Take Me Out…

Photos by John O’Donnell

ONLY IF YOU WANT AN INTRO

Birds do it, bees do it, even CPAs do it. You don’t have to be an Einstein to know that a two-some is more fun than a one-some (most of the time). But sometimes everybody needs a little help mastering the equation of romance.

David Palaia

Age: 46

Town: White Plains

Occupation: Plastic surgeon

Ideal date: A nice casual stroll on the beach at sunset

Hobbies: I’m a sculptor, working in clay and wood. I also golf and ride bikes.

Last book read: The Da Vinci Code. I learned a lot of neat factual information and came to realize that women rule.

Favorite food: Italian.

What would friends say about you: I’m a little bit hard to get to know, but a great guy once you do.

Lindsay Fredricks

Age: 28

Town: Stamford, CT

Occupation: Public relations director

Hobbies: I just starting knitting and am currently working on the world’s longest scarf!

Last book read: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.

Favorite food: Thanksgiving dinner—there are so many options, yet it is a simple meal and such a laid-back day.

Quirkiest habit: I am always doing more than one thing at a time. For example, I’ll watch a movie and read a book at the same time. I think     multi-tasking is just in my nature.

What would friends say about you: I’m funny, smart, and genuine—at least they better say those things!

What I’m looking for: Someone who can make me laugh.

Joseph Charles Becerra

Age: 40

Town: Bedford

Occupation: Investigator, New York State Police

Ideal date: I prefer small intimate restaurants and lounges rather than loud clubs and bars. I enjoy interesting conversation, good food, and fine wine. My favorite places in Westchester include Café Antico in Mt Kisco, 121 Restaurant & Bar in North Salem, and Globe Bar & Grill in Larchmont.

Hobbies: Skiing, biking, blading, golf, fishing. I also enjoy hiking with my two labradors.

Last book read: The Kennedy Curse. And I thought I knew some dysfunctional families.

Favorite food: Seafood paella. My mom is from Spain, and when she wants all her boys home for dinner, all she has to do is make paella.

Tell us a story: I’m a hostage/crisis negotiator for the State Police, and while I was at my 20th reunion at Stepinac High School in White Plains, my pager went off. I had to go to Somers where a man was barricaded in his house with a gun. Fortunately, he surrendered. When I got back to the reunion, one of my fellow classmates said to me, “Man, you were in the bathroom a long time.”

Nancy Bender

Age: 30-something

Town: A rivertown

Occupation: Professional vocalist/singing coach

Hobbies: Cooking and entertaining, listening to music, going to movies, flea markets, and antique stores, dancing, watching Yankees baseball, to name a few.

Quirkiest habit: Who me?

What friends say: I’m loyal, honest, dependable, down-to-earth, fun, serious, talented, and stubborn.

What I’m looking for: I’m just waiting for that right someone to come and rock my world. Where are you?

Anthony Bambace

Age: 38

Town: Riverdale (hopes to return to his “Westchester roots soon”)

Occupation: Pharmacy owner

Hobbies: Jogging, biking, basketball; also fine dining and a movie now and then.

Last book read: The Last Season, by Phil Jackson, the story of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Favorite food: Sushi, it fills a craving.

What I’m looking for: Someone who is affectionate, friendly, and knows what she wants.

Tricia Gabberty

Age: 40-something

Town: Northern Westchester

Occupation: Marketing executive

Ideal date: A quick connection with a person, where the conversation flows and the sense of humor is compatible; a comfortable restaurant with good food is a bonus.

Worst date: An online date that I met at a Starbucks. He stood in front of me on line, jingled the change in his pocket and said, “I am in-between jobs right now. You are on your own for whatever it is you are drinking.” Wrong! He was on his own. I left!

Hobbies: Beach, golf, tennis, in that order.

Last book read: Regarding Henry. A quick beach read, upbeat-fluff, and funny.

Favorite food: Foie gras and Champagne. But I’m always up for a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Greg Werlinich

Age: 40

Town: Rye Brook

Occupation: Financial asset manager

Hobbies: I am a competitive Masters swimmer, competing in the 40 to 44 age group. I also love to golf and ski.

Favorite food: Well-aged steaks and good pasta dishes.

Your quirkiest habit: I crack my knuckles too much.

What would friends say: I’m a very good father to my three children and that they can’t believe I get up at 5 am to swim.

Bayard Templeton

Age: 24

Town: Greenwich, CT (grew up in Bronxville)

Occupation: Middle school history teacher

Ideal date: A nice dinner in Manhattan followed by a Broadway musical that we both want to see. Ice cream  afterwards is a must.

Hobbies:  Three Bs—board games, baseball (Go Mets!), and Broadway.

Last book read: Amalee by folk singer Dar Williams. It made me think about how hard it is to be a middle schooler, since you start to have such different needs and such big ideas, but have so little choice as to how you spend your time.

Favorite food: Black-ink linguini with shrimp and red bell peppers at Brio in Manhattan.

Quirkiest habit: I can’t stand listening to the same song or CD more than once a day because I don’t want a good song to get ruined or overplayed.

Lydia Antoncic

Age: 34

Town: New Rochelle

Occupation: Attorney/animal welfare advocate

Ideal date: A weekend at a snug and romantic B&B, with Champagne and a fireplace.

Worst date: A guy who spent the first hour of our brunch date convincing me he was “practically vegan,” and then proceeded to order eggs, bacon, and cheese!

Hobbies: Anything athletic—I’m quite a gym rat and practically live at Equinox in Scarsdale.

Last book eadr: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s all about how to start a social or marketing epidemic.

Favorite food: I’m a vegetarian and health food junkie so things like sautéed kale and flax seed muffins really get me excited, preferably accompanied by a full-bodied red wine.

Quirkiest habit: On weekends, I have been known to visit my local bagel store wearing pajamas under my winter coat.

What are you looking for: Someone who is willing to embrace my son and my cat

and dog.

Shaun Eli Breidbart

Age: 43

Town: Pelham

Occupations: Banker and stand-up comedian

Ideal date: Someone so smart that she makes me start to question some of my own beliefs.

Hobbies: I work out almost every day, usually rowing (I have my own scull), but I also run and bicycle frequently. I’m a licensed pilot, and I fly a couple of times a month when the weather cooperates. And I like to cook and to learn more about food and wine.

Last book read: Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gilman. I wouldn’t think that a woman writing about her childhood and choice of a wedding dress would hold my interest, but I couldn’t put the book down.

Favorite food: Pizza. It has the added benefit of being readily available, and it goes really well with Champagne, my favorite beverage.

Quirkiest habit: People I went to business school say that telling jokes in a comedy club for barely any money after a full day of working as a banker is a quirky habit. My comedian friends say that working all day in an office trying to turn a big pile of someone else’s money into a slightly bigger pile of someone else’s money is a quirky habit.

Deborah DeKoff

Age: 40-something

Town: Scarsdale

Occupation: Management consultant

Most unusual date: I had a blind date with a hedge fund manager, and while there was no great connection, I tried to make the most of it. I got the best stock recommendation ever!

Hobbies: Time spent with family and friends, working out, dining, traveling, reading, adventure, boating, and, of course, shopping.

Last book I read: The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer.

Favorite food: Italian. (I’m half Italian and half Dutch.)

Rui Correia

Age: 33

Town: Bronxville

Occupation: Chef and owner of Oporto Restaurant in Hartsdale

Ideal date: Going out to a great restaurant (other than my own), then ending up with drinks at a trendy lounge where we can get to know each other.

Favorite Hobbies: I love to ski, work out, and travel. I was born and raised in Portugal, and I like to go back to my roots.

Last book you read: All I ever read is food magazines and FHM (For Him Magazine).

Favorite food: Sushi.

Your quirkiest habits: I’m a bit of a neat freak; my apartment is always spotless.

What are you looking for in a partner:  A really good friend.

Jennifer Gabrielle Pellicer

Age: 30

Town: Dobbs Ferry

Occupation: Middle/high school Spanish teacher

Ideal date: There is no such thing. With the right person I would be happy doing absolutely anything.

Last book read: Viajes de Cristobal Colon, based on the four voyages of Columbus during the 1500s. It’s fascinating.

Favorite food: Empanadas y Milanesas Argentinas. It makes me feel like I’m home.

Quirkiest habit: Singing, anytime and anywhere the mood strikes.

What I’m looking for: I am looking for a best friend who can wear a matching smile and join me in making fun-filled memories.