Below is an excerpt of this week's cover story on the singles scene in the 'burbs.
-ED

Numbers game
Jersey Singles Mingle attracts 4,500

By Julie Wohlberg
Philly EDGE Correspondent

Last Friday night was all about the digits during the 11th Q102 Singles Mingle. Over 4,500 area singles showed up to the Woodbine Inn in Pennsauken, NJ for a night of drinking, gaming, and hooking-up digits, with each single proudly displaying an ID badge that was used to hook up with other area hotties.
But how effective were the badges in getting the hook-up?
And were these singles looking to “love you long time” or take off when the sun came up?
“There are lots of hot guys out,” says Kara Miorello, who came out with three girlfriends to scope for fresh meat. “I’ve been chatting it up with a few of them, but we’ll see what happens – it’s not like I’m out looking for a boyfriend, I’m just out to have some fun.”
It seems like guys and girls had hook-ups in mind when arriving in style for the evening’s festivities.
“I’d love to say that I’m here to find a nice girl,” says Chad Dorno of Philadelphia, “but I don’t wanna lie to ya. I’m here like every other hot-blooded male, on the prowl and looking to have fun. I’m all about being single. If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn’t be able to be here tonight.”
Many of the Philly-area singles who came out to mingle weren’t interested in losing their solo status. Guys and girls alike said that they’ve outgrown the “high school” need to pair off and are now enjoying the liberties of being single.
“There’s so much going on,” says Mark Pembroke of Bucks County. “You can go out in the ’burbs to any of the local bars and hang with the boys or hit up Philly for a night if you’re looking to go out in style. I work two jobs, so when I have a night off, or when plans come up last minute, I don’t want to have to check in with anyone before making plans. I want to just go.”
Gal pal Vanessa Senisky agrees. “I’m only 26, and I am nowhere near ready to settle down. I have enough to worry about with my job and where I may end up next year without having to worry about how it will affect someone else,” she notes. “Plus, I think that girls who are out every weekend looking for a man are pretty insecure. I’m perfectly content coming out by myself. I don’t need a man to make me feel good.”
Pembroke says that he and his buddies enjoy the suburban pubs and only go into Center City when they’re planning a big night out.
“There are so many bars and clubs in the ’burbs, and you don’t end up spending hundreds of dollars on a bar tab, just to look like you’ve got money.” Pembroke’s crew likes to prowl the pubs in Manayunk, like Bayou Bar and Grille, Bourbon Blue or the Manayunk Brewery.
“We do check out the Woodbine once in awhile on a Friday, because Q102 can throw a mean party and they’re on ’til 3 a.m.,” adds Pembroke’s colleague Tony Andormo. The group came out for a change of scenery and to hang out with friends.
“I wouldn’t complain about getting a hot piece, though,” adds Andormo.