Date Lab

This triathlete loves a challenge. How about a quick-witted entrepreneur?

7:30 p.m. | Poste, inside the Hotel Monaco | Penn Quarter

Dan: I was thinking about the date for about a week. Some of my friends said that [Date Lab] is like a reality show, just on a page instead of TV. But, hey, my life's an open book.

Robert: We got to the restaurant at kind of the same time. [I ducked upstairs to the bathroom], and when I came down, he picked me out. He said that he had just done the same thing, so we may have been in the bathroom at the same time.

Dan: My first impression was that I've seen him before. I didn't tell him that, because it's probably just from being out and about. I don't know if I have a type, but I've tended to date guys who are a bit bigger. He's got that lean runner's build.

Robert: He's got a really nice smile. We sat down in a booth where we had a view of the open kitchen and each ordered a glass of wine. We were chatting, and immediately it was comfortable.

Dan: It turned out he's very athletic. He did the Ironman competition. We talked about vacations, and I said, "I like going to Las Vegas." He said, "I like taking big, long bike rides." To be truthful, I'm not sure I'd ever choose to do that. Or initiate it. Or perhaps even participate.

Robert: I went in expecting somebody with more similar interests. But I'm glad I met Dan; he's done some interesting things, like starting a company that promoted lesbian and gay rights. One of the slogans he wrote I was very familiar with. That was pretty cool.

Dan: We started taking pictures [for the column] in between courses. I said we should take some different ones, not just at the table, and he was all for it.

Robert: We joked around; we took some of me pushing him around in [the hotel's bellhop] cart. There's a playfulness to him, a willingness to be adventurous.

Dan: He talked to the maitre d', and they brought us out some chefs' coats. So many people are so self-conscious about what other people will think. He's not like that. In personality, he's my type. But, ultimately, I don't think there was a mutual attraction. Toward the end of the date, he said, "I'm starting to get a 'friends vibe,' " in air quotes. And, you know, I thought that was incredibly mature.

Robert: It's just a physical chemistry thing for me -- sometimes it's a match, and sometimes it's not. But he's got a great heart. He's someone I want to spend more time with.

Dan: The night ended; we hugged goodbye and parted ways. I'd rate the date a 5 out of 5, believe it or not. Even though nothing came of it in a romantic way, I had a great time, and he's a really nice guy. He gave me his card and said to e-mail him the next day. And I did.

Robert: Even though there's no romantic connection, I'd still have to put it at a 5. I had a great time, and that's all you can expect, right?

Interviews by Cory Ohlendorf

UPDATE: The two met up a few nights later at a political fundraiser and recently went out to dinner with a group of friends.

DATE LAB IS LOOKING FOR THOUGHTFUL EXHIBITIONISTS -- and other singles willing to get set up. Go to washingtonpost.com/datelab for details.