Beyond Small Talk: Speed Relating

Have you been craving connection and real presence?
Maybe even a cuddle buddy or a cozy collaborator to share the wintering season with?

Well, this is your invitation.

The nights are long, the year is winding down, and it’s a beautiful time to gather, get curious, and find your people.

For this evening, we’re creating a space for chemistry, play, tenderness, and genuine spark in all its forms.

Through playful, guided connection exercises and thoughtful (and occasionally outlandish) questions, you’ll skip the surface-level talk and step into real conversation, playful movement, flirtation, laughter, and presence.

The focus of the night is meaningful connection. Romantic sparks and depthful friendships are equally welcome here. Sometimes connection begins with attraction. Sometimes with laughter. Sometimes with the simple relief of feeling seen.

You might meet a future lover, a new friend, a creative collaborator, or simply leave with a fuller heart and a renewed sense of human connection.

This playshop is open to those seeking connection of any kind: romantic, platonic, playful, or just deliciously human.

Your facilitator, Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates, brings decades of experience creating spaces for authentic connection, intimacy, play, and relational exploration. Expect an evening that is playful, sweet, warmly inviting, and just flirty enough to help the room relax, open, and connect.

All ages (21+), gender expressions, and sexual orientations are warmly welcomed.

Come a little nervous.

Come a little curious.

Leave a little more alive.

Limited Tickets

We are capping this event at 90 people. Get your tickets early. Previous events have been bursting at the seams like a beehive ready to swarm.

Cost of Event

Pre-Purchase: $30–$40

At the Door: $35–$45

Meet Your Facilitator

Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates is a Somatic Sex Educator, intimacy and relationship coach, and seasoned facilitator with over 15 years of experience helping people connect more honestly, playfully, and skillfully.

Their work focuses on building real relational capacity: how we listen, flirt, repair, express desire, and stay present when it actually matters.

Hazel-Grace has facilitated relational spaces for over 25 years and is known for bringing warmth, humor, and nervous-system savvy into rooms where meaningful connection is practiced, not just talked about.

They are a Certified Integral Circling Facilitator, Authentic Relating Facilitator and Trainer, trained in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and a Certified Trauma Somatic Practitioner with Queer Competency Certification.

Translation: consent is real, inclusion is intentional, and awkward moments are welcomed as part of the magic.

Hazel-Grace has a gift for making connection feel human, accessible, and surprisingly fun, even for people who “don’t usually do this kind of thing.”

Learn more about Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates

What Others Have Said

“I came in nervous and unsure what to expect. Within minutes, the space felt safe, fun, and genuinely connecting. I left feeling full, happy, and excited to follow up with new connections.”

“I didn’t know what to expect, but this event completely won me over. The format made real conversations easy without any forced pressure. I showed up as my imperfect self, laughed a lot, and left with genuine connections. If you're on the fence—just go.”

“I was hesitant going in, even as an extrovert. But once it started, I felt energized, open, and genuinely connected to others. I left with a new perspective on how meaningful it can be to open up—even with strangers.”

“I came in curious and left feeling satisfied and genuinely connected. It made meeting new people feel easy and natural.”