Single and Bar Scene not for You? Try the Book Scene in EG

This might be you.

You're single and the thought of going to a bar and trying to meet someone is dreadful. Not only is finding a potential mate while consuming alcohol a recipe for disaster, chances are, the right guy — or gal — isn't at the bar, either. He or she is likely at home, like you, curled up with a good book or an iPad with episodes of Orange is the New Black streaming from Netflix.

Now, thanks to Symposium Books in East Greenwich, there's an alternative to the bar scene for book lovers who need a little more love in their life.

Tonight, the bookstore, located in East Greenwich Square at 1000 Division Street, is hosting the first of what will be monthly singles nights at the store from 5 to 8 p.m.

Browse the shelves, nibble on some treats and have a glass of wine. You can BYOB/W too.

"It has been shown that people meet other nice people in bookstores and there's a quote that says you're in with a better chance if you offer to buy someone interesting a book rather than a drink," said Anne Marie Keohane, owner of Symposium books.

In Keohane's words, "Want to befriend or maybe date a bibliophile just like yourself? Want to find someone who thinks a good read is as good as long kisses or roller coaster rides? Why not hop down to Symposium Books for Singles Mingle at Symposium!"

Of course, packing singles into a bookstore will help sales, but Keohane like to think of herself as matchmaker, too. Consider that many customers come into the store looking for books of all kinds and her job is to match reader and author all day long. And she's probably seen plenty of forlorn singles browse the self-help aisles, or met many women with plenty of romance novels but not enough romance in real life. 

It's no secret that today, people tend to be more isolated and meeting new people is harder, despite the seemingly limitless ways in which we can communicate using technology. Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting and it's hard to find places where it's OK to walk up to a cute stranger and say hello. Though many relationships are born in the supermarket aisles, there's always the risk of seeming like a creep — or realizing that the person you've been checking out from the carrots to the cannoli has a ring on their finger.

At the singles nights at Symposium, the whole point is to make new connections. You can introduce yourself and start a chat without the risk of offending anyone. And best of all, if you don't meet your perfect match, you can always take home a new book as a consolation prize.

The first event is tonight, July 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. The store plans on hosting the singles nights monthly.