Hello. I’m Penny :)

I start Meet IRL in February 2023 - with the simple aim of bringing together a few single neighbors in Logan Square for in-person connection. It all started after hearing too many friends express frustration and disappointment about the state of dating in Chicago. And, let’s be honest, I wasn’t exactly loving dating apps myself.

Fast forward to 2026, and we’ve now hosted over 250 events, welcoming over 18,000 Chicagoans, at awesome venues all around the city. That was never the goal, but I’m happy we made it here. It’s a privilege to be part of my community’s stories; whether that’s by connecting people with a new friend, helping someone feel less alone, facilitating a fun night out, or in some cases, by introducing them to their special someone.

I truly believe we can create the environment in which we want to date. Our events aim to bring humanity back to the experience of being single - I can’t promise you’ll meet the love of your life, but we’re going to do our best to help you find them :)