Introduction leading up to my "2nd date at Wonderland Ballroom":…read more
Representing 2018, W is for Wonderland Ballroom. So, I went here for a 2nd date (or what I thought was a 2nd date) on Friday, August 31, 2018. I had met her at an event in July 2018. I was at an event in downtown Silver Spring in the early evening, took the Metro to Woodley Park DC for a 3rd date, which ended up going poorly but it was for the best in the long run, took the Metro back and decided to see if there was anyone I still knew at the event in downtown Silver Spring. There wasn't, but I met some nice people including this woman, who I got her phone number. We went on what I considered a great 1st date (one where we were there for hours) in Wheaton, where we both happened to live at the time.
Experience at Wonderland Ballroom:
Our 2nd date was here at Wonderland Ballroom for a comedy show with multiple comedians. As I recall, she was friends with some of the comedians. Wonderland Ballroom is a local neighborhood bar in Columbia Heights, but in a quieter area not right in the heart on 14th St, this is on 11th Street, which is mainly residential. It's pretty dark in there, more of a tavern feel. It's not bad, but I tend to like places with better lighting especially if I'm eating, which I did. I did like my sandwich, and I believe I may have gotten eggplant fries as a side with ranch, which was a good recommendation. I'm looking at the menu online today in 2026, and I only see fries, tater tots, or salad as side options, but I do see the eggplant fries as a separate appetizer. So, I'm not sure if they removed as an option, or perhaps I paid a small upcharge at the time. In spite of good eggplant fries and decent sandwich, the atmosphere of dark & kind of small, a bit crowded, brings to 3-stars.
Also, the Wonderland Ballroom is a misleading name for the place. Really, a ballroom?! This is no where near a ballroom, which is often a grandiose place. Maybe a large place for ballroom dancing, wedding, or even for some crazy President to destroy the East Wing to host his wealthy cronies! I can't imagine anyone would ever have their wedding at Wonderland so-called Ballroom.
Conclusions with my "2nd date":
Afterward, my date & I rode with a couple of comedians to downtown DC draft house restaurant & then some more comedy, which was free. I had already eaten at Wonderland, but I socialized with the people to a certain extent. But I really felt like a 3rd wheel and neglected by my date. I was texting with an old friend about how my date wasn't going well.
After this not so good time, I would've taken the Metro from downtown back to Wheaton, but my date said she was getting a Lyft back she ordered and was paying for already, and I could ride back with her, which I agreed. I thought this was a nice opportunity for just the 2 of us to have a good conversation on the Lyft ride all the way back to Wheaton. Guess what? She ended up talking to the Lyft driver more than me asking how he likes driving, how long he's driven, etc., which is fine to a certain extent, but it was much of the 30 or so minute ride.
Once we got to just north of downtown Silver Spring, less than 10 minutes from drop-off, I asked her a question about previous relationships, and she rudely said that doesn't concern you. I was taken aback by her response. Ultimately, right before dropping me off first, I was direct and asked her if she considered this & our prior Limerick Pub in Wheaton 5 days earlier as dates or just hanging out. She said just as friends. I was hurt, but appreciated her brutal honesty, the end of August & now after midnight the start of September was depressing. After my summer 2018 of lots of dates, one of which went to a 4th date, that Labor Day weekend while at my apartment's pool, I threw in the towel for having one develop into a relationship or at least solid enough dating to take to a wedding I was a groomsman in early October. I ultimately got a female friend, who had a boyfriend as my "date" to the wedding. Incidentally, that following summer she became my girlfriend lasting over a year.
