The awkwardness that often accompanies a first date certainly wasn't a factor during Carmen and Steve's, the winners of The Spectrum blind date readers' poll, date to Game Zone and the Bubble Tea Caf?(c) on Jan. 25.
The evening began when Steve picked Carmen up and proceeded to the first part of the date with a Spectrum reporter and photographer in the back seat. During the 20- minute car ride, Steve and Carmen eased into conversation as they discussed the plans for the night.
Steve revealed that he would definitely have a handle on the bowling segment of the date.
" I used to be in a league since I was like five," said Steve. " My parents were the coaches so I was like 'eh, I guess I'll do it.'"
" Oh, no, I'm not that good," said Carmen. " I'll pretend."
The good-natured flow of conversation continued on to queries about bubble tea, which was to be the second part of the date and which neither had ever tried.
" What is this bubble tea stuff?" asked Carmen " I heard it's like tapioca balls in tea or something, I have no idea."
" Really? I have no idea," said Steve.
The typical first-date inquiries began as Steve picked up on Carmen's accent and asked about her hometown
" I'm from Walden, it's about an hour from the city, " she said.
" Is that why you said 'cawfee' instead of coffee?" asked Steve playfully.
" Yeah, that would be the accent," she said.
A continuous joke between the two for most of the night was the fact that a reporter and a photographer accompanied them, and it was difficult ignoring the pair.
" I feel like asking you guys questions," said Steve. "You can talk to us, it doesn't matter, they're never gonna know."
The two arrived at the Game Zone, located at 3860 Sheridan Drive, around 8 p.m. and got right into their first game. They played two games and had pleasant conversation peppered with playfully competitive remarks and random questions.
"Mighty Taco or Taco Bell?" asked Carmen randomly.
"Taco Bell," said Steve. " Mighty Taco is too ... real for me."
" Why do people from Buffalo call soda 'pop'?" asked Carmen. " What the hell is pop? That's a music genre, not soda."
" Look, I'm going to bowl left-handed," said Steve.
" Shut up, " said Carmen. "Don't show off."
In between the good-humored banter, the two spent more time with getting-to-know-each other banter; Carmen revealed that she was not inept in the field of sports.
" I played softball from sixth grade to junior year, then I stopped because there was too much drama," she said. " I played junior varsity softball in ninth grade and then varsity in tenth grade.
The two seemed completely at ease throughout the date and even teamed up to make fun of the fact that they were supposed to be ignoring the reporter and photographer.
" Who are these strange people bowling with us?" asked Steve.
"Get out of our lane," joked Carmen.
Finishing up the two games, the couple took a break to eat a few slices of pizza while they talked about a host of topics, such as the "weirdness" of having their faces in the school paper, Carmen's piercings and high school experiences, and bonded over being taller than most people.
The couple then left to venture on to the next part of their date. Even after some time lost finding the caf?(c), the couple stayed on schedule and arrived at The Bubble Tea Caf?(c), located at 3202 Sheridan Drive, shortly after 10 p.m.
Carmen chose the green apple with green tea flavored bubble tea, one of the more popular flavors, and Steve had banana with green tea. The two sat at their own table and enjoyed conversation in a much more intimate environment than at the bowling alley.
The conversation flowed amicably from preference in music, places they like to party and hang out, to antics with friends.
" My dad is, like, oblivious to everything," said Carmen. "Over the summer at night me and my friend would, like, neglect to come home and just sleep wherever, and one morning we come home and he's paving the drive way, and he's just like, 'Good morning, girls,' and it's like eight in the morning."
After wondering about the taste of bubble tea all evening, Steve and Carmen were finally able to give it a try.
" (The tapioca balls) don't really taste like anything," Steve said. "They're kind of weird and chewy."
" They're very weird chewy balls," said Carmen. " I like the way the tea tastes, though, it's really good."
The evening ended with Steve dropping Carmen off on North Campus, where they wished each other a pleasant evening and parted.
"The date went well. We had a good time," he said. "She's definitely a cool girl."
Carmen, too, enjoyed the evening.
"I had fun. Bubble Tea was interesting," she said. "It was a unique experience."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
