2008 Woodie Awards
Blind date victims aim to set world record in awkwardness
Shelley K. Wong, AP
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: News
Tara Fortunato and Keith Santarelli are hoping their blind date is one for the books the Guinness World Records book.
The Massachusetts pair met for the first time Monday morning in Fortunato's hometown of Medford after they were brought together by a promotion from a local radio station and Foxwoods Resort Casino in an attempt set a record for the longest blind date.
"Unofficially, it's 48 hours so we're trying to get as close to that time as we possibly can," Santarelli said.
Just in time for Valentine's Day.
The two made the trip south to Foxwoods Monday afternoon for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and a lesson in poker. A candlelight dinner was also in the cards for Monday night.
"My friend told me about the contest and she thought I'd be perfect for it," said Fortunato, 23, a child sponsorship coordinator for a child welfare agency. Fortunato describes herself as very laid-back and says she's done a 24-hour blind date before.
Santerelli, 28, a graduate student studying electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said he did it on a whim.
"I'm not the kind of person who usually goes for radio contests but for whatever reason it just sounded like a fun sort of idea so I decided to go for it," he said.
The pair started their date Monday morning at 7:15 a.m. and said were still going strong Monday night at dinner. They are accompanied by a Foxwoods employees throughout the date to verify the duration for the world record. They also are not allowed to sleep and Fortunato brought along four-pack of energy drinks just in case.
The two say if they can last until the morning, they'd like to spend Valentine's Day at Mystic Aquarium and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum but Fortunato warned, "I think he might give up sooner than me. That's my bet."
Santerelli, of Watertown, Mass., and Fortunato said they were more nervous about the publicity than going on an extended date with a stranger.
"We didn't realize it was going to be this publicized," Santerelli said. "But it's all in good fun."
Fortunato said she is happy with the date so far and would go on a second date with him.
"At this point, I think he's pretty cute," she said.
Santerelli said this blind date definitely beat his last one which ended within an hour.
"That was a record short one for me," he said.
As for a second date, "Yeah, I think I would. She's very cool. She's very pretty."
The Massachusetts pair met for the first time Monday morning in Fortunato's hometown of Medford after they were brought together by a promotion from a local radio station and Foxwoods Resort Casino in an attempt set a record for the longest blind date.
"Unofficially, it's 48 hours so we're trying to get as close to that time as we possibly can," Santarelli said.
Just in time for Valentine's Day.
The two made the trip south to Foxwoods Monday afternoon for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and a lesson in poker. A candlelight dinner was also in the cards for Monday night.
"My friend told me about the contest and she thought I'd be perfect for it," said Fortunato, 23, a child sponsorship coordinator for a child welfare agency. Fortunato describes herself as very laid-back and says she's done a 24-hour blind date before.
Santerelli, 28, a graduate student studying electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said he did it on a whim.
"I'm not the kind of person who usually goes for radio contests but for whatever reason it just sounded like a fun sort of idea so I decided to go for it," he said.
The pair started their date Monday morning at 7:15 a.m. and said were still going strong Monday night at dinner. They are accompanied by a Foxwoods employees throughout the date to verify the duration for the world record. They also are not allowed to sleep and Fortunato brought along four-pack of energy drinks just in case.
The two say if they can last until the morning, they'd like to spend Valentine's Day at Mystic Aquarium and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum but Fortunato warned, "I think he might give up sooner than me. That's my bet."
Santerelli, of Watertown, Mass., and Fortunato said they were more nervous about the publicity than going on an extended date with a stranger.
"We didn't realize it was going to be this publicized," Santerelli said. "But it's all in good fun."
Fortunato said she is happy with the date so far and would go on a second date with him.
"At this point, I think he's pretty cute," she said.
Santerelli said this blind date definitely beat his last one which ended within an hour.
"That was a record short one for me," he said.
As for a second date, "Yeah, I think I would. She's very cool. She's very pretty."