In more than 20 cities across the country, people are grabbing their friends, getting dressed up and heading out to play boardgames. It's called PlayDate, and it's Memphis' newest way to meet people. PlayDate Memphis makes good on its claim of being an alternative to the usual night out by essentially being a night in. The monthly events are (so far) held mainly in huge hotel ballrooms that have been set up with tables filled with board games, hula hoops and a dance floor. Last Saturday night, I went to my first PlayDate at the East Memphis Hilton. It was easy to find it - the line at the check-in table snaked down the hallway. After I checked in, I was told to pick out a name tag from a pile on a table. I was feeling a little literal (and not so much eatable), so I went with "Shorty". If you've ever stood next to me, this makes total sense. Inside the packed ballroom, a DJ was spinning hip hop and R&B, glammed-out women in impossibly high heels and skinny jeans were carrying colorful cocktails, and every single table was packed with people playing boardgames. In one corner, at least 10 people were crowded around a dry erase board in an intense game of Pictionary. At one point, the dance floor filled up with people hula hooping to Ludacris' "Move B****, Get Out The Way". Most people seemed to have come to PlayDate with friends, which made initial involvement a little awkward. I table-hopped for a bit before I found a big, friendly group of people who invited me to join their game of Uno. More than 500 people turned out for last weekend's PlayDate. The next event is going to be March 19th at the Hilton Hotel in East Memphis. Cover is $1o, and you can purchase advance tickets online.