Aaron Sorkin’s gonna Sorkin, even when he’s working off someone else’s material. In his new adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, now in a short touring stop with Broadway in Chicago, the creator of A Few Good Men, The American President,and The West Wing goes back to the courtyard drama/political grandstanding that he loves, where hope reigns supreme that a few well-placed sharp observations can have some effect on hearts and minds. And while his script does address some of the more cringeworthy elements in Lee’s 1960 book and the subsequent 1962 film starring Gregory Peck as white-hero lawyer Atticus Finch, it doesn’t fully grapple with the phenomenon of what critic Soraya Nadia McDonald cogently calls “TROTs: Those Racists Over There.”

To Kill a Mockingbird
Through 5/29: Tue-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM; also Sun 5/22, 7:30 PM and Wed 5/25, 2 PM; James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph, 800-775-2000, broadwayinchicago.com, $35-$114.

This production, directed by Bartlett Sher, originally opened on Broadway in late 2018, almost two years into the Trump administration. But while it seems in some ways to be leaning into the (mostly debunked) notion that TFG won because of the “economic anxiety” of the white working class, it also, as McDonald points out, traffics in the comforting fiction that racists are something apart and alien from the rest of us, who are mostly decent people. Certainly one can’t fault Sorkin for the story that Lee chose to tell, and it’s of course worth noting that Lee’s story does at least attempt to address unequal justice for Black men, gender stereotypes, and the lingering effects of our nation’s failure to adequately come to terms with the horrors of building a world for white people on the labor of enslaved Black people (and though neither Lee nor Sorkin gets into this, on lands that belonged to Indigenous peoples). 

It’s a beautifully acted show, don’t get me wrong: Richard Thomas, decades removed from the boyish John-Boy Walton (and a long way away from his recent role as Wendy Byrde’s manipulative “Christian” father on Ozark), still somehow manages to embody the combination of earnest scholar and relatable country lad that made John-Boy the sympathetic fulcrum of The Waltons. He negotiates the shifts from Atticus’s wry observational humor to his anguish with subtle and sometimes gut-punching power.

Some of the best scenes in Sorkin’s script involve Finch and the family housekeeper, Calpurnia (Chicago theater vet Jacqueline Williams, and what a treat it is to see her here). Williams’s Calpurnia calls out the white-savior complex of her employer, most notably in a scene where she reminds him that he muttered “You’re welcome” under his breath when he told her he was going to defend falsely accused Tom Robinson (Yaegel T. Welch) on the capital charge of raping Mayella Ewell (Arianna Gayle Stucki). 

There is real tension in the courthouse scenes, but the scenery chewing from Mayella’s reprehensible father, Bob (Joey Collins), distracts; he’s more cartoon than threat. On the other hand, the presence of Finch’s children, Scout (Melanie Moore) and Jem (Justin Mark), and their quirky friend Dill Harris (an endearing and poignant Steven Lee Johnson) as narrators and witnesses to the trial adds a level of emotional heft. We’re seeing them learn about the depths of injustice baked into the bread, so to speak, of the world they’ve mostly seen before through the eyes of Atticus, who sometimes seems to think he can just reason his way to getting people to stop being white supremacists.

With the mass murder of Black people in Buffalo just last weekend, seeing this show now feels especially discomfiting. I don’t doubt the good intentions of the creators, and the production makes attempts at addressing other historic biases in theater. For example, Link Deas, Tom Robinson’s employer who testifies on his behalf, is played by Deaf actor Anthony Natale, who mostly delivers his testimony in ASL, with the children speaking the lines. And for fans of the film, there’s the original Scout, Mary Badham, showing up as racist neighbor (I mean, they basically ALL are, really) Mrs. Henry Dubose.

In short: it’s a smart and touching production that maybe doesn’t need to be done right now. As McDonald writes, “This Mockingbird reassures the Good White People that make up its audience that they are, in fact, good.” White people don’t need reassurance. We need reassessment of just what we’re willing to do to combat white supremacy.

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The energy in the Den Theater last Thursday was electric, as The Secretaries, writtenby Omer Abbas Salem and directed by Laura Alacalá Baker, made its highly anticipated debut with First Floor Theater. The dark comedic play was first developed through Goodman Theatre’s Future Labs and marks Salem’s first full production as a playwright in Chicago.

The Secretaries, set in 1944 Berlin, centers four German women as they compete to be the Führer’s personal secretary. In the span of 90 minutes, they engage in morally dubious behavior and sabotage—all in the name of public interest and national honor. If this sounds ludicrous, that’s because it is, as Salem’s script embraces eccentricity to explore themes of complicity and the desire to act in one’s self-interest. 

The Secretaries
Through 6/11: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM; industry nights Mon 5/23 and 6/6, 7:30 PM; Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee, firstfloortheater.com, $25-$35 ($20 students).

When the play’s central character, Hannah (LaKecia Harris), opens the show, it’s impossible to take your eyes off of her as she struts across the stage in her bright blue and hot pink suit with an alluring sense of confidence and control. Soon she meets Helga (Emilie Modaff), the head secretary and Hannah’s boss, whose German pride and love for cauliflower is unmatched.

The audience is eventually introduced to two more secretaries, Helena (Sarah Price) and Henrietta (Tina Muñoz Pandya). The four women are each dressed in full Aryan drag, a bold creative choice that elevates the production’s avant-garde nature. Price’s portrayal of Helena is the highlight of the night as she fully leans into the outlandishness of her character, resulting in a shockingly hilarious and seductive performance. 

Despite such a strong opening and tremendous acting across the board, The Secretaries soon loses steam. While it is marketed as a parable, the play’s fast-moving, hard-to-follow script prevents it from being easily interpreted as such. On the First Floor Theater website, The Secretaries is described as “fearsome, outrageous, and absurd.” However, the production’s pursuit of such absurdity leads to an unsatisfying viewing experience, as you may spend more time struggling to decipher what is happening onstage, as opposed to becoming invested in the characters and the work as a whole. 

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In the Chicago premiere of Sarah Treem’s When We Were Young and Unafraid with AstonRep,a group of multitudinous women navigate domesticity, violence, and identity in a cultural landscape that both oppresses and empowers. Set in 1972, just before the Roe v. Wade decision and 22 years before the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, the story is centered on Agnes (Julie Partyka), a middle-aged mother who runs a stealth domestic violence shelter out of her bed-and-breakfast on a remote island in Washington. She offers protection and safety to each of the women who comes through her door, inviting them into the world she’s created away from the turmoil of the real one. After she meets Mary Anne (JoAnn Birt), the latest woman to seek refuge, it’s clear that Agnes, who was once a woman ahead of her time, has fallen out of touch with the new age of feminism being ushered in by the next generation.

When We Were Young and Unafraid
Through 6/12: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM; the Edge Off Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa, 773-828-9129, astonrep.com, $20.

It’s impossible to engage with the show’s subject matter without considering the social context in which it’s being performed. When We Were Young and Unafraid frames Roe as a signal of hope—for the younger characters, it’s a possibility for equality and opportunity. While Agnes poignantly questions the finality of the decision, it’s ultimately an indication that the women she cares for will be safe. As the Supreme Court looks to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, the script takes a stance on what an America without choice looks like while also acknowledging that progress, in both a personal and political sense, isn’t linear. Director Sara Pavlak McGuire and the ensemble handle the profound subject matter with candor and care, while powerfully demonstrating the connections amongst the characters, influenced by their experiences and outlooks.

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Tabu, the newest addition to the Atomic Hospitality portfolio, opens Friday, May 20 at 401 N. Morgan Street in Chicago. Tabu brings a fresh take on Latin cuisine and craft cocktails in a unique and eclectic West Loop space.

“We wanted to create a concept that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but delivers on amazing food and cocktails in a cool atmosphere,” said Pepe Fernandez, general manager at Tabu.

Image Credit: Tabu

Executive Chef Saúl Román, a Cuernavaca, Mexico native with years of experience in Mexico City (and previously of Chicago restaurants Zocalo and Artango Steakhouse) defies culinary classification delivering vibrant dishes that draw influence from the cuisines of Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and more. Guests will be tempted with starters like Román’s decadent Lobster Flautas, made with smoked gouda, red cabbage and lime serrano crema, Grilled Octopus made with crispy Forbidden Rice, manchamanteles (a rich sauce that cheekily translates to “tablecloth stainer”), grilled pineapple, and charred lime and the appropriately named Queso Fundido Supremo, made to evoke a Supreme Pizza with a Latin twist.

Chef Saul was able to color outside the lines with his playful takes on tacos, including a Shrimp Po’ Boy, Korean Sticky Mushroom, and the Que-FC fried chicken taco with tamarind gravy, aji amarillo aioli. Chef Saul’s tortillas are hand-pressed, an artform he’s perfected over the years.

Image Credit: Tabu

Tabu offers a dynamic array of dishes, including salads, mains, and desserts. They highly recommend that guests leave room for the Churroulette, an assortment of housemade churros for the table, but in true Tabu fashion one of these churros will be laced with habanero. Guests can also play with fire by indulging one of Tabu’s four housemade hot sauces varying in spice from their Gringo Serrano to the Beso del Diablo, which is made from habanero, arbol, and ghost peppers.

Tabu’s food offerings were designed to pair perfectly with its tantalizing beverage program, which is set to boast the largest collection of Mezcals and Tequilas in Chicago. Guests can try one of their many agave flights, enjoy showpiece cocktails like the whimsical (and blue glitter embellished) Tijuana Unicorn Show, which features Creyente Mezcal, lemon, and prickly pear. Other spirits will also get their time to shine with cocktails like the Unholy Water, featuring Havana Club Rum, and the Sunrise over Jalisco, Tabu’s take on a deconstructed Tequila Sunrise. They will also have an creatively curated wine list, hyper focused on Pan-Latin varietals, as well as a selection of draft and bottled beers.

Image Credit: Tabu

Tabu’s interiors combine a certain sophistication and playfulness, with a ceiling adorned with nearly 10,000 individually cut ropes, enigmatic pop art murals, and a sunken cocktail lounge that begs you to order just one more round.

Tabu has plans to expand the concept this summer with the addition of an 8,000 square foot rooftop popup with stunning views of the City’s skyline.

Tabu is located at 401 N. Morgan St., in the West Loop with 160 seats in the restaurant and lounge. Tabu will be open Tuesday and Wednesday 4pm to 12am, Thursday and Friday from 4pm to 2am, Saturday from 4pm to 3am, and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm. Reservations for Tabu can be made via OpenTable. For more information, visit www.Tabuchicago.com.

Featured Image Credit: Tabu

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The inside scoop is out; limited tickets for Museum of Ice Cream Chicago’s grand opening will be available starting Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 10am! MOIC is opening its doors to the Windy City on Saturday, July 16, 2022 to scoops of all ages and flavors. After 2 million visitors across 7 sold-out locations, MOIC has found its latest sweet spot in the historic Chicago Tribune building on Michigan Avenue.

Reimagined for an audience in need of new ways to celebrate, MOIC Chicago has thoughtfully curated a Willy Wonka-esque adventure to delight every adult’s inner kid, and excite every kid through the universal joy of ice cream!

Image Credit: MOIC

Learn about the history of ice cream in a journey sprinkled with fun facts and unique interactive installations designed specifically for Chicago. Look forward to cone-necting with loved ones in the city’s only dessert-themed indoor carnival, complete with a cookie carousel and funhouse mirror maze. Recline like an ice cream angel and float away in a sea of pink clouds in the balloon room – and celebrate the iconic Chicago (jelly) bean in another. You can also challenge and throw virtual cherries at each other in our new interactive game. Imagination is the currency of choice, and there’s no safer place to let your inner child spend it!

Expect a variety of classic and novel flavors across 5 free-flow dessert stations, including uniquely-Chicagoan ice cream hotdogs and shaved ice, with seasonal surprise treats on rotation. Grownup kids will enjoy our signature pink cocktails, each with a different flavor to tickle your taste buds each time! Guests with dietary restrictions are still in for an easy-freezy day, as each station offers vegan and allergen-free alternatives.

Tickets are expected to melt fast, so don’t be disheartened if you can’t scoop your tickets in time for the grand opening – MOIC Chicago has an exciting year planned ahead! Keep an eye out for holiday highlights like Pinkmas and Museum of I Scream, which are MOIC’s famed Halloween and holiday celebrations.

Ticket sales for Museum of Ice Cream Chicago begin on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 10am and can be reserved at www.museumoficecream.com. Regular general admission tickets start from $36 on weekdays and $44 on weekends. Be the first to visit MOIC Chicago with limited preview tickets that come with a special MOIC gift bag for opening weekend on July 16 and 17. For more updates and announcements, sign up for Museum of Ice Cream’s newsletter at museumoficecream.com and follow along at @museumoficecream.

MOIC brings to life the universal power of ice cream by creating experiences that inspire imagination, helping to rediscover the kid in you. Our inclusive environments are designed to inspire human connection and energize the senses to reimagine the way we experience and love ice cream. Museum of Ice Cream is a Figure8 brand.

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Whether by design or happenstance, Writers Theatre has focused on the theme of women in competition and collaboration this season. In Eleanor Burgess’s Wife of a Salesman, two actors portraying Linda Loman and the “woman from Boston” in a contemporary riff on Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman wonder why their characters in the play-within-the-play have to fall into the tired tropes of women fighting over a (mediocre) man, while they share their own stories about maintaining relationships and careers simultaneously.

Athena
Through 7/10: Wed 3 and 7:30 PM, Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 3 and 7:30 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM; Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe, 847-242-6000, writerstheatre.org, $35-$90.

Now in Gracie Gardner’s Athena, we meet two high school girls who are competitive fencers. Over the brisk 80-minute course of Jessica Fisch’s staging, Athena (Mary Tilden) and Mary Wallace (Aja Singletary) feint, parry, lunge, riposte, and peel back layers of themselves even while wearing the protective garb of their sport. (Mary Wallace chooses a flat chest protector, and tells Athena, who sports one with molded breasts, “The plastic boobs just slow you down. They just guide someone’s blade right to a hit.”)

For whatever reason, women talking honestly about their lives without reference to male definitions of conflict and resolution still feels like a radical proposition (even decades after the Bechdel Test came into being). Sure, the two-character setup of Gardner’s play does mean that there are some binary differences between the two girls. Athena lives with her single dad in New York City and slips (underage, of course) into nightclubs where her older sister DJs. By contrast, Mary Wallace is a more sheltered suburbanite with a bookworm bent. (Though it’s worth noting that Athena gave herself that mythological name as a nom de guerre.)

But what’s lovely about Gardner’s play is how skillfully it intertwines the anxieties and doubts common to all adolescents with the growing confidence of the two as friendly competitors. The precise fight choreography of David Blixt and Christian Kelly-Sordelet, which plays out on Arnel Sancianco’s cool minimalist runway set (it almost feels like a Holodeck from Star Trek, particularly in combination with Paul Toben’s stark white lighting), provides cunning physical metaphors for the ways they get close, pull back, and meet each other head-on. The piste is both a proving ground for their desire to qualify for nationals (and possibly the Olympics), and a place where they concentrate on themselves and each other. If the final bout seems to be moving into a slightly predictable dynamic, that’s merely a minor disappointment for a play that asks us to consider the possibility that teenage girls know how to land hits, but also how to have each other’s backs.

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Have you heard of Seeking Arrangement? They’ve rebranded as Seeking and are no longer a dating site for sugar daddies and babies. Nope, Seeking is now a mainstream dating site.

Seeking has been seriously blowing up of late. Just a few months ago, they had roughly 20 million members. Now? Try 40 million! When you add the fact that people in 130 countries are using Seeking, this is a dating app that may be rivaling Tinder before long.

While it’s true that Seeking Arrangement was focused on helping attractive and successful people meet up, Seeking now claims to be about “identifying what drives us and how we can live our best lives with someone by our side.”

In other words, Seeking is now for everyone, and this is a site that you may regret leaving out of your dating app repertoire.

So, read on to learn more about Seeking in 2022, including its pros and cons, how to sign up, how much it costs, how the platform works, handy tips, and more.

Pros

Super active communityIntuitive search and filtering functionsEnjoyable site design and interfaceThorough verification processGlobal availability (including languages)Certain discounts available

Cons

Somewhat controversialFake accounts and bots slip through the cracksInactive profiles still visibleCan get expensiveScammers

Registering on Seeking is relatively straightforward. You start by stating if you’re a man or woman and whether you prefer meeting men or women (or both). You’re then prompted to answer a few other questions, which helps the site calibrate its matching algorithms (ideally resulting in more successful matching). After a bit more personal information, that’s just about everything to get registered!

(Keep in mind that you may want to be careful about what email you use if you want to remain relatively anonymous.)

After completing the registration process, you’ll need to wait for Seeking to verify your account. This process generally takes 1-2 business days on average, but you may get a faster turnaround.

While it can be frustrating to wait, the account verification process is in the best interest of all the people trying to use the site legitimately. Unfortunately, some scammers and bots still manage their way through, so it doesn’t appear to be a perfect process.

Any Free Features?

If you’re worried about immediately shelling out a ton of money to use Seeking, luckily that’s not the case. Once you’ve registered and been verified, you’re free to start browsing around (see what we did there?).

This is nice because you’re able to get a feel for how Seeking works and what you can reasonably expect in terms of possible matches later on.

The downside is that you will be fairly limited with what you’re able to do. For example, you won’t be able to contact other members of Seeking for free.

Like many dating apps nowadays, Seeking wants to get you on their platform and get you thinking about all the beautiful and successful people you could potentially meet. This means that members will be more likely to open up their wallets in order to gain complete access to the site.

If you think that’s a frustrating business model, you’re definitely not alone. For better or worse, it’s becoming more and more normal in the dating site community. So, you may as well get used to it and at least enjoy the benefit of browsing for free. There are some sites where you can’t even do that without paying.

Seeking may also offer free memberships to certain clients that are particularly “desirable.” You can apply for the free membership once you’ve registered.

Setting Up Your Profile

After entering in your basic info as part of the registration process, you’ll be all set. And how Once you’ve registered and been verified, you can now set up your Seeking profile.

You’ll need to choose a username and upload a photo. We recommend going with something reasonably “adult” (as in not immature, like “sexgod69”). You’ll also want to choose a flattering photo. And please don’t be one of those people who uses a group photo on dating sites! Ultimately, your profile is a big part of your first impression, so take some time with it.

As part of your profile, you have the ability to list lots of information. You can add your height, education, relationship status, children, etc. There are a wide variety of relationship statuses you can pick, from “married but looking” and “separated” to “open relationship” and more.

You can also add your income and net worth, which may seem weird to you if you’re more used to traditional dating apps.

In order to try to make matching as seamless as possible, the profile set-up gets a bit complex. For example, you have to pick different “tags” that give more detail about what you’re looking for on the Seeking platform. Some of the tags include different character traits and preferences such as “flexibility,” “attentiveness,” “monogamous,” etc.

Lastly, you need to write up a little bio for the “About Me” section. It’s best to be honest but also modest, if that makes sense. You don’t want to sell yourself too short, but you also don’t want to be way over the top. So, keep that in mind as you try to craft a compelling little bio. Try to have it reflect who you really are. If you’re funny, be funny, for example.

How Much Does Seeking Cost?

As we said, Seeking can be joined for free. And, if you’re an attractive and/or quite successful individual, you may be able to get to use the site for free.

To actually become a verified member, however, you’ll have to shell out $50 for a background check. For this, you don’t have to verify income at least. Getting verified is a good way to make others feel like you can be trusted right off the bat, especially—let’s be honest—if you’re a man (and particularly an older man).

While Seeking memberships can end up costing a significant amount for men, many of these members come from wealthy backgrounds, meaning it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. If you’re looking to use Seeking as a mainstream dating site, however, be aware that it might end up costing you more than other dating sites out there.

Bottom Line Costs

Current premium membership packages certainly aren’t cheap for the average person, but this isn’t an average dating site:

1 month premium = $90/month3 months premium = $80/month6 months premium = $70/month

As you can see, you’ll get a better monthly rate if you pay for more months up front, which is standard with dating sites (and a lot of subscriptions in general).

Using Seeking To Find a Hookup

Okay, so we’ve covered getting registered, getting verified, getting your profile set up, and the cost of using Seeking.

But what about the thing you’re actually interested in Seeking for? Dating, that is.

The simple answer is that Seeking may very well be a good option for finding dates. With its large user base of over 40 million people all around the world, chances are good that you can find some compatible people in your area (or who are close enough).

So, in general, it’s not that hard to get dates on Seeking. That said, it can be highly competitive—especially if you’re a young woman, thanks to the high female-to-male ratio.

One thing that helps you get matched up on Seeking is the fact that it has a sleek, modern-feeling interface. While some dating sites have an outdated or downright spammy look to them, Seeking has clearly invested in creating a good user experience when it comes to the interface and user friendliness.

Since browsing around is intuitive and straightforward, it doesn’t take long to start finding people to message on Seeking. You can even join “VIP rooms” if you opt for the Diamond Membership, which clocks in at $250 each month—nope, not cheap! These rooms, however, will help you get around the BS of scammers and fake profiles, since every member there has to be verified with a full background check.

Even the basic search functions are really helpful as well. Right away you can sort users into useful categories like “most active” or “new members.”

Keep in mind, however, especially as Seeking transitions into a more mainstream dating app, that not everyone will be looking to get down and dirty right away. There will be many people who want to build a relationship rather than simply casually hooking up. A good mentality to have is to simply view the site as a way to meet people, and then take it from there.

Does Seeking Work? Or Is It a Scam?

Overall, you could say that Seeking is pretty much as advertised. As it’s transitioning to becoming a more mainstream dating site, it will be interesting to see if its user base becomes more diversified.

With more than 40 million users, there’s certainly some people out there who you are likely compatible with. How much time and effort you have/want to put in and how much money you have will be a factor in how successful your search for dates is.

While Seeking is a legitimate platform with a global presence and tons of users, it’s also true that there are many unhappy reviews online. People using sites such as TrustPilot and sitejabber have given an average rating of just 1.5 stars out of 5 for Seeking.

That said, it’s important to remember that people generally go on these sites either because they’re incredibly pleased or extremely dissatisfied. This naturally means that reviews tend to be skewed. Nonetheless, it’s not exactly encouraging to see so many unhappy customers.

So, if you want to sign up for Seeking you may want to do your own due diligence by exploring online reviews like those mentioned above.

Here are some other tips to help ensure that you have a positive experience.

Be Upfront About Expectations

You’re going to want to be transparent on Seeking, which is really the case for any dating site. If you’re looking for casual hookups, say so. If you’re looking to build something more meaningful, make that clear. Beating around the bush and/or being openly dishonest will not get you anywhere good.

Be Authentic

Yeah, yeah, this is as cliché as it gets. It’s true in this case, though. If you aren’t really a While this is a bit of a cliché, it’s true when it comes to dating sites and builds on the last tip. You won’t end up with matches that are a natural fit for you if you’re not yourself.

Spend Time on Your Profile

Again, this is true of all dating sites, not just Seeking. Think of your profile as a kind of billboard—you’re putting yourself out there for anyone who drives by to see. This is your virtual first impression, and it matters in terms of how much attention you draw. You want to find a careful balance between intriguing and mysterious and open and honest.

In essence, you want to do your best to stand out, but your profile also shouldn’t be weird or off-putting. If you’re unsure about your profile, see about getting a second opinion from someone you trust. Above all, don’t lie. Boosting yourself by one inch of height (or length…) is one thing, but two or three or more will definitely be obvious. You don’t want to set yourself up to fail by being disingenuous.

So, is Seeking Legit?

Yes, overall Seeking is a legitimate dating site. Like many dating sites out there, you will find scammers, bots, and inactive accounts. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about that. As long as you’re careful and use common sense, you should have no problems finding legit matches on Seeking.

A Few More Tips

Before wrapping up, here are some more hookup site tips, which should apply well beyond Seeking. That said, they’re particularly pertinent to Seeking, so you’ll want to keep them in mind!

Beware of Scammers and Catfishers

Scammers definitely make their way onto Seeking, even though the site does a pretty good job at maintaining a legit platform. Unfortunately, pretty much any dating site you go to will have bots and fake profiles trying to scam people. In essence, these exist just to try to get people to spend money even though they are not the person they are pretending to be. This is known colloquially as “catfishing” and here it’s used for purposes of extortion.

In short, beware of scammers. If things seem too easy and suspicious in any way, it’s probably someone just looking to get money out of you before disappearing.

Keep an Eye on Your Bill

Seeking is in the business of hooking people up, but they’re also in the business of making money. Just scroll up and take a look at those prices. $250 for one month of the “Diamond” membership? The pricing is smart because they know their audience—they’re truly catering to upper-class people who average 6- or 7-figure incomes.

So, just be aware that you may want to keep an eye on your bill to ensure that you’re not racking up more money than you’re trying to spend. You might want to take it slowly and go with a one- or three-month membership rather than a six-month one, for example. This way you can feel out the site. And hey, you might just meet someone who you want a more serious, long-term relationship with (though we must say that’s not the typical relationship sought after on Seeking).

Then again, you might not care how much the site costs you if you’re wealthy.

Matches Don’t Always Come Easily

While there are forty million+ people on Seeking, that doesn’t mean matches are guaranteed to come right away. There’s generally a lot of competition, especially for younger women, for example, and you may have to really work to stand out on such a large platform.

Ultimately, you’ll want to stay patient the best you can. Just because things don’t work out right away doesn’t mean that they won’t eventually. You may go on some awkward dates, but that’s often just a part of life. Sooner or later you’re likely to match with someone who you’re really compatible with. Just be sure to give yourself the time, which means don’t give up too soon and don’t force the issue.

Be Safe

It’s always advisable to meet someone in a public place for your first meet up. A coffee shop or restaurant is perfect, for example. This way you’re much less likely to face danger from people with bad intentions. This isn’t meant to scare anyone; it’s just meant to help keep people safe. In general, trust your instincts and you should be fine.

Final Verdict

So, is Seeking really worth it?

That comes down to you, ultimately. Your wants, your needs, your bank account, your age, etc. If you’re just an average Joe, you may want to stick to other dating sites.

All in all, Seeking has a massive customer base all around the world, an intuitive and user-friendly interface, and relatively reasonable pricing. It also has robust filtering and searching tools, VIP rooms, verified profiles, and other useful features. If you’re trying to find a date or maybe even true love, Seeking might end up being a good option for you.

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