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Kindred at Crawford's Social Saturday, August 29
Saturday was one of those nights that reminds us why we started this.
Crawford's Social filled up early, and by the time the welcome drinks were in hand the room had that particular sound we love: the low roar of a hundred conversations that nobody wants to end. The weather cooperated beautifully, the doors and patio stayed open, and there is something about a warm California evening at the end of August that makes everyone a little more willing to linger. If this is how we are wrapping up summer, we will take it.
A smaller room, by design
You may have noticed that our events feel different lately, and that is not an accident. We have started capping ticket sales.
We could sell more. We are choosing not to. A room that is comfortably full instead of packed is a room where you can actually hear the person in front of you, where you are not shouting over a shoulder, and where you can finish a thought before someone squeezes past. The ambiance is more intimate, and the conversations are better for it. People are getting past the opening pleasantries and into the real getting to know you part of the evening. That is the whole point.
The ratio keeps moving in the right direction
We have to say it out loud because we have been working on it for months. Our ratio of men to women continues to improve, and Saturday was one of our strongest yet.
This matters more than it might sound. When a room is balanced, the whole energy changes. Introductions happen more naturally. Nobody feels like they are waiting their turn. Conversations open up instead of forming closed circles. It is the difference between an event you endure and an evening you actually enjoy.
We did not get here by accident, and we did not get here alone. To the men who have shown up, come back, and brought a friend along: thank you. You have changed what these nights feel like for everyone. And to the women who have been quietly recruiting their brothers, neighbors, coworkers, and golf partners, we see you. Keep going.
To everyone who came alone
This is the part we want to spend a moment on.
A good number of you walked through that door by yourself on Saturday. No wingman, no wingwoman, no friend saving you a seat. Just you, a parking spot, and a decision to go in anyway.
We know exactly what that takes, because I have done it myself.
I started Kindred alone. On November 21, 2025, I walked into Crawford's for the very first time and it was daunting. I knew no one. I had no idea what to expect or whether anyone would show up at all. What I found instead was a room of 18 people who were warm and welcoming and who turned out to be looking for exactly what I was: other singles over 50, empty nesters or not, who just wanted to be around like-minded people. That night is the reason there is a Kindred at all.
So a very personal thank you to those of you who have been on this journey with me since day one. You made the first room easy, and you have been making every room since a little easier for the next person walking in.
The hardest part of any Kindred event is not the conversation, the small talk, or the goodbye at the end. It is the forty feet between your car and the front door. That stretch is where most people talk themselves out of it, turn around, and go home to a quiet house.
You did not. We applaud you, sincerely.
And here is what we hope you noticed once you were inside: you were not the only one. Look around any Kindred room and a good share of the people in it arrived solo. That person standing near the bar on their own was not unapproachable. They were doing the same brave thing you were, five minutes ahead of you or five minutes behind.
If you have been sitting on an event page wondering whether you can really show up without a friend, let Saturday be your answer. You can. People do it every time. And they leave with names, numbers, and plans.
Growing up together
Kindred is coming up on its first year, and we can feel the difference. We are getting better and more comfortable with the way we run our mixers. We know which rooms work, how to pace an evening, when to step in with an introduction and when to get out of the way. Cassie and I are learning right alongside all of you, and we are better at this than we were in December.
The best evidence is what happens after we go home. People are making plans with each other outside of our events. Coffee, hikes, dinners, group texts, standing invitations. That is the real measure of whether this is working, and it is happening more every month.
We are maturing together, and we are grateful for your patience and your support while we figure it out.
The Kindred Cup launches September 1
Now for the fun part.
Starting Tuesday, September 1, we are running the Kindred Cup for two months, and the whole thing comes down to one simple ask: bring your male friends to our mixers.
Here is how it works.
Bring a male friend to any Kindred mixer and you earn an entry into our drawing for a Kindred Match membership. That is five one on one dates, hand picked for you by us. Bring more friends, earn more entries.
We are also keeping score by location. The venue with the best ratio of men to women at the end of the two months gets another chance to win, so rally your regulars and represent your room.
Think of every man in your life who has been meaning to get out more. The neighbor. The coworker. The brother-in-law. The guy at the gym who mentions he never goes anywhere. One invitation from a friend is worth more than a hundred ads from us.
One last thought
Let's have some fun while we look for that very special connection. And let's be patient with the process. As with anything else in life worth having, this takes nurturing, patience, and time to reap what we sow. The connections you are building now, the familiar faces you are collecting one Saturday at a time, they add up. They always do.
See you at the next one!
Cristina U.
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