD TIME...

IF YOU STRIKE OUT WITH LOVE.....

TWO PARTS VODKA, ONE PART LIME!!

• We invited all the people we knew. We invited all the people we wanted to know.  People were beside themselves trying to figure out just who was this mysterious Q. Pidd could be! Nothing spikes one's curiosity more than thinking someone has a crush on them...especially around Valentine's Day!

When February 14 came, throngs of single people fell into Lounge 201. I can't remember a dateless Valentine's that was more fun. I can remember a Valentine's with a date that was less fun, but....that's another story!


I did not find love that night, but one of my friends, Lori, dated someone for years that she met through Q. Pidd. Likewise, I have a very vivid memory of my then-roomate Julie and her then-co-worker Chris sitting in a booth, watching everyone else mingle. They were together most of the night. Chris was on a lackluster date and Julie was missing some guy whose name I've forgotten.  I'm not saying Q. Pidd had anythingto do with it, BUT.. a few years later I was a bridesmaid in their wedding!

 Q. Pidd was such a success that we did it again the next year!