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Shannon: When I got to the restaurant, there were two people at the bar. I was like: "Please be the tall, hunky one." He was, which was awesome. I've gone out with some Lollipop Guild members lately. I was ready for some height.
Brad: I'd gotten there five or 10 minutes early and was at the bar having a Jack and Coke. I heard her talking to the hostess and turned around. She looked very attractive. I don't have a type, but I like blond hair.
Shannon: We sat down and were trying to figure out why we were set up. Pretty quickly, we got to the fact that we're both from Pittsburgh. Then it was like: "Did you used to go here? Do you put hot sauce on your french fries? Do you love meat products?" We had all the meat and condiments qualities in common, which is very important. I'm a little more into Steelers football than he is, but he's definitely on the same page. He said, "Girls from Pittsburgh have always been my kryptonite." I thought that was sweet. It set a great tone.
Brad: She was outgoing from the start, so we didn't have any awkward silences. We talked a little about our jobs. She does a lot of customer relations, so she socializes and entertains a lot. I'm in corporate governance. I explained it in the least boring terms.
Shannon: We just never shut up. The waiter kept stopping by and asking if we were ready to order, but looking at the menu would have been distracting. We finally just got the tasting menu. Brad has a really dry sense of humor -- sarcastic and witty. If you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't catch it. He's funny.
Brad: I have to admit it helps when someone laughs at your jokes. I didn't go on this date in a vacuum; I am dating other women. But there was definitely some chemistry. [When dinner was over,] we were both in the mood for another drink. Because of her job, she's much more familiar with nightlife stuff than I am; she suggested Eighteenth Street Lounge. I asked for her phone number just before we left the restaurant. I was having a good time and knew I'd want it.
Shannon: [Once at the club,] we were sitting at the bar in the middle of talking, and he leaned in and gave me a little smooch on the cheek. It was out of nowhere, which was delightful. Then we ended up going to the Front Page and having a beer or two [before calling it a night]. He hailed me a cab and gave me a little smooch on the mouth. I'd give the date a 5 out of 5. It was the best date I'd been on in a long while. I sent my friends a text message at 1:30 in the morning that said, "Date Lab success."
Brad: I'd give the date a solid 4. I'll take into account whether or not I get along with other people better, but I probably will call her.
Interviews by Kelly DiNardo
Update: "I never heard from him," reports Shannon. "It's a little bizarre." Brad didn't respond to our multiple e-mails and calls.
DATE LAB IS LOOKING FOR DREADLOCKS-WEARERS -- and other singles willing to get set up. Go to washingtonpost.com/datelab for details.
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