Dating apps are so last year. This January 8, skip the awkward DMs and join Pitch-A-Friend at Harland Brewing Co., One Paseo, in sunny San Diego. It’s the ultimate singles event where your bestie takes the stage to pitch you as the catch of the century—all while you sip on some of the city’s finest craft beer.
What Is Pitch-A-Friend?
Think of it as Shark Tank meets The Bachelor—minus the roses and billion-dollar valuations. Here’s the deal: instead of awkward small talk or endless app scrolling, your friends (aka your personal PR team) take the stage to pitch you to a room full of other singles.
Armed with PowerPoint presentations (yes, actual slides), these wingmen and wingwomen have just 3-5 minutes to convince the crowd why their single friend is a total catch. It’s like speed dating but with PowerPoint—and beer. Lots of beer.
The Venue: Harland Brewing Co. at One Paseo
Harland Brewing Co. is located in San Diego’s chic One Paseo district—about 20 minutes north of downtown and just a hop away from Del Mar, California—and is the perfect spot for this event. Known for its laid-back vibe and exceptional craft beers, this brewery has become a local favorite for everything from casual hangouts to lively events like this one. Whether you’re into IPAs or prefer something lighter like a lager or pilsner, Harland’s taps have you covered.
And let’s not forget One Paseo itself—a modern shopping and dining hub that feels more like a mini-community than a strip mall. If you’re looking for an excuse to arrive early or stay late, grab some tacos nearby or stroll through the boutique shops before heading into the event.
Who Should Attend?
The short answer: anyone over 21 who’s tired of Tinder but still believes in meeting people IRL (in real life). Whether you’re single and ready to mingle or just tagging along as someone’s hype-person extraordinaire, this event welcomes all kinds of attendees:
- Singles who are open to meeting someone new.
- Wingmen/Wingwomen who love hyping up their friends.
- People are looking for platonic connections because, hey, friendship is cool, too.
- Those who just want a fun night out with good vibes and great beer.
And don’t worry if public speaking isn’t your thing—there’s no pressure to pitch unless you want to. You can simply RSVP, grab a beer, and enjoy the show.
How Does It Work?
The evening kicks off at 6:00 PM sharp with the first round of pitches. Expect anywhere from 6-10 presentations at night, split into two or three segments with breaks in between. These breaks are prime time for mingling—whether chatting with someone who caught your eye during a pitch or bonding over how hilarious your friend’s PowerPoint was.
Each presentation is short and sweet (3-5 minutes max), keeping things moving and ensuring everyone gets plenty of time to socialize. And let’s be honest: even if you’re not actively looking for love, watching someone try to sell their friend as “the best thing since sliced bread” is pure entertainment gold.
Why You Should Go
Let’s face it: dating apps can feel like a full-time job with zero benefits. Between ghosting, awkward first dates, and endless swiping, modern dating culture makes it easy to feel burned out. Pitch-A-Friend flips the script by making dating fun again—and dare we say—wholesome? Something is refreshing about seeing people cheer each other on in such a supportive (and slightly ridiculous) way.
Plus, even if romance isn’t in the cards for you that night, you’ll walk away with great stories and maybe even some new friends. And did we mention there’s beer?
Want to Pitch Your Friend?
If you’ve got a single friend who deserves their moment in the spotlight—or if you’re brave enough to let someone pitch you—you can sign up ahead of time on the event website (details are floating around Instagram @pitchafriend.sandiego). Spots fill up fast, though, so don’t wait too long!
Even if pitching isn’t your thing, RSVPing is encouraged so the organizers can plan accordingly—and so you don’t miss out on what might just be the most entertaining night of your week. So mark your calendar for January 8th and head to Harland Brewing Co.
Sources: allevents.in, pitch-a-friend.com
Header Image Source: allevents.in
