Shannon King, 25
Social worker
Social worker
The perfect date: If there’s something going on in the city, I love to be out and about. I love Cleveland and everything it has to offer, whether it’s a comedy show, a concert, or something that I’m interested in. If you take the time to plan a wonderful evening, that’s great. Or even dinner — I’m simple. I love a nice restaurant.
Something most people don’t know about me: I’m very down to earth. A lot of people get this impression of me that I’m stuck-up. I’m not. I like to do the simplest things.
My cell phone: Is my world. I can’t live without it. I love my BlackBerry.
Biggest turn-on: The way that a man dresses. I love a man that has swag, and his presence is known when he comes into a room.
Biggest turnoff: Dirty nails. Oh, I hate long, dirty nails. Gross. And a guy’s shoes. You can tell so much from a person by their shoes and the way that they upkeep their nails. I also can’t stand a person who doesn’t listen. I pride myself on listening and being well-groomed, so I would want the same.
I own too many: Jeans
My favorite … place in Cleveland: I love the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. It captures what I know Cleveland is: beauty. … sports team: The Cavs … book: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah and Push by Sapphire … vacation destination: One of my favorite vacation spots that I’ve been to is Maui. It was beautiful. But I would really like to go to Fiji. … dessert: creme brulee … blog: I don’t really get into that stuff.
Facebook: yes or no? I actually got Facebook when it first came out my sophomore year in college, so I’ve always kept it. Now, it’s sweeping the nation with people’s grandmas and moms on it. It’s nuts.
My usual hangout: I love, love, love Bodega. I also like XO. I’m really not big on going out every weekend, but Sunset or Anatomy are places I frequent. For dinner, I love Red. It’s the greatest steakhouse ever. I also like Mitchell’s Fish Market. I used to work there when I was in college, and I grew up in that neighborhood, so it’s great to go back to where you’re from.
In high school I was … voted the biggest gossip. I don’t know why, but I was.
My passion: Is to be successful. I’m big on education and family. A lot of people care about money, but for me to be successful, that will mean completing my education to the highest level that I can, which is eventually going to law school. And just to have a beautiful family, like the family I was raised in.
My best feature: It would have to be my smile. I get a lot of compliments on my smile.
My bad habit: I freak out over the littlest things. I can’t help it! I’ve got to shake that.
My first kiss: It was in the seventh grade. I was new to Orange, and I went to a house party.
My guilty pleasure: Disney Channel, reality TV and pistachios
How my ex would describe me: He would honestly say that I’m a very caring and loving person, but sometimes my ways mess things up. Again, I stress out over everything, and that can wear a person down.
Blonds or brunets: I don’t really have a particular type that I could say. I guess dark hair, dark features. It doesn’t really matter.
Going out or staying in: Going out. I love to be on the scene, especially if I’ve got my hair done, with a cute outfit and nails done. I want you to take me out, and I want to have a good time.
Early, late or right on time: Right on time. I would love to be early, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
Dogs or cats: Dogs
My longest relationship: Five and a half years
Beer, wine or martinis: I’m a martini girl. Give me the liquor. Don’t even play around with that wine or beer.
Roses or chocolates: Pink roses. I’m not a big chocolate person.
My No. 1 dating rule: I have a 30-day rule. It’s kind of weird. I don’t do anything with anyone during those 30 days. I believe you can know a lot about a person when you talk to them on the phone on a consistent basis and interact with them out in public. After 30 days, you know if you want to deal with that person, and you can tell if they’re trustworthy. I like to go on a lot of dates during that time and really get to know the person. You can weed out a lot of people that way. It’s really hard to keep the rule if you’re attracted to somebody, but you’ve got to stick with it.
My deal-breaker: Lying and not keeping your word. If you say you’re going to do something, do it!
I hate when a date orders … if I drink, I want you to drink too. I hate it when a date orders water. We’re out to dinner, come on! If you don’t want to drink, that’s fine; order a Pepsi then.
Worst pickup line: “You are so pretty; why are you single?” I hate that. Looks have nothing to do with why a person is single.
If I could marry anyone: Educated, attractive, caring and compassionate, family oriented, believes in God, very successful and passionate about what he does. I like — and this is crazy — a cultured thug. What I mean by that is he’s very well-put-together, polished, articulate, but also knows how to get down and dirty and have fun.”
On a first date I never … talk about my past relationships. That’s so tacky. I also never pull out my cell phone and text, and I never kiss on a first date.
Best place to meet someone: A lounge, not a club, but something like Bodega or XO, where there’s all different walks of life of people coming in, but they’re comfortable and chill. They’re ready to mingle, not stuck-up and stuffy.
Most unusual place I’ve met someone: I met this guy one time at the doctor’s office. He was selling drugs to my gynecologist, and it was awkward.
My take on Cleveland’s single scene: It needs to be spruced up. There needs to be more events for singles. I’m sure there are a lot of single people here who are great, and they just need to get out and mingle.
Something most people don’t know about me: I’m very down to earth. A lot of people get this impression of me that I’m stuck-up. I’m not. I like to do the simplest things.
My cell phone: Is my world. I can’t live without it. I love my BlackBerry.
Biggest turn-on: The way that a man dresses. I love a man that has swag, and his presence is known when he comes into a room.
Biggest turnoff: Dirty nails. Oh, I hate long, dirty nails. Gross. And a guy’s shoes. You can tell so much from a person by their shoes and the way that they upkeep their nails. I also can’t stand a person who doesn’t listen. I pride myself on listening and being well-groomed, so I would want the same.
I own too many: Jeans
My favorite … place in Cleveland: I love the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. It captures what I know Cleveland is: beauty. … sports team: The Cavs … book: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah and Push by Sapphire … vacation destination: One of my favorite vacation spots that I’ve been to is Maui. It was beautiful. But I would really like to go to Fiji. … dessert: creme brulee … blog: I don’t really get into that stuff.
Facebook: yes or no? I actually got Facebook when it first came out my sophomore year in college, so I’ve always kept it. Now, it’s sweeping the nation with people’s grandmas and moms on it. It’s nuts.
My usual hangout: I love, love, love Bodega. I also like XO. I’m really not big on going out every weekend, but Sunset or Anatomy are places I frequent. For dinner, I love Red. It’s the greatest steakhouse ever. I also like Mitchell’s Fish Market. I used to work there when I was in college, and I grew up in that neighborhood, so it’s great to go back to where you’re from.
In high school I was … voted the biggest gossip. I don’t know why, but I was.
My passion: Is to be successful. I’m big on education and family. A lot of people care about money, but for me to be successful, that will mean completing my education to the highest level that I can, which is eventually going to law school. And just to have a beautiful family, like the family I was raised in.
My best feature: It would have to be my smile. I get a lot of compliments on my smile.
My bad habit: I freak out over the littlest things. I can’t help it! I’ve got to shake that.
My first kiss: It was in the seventh grade. I was new to Orange, and I went to a house party.
My guilty pleasure: Disney Channel, reality TV and pistachios
How my ex would describe me: He would honestly say that I’m a very caring and loving person, but sometimes my ways mess things up. Again, I stress out over everything, and that can wear a person down.
Blonds or brunets: I don’t really have a particular type that I could say. I guess dark hair, dark features. It doesn’t really matter.
Going out or staying in: Going out. I love to be on the scene, especially if I’ve got my hair done, with a cute outfit and nails done. I want you to take me out, and I want to have a good time.
Early, late or right on time: Right on time. I would love to be early, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
Dogs or cats: Dogs
My longest relationship: Five and a half years
Beer, wine or martinis: I’m a martini girl. Give me the liquor. Don’t even play around with that wine or beer.
Roses or chocolates: Pink roses. I’m not a big chocolate person.
My No. 1 dating rule: I have a 30-day rule. It’s kind of weird. I don’t do anything with anyone during those 30 days. I believe you can know a lot about a person when you talk to them on the phone on a consistent basis and interact with them out in public. After 30 days, you know if you want to deal with that person, and you can tell if they’re trustworthy. I like to go on a lot of dates during that time and really get to know the person. You can weed out a lot of people that way. It’s really hard to keep the rule if you’re attracted to somebody, but you’ve got to stick with it.
My deal-breaker: Lying and not keeping your word. If you say you’re going to do something, do it!
I hate when a date orders … if I drink, I want you to drink too. I hate it when a date orders water. We’re out to dinner, come on! If you don’t want to drink, that’s fine; order a Pepsi then.
Worst pickup line: “You are so pretty; why are you single?” I hate that. Looks have nothing to do with why a person is single.
If I could marry anyone: Educated, attractive, caring and compassionate, family oriented, believes in God, very successful and passionate about what he does. I like — and this is crazy — a cultured thug. What I mean by that is he’s very well-put-together, polished, articulate, but also knows how to get down and dirty and have fun.”
On a first date I never … talk about my past relationships. That’s so tacky. I also never pull out my cell phone and text, and I never kiss on a first date.
Best place to meet someone: A lounge, not a club, but something like Bodega or XO, where there’s all different walks of life of people coming in, but they’re comfortable and chill. They’re ready to mingle, not stuck-up and stuffy.
Most unusual place I’ve met someone: I met this guy one time at the doctor’s office. He was selling drugs to my gynecologist, and it was awkward.
My take on Cleveland’s single scene: It needs to be spruced up. There needs to be more events for singles. I’m sure there are a lot of single people here who are great, and they just need to get out and mingle.
