“It’s hard to meet people in Nelson”.
That’s what relief teacher Elenor Aleksich hears on a regular basis and she underlines kids, social media, and busy schedules as possible factors, and is dubious about whether Nelson itself or particular age groups affect it as well.
Her solution to cure evident signs of loneliness is the city’s first Dinner with Strangers event at Pizzeria Bella this Thursday night for new friends to collide.
Facilitated by Elenor and the Bridge St restaurant’s owner Yusuf Corten, up to 35 people who have (hopefully) never met before will take a seat as strangers and the unifying power of food and beverage will evoke their biological bonding responses.
Elenor, who is in her 40s, attends various social groups where friendships have naturally developed, but she knows some Nelson adults find it tougher.
"I think more and more we are disconnected because of social media and other outside factors, and I think something like Dinner with Strangers is a bit more of a down-to-earth way to connect with people using our social cues," she says.
"I get so much joy out of connecting people and weaving people together."
Elenor says seeing a Dinner with Strangers event advertised at an Auckland restaurant, along with hearing about a friend's positive experience, also gave her food for thought.
"My friend really enjoyed it, and she made a connection with somebody she was speaking to at her table," she says.
"She finds it hard to find not just a connection, but actually a friend or two that you really do a lot of stuff with or have a deeper connection than just 'hello, how's it going'.
"I thought that'd be a cool thing to bring to Nelson, and I was on the street one day thought 'to hell with it', I'll go [into Pizzeria Bella] and see if [Yusuf] wants to do that.
"Quite a few of Yusuf's customers have said, 'this is a good idea, you should do it every month'."
And yes, Dinner with Strangers will be held at Pizzeria Bella every month, and is open to all ages.
Elenor also hopes the event will also be friendly to Yusuf amid the unfriendly Bridge to Better project roadworks which are ongoing outside his business.
Call 03 546 9723 for reservations to attend Dinner with Strangers, including this Thursday.
The next one will be held on 15 October.
