When the everyday commute through the Union Square subway station becomes a blur, Staten Island resident Thomas Knox reminds us to stop and smell the roses.
On a recent Saturday evening, 28-year-old Knox did his best to muster up a romantic atmosphere in the middle of the Union Square N, Q R platform: He set up two collapsible chairs and a table with a centerpiece made up of a Coca-Cola bottle carrying a single red daisy.
Then he invited passersby to stop by the table for a quick date. "Have a Date While U Wait," states a sign he posted to the table.
Though a little unorthodox, the technique worked. According to his Facebook post, Knox had a total of 18 dates that evening, including both men and women. He worked with two photographers who stood by to record the event.
"They were people from all walks of life and I feel like we made their days," Knox said in his Facebook post.
At the end of each affair, Knox offered his dates a single red rose before parting, and one date even reciprocated by giving him a taco, according to photos he posted of the event.
While Knox did manage to set up several future dates thanks to his speed-dating experiment, his intention was just to have fun, he said.
“Everyone kept asking me if I was doing it for money or looking for love, not at all. I just wanted to do something that would bring smiles to people’s faces and enjoy the moment. I can’t wait to do it again!!" Knox wrote on his Facebook page after the event.
