Three blind dates: See how they match

Blind dates are just awkward. And unpredictable. Put two people together with everything in common, and chemistry still has a say.

Our most judgmental self emerges on a date, analyzing the other person's style, wit and how he chews. We leave knowing what we think, but what about the other side? As we know, two people can be in the same place at the same time, but actually be on two very different dates.

As a tribute to the upcoming romantic holiday, we sent three couples on blind dates and had both sides report back.

We picked our six with the help of Seattle-based matchmaker Alma Rubenstein, founder of The Professional Dater, who selected the couples based on her assessment of their personalities and interests.

Her system alleviates some first-date anxiety. She asks couples to give feedback before they go on a second date, and they receive constructive criticism. If someone is not interested in a second date, she breaks the bad news.

Did the matchmaking work? Here's what we found:

"He was gentlemanly"

Gordon Modin, 55, Seattle

Videographer, never married

Mary Clare Litzen, 47, Seattle

Freelance sign-language interpreter, never married

Why they were matched: "Mary Clare seems like she is attracted to men who have a passion for life and work and who are funny," matchmaker Rubenstein says. "Gordon, he works really hard, he puts a lot into his career and he's really artistic. He's very gentle. Mary Clare kind of was new at doing the dating thing. Gordon is also a good date. He's very sensitive to a woman's needs."

The date: Dinner at La Rustica, West Seattle.

Gordon: "I got there ahead of time just to make sure the man who ran the place knew we were coming and were having a date, and that a [Seattle Times] photographer would be there. I didn't want Mary Clare to wait and wait for a table."

Mary Clare: "He was gentlemanly; he was on time. He stood up and tried to push in my chair. It was a little awkward; it wasn't spaced properly."

Gordon: "She's very tall, beautiful hair, sparkling eyes. Right away, I was just mesmerized."

Mary Clare: "He's just about the same height as I am. I like taller men. It was lively conversation, [but] a little one-sided at times. He admitted he was nervous."

Gordon: "She's highly intelligent. That's the No. 1 thing I realized, and I told her that immediately. When you find a woman who is pretty and intelligent, it's a rare combination."

Mary Clare: "Maybe I put him at ease, and that was nice. He did say I was easy to talk to."

Gordon: "There was only one point when the conversation had a lull, and that's because I was chewing. She asked me a question."

Mary Clare: "I did feel a lack of chemistry. It did seem his launching point for conversations were about his work. When you freelance, you live and breathe your work. ...

Gordon: "I'd have no qualms at all having a second date with her and getting to know her."

Mary Clare: "In the past, I tend to have been with people who are a little more outdoorsy, more fit."

Gordon: I got the feeling I best not broach that subject [of a second date]. I got the feeling she would rather look for other possibilities.

Will there be a second date? Gordon: yes, with reservations; Mary Clare: no.

"He's reallyinto Sweden"

Anthonio Pettit, 30, Seattle

Software contractor, freelance graphic designer

Gerod Rody, 27, Seattle

MBA student, real-estate marketing

Why they were matched: "They are both into design and computers. Anthonio likes people who are creative and spontaneous," says matchmaker Rubenstein. "He's also interested in people who are politically and mentally aware and are curious. Gerod, even though he's creative, he's probably not quite as [outspoken]. They both seemed like they were ambitious, looking for something beyond."

The date: Dinner at Wild Ginger, Seattle.

Anthonio: "He's a good-looking man. I am generally not into people with shaved heads as much. We can fix that later, though."

Gerod: "There wasn't a real strong attraction, but I'm realizing as I get older it's good to keep an open mind because you don't know what you're going to think after a bit."

Anthonio: "There were a few silences that I guess are hard to avoid, and sometimes I felt like I was driving the conversation. I feel he was maybe a little shy and I was a little nervous."

Gerod: "He just seemed like a nice, easygoing guy, not a lot of edge to him. I tend to like a guy who maybe has a couple tattoos."

Anthonio: "He's into this sustainable business, and that's something I've always been passionate about. He's really into Sweden and, as it turns out, I am more or less into Sweden."

Gerod: "In terms of interests, we didn't fit as well. I tend to lead a fairly busy and intense life with a range of friends. The sense I got was he is a little bit more easygoing and not as intent on a particular direction. It's not like a negative thing, just not my type."

Anthonio: "He seemed kind of a serious guy. It wasn't maybe as playful as I might have liked.

I didn't know if there was a chemistry spark right away. I think it would be fun to flesh it out more and see if it led to anything."

Gerod: "At the end, it was the handshake-hug combo. Even though I don't think he's my type, I wouldn't mind seeing him again. I would see him again as a friend, but don't know if I would see him again as a date."

Anthonio: "I'd like to see where it went, at least a second audition."

Will there be a second date? Gerod: possible; Anthonio: yes.

"That's got to be a New Yorker"

Bruce DaCosta, 59, Kirkland

Program manager, divorced, three kids

Heidi Rackley, 51, Seattle

Consulting actuary, divorced, no kids

Why they were matched: "Bruce, he's very expressive, and he's got this back-East just very realness. He's usually just a good date," says matchmaker Rubenstein. "Heidi dresses really great, she's artistic, she's traveled, but in some ways I think she is a little bit shy, so I was thinking that together that something could be there."

The date: Dinner at Chez Shea in Pike Place Market.

Heidi: "I was on one side of the street, and he was on the other, jaywalking. I thought, 'That's got to be a New Yorker. That's got to be him.' "

Bruce: "She was attractively dressed, I must say. She carried herself confidently."

Heidi: "He seemed very outgoing and friendly, very easy to talk to. His sense of humor definitely comes through."

Bruce: "You can sit across the table from someone and they're transparent and don't reflect any part of you, or they're just like a kaleidoscope and you see pieces of yourself as well as them. Heidi was very much like that."

Heidi: "He seemed somewhat philosophical, looking back on relationships and how to deal with people, the dating experience."

Bruce: "We both kind of honed in on companionship of like-minded people. Finding that at this point in my life is far more important."

Heidi: "He's definitely into beach vacations. Um, I am less so. I am more into cultural vacations. I like exploring different peoples and cultures."

Bruce: "She's probably taller than someone I would just walk up to and introduce myself to. But over the evening, that didn't matter because she's a warm, open, engaging person with a zest for life."

Heidi: "He certainly was somebody that I could see spending time with. It felt very friendly, natural, something that could evolve in any number of directions. ... The way we sort of left it was: 'It was fun, let's do it again.' I'm not sure if that was a line or he really meant that."

Bruce: "I told her I'd give her a call."

Will there be a second date? Bruce: yes; Heidi: yes.

Nicole Tsong: 206-464-2150 or ntsong@seattletimes.com