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Somewhere between the commuter crush and the celestial ceiling, Grand Central Terminal is about to get unexpectedly romantic.
On Friday, February 13, the landmark station will host its first-ever speed dating event, “One Stop to Love: Speed Dating” at Grand Central, running from 5–7pm inside the historic Biltmore Room. The timing alone couldn't be better: Friday the 13th, Valentine’s-adjacent and staged in a space that once literally existed to manage public displays of affection.
The Biltmore Room, better known as Grand Central’s original “Kissing Room,” was designed in the early 1900s as a designated greeting gallery for arriving passengers, including soldiers returning from World War I and II. Kisses were permitted, but tightly regulated (no more than five seconds and absolutely no tongue). Now, a century later, the rules are significantly more relaxed and the room is being reactivated for something closer to flirtation than farewell.
Speed dating is the RSVP-only portion of the evening, featuring two 40-minute rounds with just 16 participants per round. Attendees will enjoy free wine and small bites, with hosting duties handled by photographer and digital media expert Jacques Morel and music by Luna Rosa. It’s a short, structured window to meet a few strangers with no pressure and no marathon small talk.
The rest of the evening, however, is designed to spill well beyond the dating pool. From 3–7pm, the Biltmore Room will also host a Valentine’s Day Market that’s open to the public with no registration required. The lineup includes live poetry, DJ sets, pop-up performances (including a Broadway teaser) and vendors ranging from Jacques Torres Chocolate and Doughnut Plant to Murray’s Cheese, Jet Set Candy, Lovepop, Shake Shack and Damselfly Flowers.
The setting does much of the emotional heavy lifting for the afternoon. With its glass-enclosed vintage departure boards and historical roots, the Biltmore Room already carries a romantic charge. Recasting it as a place for new connections feels less gimmicky than it sounds and perfectly on-brand for a terminal built around chance encounters.
Whether you’re actually looking for romance or just want to wander into one of the city’s most unexpected Valentine’s events, Grand Central’s latest activation proves that even the most familiar spaces might still surprise you.