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Farewell to DJ Dave Roberts of Planet Earth and Late Bar

Dave Roberts in 2022 Credit: Courtesy Kristine Hengl

Veteran local DJ Dave Roberts died at 64 on Monday, February 6, after a bacterial infection spread from his spine into his bloodstream. In 1994, Roberts cofounded popular weekly new-wave party Planet Earth with his longtime partner and collaborator, Kristine Hengl, at Lincoln Park alternative bar Club 950 (aka Lucky Number). Planet Earth moved to Neo in the early 2000s, where it stayed until Roberts and Hengl opened Avondale night spot Late Bar in 2009. Late Bar then became Planet Earth’s longest-term home.

“Dave Roberts created a space where the subculture of outsiders and misfits who loved the new-wave and punk music of the late 70s and 80s could celebrate that music by dancing all night—and also connect with each other to form a community of friends, breathing life back into that subculture,” says Roberts’s friend Dave Awl. “In the process, Dave helped preserve the history of Chicago’s early punk and new-wave scene, and he mentored and inspired a new generation of Chicago DJs to embrace that sense of style and carry it forward.”

Roberts started spinning in the late 1970s and made his nightlife debut at Chicago’s first punk disco, La Mere Vipere. According to Awl, La Mere cofounder Noah “Noe” Boudreau liked the mixtapes Roberts had made and offered the budding DJ a gig. Roberts got his first regular slot at Old Town punk bar Wizards, and he continued spinning there after it became Exit. Roberts’s firsthand experience with punk and new wave helped give him the knowledge and sensibility to make Planet Earth a sensation. 

Awl first attended Planet Earth in 1998, and he says Roberts understood how to balance instant gratification with more challenging listens: he could give dancers songs they’d always loved, but he could also introduce them to songs they’d grow to love. “Dave was really, really good at playing that song that made you go, ‘What the heck was that? That’s amazing,’” Awl explains. “‘Why have I never heard that before?’ And you run up to the booth and ask him about it.”

The final Planet Earth night, which doubled as an informal memorial, was Saturday, February 11. According to Block Club’s tribute piece, Late Bar is retiring the Planet Earth name as a gesture of respect for Roberts. 

Dave Roberts at Neo in 2006 Credit: Kirk Williamson

Three Chicago composers and improvisers—cornetist Josh Berman, drummer Bill Harris, and cellist Ishmael Ali—team up with Brooklyn pianist Eli Wallace to form the all-star quartet on the standout new cassette An Ill-fitting Garment. Recorded live in December 2021 at Marmalade Studios, the West Loop space run by Harris and Ali, the cassette is a dizzying display of colliding and mutating moods and textures. Its seven beautiful, unpredictable tracks crawl from one scratchy bed of scattered polyphony to another, like a delightful but inscrutable old machine cranking to vivid life and then falling back into creaking, unsettled stillness over and over again. An Ill-fitting Garment arrives Saturday, February 18, via local artist-run label Amalgam Collective, and that night the quartet will celebrate with a show at Constellation that features an opening set from the duo of Lia Kohl and Macie Stewart. It’s a fine opportunity to pregame for next week’s Frequency Festival

The ensemble on An Ill-fitting Garment also handled the mixing, mastering, artwork, and design for this release.

In 2006, Reader critic Miles Raymer described Fake Fictions as “60s jangle with a flow that stalls and stutters, playing off the intentional awkwardness of early punks like the Modern Lovers.” That local band is long gone, but all three former members—Nick and Sarah Ammerman and Ben Bilow—have been delivering blasts of prickly, postpunk-injected power pop for several years now as Shredded Sun. They call their songs “impatient anthems for busy rockers,” and their new album, Each Dot and Each Line (recorded DIY style at home and in rehearsal spaces), has a mountain of hooks and raw energy. The band don’t play live, but these tunes could fire up a crowd in the packed club of your choosing.

Shredded Sun recorded this album with a laptop and a cassette four-track.

Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or email [email protected].

Related


Neo: where misfits fit in

The Lincoln Park club closed in 2015, after providing a sanctuary for generations of night crawlers—but its subcultural legacy continues to reverberate.


Chicago punk was born queer

How three gay bars—La Mere Vipere, O’Banion’s, and Oz—became the cradle of the city’s punk scene


Read More

Farewell to DJ Dave Roberts of Planet Earth and Late Bar Read More »

Farewell to DJ Dave Roberts of Planet Earth and Late Bar

Dave Roberts in 2022 Credit: Courtesy Kristine Hengl

Veteran local DJ Dave Roberts died at 64 on Monday, February 6, after a bacterial infection spread from his spine into his bloodstream. In 1994, Roberts cofounded popular weekly new-wave party Planet Earth with his longtime partner and collaborator, Kristine Hengl, at Lincoln Park alternative bar Club 950 (aka Lucky Number). Planet Earth moved to Neo in the early 2000s, where it stayed until Roberts and Hengl opened Avondale night spot Late Bar in 2009. Late Bar then became Planet Earth’s longest-term home.

“Dave Roberts created a space where the subculture of outsiders and misfits who loved the new-wave and punk music of the late 70s and 80s could celebrate that music by dancing all night—and also connect with each other to form a community of friends, breathing life back into that subculture,” says Roberts’s friend Dave Awl. “In the process, Dave helped preserve the history of Chicago’s early punk and new-wave scene, and he mentored and inspired a new generation of Chicago DJs to embrace that sense of style and carry it forward.”

Roberts started spinning in the late 1970s and made his nightlife debut at Chicago’s first punk disco, La Mere Vipere. According to Awl, La Mere cofounder Noah “Noe” Boudreau liked the mixtapes Roberts had made and offered the budding DJ a gig. Roberts got his first regular slot at Old Town punk bar Wizards, and he continued spinning there after it became Exit. Roberts’s firsthand experience with punk and new wave helped give him the knowledge and sensibility to make Planet Earth a sensation. 

Awl first attended Planet Earth in 1998, and he says Roberts understood how to balance instant gratification with more challenging listens: he could give dancers songs they’d always loved, but he could also introduce them to songs they’d grow to love. “Dave was really, really good at playing that song that made you go, ‘What the heck was that? That’s amazing,’” Awl explains. “‘Why have I never heard that before?’ And you run up to the booth and ask him about it.”

The final Planet Earth night, which doubled as an informal memorial, was Saturday, February 11. According to Block Club’s tribute piece, Late Bar is retiring the Planet Earth name as a gesture of respect for Roberts. 

Dave Roberts at Neo in 2006 Credit: Kirk Williamson

Three Chicago composers and improvisers—cornetist Josh Berman, drummer Bill Harris, and cellist Ishmael Ali—team up with Brooklyn pianist Eli Wallace to form the all-star quartet on the standout new cassette An Ill-fitting Garment. Recorded live in December 2021 at Marmalade Studios, the West Loop space run by Harris and Ali, the cassette is a dizzying display of colliding and mutating moods and textures. Its seven beautiful, unpredictable tracks crawl from one scratchy bed of scattered polyphony to another, like a delightful but inscrutable old machine cranking to vivid life and then falling back into creaking, unsettled stillness over and over again. An Ill-fitting Garment arrives Saturday, February 18, via local artist-run label Amalgam Collective, and that night the quartet will celebrate with a show at Constellation that features an opening set from the duo of Lia Kohl and Macie Stewart. It’s a fine opportunity to pregame for next week’s Frequency Festival

The ensemble on An Ill-fitting Garment also handled the mixing, mastering, artwork, and design for this release.

In 2006, Reader critic Miles Raymer described Fake Fictions as “60s jangle with a flow that stalls and stutters, playing off the intentional awkwardness of early punks like the Modern Lovers.” That local band is long gone, but all three former members—Nick and Sarah Ammerman and Ben Bilow—have been delivering blasts of prickly, postpunk-injected power pop for several years now as Shredded Sun. They call their songs “impatient anthems for busy rockers,” and their new album, Each Dot and Each Line (recorded DIY style at home and in rehearsal spaces), has a mountain of hooks and raw energy. The band don’t play live, but these tunes could fire up a crowd in the packed club of your choosing.

Shredded Sun recorded this album with a laptop and a cassette four-track.

Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or email [email protected].

Related


Neo: where misfits fit in

The Lincoln Park club closed in 2015, after providing a sanctuary for generations of night crawlers—but its subcultural legacy continues to reverberate.


Chicago punk was born queer

How three gay bars—La Mere Vipere, O’Banion’s, and Oz—became the cradle of the city’s punk scene


Read More

Farewell to DJ Dave Roberts of Planet Earth and Late Bar Read More »

High school basketball: Sectional notebook, observations on the IHSA state playoff bracket

As soon as the sectional seeds are announced and the brackets follow the very next day, the season’s focus immediately and dramatically shifts.

After scouring over those seeds and brackets over the weekend, here are some quick, initial thoughts.

No. 5 ranked Curie a No. 3 seed

The very first ‘brow-raising sectional note has to come from the Hinsdale Central Sectional.

First, the sectional is loaded. With four teams ranked in the top 10, five ranked among the top 17 and a Riverside-Brookfield team with 24 wins, it’s the toughest sectional in the state.

But Curie appeared to be in great shape heading into seeding week. The Condors were fresh off a win over Young, which gave coach Mike Oliver’s team wins over Oswego East, New Trier, Joliet West, Simeon and Young. With the schedule Curie played, an argument could easily have been made that Curie was the No. 1 seed.

However, coaches in the sectional have indicated not every coach even submitted seeds. There were three coaches who didn’t vote, which is really a shame for all of those involved.

Instead, Curie ends up with the No. 3 seed. The Condors are behind Young and were just edged out by Hinsdale Central. As a result, Curie likely has the toughest tournament road in the state.

Because the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the sectional are both regional hosts, there won’t be a 4 vs. 5 regional final. Other teams are jumbled and moved to make it work, and it’s Curie, a No. 3 seed, that will now have to go play the No. 5 seed, a 22-win Lyons team, on the road in LaGrange.

The Simeon bracket

After the grind of playing five overtimes to win a pair of Public League playoff games and claim city championship, the early state tournament road for No. 1 Simeon doesn’t exactly look daunting.

Simeon will play the winner of the Kennedy-Englewood matchup in the regional championship. Then the Wolverines would play either Lindblom, which it beat 90-48 in January, or St. Laurence in the sectional semifinal.

Waiting for Simeon in the final of the Glenbard South Sectional will likely be Mount Carmel or Hyde Park. The Caravan have lost four of their last six games, while Simeon beat Hyde Park 68-50 earlier this season.

Barrington Sectional vs. New Trier Sectional

The winners of the Barrington and New Trier sectionals will meet in the Hoffman Estates Super. However, the depth and quality of the two sectionals couldn’t be more different.

Libertyville, the No. 1 seed at Barrington, is an impressive 24-5 on the season. But several of the five losses came to teams in the New Trier Sectional, including a 69-43 late-season dismantling at the hands of Rolling Meadows, the No. 3 seed at New Trier.

More of a concern is the fact top-seeded Libertyville may have to play on the road in the regional final and face a team it lost to earlier this season. If it can take care of Mundelein in the regional semifinals, Warren, the No. 8 seed, would host Libertyville in the title game. Warren beat Libertyville back in January.

The good news? No one believed Barrington, last year’s winner of this sectional, would be able to beat whatever team came out of the opposite sectional. But the Broncos upset Glenbrook South in the super-sectional and headed to Champaign.

Injury upends New Trier Sectional

Getting out of the New Trier Sectional, where there are multiple ranked teams and a whopping seven teams with 21 or more wins, was never going to be easy.

But Glenbrook North had to like its chances after the regular season the Spartans put together. GBN has beaten each of the other top five seeds at least once already this season.

Those hopes took a massive hit, however, with a season-ending injury to junior point guard Josh Fridman. The engine of this 24-win team suffered a devastating injury in a win over Rolling Meadows last week.

The longest regional ride

Yorkville has had a breakthrough season. The Foxes have won 24 games and even entered the Sun-Times Super 25 rankings the past two weeks. But they haven’t won a regional championship since 2005.

Yorkville will need to travel 120 miles a couple of times next week to end that drought.

While nearly every team in its conference will be playing in the Bolingbrook Sectional, the Foxes will travel 120 miles to play the host school, Pekin, next Wednesday night. With a win next Wednesday, they would return for a regional championship in Pekin two nights later to face the Normal-East Moline United winner.

The reward would be a sectional semifinal date with Class 4A power Moline — in Moline. Yes, another 120-mile trip.

That’s a tough situation for a team that’s enjoyed so much success and had such a good fan following this year. Playing in front of an abundance of their own fans and students in the postseason will unfortunately be lost due to the travel.

Speaking of excessive travel …

As noted, Moline will be hosting its own sectional. But the Maroons, who have legitimate hopes of playing in the State Finals in Champaign, must first trek across the state for two regional wins.

Moline will travel two and a half hours — 166 miles one way — to play in the Bradley-Bourbonnais Regional.

Best tournament roads

Looking at the big picture — and we mean the entire state tournament road — there are a few highly-ranked teams that really have a favorable path in getting to Champaign.

In Class 3A, Metamora is 26-2 and hasn’t lost since falling to Joliet West back in November. The Redbirds have beaten defending Class 3A state champ Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin during the 24-game win streak and have the state tournament experience of a year ago in their back pocket.

Metamora will be heavily favored to win the Galesburg Sectional and then could face either Burlington Central, Marmion, Crystal Lake South or Rockford Boylan in the Ottawa Super. That screams a repeat for the Redbirds.

This isn’t to jinx Benet, but the Redwings are the one ranked team playing in a sectional without another ranked team in it. Benet is 27-1, ranked No. 2 in the Super 25 and is an overwhelming favorite in the Bartlett Sectional.

The Bartlett Sectional winner then faces the Rockford Jefferson Sectional winner, where DeKalb, Huntley, Rockford Guilford and Rockford Auburn are the teams to watch.

Higher seeds in tough road environments

The amount of higher-seeded teams having to play regional games on their opponent’s home floor is an endless list. It remains one of the biggest gripes I hear from high school coaches each year at this time — and deservedly so.

Coaches and their teams work so hard to put together the best r?sum? as possible to earn a top four seed. Then they’re rewarded with a true road game in regional championships.

Once upon a time in high school basketball, the highest-seeded team hosted the regional. It’s time to revisit.

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Joffrey staging of ballet based on Russian novel ignites social media

Plays have scripts that tell actors what words to say, plus occasional stage directions, indicating how to deliver a certain line or when to move in a particular direction — the most famous being Shakespeare’s notation in Act III of “A Winter’s Tale”: “Exit, pursued by a bear.”

And music has chains of notes representing various pitches and durations, with extra instructions delineating whether they be played loud or soft, fast or slow.

But how do ballet dancers know where to step?

There are videos, of course, and a complex system known as Benesh Movement Notation, resembling notes on a scale. Neither works particularly well.

“I can tell when someone learned off an audition video,” said Suzanne Lopez, one of two choreography directors from the Joffrey Ballet for its performance of “Anna Karenina,” opening at the Civic Opera House Wednesday. As for the notation system. “It takes years of learning how to do that,” she said, “and I’m not qualified.”

So how does a troupe learn a new ballet? Surprisingly, the way dancers are taught their steps in the 21st century has much in common the way bards were taught to recite “The Iliad” in ancient Greece.

“It needs to be person-to-person,” said Lopez. “It needs to be passed down. Copious notes. I have a giant binder for ‘Anna Karenina,’ constantly updating.”

Which can be a challenge when working with a top choreographer like Yuri Possokhov, the former star dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and frequent guest choreographer at the Joffrey.

Possokhov starts creating a ballet choreography to only one or two dancers.

“He wants to have that small, intimate feeling when he’s creating,” Lopez said.

Rehearsals are collaborations.

“He doesn’t come into the room with the choreography already made up,” she said. “He’ll listen to the music, he’ll create some movement, and our job is to flesh that out.”

Not that it’s easy.

“When things are described, it sounds like something that can’t possibly be done,” Lopez said. “It just sounds impossible. ‘Throw her this way and she’ll land that way.’ We can’t picture it at all. Then he will do it, himself, with a partner, whoever was in the room, and make it work.”

Part of it is listening to the dancers.

“He has a little more of a collaborative process than other people. He really wants the dancer to bring their individual personalities to the movement,” she said. “He couldn’t do it alone and really doesn’t want to. For the dancers, it’s a lovely process and gives them a feeling of ownership to the material.”

Speaking of owning the material, the Joffrey is being assailed on social media for putting on the ballet of a Russian novel, choreographed by a Russian.

“It looks like you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, but at least try to read the room,” runs a typical comment. “Russia has blood of innocent people on its hands, including dancers. This is a shame to promote their culture at this time.”

Punishing members of a local community for the crimes of their autocratic leaders in distant homelands, a place they left decades ago, seems to me not to be fighting fascism, but manifesting it.

Especially in Chicago. The city where, during World War I, schools stopped teaching German, and our City Council purged streets of Germanic names like Berlin, Hamburg and Rhine. That is not the sort of zeal a city looks back on with pride. Even then, “Goethe” was spared because his contributions to world culture were seen as surpassing his unfortunate heritage.

That has to go double for Tolstoy, a strict pacifist who urged his followers to avoid military service. “Anna Karenina” doesn’t boost Russian aggression today, but denounces their war, all war, as “a beastly, cruel, and awful thing.”

Besides, the Joffrey’s “Anna Karenina,” has been in the works since 2018, when the music — it has an original score — began to be choreographed at the Australian Ballet. To bring this international, five-year artistic effort to a screeching halt would harm not Putin, but ourselves. We need arts now more than ever, particularly ballet, especially this one.

“Love those who hate you.” Tolstoy writes in “Anna Karenina,” bearing in mind that “when you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.”

“Anna Karenina” runs through Feb. 26.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are sellers at this year’s NHL trade deadline. It is going to be a big year for them as they try to accelerate what is a full-blown rebuild.

Of course, there are plenty of players that they are going to be trying to trade but the big one is Patrick Kane. He is on an expiring contract that is worth a lot of money.

In addition to that, he isn’t having the best year with this horrid Blackhawks team so it will be a complicated trade. However, there are going to be a lot of suitors for his services.

We know it won’t be the New York Rangers acquiring him but it is certainly going to be someone if Kane approves. These are three likely trades and landing spots for Patrick Kane:

Blackhawks Get
Future First-Round Pick
John-Jason Peterka
Sabres Get
Patrick Kane

The Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres can get a deal done for Patrick Kane.

The Chicago Blackhawks are for sure going to try and get a first-round pick if they are going to land Patrick Kane. They are also going to try and get a top prospect for him as well. Whether or not they are able to will depend on what happens with some other trade chips around the league.

The Buffalo Sabres are an obvious option as they are his hometown team. People have connected the Sabres with the end of Kane’s career forever and now it is something that both sides might consider.

With Buffalo as a bubble team (and one of the most exciting teams in the league), it would be a risky trade but they are a team that might be able to get him re-signed if they were able to get a deal like this done.

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Best Hookup Sites and Apps for Adult Dating in 2023

Traditional dating isn’t for everyone. Some people want serious relationships while others want something more casual, like a hookup. The taboo around casual dating has subsided in recent years. Casual daters have plenty of options, but most opt to try hookup sites to find what (and who) they want.

Different sites cater to different tastes. A site’s speciality is not always immediately apparent. So it can be a challenge to find the right site for you. That’s where we come in. We’ve signed up for and tried the best hookup sites and apps for casual encounters to get some action.

Let’s dive into the reviews and ratings.

Click ↓ next to the name of the site to jump straight to the review.

Best Hookup Sites and Apps for Casual Dating in 2023

RankSiteBest For1.Adult FriendFinder Best overall hookup site2. BuddyBang Runner-up3.BeNaughty Best for flirtiest singles4.Ashley Madison Best for affairs5.Seeking Best for sugar baby/sugar daddy/mommy6.ALT Best for alternative and BDSM sex7.OKCupid Top choice for millennials8.Hinge Somewhat serious, but mostly FWB9.Zoosk Best for short-term dating10.Bumble Best for women11.Plenty of Fish Best for lots of options12.Tinder Most popular app13.Pure App Best for fantasy based14.Feeld Most open-minded singles15.Sex Messenger Best for anonymous hookups16.Reddit R4R Best completely free option

1.  Adult FriendFinder – Best overall hookup site

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Sex- and kink-positive
Any kink you can think of (practically)
Not difficult to find like-minded people

Cons

Can get expensive (i.e. Gold memberships)
Ad-heavy free version

Adult FriendFinder is one of the oldest hookup sites and remains one of the most popular. Although its name sound relatively innocent, you can think of it as being short for “Adult Friends with Benefit Finder.”

Adult FriendFinder caters primarily to people looking for FWB, swinging, non-monogamous relationships, threesomes, and other more experimental arrangements. Whether you’re looking for something with NSA (no strings attached), a one-night stand to spice up your marriage, or a quick fling, you likely won’t have to go too far to find someone who’s interested.

Once you create a profile on Adult FriendFinder, you can customize your search quite a bit to make your search more efficient and find these like-minded people more quickly.

Adult FriendFinder also has bonus content such as webcam shows and erotic stories. So, if you need a little warming up before connecting with someone, you’re covered. In some senses, you can think of Adult FriendFinder as a kind of interactive PornHub, as it really is home to a large community of kinky and sex-positive people.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$39.95 totalThree months$26.95/month ($80.85 total)One year$19.95/month ($239.40 total)

What Users Think About Adult FriendFinder

“I was on another site. Met a guy who told me about Adult FriendFinder (AFF). I signed up. Have been on AFF for a little over a year and a half. Have nothing but praise. When AFF works, it WORKS! For the most part, I have met some truly wonderful men. Local men, business men coming through my area, couples. Overwhelmingly positive experience and exactly what I was looking for: no strings, no drama, casual sex.”

Belinda S

Need a little more info before taking the plunge? Check out our in-depth Adult FriendFinder review.

2.  BuddyBang Runner-up

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Responsive users
Straightforward people
Advanced search and filtering functions
Relatively affordable

Cons

Annoying ads with the free version
Can be hard to find anything besides hookups

As you might expect, BuddyBang is all about linking up people interested in no-strings-attached hookups or being friends with benefits. This no-judgment site operates like an express train to sex. Its goal is to be as simple as browse, chat, bang.

While you are not likely to find romance here, you will find plenty of passion. Horny adults flock to BuddyBang to chat and make new erotic connections. Ultimately, the goal is to arrange a meetup with a saucy stranger in your area. If you’re lucky, that one-night stand might turn into a longer-term arrangement.

With a relatively affordable monthly subscription and advanced search filters, getting laid on BuddyBang is fairly straightforward. In any case, it’s likely to be more efficient—and more bang for your buck (see what we did there)—than shelling out tons of cash for dinner dates that may lead nowhere.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$39.95 totalThree months$26.95/month ($80.85 total)One year$19.95/month ($239.40 total)

What Users Think About BuddyBang

“A lotta hookup sites out there, which means a lot of scams. Gotta be honest, at first I was skeptical of BuddyBang. Seemed like another fake site that just wanted your cash. But I was pleasantly surprised. More than that, I was very happy with my experience. I met a couple real girls here who, let’s just say, were down to get down. And that’s all I wanted. I wasn’t a creep. I kept it cool, wasn’t aggressive with messaging and it all worked. I recommend it!”

Chris745

3.  BeNaughty – Best for flirty singles

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Multiple ways to connect
Sex- and kink-positive
Great for finding singles and couples
Cheap three-day trial

Cons

Users are often appearance-driven
Not great without a premium membership

BeNaughty unsurprisingly attracts people who are kinky and after a good time. I mean, it’s right there in the name. Fortunately, breaking the ice is easy as BeNaughty gives users many different ways to connect. You can browse the gallery or enter a naughty chat room for potential dates. When you find someone you like, you can send a wink, a message, or start a live one-on-one chat.

BeNaughty works well because it gets right to the point. Users are looking for fast fun, leaving little time for hot and cold games. They want a hookup and they usually want it ASAP. BeNaughty uses a Tinder-type function that’s geography based, which helps keep your searches relevant. After all, who’s trying to drive (or fly) hundreds or thousands of miles for a one-night-stand?

Open-minded and discreet, BeNaughty provides many filtering options that help streamline your search, whether that’s for singles or couples to join. By adjusting your searches and filters, you can find your ideal scenario and dispense with people who aren’t a good fit for you.

Membership LengthPriceThree day trial$1.05/dayOne month$27.01 totalThree months$15.15/month ($45.45 total)Six months$12.24/month ($73.44 total)

What Users Think About BeNaughty

“Here you can be selective. The choice of profiles is quite large. The girls are active, many of them are constantly online. There are those who only like online communication and do not want to go on dates. However, it is their choice. If you are interested in online flirting, it will be a lot of fun with this site. Some people want more, so I’m still looking for someone to go on a real date with me.”

Robert S

4.  Ashley Madison – Best for affairs

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Free for women
Highly discreet
Judgment-free because most users are fine with infidelity

Cons

Not for the faint of heart when it comes to morals
Expensive for men to use (the Priority Man option)

Ashley Madison has the reputation of being a site for affairs and discreet married dating. Its slogan is literally “Life is short. Have an affair.” The brand has become notoriously in recent years for being a site for married people to flirt and hook up.

Since the site caters to people in relationships or looking to have sex with married people, Ashley Madison is generally a place where you don’t need to fear negative judgment. It’s a great site for anyone looking to add some excitement to their life and explore the world of extramarital affairs.

Ashley Madison is the first website dedicated to helping married people have affairs, and its highly committed to discretion. Despite the backlash and its somewhat negative reputation, this site remains popular and boasts a massive database that crisscrosses the globe.

Membership TierPriceBasic100 credits at $0.59/creditClassic500 credits at $0.34/creditElite1,000 credits at $0.29/credit

You message and live chat with users in exchange for credits. It’s about 5 credits to sent a message or 50 credits/hour to live chat. For more information about credits and other aspects of the site, see our full Ashley Madison review.

What Users Think About Ashley Madison

“As a woman, I can tell you that this site works. I’ve met and hooked up with a lot of great guys. However, I will say that since there are considerably more men than women on the site you have to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Women like to be wined and dined and brought on business trips, to a nice hotel, etc… Be patient, it works. I found a great guy who I have been hooking up with on a regular basis for over 2 years now and we are very happy with the arrangement.”

JennaK

5.  Seeking – Best for sugar relationships

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Very active community
Useful filtering options
Fairly thorough verification process

Cons

Inactive profiles remain visible
Gets expensive for men

Seeking may have undergone a brand transformation (fka Seeking Arrangement), but it still attracts a straightforward target audience: wealthy and experienced individuals seeking the young and attractive. This sugar daddy site is all about helping daddies and mommas find sugar babies or cubs for hookups.

There are many more women than men because the “sugar baby” focus attracts many young women to the site. In fact, Seeking claims to have four times the number of women than men in their database. The only real prerequisite for would-be sugar daddies is that they have money to throw around. They give priority to verified “elite members” who join with the sole intention of lavishing money and attention on would-be sugar babies.

While Seeking is a great site for beautiful young women looking for fun, attention, and a “daddy” to spoil them, it can be quite competitive for sugar babies. And the hopeless romantics out there are probably best avoiding sites such as Seeking in general. It’s much more geared toward hookups that may have a rather transaction-like feel.Women who’d like to meet a well-off older man also aren’t risking much with Seeking because it’s free for women seeking men.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$89.95/monthThree month$79.95/month ($239.85 total)Diamond (more premium features)$249.95/month

What Users Think About Seeking

“Came across them on Facebook and decided to spend a few bucks to find some men. Although not all the men were true to their description and some being scammers, it was pretty easy to find the genuinely interested ones from the fakes. It is a dating site for the wealthier crowd as we spend a lot of money but you can find a suitable candidate here.”

Brenda T

Still not sure or need more information? Check out our full Seeking review.

6.  ALT – Best for alternative relationships

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Easily find people that share your kink
Lots of X-rated content to browse through
Live cams and shows

Cons

Too many fake profiles
Have to buy a premium account to get the most access

ALT is a full-on casual sex website. It’s not for anyone who is on the hunt for a serious relationship. This site is all about casual sex in every form to gratify any sex-seeker! The website’s community is made up of those who are into alternative bondage, who enjoy hooking up online, live, and in-person for sex dates.

It’s a dating site that caters to people who want to find alternative, BDSM, bondage, and fetish partners who can connect online and meet in person. ALT speaks to swingers, dominatrixes, and mistresses looking for power exchange.

ALT is the leading BDSM site, with almost 2 million members. You can easily customize your fetish and find someone who is into the same kinks as you! Remember that this site is all about kink, such as orgies, being humiliated, or being tortured, and not about vanilla sex. So, if you’re looking for just plain sex, opt for another option on this list.

Membership TierPriceSilver$19.95/monthGold$29.95/month

What Users Think About ALT

“Don’t listen to all the haters!!!! Alt.com is one of the best sites. Been using it in the past and it worked quite good. Nowadays I’d also try Casuasexonly.com and Fetlife.com. And there are also a few smaller sites that work but they are more ‘special niche sites’.”

Daniel

7. OKCupid – Best for millennials and young people

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Vast user base of people
Find locals who are looking for casual sex and dating
Affordable

Cons

May find many looking for long-term relationships
Will have to answer quite a few questions to see matches

OKCupid is a mainstream dating app that caters to many different kinds of relationships. It provides a multitude of choices for millennials looking not just for long-term relationships but options for short-term relationships, casual dating, and hookups. All you have to do is set that as what you are looking for, and they match you to like-minded people!

This site gears toward a generally younger audience—the age group between 18-29. This site is also one of the most inclusive mainstream dating websites that includes many gender and orientation options, helping you zero in on the particular pool of choices you want!

OKCupid may be a mainstream dating app that includes finding long-term relationships, but given its wide range of options, filters, and preferences, it’s a great app for hookups and casual sex as well. Just be up-front and be prepared to meet a great bunch of locals looking for the same things as you.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$19.95 totalSix months$9.95/month ($59.70 total)

What Users Think About OKCupid

“OkCupid is a dating app worth checking out. For the most part I have been disappointed with my dating app experiences. I have been pleasantly surprised with the results from OkCupid. There seems to be an endless supply of genuine women interested in a relationship. After several weeks of using the app for free, I decided to become a subscriber. I have been satisfied with my decision.”

Robert S

8.  Hinge – Best for hybrid serious and FWB relationships

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Popular with millennials
Matchmaking algorithm is great (apt for FWB)

Cons

Created for finding long-lasting relationships
May not find a large user base of casual sex enthusiasts

Hinge is a mainstream dating app that focuses on finding real romance—but it is also used to find casual sex and friends with benefits. The truth about Hinge is that it’s “designed to be deleted.”

But fear not! This app is incredibly popular with the younger crowd (18 to 29 years of age) and has filters to state the nature of the relationship you’re interested in. This setup is the best for friends with benefits because you have to answer questions about yourself and your preferences, which will bring you closer to meeting someone you share similar interests with and are attracted to!

Hinge is a great hookup app for those who want to find a casual relationship where you hook up with the same person a few times instead of just a one-night stand. Just be straight up with what you’re looking for—and you might just meet a new FWB with absolutely no strings attached.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$19.95 totalThree months$20.99 totalSix months$29.99 total

What Users Think About Hinge

“Hinge is amazing! I think the thing that I like about it is that if you don’t pay it limits you to 10 likes a day and so it’s more likely that people will pay attention to you rather than getting distracted by yet another profile. And everyone is more careful about who they pick so if you match you’re more likely to talk I think. It also does a great job of conversation prompts that go with photos or without. Definitely check it out.”

James B

9.  Zoosk – Best for short term dating

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Very active users
Used in over 80 countries
Diverse selection to find what you’re looking for

Cons

May not be the best site for casual sex
Additional features cost extra

Zoosk is a great short-term dating site that is internationally famous. It has a community of 35 million users in 80 different countries, and it is open to singles of all ages, races, religions, and sexual orientations—making it one of the most diverse casual dating apps.

This app may not be the best for casual hookups and one-night stands, but it is a good contender for short-term dating. If you’re in your early to mid-20s, you’ll find a great selection of singles who are interested in short-term or casual relationships.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$29.95 totalThree months$19.98/month ($59.94 total)Six months$12.49/month ($74.94 total)

What Users Think About Zoosk

“Satisfied with the outcome, pretty good dating site. I think the price is OK and I liked the option of pausing account, very useful when you’re trying to focus on one person. As we all know, it takes several attempts to meet someone you are really interested in.”

Ewa S

10.  Bumble – Safest for women

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

More women than men
Women initiate contact
Comprehensive and easy-to-use interface

Cons

Other relationships (friendships and business networking) get in the way of potentials

Bumble has gained a reputation for being different from most other mainstream dating and hookup apps. If you haven’t heard of this app already, Bumble is one of the first and only sites where women make the first move and get to screen potential men immediately. Men simply cannot reach out to any women unless they’ve initiated contact and interest.

It is catered towards and attracts more women than men looking to mingle or find networking opportunities, friends, or hookups! Even though it has a relatively positive and clean rep, it’s a great site for educated, good-looking men who are searching for successful, bold women.

Membership TierPricePremium$8.99/month

What Users Think About Bumble

“The Bumble app has an easy format to navigate and I like that women have to make the first contact. That Helped me out of my comfort zone. I liked that you can adjust your distance from possible matches.”

Leanne N

11.  Plenty of Fish – Best for lots of options

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Multiple search filters
Largest user base of profiles

Cons

May come across bots or fake accounts

Plenty of Fish has the largest user base. POF was launched in 2003, being one of the oldest dating sites. Since it’s free and easy to sign up, you’re going to be exposed to a lot of different types of people, looking for different things, so you’ll have to filter through them all.

Since it’s been around for a long time, it has gained a reputation as a matchmaker site that will ask questions about your family, career, and interests to match you with similar users. It’s catered for people who want to dip their toes into dating and hookup sites to explore options.

Plenty of Fish may or may not have people looking for casual sex, depending on your luck. It’s a matchmaker site that is geared more for a long-term commitment. So you have to be prepared to screen different kinds of people.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$19.99/monthThree months$9.80/month ($29.40/total)One year$5.95/month ($71.40 total)

What Users Think About Plenty of Fish

“Plenty of catfish and foreigners who can’t speak English. However, even if you’re not a paid subscriber you can opt in for only paid subscribers. The site also provides an option for voice calls through the app. I’m going to try the site out for a month or so, then may upgrade to being a paid subscriber. POF has really improved its website since I was on it a year ago. Have fun and meet someone!”

Kathleen M

12.  Tinder – Most popular app

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Best starter app for quick sex
Lots of escorts

Cons

Lots of fake profiles
Very superficial and appearance-focused

You didn’t think this list was going to end without this sex gem of an app, did you? Tinder is the most widely known hookup app of this generation. It has an infamous rep for finding casual sex ASAP.

Tinder caters to men and women looking to get laid based on appearance. It’s known for its classic swiping left to reject and swiping right to like someone’s profile. If you’re looking for sex, Tinder has a huge user base and a large number of locals, meaning you can probably secure a sex date tonight—but the catch is that your profile needs to stand out. If you’re not conventionally attractive, you’re going to struggle to find dates.

For men who can’t seem to find dates, Tinder has a large user base of escorts who will private message their rates. If you’re horny and want it—then maybe you can meet a potential escort on Tinder.

Membership Length/TierPriceLimited SwipesFreeOne month$9.99 total if you’re under 30One month$19.99 total if you’re over 30

What Users Think About Tinder

“I’ve been using tinder for quite some time and I really enjoy it! I travel a lot and t’s great way to meet new people. Tinder has a feature called Face To Face you can use to video chat within the app. Tinder has on-demand safety features via Noonlight, which offers a Timeline feature where users can share first date details on their Timelines, like who they’re meeting, when and where. Users can also discreetly contact emergency services via Noonlight.”

Sophia F

13.  Pure App – Best for fantasy based hookups

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Profiles, messages, and photos shared will disappear once you’re done
Starting up is easy: post a photo and sentence
Embraces individuality and authentic fantasies

Cons

Only popular in major cities

Pure App was created for shameless and judgment-free fantasy and desire-based dating. This app is purely for NSA affairs and is completely secretive and anonymous. It encourages its users to be whoever they choose to be and still be themselves.

It caters to people who have wild fantasies or desires that aren’t celebrated on mainstream dating and hookup apps. It allows your individuality to shine through—choosing your gender and sexuality—and providing guaranteed privacy and safety to video chat and meet whoever shares the same fantasies as you.

Pure App uses your GPS location on your phone to find other Pure users looking for some NSA action. You just have to post a photo and an up-front headline and wait to see if anyone close is interested. When you’re done, your profile will vanish, along with all your messages and photos—no need to worry about deactivating or privacy issues.

Membership LengthPriceOne week$14.99 totalOne month$19.99 total

What Users Think About Pure App

“I am a 25 year old attractive woman, I have never been on a site before however After almost a year of dating and taking things slowly and 4 months of not being interested enough to take things further, I broke and downloaded pure. Downloaded Wednesday, Thursday (yesterday) spontaneously arranged to meet a really really attractive guy who spent a few great hours with me. We got along really well. I also had a video chat with a really attractive couple who I’ll be meeting soon. I’m speaking to other really attractive guys as well.”

Abi S

14.  Feeld Best for adventurous singles

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

One of the largest open-minded communities worldwide
Sex-positive and promotes ethical dating choices

Cons

Premium version is not available on Android
Must have a Facebook account to verify your identity during sign-up

Feeld is a hookup app for couples and singles to explore their kinks and desires in a no-judgement atmosphere.

It includes couples’ accounts where you and your partner can date a lover or meet someone for a threesome. It’s inclusive for all genders and sexual orientations. Overall, it’s a sex-positive space for anyone looking to explore beyond “the norm” in today’s society.

Feeld prides itself on being responsible and ethical. It connects people with like-minded folk and encourages curious monogamous couples to link with partners who are also interested. It is a safe space that allows couples to explore their desires in the most honest way possible.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$14.99 totalThree months$29.98 total

What Users Think About Feeld

“It’s called the ‘Tinder for threesomes’ for a reason. I’ll let you do the imagining.”

Jon R

15.  Sex Messenger – Best for anonymous hookups

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Safe way to send and receive nudes
Anonymity is key
Goal is to meet up for anonymous sex—NSA!

Cons

Need to pay for a premium account to access live chat or live cams

Sex Messenger is an anonymous instant messaging app—like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. But you never share your name because it’s meant to be discreet and only for sexting and trading nudes.

This app is an adult social network that is much more than an online sex chat. It caters to people who want to connect with other people who want to engage in sex and dirty talk, and fulfill each other’s sexual fantasies. Instant messaging on this app and posting blog entries will help you gain the attention you want from like-minded people.

All members must verify their accounts, so this weeds out fake profiles, scammers, and bots. Members can contribute to the website through Sex Messenger’s forums, chats, group sections, sex stories, and blogs. It’s all anonymous and fully discrete. This app is a great way to sext, increase sexual tension, and finally meet up to do the deed.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$14.95 total

What Users Think About Sex Messenger

“I’m recently single and wanted to have a little fun but was skeptical about trying something online. You hear about the horror stories. I found Sex Messenger and immediately thought SCAM. But I gave it a shot and found a couple fun guys within a couple weeks. I didn’t need to renew my membership.”

Olivia B

16.  Reddit R4R – Best completely free option

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★

Pros

Free
No membership needed
Lots of daily interactions and hits

Cons

Hard to stand out
Can’t pay to boost your posts
Mostly guys

Reddit R4R is one of the best options for browse casual sex options for free. If you’re looking for a hookup but don’t want to sign up, post photos of yourself, and write out a bio to describe who you are and what you want . . . you found the site for you!

This site works as a personals subreddit. It works like any other subreddit. Anyone can post—no photos, no personal information needed! All you have to do is list some things about yourself and the type of person you’re looking for. And then you wait to see if anyone responds to your post.

Reddit R4R is free, so all you have to do is download the Reddit app, and you don’t need to worry about spending money. If you want to be a trusted member and not get blocked, just follow the posting rules! Users love this site to get laid because it’s easy to use, free, and starts an instant conversation with like-minded people.

Membership TierPriceUnlimitedFree

What Users Think About Reddit R4R

“Look, it’s Reddit. You ‘get what you pay for,’ but it’s cool to scroll the profiles and chat for free. Too many guys but I definitely found and met up with a couple hotties.”

Jack P

Hookup Site Guide

Still on the fence about whether or not you should start using hookup apps? Or maybe you’re already using them but want some more information? Check out this useful guide to answer any lingering questions you may have and walk away with some important safety tips about casual sex.

What Makes a Hookup Site Good?

It’s important to note that different sites cater to different kinds of people. So before creating a profile on any old hookup site, read the reviews to make sure it meets your needs.

Here are a few tips to find the best hookup site specific to you:

If you have a particular kink or preference, keep an eye out for it. (example: Looking for discreet affairs? Ashley Madison is the one for you!)
Make sure the size of the user base is relatively large. More options mean a better chance of finding someone to hook up with.
Find a site that allows users to be up-front about what they want. Usually, apps have preferences, and you can set yours to “casual relationship” or “hookup.”
Make sure the customer service contact information is front and center. You shouldn’t have to go on an expedition to contact the site.

FAQs About Hookup Sites

Q: Are hookup sites safe?

Like any online dating platform, reputable hookup sites have embedded safety features that still require user discretion. It can be dangerous if you don’t take proper safety measures. Generally, these sites and apps regulate safety by banning bots and scammers and have options to report any bad or suspicious behavior. So if you’re planning on joining, be aware and try your best not to be too gullible—you can never be sure who you will come across online!

Q: Are there any completely free hookup sites?

It sucks that most dating apps and casual sex apps require you to subscribe to get optimum results. But sites like Reddit R4R and Craigslist Activities offer a free platform to chat, flirt, and arrange sex dates. But the only downside is that there is no moderation and you won’t be talking to a verified profile and have to be extra cautious.

Q: What hookup sites are free for women?

The reality is that dating apps make it very easy for women to find sex. Most high-rated dating sites offer women free memberships (mostly to balance out the male/female ratio on their site). Sex sites that are free for women include Bumble, OkCupid, Tinder, Seeking, Hinge, Her, and Pure.

Q: What is the best LGBTQ+ option?

Though there are a few options, only two rise to the top. HER is the best for women seeking women and Grindr is best for men seeking for men. These two sites also cater to non-binary people.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for some action tonight, welcome to the world of casual sex sites and apps.

The best hookup sites are on top for a reason—everyone on there is eager to find sex and casual flings just like you! More than mainstream dating apps that cater to a plethora of things such as long-term dating, friendships, and so on, hookup apps are catered only towards sex and NSA fun!

The best hookup site is Adult FriendFinder (AFF) followed closely by BuddyBang. AFF emphasizes anonymity, safety, a massive user base, and a brand name that is verified. Most people on this site are looking for a good time with so many different types of kinks and fantasies. So what are you waiting for?

Hopefully, this list gives you an idea of what sex app is the best for you to get started on today.

Read More

Best Hookup Sites and Apps for Adult Dating in 2023 Read More »

Billy the Kid

“Everyone knows him because of his glasses. He’s the kid.” 

Campaign volunteer Ava Gal gestured to William “The Kid” Guerrero, the 21-year-old artist running for a council seat in the 12th Chicago Police District. It was 6 PM on a Friday night in early February, and Guerrero’s supporters waited for guests to arrive at his fundraising party at Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez’s office. Once an accessory to an old Halloween costume, Guerrero’s thick, lensless frames now serve as both the focal point of his face and a political message. On the left side they’re painted white, with the words, “We are the Future” sprawling across the temples. Untouched, the right is black. 

A Pilsen native, Guerrero is the youngest person running for a Chicago Police District Council seat. The council is the product of a two-pronged city ordinance passed in July 2021. Centered on police oversight, accountability, and public safety, the initiative created two new bodies, the District Councils and the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Each of the city’s 22 police districts will house councils comprising of three people elected in regular municipal elections every four years. This February, Chicagoans can vote for the very first District Council representatives. 

Even with Pilsen’s population of 80,011, Gal says Guerrero has been a familiar face for years—around coffee shops, streets, and community events. When she saw that he was running for the 12th Police District Council in October, she reached out to him over Instagram. Now, months later, the Westinghouse College Prep senior volunteers for his campaign, trading Friday nights with friends for Guerrero’s fundraising party. 

“Public safety is a really big topic right now, but there are so many different opinions and outlooks, that you never really know what’s going to happen,” Gal says. “We’ll go down to Ukrainian Village, and there’ll be an old man with no shoes on yelling about property taxes, and then other places, we’ll have people who are super open and thankful to have these conversations.” 

Guerrero believes that Gen Z can help bridge this ideological divide. He says that police misconduct and brutality have poisoned the city, stewing bitterness and distrust among Chicagoans. Finding no alleviation to these problems in the current system, Guerrero sees infinite potential in youth voices. Although Chicago just witnessed its lowest voter turnout (46 percent) for a midterm election in the past 80 years, turnout for youth voters appears hopeful. In the 2018 midterm elections and for Illinois governor, youth voter turnout reached 40 percent. On a national level, 27 percent of young people, ages 18 to 29, turned out to vote in the 2022 midterm election—the second highest youth turnout rate for a midterm election in the past 30 years. 

Not only do young people have the innovation to create non policing alternatives, but also they have the bandwidth to, as he puts it, “reeducate people in order to pursue peace.” 

Though youth often comes with inexperience, Guerrero’s resume boasts local, community centered political experience. After a semester studying photography at Robert Morris University Illinois (prior to its 2020 merger with Roosevelt University), he dropped out and campaigned for Jon Ossoff in Georgia, seeking to boost Latinx civic engagement. In the city, he spends time studying up on the dark money problem. He also spearheads and photographs community events, such as Mural Movement. Moreover, he grew up in a single parent household, serving as a role model for his three younger siblings—the importance of strong leadership has “surrounded [him] from a very young age.” But Guerrero says his premature foray into municipal politics is not a choice. 

“If you’re part of the older generation, you’re responsible for making me run. I shouldn’t have to,” he says. “I’d rather be in college, having fun, partying, but I can’t. I have everything to lose because of the older generation.” 

William Guerrero speaks at a recent community meeting. Credit: Paul Goyette

Trailing behind the renewed Black Lives Matter movement of 2020, the city’s new Police District Councils are no coincidence. Communities of color often bear the burden of fatal police violence and brutality, with Black and Latinx Americans three times more likely to be killed by police than white Americans. If elected, Guerrero seeks to sever the vicious cycle of police brutality and back door deals that have affected him and his community. He is an advocate of Treatment not Trauma, a model for public mental health infrastructure that includes city-run mental health centers and a 24-hour crisis response hotline that dispatches mental health workers instead of police officers. According to Collaborative Community for Wellness, the risk of being killed by police is 16 times greater for individuals with untreated mental illness than for other residents. With a platform focused on de-escalation, Guerrero hopes to “bring humanity” to the table. 

Guerrero has secured multiple endorsements for his campaign, including that of Alderman Sigcho-Lopez of the 25th Ward, who lent Guerrero his office space for a recent fundraising party. 

“We need to empower young people because they’re the ones who are affected by police brutality,” Sigcho-Lopez tells the Reader over the phone. “[Guerrero] is well-qualified because he’s active, present, and listens to the youth—he is learning, empowering, and creating more spaces.” 

At the fundraiser on February 3, both Gal and Guerrero wrestled with Guerrero’s pit bull terrier Harley, mustering feeble attempts to keep her attached to her leash. She’s a former fighter dog and rescue that Guerrero adopted a month ago to keep him company.

As he slipped Harley a slice of pizza, Guerrero explained that his young age shouldn’t scare off voters. 

“Yeah, I might not have been here when all these politicians were corrupting Pilsen for the past 20-some years,” he quipped, “But I’m here now.”

More on the Chicago police district councils


Police brutality survivors and former cops are running in Chicago’s police district council races

The councils are the first to be elected to police oversight bodies.


The youth are on fire

Saul Arellano, Anthony Michael Tamez, Ashley Vargas, and William “The Kid” Guerrero are among the youngest candidates for Police District Councils.


What do police district councils do?

Police district councils and the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability have broad oversight of the police department.

Read More

Billy the Kid Read More »

Best Hookup Sites and Apps for Adult Dating in 2023

Traditional dating isn’t for everyone. Some people want serious relationships while others want something more casual, like a hookup. The taboo around casual dating has subsided in recent years. Casual daters have plenty of options, but most opt to try hookup sites to find what (and who) they want.

Different sites cater to different tastes. A site’s speciality is not always immediately apparent. So it can be a challenge to find the right site for you. That’s where we come in. We’ve signed up for and tried the best hookup sites and apps for casual encounters to get some action.

Let’s dive into the reviews and ratings.

Click ↓ next to the name of the site to jump straight to the review.

Best Hookup Sites and Apps for Casual Dating in 2023

RankSiteBest For1.Adult FriendFinder Best overall hookup site2. BuddyBang Runner-up3.BeNaughty Best for flirtiest singles4.Ashley Madison Best for affairs5.Seeking Best for sugar baby/sugar daddy/mommy6.ALT Best for alternative and BDSM sex7.OKCupid Top choice for millennials8.Hinge Somewhat serious, but mostly FWB9.Zoosk Best for short-term dating10.Bumble Best for women11.Plenty of Fish Best for lots of options12.Tinder Most popular app13.Pure App Best for fantasy based14.Feeld Most open-minded singles15.Sex Messenger Best for anonymous hookups16.Reddit R4R Best completely free option

1.  Adult FriendFinder – Best overall hookup site

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Sex- and kink-positive
Any kink you can think of (practically)
Not difficult to find like-minded people

Cons

Can get expensive (i.e. Gold memberships)
Ad-heavy free version

Adult FriendFinder is one of the oldest hookup sites and remains one of the most popular. Although its name sound relatively innocent, you can think of it as being short for “Adult Friends with Benefit Finder.”

Adult FriendFinder caters primarily to people looking for FWB, swinging, non-monogamous relationships, threesomes, and other more experimental arrangements. Whether you’re looking for something with NSA (no strings attached), a one-night stand to spice up your marriage, or a quick fling, you likely won’t have to go too far to find someone who’s interested.

Once you create a profile on Adult FriendFinder, you can customize your search quite a bit to make your search more efficient and find these like-minded people more quickly.

Adult FriendFinder also has bonus content such as webcam shows and erotic stories. So, if you need a little warming up before connecting with someone, you’re covered. In some senses, you can think of Adult FriendFinder as a kind of interactive PornHub, as it really is home to a large community of kinky and sex-positive people.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$39.95 totalThree months$26.95/month ($80.85 total)One year$19.95/month ($239.40 total)

What Users Think About Adult FriendFinder

“I was on another site. Met a guy who told me about Adult FriendFinder (AFF). I signed up. Have been on AFF for a little over a year and a half. Have nothing but praise. When AFF works, it WORKS! For the most part, I have met some truly wonderful men. Local men, business men coming through my area, couples. Overwhelmingly positive experience and exactly what I was looking for: no strings, no drama, casual sex.”

Belinda S

Need a little more info before taking the plunge? Check out our in-depth Adult FriendFinder review.

2.  BuddyBang Runner-up

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Responsive users
Straightforward people
Advanced search and filtering functions
Relatively affordable

Cons

Annoying ads with the free version
Can be hard to find anything besides hookups

As you might expect, BuddyBang is all about linking up people interested in no-strings-attached hookups or being friends with benefits. This no-judgment site operates like an express train to sex. Its goal is to be as simple as browse, chat, bang.

While you are not likely to find romance here, you will find plenty of passion. Horny adults flock to BuddyBang to chat and make new erotic connections. Ultimately, the goal is to arrange a meetup with a saucy stranger in your area. If you’re lucky, that one-night stand might turn into a longer-term arrangement.

With a relatively affordable monthly subscription and advanced search filters, getting laid on BuddyBang is fairly straightforward. In any case, it’s likely to be more efficient—and more bang for your buck (see what we did there)—than shelling out tons of cash for dinner dates that may lead nowhere.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$39.95 totalThree months$26.95/month ($80.85 total)One year$19.95/month ($239.40 total)

What Users Think About BuddyBang

“A lotta hookup sites out there, which means a lot of scams. Gotta be honest, at first I was skeptical of BuddyBang. Seemed like another fake site that just wanted your cash. But I was pleasantly surprised. More than that, I was very happy with my experience. I met a couple real girls here who, let’s just say, were down to get down. And that’s all I wanted. I wasn’t a creep. I kept it cool, wasn’t aggressive with messaging and it all worked. I recommend it!”

Chris745

3.  BeNaughty – Best for flirty singles

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Multiple ways to connect
Sex- and kink-positive
Great for finding singles and couples
Cheap three-day trial

Cons

Users are often appearance-driven
Not great without a premium membership

BeNaughty unsurprisingly attracts people who are kinky and after a good time. I mean, it’s right there in the name. Fortunately, breaking the ice is easy as BeNaughty gives users many different ways to connect. You can browse the gallery or enter a naughty chat room for potential dates. When you find someone you like, you can send a wink, a message, or start a live one-on-one chat.

BeNaughty works well because it gets right to the point. Users are looking for fast fun, leaving little time for hot and cold games. They want a hookup and they usually want it ASAP. BeNaughty uses a Tinder-type function that’s geography based, which helps keep your searches relevant. After all, who’s trying to drive (or fly) hundreds or thousands of miles for a one-night-stand?

Open-minded and discreet, BeNaughty provides many filtering options that help streamline your search, whether that’s for singles or couples to join. By adjusting your searches and filters, you can find your ideal scenario and dispense with people who aren’t a good fit for you.

Membership LengthPriceThree day trial$1.05/dayOne month$27.01 totalThree months$15.15/month ($45.45 total)Six months$12.24/month ($73.44 total)

What Users Think About BeNaughty

“Here you can be selective. The choice of profiles is quite large. The girls are active, many of them are constantly online. There are those who only like online communication and do not want to go on dates. However, it is their choice. If you are interested in online flirting, it will be a lot of fun with this site. Some people want more, so I’m still looking for someone to go on a real date with me.”

Robert S

4.  Ashley Madison – Best for affairs

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Free for women
Highly discreet
Judgment-free because most users are fine with infidelity

Cons

Not for the faint of heart when it comes to morals
Expensive for men to use (the Priority Man option)

Ashley Madison has the reputation of being a site for affairs and discreet married dating. Its slogan is literally “Life is short. Have an affair.” The brand has become notoriously in recent years for being a site for married people to flirt and hook up.

Since the site caters to people in relationships or looking to have sex with married people, Ashley Madison is generally a place where you don’t need to fear negative judgment. It’s a great site for anyone looking to add some excitement to their life and explore the world of extramarital affairs.

Ashley Madison is the first website dedicated to helping married people have affairs, and its highly committed to discretion. Despite the backlash and its somewhat negative reputation, this site remains popular and boasts a massive database that crisscrosses the globe.

Membership TierPriceBasic100 credits at $0.59/creditClassic500 credits at $0.34/creditElite1,000 credits at $0.29/credit

You message and live chat with users in exchange for credits. It’s about 5 credits to sent a message or 50 credits/hour to live chat. For more information about credits and other aspects of the site, see our full Ashley Madison review.

What Users Think About Ashley Madison

“As a woman, I can tell you that this site works. I’ve met and hooked up with a lot of great guys. However, I will say that since there are considerably more men than women on the site you have to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Women like to be wined and dined and brought on business trips, to a nice hotel, etc… Be patient, it works. I found a great guy who I have been hooking up with on a regular basis for over 2 years now and we are very happy with the arrangement.”

JennaK

5.  Seeking – Best for sugar relationships

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Very active community
Useful filtering options
Fairly thorough verification process

Cons

Inactive profiles remain visible
Gets expensive for men

Seeking may have undergone a brand transformation (fka Seeking Arrangement), but it still attracts a straightforward target audience: wealthy and experienced individuals seeking the young and attractive. This sugar daddy site is all about helping daddies and mommas find sugar babies or cubs for hookups.

There are many more women than men because the “sugar baby” focus attracts many young women to the site. In fact, Seeking claims to have four times the number of women than men in their database. The only real prerequisite for would-be sugar daddies is that they have money to throw around. They give priority to verified “elite members” who join with the sole intention of lavishing money and attention on would-be sugar babies.

While Seeking is a great site for beautiful young women looking for fun, attention, and a “daddy” to spoil them, it can be quite competitive for sugar babies. And the hopeless romantics out there are probably best avoiding sites such as Seeking in general. It’s much more geared toward hookups that may have a rather transaction-like feel.Women who’d like to meet a well-off older man also aren’t risking much with Seeking because it’s free for women seeking men.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$89.95/monthThree month$79.95/month ($239.85 total)Diamond (more premium features)$249.95/month

What Users Think About Seeking

“Came across them on Facebook and decided to spend a few bucks to find some men. Although not all the men were true to their description and some being scammers, it was pretty easy to find the genuinely interested ones from the fakes. It is a dating site for the wealthier crowd as we spend a lot of money but you can find a suitable candidate here.”

Brenda T

Still not sure or need more information? Check out our full Seeking review.

6.  ALT – Best for alternative relationships

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Easily find people that share your kink
Lots of X-rated content to browse through
Live cams and shows

Cons

Too many fake profiles
Have to buy a premium account to get the most access

ALT is a full-on casual sex website. It’s not for anyone who is on the hunt for a serious relationship. This site is all about casual sex in every form to gratify any sex-seeker! The website’s community is made up of those who are into alternative bondage, who enjoy hooking up online, live, and in-person for sex dates.

It’s a dating site that caters to people who want to find alternative, BDSM, bondage, and fetish partners who can connect online and meet in person. ALT speaks to swingers, dominatrixes, and mistresses looking for power exchange.

ALT is the leading BDSM site, with almost 2 million members. You can easily customize your fetish and find someone who is into the same kinks as you! Remember that this site is all about kink, such as orgies, being humiliated, or being tortured, and not about vanilla sex. So, if you’re looking for just plain sex, opt for another option on this list.

Membership TierPriceSilver$19.95/monthGold$29.95/month

What Users Think About ALT

“Don’t listen to all the haters!!!! Alt.com is one of the best sites. Been using it in the past and it worked quite good. Nowadays I’d also try Casuasexonly.com and Fetlife.com. And there are also a few smaller sites that work but they are more ‘special niche sites’.”

Daniel

7. OKCupid – Best for millennials and young people

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Vast user base of people
Find locals who are looking for casual sex and dating
Affordable

Cons

May find many looking for long-term relationships
Will have to answer quite a few questions to see matches

OKCupid is a mainstream dating app that caters to many different kinds of relationships. It provides a multitude of choices for millennials looking not just for long-term relationships but options for short-term relationships, casual dating, and hookups. All you have to do is set that as what you are looking for, and they match you to like-minded people!

This site gears toward a generally younger audience—the age group between 18-29. This site is also one of the most inclusive mainstream dating websites that includes many gender and orientation options, helping you zero in on the particular pool of choices you want!

OKCupid may be a mainstream dating app that includes finding long-term relationships, but given its wide range of options, filters, and preferences, it’s a great app for hookups and casual sex as well. Just be up-front and be prepared to meet a great bunch of locals looking for the same things as you.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$19.95 totalSix months$9.95/month ($59.70 total)

What Users Think About OKCupid

“OkCupid is a dating app worth checking out. For the most part I have been disappointed with my dating app experiences. I have been pleasantly surprised with the results from OkCupid. There seems to be an endless supply of genuine women interested in a relationship. After several weeks of using the app for free, I decided to become a subscriber. I have been satisfied with my decision.”

Robert S

8.  Hinge – Best for hybrid serious and FWB relationships

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

Popular with millennials
Matchmaking algorithm is great (apt for FWB)

Cons

Created for finding long-lasting relationships
May not find a large user base of casual sex enthusiasts

Hinge is a mainstream dating app that focuses on finding real romance—but it is also used to find casual sex and friends with benefits. The truth about Hinge is that it’s “designed to be deleted.”

But fear not! This app is incredibly popular with the younger crowd (18 to 29 years of age) and has filters to state the nature of the relationship you’re interested in. This setup is the best for friends with benefits because you have to answer questions about yourself and your preferences, which will bring you closer to meeting someone you share similar interests with and are attracted to!

Hinge is a great hookup app for those who want to find a casual relationship where you hook up with the same person a few times instead of just a one-night stand. Just be straight up with what you’re looking for—and you might just meet a new FWB with absolutely no strings attached.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$19.95 totalThree months$20.99 totalSix months$29.99 total

What Users Think About Hinge

“Hinge is amazing! I think the thing that I like about it is that if you don’t pay it limits you to 10 likes a day and so it’s more likely that people will pay attention to you rather than getting distracted by yet another profile. And everyone is more careful about who they pick so if you match you’re more likely to talk I think. It also does a great job of conversation prompts that go with photos or without. Definitely check it out.”

James B

9.  Zoosk – Best for short term dating

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Very active users
Used in over 80 countries
Diverse selection to find what you’re looking for

Cons

May not be the best site for casual sex
Additional features cost extra

Zoosk is a great short-term dating site that is internationally famous. It has a community of 35 million users in 80 different countries, and it is open to singles of all ages, races, religions, and sexual orientations—making it one of the most diverse casual dating apps.

This app may not be the best for casual hookups and one-night stands, but it is a good contender for short-term dating. If you’re in your early to mid-20s, you’ll find a great selection of singles who are interested in short-term or casual relationships.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$29.95 totalThree months$19.98/month ($59.94 total)Six months$12.49/month ($74.94 total)

What Users Think About Zoosk

“Satisfied with the outcome, pretty good dating site. I think the price is OK and I liked the option of pausing account, very useful when you’re trying to focus on one person. As we all know, it takes several attempts to meet someone you are really interested in.”

Ewa S

10.  Bumble – Safest for women

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★★

Pros

More women than men
Women initiate contact
Comprehensive and easy-to-use interface

Cons

Other relationships (friendships and business networking) get in the way of potentials

Bumble has gained a reputation for being different from most other mainstream dating and hookup apps. If you haven’t heard of this app already, Bumble is one of the first and only sites where women make the first move and get to screen potential men immediately. Men simply cannot reach out to any women unless they’ve initiated contact and interest.

It is catered towards and attracts more women than men looking to mingle or find networking opportunities, friends, or hookups! Even though it has a relatively positive and clean rep, it’s a great site for educated, good-looking men who are searching for successful, bold women.

Membership TierPricePremium$8.99/month

What Users Think About Bumble

“The Bumble app has an easy format to navigate and I like that women have to make the first contact. That Helped me out of my comfort zone. I liked that you can adjust your distance from possible matches.”

Leanne N

11.  Plenty of Fish – Best for lots of options

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Multiple search filters
Largest user base of profiles

Cons

May come across bots or fake accounts

Plenty of Fish has the largest user base. POF was launched in 2003, being one of the oldest dating sites. Since it’s free and easy to sign up, you’re going to be exposed to a lot of different types of people, looking for different things, so you’ll have to filter through them all.

Since it’s been around for a long time, it has gained a reputation as a matchmaker site that will ask questions about your family, career, and interests to match you with similar users. It’s catered for people who want to dip their toes into dating and hookup sites to explore options.

Plenty of Fish may or may not have people looking for casual sex, depending on your luck. It’s a matchmaker site that is geared more for a long-term commitment. So you have to be prepared to screen different kinds of people.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$19.99/monthThree months$9.80/month ($29.40/total)One year$5.95/month ($71.40 total)

What Users Think About Plenty of Fish

“Plenty of catfish and foreigners who can’t speak English. However, even if you’re not a paid subscriber you can opt in for only paid subscribers. The site also provides an option for voice calls through the app. I’m going to try the site out for a month or so, then may upgrade to being a paid subscriber. POF has really improved its website since I was on it a year ago. Have fun and meet someone!”

Kathleen M

12.  Tinder – Most popular app

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Best starter app for quick sex
Lots of escorts

Cons

Lots of fake profiles
Very superficial and appearance-focused

You didn’t think this list was going to end without this sex gem of an app, did you? Tinder is the most widely known hookup app of this generation. It has an infamous rep for finding casual sex ASAP.

Tinder caters to men and women looking to get laid based on appearance. It’s known for its classic swiping left to reject and swiping right to like someone’s profile. If you’re looking for sex, Tinder has a huge user base and a large number of locals, meaning you can probably secure a sex date tonight—but the catch is that your profile needs to stand out. If you’re not conventionally attractive, you’re going to struggle to find dates.

For men who can’t seem to find dates, Tinder has a large user base of escorts who will private message their rates. If you’re horny and want it—then maybe you can meet a potential escort on Tinder.

Membership Length/TierPriceLimited SwipesFreeOne month$9.99 total if you’re under 30One month$19.99 total if you’re over 30

What Users Think About Tinder

“I’ve been using tinder for quite some time and I really enjoy it! I travel a lot and t’s great way to meet new people. Tinder has a feature called Face To Face you can use to video chat within the app. Tinder has on-demand safety features via Noonlight, which offers a Timeline feature where users can share first date details on their Timelines, like who they’re meeting, when and where. Users can also discreetly contact emergency services via Noonlight.”

Sophia F

13.  Pure App – Best for fantasy based hookups

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Profiles, messages, and photos shared will disappear once you’re done
Starting up is easy: post a photo and sentence
Embraces individuality and authentic fantasies

Cons

Only popular in major cities

Pure App was created for shameless and judgment-free fantasy and desire-based dating. This app is purely for NSA affairs and is completely secretive and anonymous. It encourages its users to be whoever they choose to be and still be themselves.

It caters to people who have wild fantasies or desires that aren’t celebrated on mainstream dating and hookup apps. It allows your individuality to shine through—choosing your gender and sexuality—and providing guaranteed privacy and safety to video chat and meet whoever shares the same fantasies as you.

Pure App uses your GPS location on your phone to find other Pure users looking for some NSA action. You just have to post a photo and an up-front headline and wait to see if anyone close is interested. When you’re done, your profile will vanish, along with all your messages and photos—no need to worry about deactivating or privacy issues.

Membership LengthPriceOne week$14.99 totalOne month$19.99 total

What Users Think About Pure App

“I am a 25 year old attractive woman, I have never been on a site before however After almost a year of dating and taking things slowly and 4 months of not being interested enough to take things further, I broke and downloaded pure. Downloaded Wednesday, Thursday (yesterday) spontaneously arranged to meet a really really attractive guy who spent a few great hours with me. We got along really well. I also had a video chat with a really attractive couple who I’ll be meeting soon. I’m speaking to other really attractive guys as well.”

Abi S

14.  Feeld Best for adventurous singles

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

One of the largest open-minded communities worldwide
Sex-positive and promotes ethical dating choices

Cons

Premium version is not available on Android
Must have a Facebook account to verify your identity during sign-up

Feeld is a hookup app for couples and singles to explore their kinks and desires in a no-judgement atmosphere.

It includes couples’ accounts where you and your partner can date a lover or meet someone for a threesome. It’s inclusive for all genders and sexual orientations. Overall, it’s a sex-positive space for anyone looking to explore beyond “the norm” in today’s society.

Feeld prides itself on being responsible and ethical. It connects people with like-minded folk and encourages curious monogamous couples to link with partners who are also interested. It is a safe space that allows couples to explore their desires in the most honest way possible.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$14.99 totalThree months$29.98 total

What Users Think About Feeld

“It’s called the ‘Tinder for threesomes’ for a reason. I’ll let you do the imagining.”

Jon R

15.  Sex Messenger – Best for anonymous hookups

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★★

Pros

Safe way to send and receive nudes
Anonymity is key
Goal is to meet up for anonymous sex—NSA!

Cons

Need to pay for a premium account to access live chat or live cams

Sex Messenger is an anonymous instant messaging app—like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. But you never share your name because it’s meant to be discreet and only for sexting and trading nudes.

This app is an adult social network that is much more than an online sex chat. It caters to people who want to connect with other people who want to engage in sex and dirty talk, and fulfill each other’s sexual fantasies. Instant messaging on this app and posting blog entries will help you gain the attention you want from like-minded people.

All members must verify their accounts, so this weeds out fake profiles, scammers, and bots. Members can contribute to the website through Sex Messenger’s forums, chats, group sections, sex stories, and blogs. It’s all anonymous and fully discrete. This app is a great way to sext, increase sexual tension, and finally meet up to do the deed.

Membership LengthPriceOne month$14.95 total

What Users Think About Sex Messenger

“I’m recently single and wanted to have a little fun but was skeptical about trying something online. You hear about the horror stories. I found Sex Messenger and immediately thought SCAM. But I gave it a shot and found a couple fun guys within a couple weeks. I didn’t need to renew my membership.”

Olivia B

16.  Reddit R4R – Best completely free option

SpecificationRatingUser experience★★★★Real profiles★★★★Success rate★★★★Customer service★★★

Pros

Free
No membership needed
Lots of daily interactions and hits

Cons

Hard to stand out
Can’t pay to boost your posts
Mostly guys

Reddit R4R is one of the best options for browse casual sex options for free. If you’re looking for a hookup but don’t want to sign up, post photos of yourself, and write out a bio to describe who you are and what you want . . . you found the site for you!

This site works as a personals subreddit. It works like any other subreddit. Anyone can post—no photos, no personal information needed! All you have to do is list some things about yourself and the type of person you’re looking for. And then you wait to see if anyone responds to your post.

Reddit R4R is free, so all you have to do is download the Reddit app, and you don’t need to worry about spending money. If you want to be a trusted member and not get blocked, just follow the posting rules! Users love this site to get laid because it’s easy to use, free, and starts an instant conversation with like-minded people.

Membership TierPriceUnlimitedFree

What Users Think About Reddit R4R

“Look, it’s Reddit. You ‘get what you pay for,’ but it’s cool to scroll the profiles and chat for free. Too many guys but I definitely found and met up with a couple hotties.”

Jack P

Hookup Site Guide

Still on the fence about whether or not you should start using hookup apps? Or maybe you’re already using them but want some more information? Check out this useful guide to answer any lingering questions you may have and walk away with some important safety tips about casual sex.

What Makes a Hookup Site Good?

It’s important to note that different sites cater to different kinds of people. So before creating a profile on any old hookup site, read the reviews to make sure it meets your needs.

Here are a few tips to find the best hookup site specific to you:

If you have a particular kink or preference, keep an eye out for it. (example: Looking for discreet affairs? Ashley Madison is the one for you!)
Make sure the size of the user base is relatively large. More options mean a better chance of finding someone to hook up with.
Find a site that allows users to be up-front about what they want. Usually, apps have preferences, and you can set yours to “casual relationship” or “hookup.”
Make sure the customer service contact information is front and center. You shouldn’t have to go on an expedition to contact the site.

FAQs About Hookup Sites

Q: Are hookup sites safe?

Like any online dating platform, reputable hookup sites have embedded safety features that still require user discretion. It can be dangerous if you don’t take proper safety measures. Generally, these sites and apps regulate safety by banning bots and scammers and have options to report any bad or suspicious behavior. So if you’re planning on joining, be aware and try your best not to be too gullible—you can never be sure who you will come across online!

Q: Are there any completely free hookup sites?

It sucks that most dating apps and casual sex apps require you to subscribe to get optimum results. But sites like Reddit R4R and Craigslist Activities offer a free platform to chat, flirt, and arrange sex dates. But the only downside is that there is no moderation and you won’t be talking to a verified profile and have to be extra cautious.

Q: What hookup sites are free for women?

The reality is that dating apps make it very easy for women to find sex. Most high-rated dating sites offer women free memberships (mostly to balance out the male/female ratio on their site). Sex sites that are free for women include Bumble, OkCupid, Tinder, Seeking, Hinge, Her, and Pure.

Q: What is the best LGBTQ+ option?

Though there are a few options, only two rise to the top. HER is the best for women seeking women and Grindr is best for men seeking for men. These two sites also cater to non-binary people.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for some action tonight, welcome to the world of casual sex sites and apps.

The best hookup sites are on top for a reason—everyone on there is eager to find sex and casual flings just like you! More than mainstream dating apps that cater to a plethora of things such as long-term dating, friendships, and so on, hookup apps are catered only towards sex and NSA fun!

The best hookup site is Adult FriendFinder (AFF) followed closely by BuddyBang. AFF emphasizes anonymity, safety, a massive user base, and a brand name that is verified. Most people on this site are looking for a good time with so many different types of kinks and fantasies. So what are you waiting for?

Hopefully, this list gives you an idea of what sex app is the best for you to get started on today.

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“All Love and No Hate” for Tyre Nichols

On February 10, Chicago’s skateboarding community gathered at Grant Skate Park for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Tyre Nichols and all victims of police brutality. 

FroSkate, the city’s first skate collective centering BIPOC skaters of trans, gender nonconforming, womxn, and queer communities, hosted the vigil at sunset to honor Nichols. He was a 29-year-old Black man who died three days after being beaten by Memphis police in a traffic stop in early January. According to family members, Nichols went to Shelby Farms, a park just east of Memphis, almost every day to watch the sunset. 

With the horizon awash in baby pink and creamsicle orange, members and friends of froSkate huddled together to meditate and sing, sharing in froSkate’s guiding principle of “All Love and No Hate.” In a beanie embroidered with the words, “Black Skaters Matter,” froSkate founder Karlie Thornton passed out handwarmers and welcomed attendees, who were asked to dress in sunset hues. 

“Once we found out Tyre Nichols was murdered, we were, of course, distraught,” said Thornton. “But once we heard he was part of our skateboarding community, we were hurt on a whole nother level because this feels like losing a family member. We felt like doing something in his honor, as we would for anyone else in the community.” 

As attendee Blake Davis performed a rendition of Sam Cooke’s “It’s Been a Long Time,” the crowd swayed together in solace. Damon A. Williams, vigil guest and cofounder of the #LetUsBreathe Collective, invited attendees to remember not just Nichols, but all other victims of police brutality. He noted that “community and love” are the solutions to “deal with everything we’ve been going through.” He asked attendees to make eye contact with the people around them and tell them, “I love you.” 

Moreover, as he concluded his speech, Williams’s final message encapsulated the vigil’s prevailing attitude: resilience. 

“The only way we can make more freedom is to live and embody freedom,” he said through the megaphone. “Write your poems and sing your songs. But don’t do them alone. Know that you are not an individual—you are part of a collective experience, and we are trying to create this new world.” 

Photographer DuWayne Padilla was at the vigil on behalf of the Reader and shared this slideshow.

Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Tyre Nichols was a Black man who died three days after being beaten by Memphis police in a traffic stop. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
froSkate founder Karlie Thornton. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Rest in Liberation. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Vigil guest T Banks leads the crowd in physical exercise and meditative healing. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Karlie Thornton speaks to vigil attendee. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
The crowd stretches to reconnect with their bodies and experience emotional release. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
“Once we heard he was part of our skateboarding community, we were hurt on a whole nother level,” said Karlie Thornton. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Damon A. Williams invites the crowd to remember and honor past victims of police brutality. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
A vigil attendee lays gifts at Nichols’s memorial. Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
Credit: DuWayne Padilla for Chicago Reader
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High school basketball: Sectional notebook, observations on the IHSA state playoff bracket

As soon as the sectional seeds are announced and the brackets follow the very next day, the season’s focus immediately and dramatically shifts.

After scouring over those seeds and brackets over the weekend, here are some quick, initial thoughts.

No. 5 ranked Curie a No. 3 seed

The very first ‘brow-raising sectional note has to come from the Hinsdale Central Sectional.

First, the sectional is loaded. With four teams ranked in the top 10, five ranked among the top 17 and a Riverside-Brookfield team with 24 wins, it’s the toughest sectional in the state.

But Curie appeared to be in great shape heading into seeding week. The Condors were fresh off a win over Young, which gave coach Mike Oliver’s team wins over Oswego East, New Trier, Joliet West, Simeon and Young. With the schedule Curie played, an argument could easily have been made that Curie was the No. 1 seed.

However, coaches in the sectional have indicated not every coach even submitted seeds. There were three coaches who didn’t vote, which is really a shame for all of those involved.

Instead, Curie ends up with the No. 3 seed. The Condors are behind Young and were just edged out by Hinsdale Central. As a result, Curie likely has the toughest tournament road in the state.

Because the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the sectional are both regional hosts, there won’t be a 4 vs. 5 regional final. Other teams are jumbled and moved to make it work, and it’s Curie, a No. 3 seed, that will now have to go play the No. 5 seed, a 22-win Lyons team, on the road in LaGrange.

The Simeon bracket

After the grind of playing five overtimes to win a pair of Public League playoff games and claim city championship, the early state tournament road for No. 1 Simeon doesn’t exactly look daunting.

Simeon will play the winner of the Kennedy-Englewood matchup in the regional championship. Then the Wolverines would play either Lindblom, which it beat 90-48 in January, or St. Laurence in the sectional semifinal.

Waiting for Simeon in the final of the Glenbard South Sectional will likely be Mount Carmel or Hyde Park. The Caravan have lost four of their last six games, while Simeon beat Hyde Park 68-50 earlier this season.

Barrington Sectional vs. New Trier Sectional

The winners of the Barrington and New Trier sectionals will meet in the Hoffman Estates Super. However, the depth and quality of the two sectionals couldn’t be more different.

Libertyville, the No. 1 seed at Barrington, is an impressive 24-5 on the season. But several of the five losses came to teams in the New Trier Sectional, including a 69-43 late-season dismantling at the hands of Rolling Meadows, the No. 3 seed at New Trier.

More of a concern is the fact top-seeded Libertyville may have to play on the road in the regional final and face a team it lost to earlier this season. If it can take care of Mundelein in the regional semifinals, Warren, the No. 8 seed, would host Libertyville in the title game. Warren beat Libertyville back in January.

The good news? No one believed Barrington, last year’s winner of this sectional, would be able to beat whatever team came out of the opposite sectional. But the Broncos upset Glenbrook South in the super-sectional and headed to Champaign.

Injury upends New Trier Sectional

Getting out of the New Trier Sectional, where there are multiple ranked teams and a whopping seven teams with 21 or more wins, was never going to be easy.

But Glenbrook North had to like its chances after the regular season the Spartans put together. GBN has beaten each of the other top five seeds at least once already this season.

Those hopes took a massive hit, however, with a season-ending injury to junior point guard Josh Fridman. The engine of this 24-win team suffered a devastating injury in a win over Rolling Meadows last week.

The longest regional ride

Yorkville has had a breakthrough season. The Foxes have won 24 games and even entered the Sun-Times Super 25 rankings the past two weeks. But they haven’t won a regional championship since 2005.

Yorkville will need to travel 120 miles a couple of times next week to end that drought.

While nearly every team in its conference will be playing in the Bolingbrook Sectional, the Foxes will travel 120 miles to play the host school, Pekin, next Wednesday night. With a win next Wednesday, they would return for a regional championship in Pekin two nights later to face the Normal-East Moline United winner.

The reward would be a sectional semifinal date with Class 4A power Moline — in Moline. Yes, another 120-mile trip.

That’s a tough situation for a team that’s enjoyed so much success and had such a good fan following this year. Playing in front of an abundance of their own fans and students in the postseason will unfortunately be lost due to the travel.

Speaking of excessive travel …

As noted, Moline will be hosting its own sectional. But the Maroons, who have legitimate hopes of playing in the State Finals in Champaign, must first trek across the state for two regional wins.

Moline will travel two and a half hours — 166 miles one way — to play in the Bradley-Bourbonnais Regional.

Best tournament roads

Looking at the big picture — and we mean the entire state tournament road — there are a few highly-ranked teams that really have a favorable path in getting to Champaign.

In Class 3A, Metamora is 26-2 and hasn’t lost since falling to Joliet West back in November. The Redbirds have beaten defending Class 3A state champ Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin during the 24-game win streak and have the state tournament experience of a year ago in their back pocket.

Metamora will be heavily favored to win the Galesburg Sectional and then could face either Burlington Central, Marmion, Crystal Lake South or Rockford Boylan in the Ottawa Super. That screams a repeat for the Redbirds.

This isn’t to jinx Benet, but the Redwings are the one ranked team playing in a sectional without another ranked team in it. Benet is 27-1, ranked No. 2 in the Super 25 and is an overwhelming favorite in the Bartlett Sectional.

The Bartlett Sectional winner then faces the Rockford Jefferson Sectional winner, where DeKalb, Huntley, Rockford Guilford and Rockford Auburn are the teams to watch.

Higher seeds in tough road environments

The amount of higher-seeded teams having to play regional games on their opponent’s home floor is an endless list. It remains one of the biggest gripes I hear from high school coaches each year at this time — and deservedly so.

Coaches and their teams work so hard to put together the best r?sum? as possible to earn a top four seed. Then they’re rewarded with a true road game in regional championships.

Once upon a time in high school basketball, the highest-seeded team hosted the regional. It’s time to revisit.

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