For the most part, being footloose and fancy-free is fun, except when the calendar hits Feb. 14. Then, the greeting card companies, florists, chocolatiers, jewelers and other businesses that make up the Valentine’s Day Industrial Complex conspire to make singles feel like pariahs. Which is where our annual Bachelor/ette issue comes in. This year’s group is full of multi-faceted, fascinating and attractive people who just so happen to be unattached. All of them lead full, interesting lives and all of them are people you’d be happy to set up with your best friend—or date yourself. In fact, many of them were nominated by their best friends, while others were culled from our extensive social networks. Without further ado, we present The Improper Bostonian’s Most Eligible Singles, Class of 2018.

CHECK OUT GIFS OF ALL OUR BACHELORS AND BACHELORETTES!

Theo Bougas, 49
Managing partner at Publico

Work/life balance: You could say I live there. Literally, I have an apartment directly above the restaurant. But starting this spring, I’ll be splitting my time between Publico and the soon-to-open Backyard Betty’s in South Boston.

Hobbies: When I’m not working, I train in Brazilian jiujitsu and I competed nationally in Las Vegas last year. Otherwise, when I’m not working or training, I’m spending time with my two nieces or my 2-year-old boxer, Lucy.

No digital detox required: You’ll never find me distracted by, or interested in Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I’m completely social media-free.

Celebrity crush: Gal Gadot

Best feature: My hair (thanks to that Greek heritage).

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: Someone once asked me, “Are you a leg man, a butt man or a face man?” To which I responded, “I guess I’m a leg man, a butt man and a face man.” They said, “You’re probably going to be a lonely man, then”—and that very much stuck with me.

Deal breaker: Smoking.

First date faux pas: I try to keep an open mind, since no one’s perfect, but a woman who moves too fast, especially on a first date, is not the right fit for me.

Proudest achievement: Opening Publico while my father was still alive. I sadly lost him a month later.

Most romantic place in the world: The Greek islands are pretty awesome and incredibly romantic, especially the lesser-known gems, like Mylos.

Morgan Nicole Sessoms, 33
Model, actress and fashion stylist

Career path: Before entering the acting and modeling world, I majored in behavioral neuroscience and pre-medical studies at Barnard College and was a member of the Columbia women’s varsity swim team. After graduation, I entered the biotech field before receiving an MBA from Boston University. I hope to soon pursue a law degree.

To stay fit: I try to diversify between hot yoga, cycling and dance classes.

Best feature: Physically, my eyes, but creativity, thoughtfulness and a sense of humor.

Deal breaker: Dishonesty, meanness and poor hygiene.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: Good eye contact.

First date agenda: Listen and learn. It helps me get a sense of a man’s vibe.

Worst trait: Sometimes I can be overly analytical.

Most deplorable characteristic in others: Jealousy, lack of empathy, or anything requiring malice of forethought.

Most romantic thing or place in the world: Knowing that you are truly with someone you can trust and rely on—in a place like the Blue Lagoon or a villa in the Maldives.

Do people unfairly judge women’s intelligence based on their looks: Unfortunately, I think that’s a distinct possibility.

If you were a wine varietal, you would be: A merlot, because of its softness and adaptability.

Heather Foley, 37
Wardrobe/prop stylist and podcast host

Career path: By day, I’m a wardrobe and prop stylist with Anchor Artists, but I moonlight as host of Caught Up: A Podcast from South Boston, and I’m a contributor to Caught in Southie and Caught in Dot.

Special skills: I’m an expert-level present wrapper, and the world’s worst hard-boiled egg peeler.

Best feature: Does being fun count? If not, I think I have a pretty nice chin and jawline.

Celebrity crush: Jason Momoa, most of the Pats’ offense and Steve Carell.

Deal breaker: No sense of humor or a personality like stale saltines.

First date agenda: Go someplace where the tables aren’t too close together, because subjecting poor innocent people to your first date is just rude.

First date faux pas: If I got stood up, I would have to move, witness-protection style. I would also drop dead if a guy had on water shoes.

Most deplorable characteristic in others: Lack of empathy.

Most romantic thing in the world: The most romantic thing a guy can do is put my air conditioners in and then take them out. My love language is manual labor.

Ice cream or Champagne: Ice cream with a Champagne float. Duh.

Real Housewives? Yeah or nay? A big YEAH, and don’t be a turd and try to make me feel bad about it, OK?

Ricardo Guillaume, 28
Marketing manager at Mass. Office of Travel & Tourism

Family values: I’m Haitian-American, and family is huge to me. My parents, uncles and aunts sacrificed a lot so that my siblings, cousins and I could have the world, and there’s nothing better than a giant family cookout.

Occupational hazard: Now that I work in tourism, I’ve caught a little travel bug. My last two trips have been planned around tattoo artists who I like in Montreal and Berlin. It’s nuts, but their talent is worth it.

Special skills: I went to the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School, where they taught us Mandarin Chinese from seventh through 12th grade. I took it for my language requirement in college, too, but you need to study and practice every day, and I’m a few years removed now. I took another course at the Boston Language Institute last year, and I want to become fluent. I can also drive backward really well.

Nerd alert: Marvel films are a must, and I’ve gone to Boston Comic Con the past three years.

Best feature: I’ve been told I have nice teeth. Seven years of braces will do that.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): To make her laugh, after Comic Con, I walked to the North End in my Spider-Man suit to visit this girl who was working in a small boutique. She laughed, and plenty of other people did, too.

Deal breaker: Cats. I’m not even allergic. They just creep me out.

Worst trait: I’m not comfortable with being the center of attention. People call it “shy,” but I prefer “reserved” or “laid-back,” even though “shy” is probably closer to the truth.

Proudest achievement: I ran the internship program [in the governor’s office] and many of the interns I recruited went on to get full-time jobs in the administration.

Brittany McDonough, 28
Director at MassChallenge

Boston bona fides: Born, raised and still live in East Boston. I love it here.

International cred: This year, through work, I’ve had the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs from Mexico, Australia, Dubai and regions in between.

Charitable involvement: Boston’s a small city with international reach. I’m on the board of directors for the Boston Irish Business Association and the ChileMass Alliance.

Hobbies: Traveling. I just got back from an incredible trip to Tanzania, Ethiopia and the Seychelles. I want to hit the six inhabited continents this year, and I’m already on pace to see four by April.

Best feature: My sense of adventure and my determination.

Special skills: I played steel pan for years and taught music for the Boston Public Schools. More often than not, when I have headphones on at work, I’m listening to a mix of dancehall and soca.

Celebrity crush: Morris Chestnut and Channing Tatum

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: A strong jawline.

Deal breaker: Smoking and my dogs not liking him.

First date faux pas: Being rude to the waitstaff, and being on his phone the whole time.

Worst trait: Ghosting.

Most romantic place or thing in the world: Anywhere can be romantic, if you’re present in the moment. The most romantic thing is being on the same level.

David Guerra, 37
Founder and director of A R E A Gallery

Provenance: I’m a gallerist, independent curator and a lawyer. Born and raised in Havana, I studied law at Oxford and Harvard. I also hold a degree in international relations and worked as a diplomat.

Hobbies: My mom gave me a Russian camera when I was 8 years old, and I haven’t stopped taking pictures since. I photograph structures, bodies and the life on the streets of the cities I’ve visited.

Celebrity crush: Sufjan Stevens

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): I traveled 1,034 miles to meet someone I had met online. We fell in love after that.

First date faux pas: A discriminatory statement.

Deal breaker: Someone who lacks curiosity.

Proudest achievement: Reinventing myself to turn my passion into a career.

Most romantic place in the world: I’m an islander, so bring me to any island and I’m happy. The Canary Islands, where my family is from, is a great place for romance.

Do you assess a romantic prospect the same way you assess a piece of art: I do. I always tell collectors they should collect the art they love. Usually you love the artwork you connect with. It is very instinctual. Our social and romantic interactions are also based on the quality of those connections. Once you’ve started collecting art, you only buy those pieces you can’t stop thinking about after the first encounter at a gallery or a studio. When it comes to dating, it’s instinctual, and I seek those same connections. I love what I admire.

Vi Nguyen, 39
MRI technologist

Hobbies: Oh boy, where do I even begin? Food is a hobby, right? I’m a foodie. I love eating and cooking all sorts of delicious culinary goodness. And photography is one of my favorite hobbies. My latest passion is for lighthouses and sunsets.

Sports: The only sport that I’ve been playing lately is golf, and I’m an amateur—although I did get an award for longest drive in our family tournament one year. I get myself into a bunch of activities, from running and hiking to rappelling down waterfalls. I’m a tomboy at heart.

Special skills: I have amazing vocals in the shower.

Best feature: My freckles.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): Hiding my long-term relationship from my parents all through college, since I was only supposed to concentrate on my studies. Sorry, mom and dad!

Celebrity crush: All the Ryans—Reynolds, Gosling, etc.

First date agenda: Have a nice cocktail or glass of wine and get to know my date to see if that chemistry is there.

Cocktail of choice: Moscow mule.

Most deplorable characteristic in others: Arrogance.

Proudest achievement: I was able to leg press 415 pounds and deadlift 170 pounds recently.

Most romantic place in the world: The Maldives

Walk in the rain or snuggle by the fire: All the snuggles, please.

Malia Maier, 26
Marketing coordinator at Boston Public Market

Career path: While managing the East Boston farmers market, I fell in love with the farmers market scene, and lucky for me the Boston Public Market opening coincided with the end of my AmeriCorps service.

Awards: I hold the basketball records for steals and assists at Wellesley College and barely made the 1,000-point club, thanks to two free-throws in my final game.

Special skills: I’ve danced hula since I was 3 years old, and I started competing at the age of 7. Most of my weekends growing up were spent racing from basketball or volleyball games to hula shows, changing outfits in the car. Hula dancing is definitely the thing I miss most since moving to the East Coast. In terms of languages, I’m fluent in Spanish.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: A genuine smile and nice arms. A Spanish accent is a plus.

First date agenda: Beat him in a game of one-on-one.

Most romantic place in the world: Hawaii, hands down. But it’s mostly a romance between the delicious food and me.

Last time you ate fast food: I had a corn dog when I went to
Disneyland over Christmas. Not gonna lie–it was delicious.

First date faux pas: Learning he doesn’t like vegetables.

If you were something from a farmers market, you would be: Romanesco, because it’s one of the most intriguing farmers market finds. It’s often described as a mix between broccoli and cauliflower, similar to my mixed heritage. Romanesco can take on big, bold flavors, but is also complex enough to stand alone, if you catch my drift.

Adam T. Morrow, 28
Development researcher at Harvard Business School

Provenance: Adopted from the Philippines when I was 7 months old, I was raised in a town of 3,000 people in East Tennessee. I stayed close to home for college and then moved to Philly for grad school at Penn.

The early bird catches the worm: Fun fact: My morning starts at 4:30 am. I’m in the gym from 5:30 to 6:30, then back home, where I cook breakfast and get ready for work, and I’m out the door by 7:30.

In your spare time: I’m very passionate about wine and golf. You can usually find me at the Urban Grape in the South End at least once a week. I hit a single-digit golf handicap for the first time this fall, which is crazy considering how little I get to play here in Boston.

Is smart sexy: Yes. Geniuses who are very stable and, like, really smart can definitely be sexy—just as long as they don’t refer to themselves as such.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: The 5:30-and-flirty look, especially when there’s a glass of wine or a cocktail in her hand. I’m also impressed by how someone is dressed. To me, it signals attention to detail, confidence, creativity and class.

First date agenda: Weekend coffee is always a good first date, but if we want to be adventurous, I’d totally be down for nine holes of golf or a game at Fenway Park.

Proudest achievement: Studying abroad in Buenos Aires. I’d spent all 20 years of my life up to that point in East Tennessee. Going to Argentina was my first time on an airplane; I only had a month of Spanish class and I had never been to a city bigger than Atlanta.

Dustin Fontaine, 29
Member of Blue Man Group

Career path: I’ve been acting professionally for eight years, four of them as a Blue Man, where I’ve performed in at least eight cities spanning two continents. Outside of that, I’ve performed everywhere from the Actor’s Studio in New York to web episodes online, and even garages in Brooklyn.

Hobbies: If I’m not on my motorcycle, it’s because the weather is impossible. I love taking long rides through the beautiful back roads and shorelines of New England. When the weather is the worst, you can find me on a mountain snowboarding, and I’ll play any pickup game, from football to Frisbee. I’m also a total nerd. I love playing board games and I geek out on books about particle physics and quantum field theory.

Celebrity crush: Zoe Saldana, hands down.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: Strong, confident posture and countenance.

Deal breaker: Bad tipper.

Special skills: I can remember a series of numbers after hearing or seeing it just once.

First date agenda: Literally anything that isn’t dinner and a movie. Let’s see a show or walk in a park or hike a mountain or go skydiving. We can eat, but we’d better be fueling up to do something fun.

Worst trait: I cuss like a sailor, but I just read that swearing is an indication of genius. OK, so maybe I can also do some work in the humility department.

Most romantic place in the world: A secluded park bench.

Do you want your romantic prospect to wear more or less makeup than you: You can wear whatever you damn well please. This is 2018.

Erika Roth, 27
Research and development scientist

Professional bona fides: I do research and development for a sequencing lab in Kendall Square. My job is to figure out how to make our lab processes better, faster and cheaper, so we can sequence more samples, providing researchers with large data sets. I’m in the process of getting my master’s degree in biotechnology.

To stay fit: I love running. I ran cross-country in high school and college. I ran the Newburyport half-marathon last fall for my dad’s 60th birthday. I used to teach yoga and I’m trying to find more time for it now. I’ve also gotten really into spinning recently. It’s a great workout when the weather isn’t ideal for running outside.

Hobbies: I’m in the process of getting scuba certified and also trying to learn Spanish in my free time.

Special skills: I’m a pretty decent cook. My specialty is a gluten-free, cauliflower crust pizza.

Celebrity crush: I used to have a huge crush on Tom Welling during his Smallville days. No one else comes to mind, so I guess I never really moved on.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: There’s something about broad shoulders and a muscular back.

Worst trait: I’m an awful singer, but that doesn’t stop me from singing or rapping loudly, and I usually get the lyrics wrong—especially during car rides.

First date M.O.: I know a first date is going well if I’m comfortable enough to show my weird, quirky side. I might as well let my date know what he’s getting himself into.

Most romantic place in the world: Oddly enough, being at the beach where I grew up is the most intimate and special place for me. There’s no place in the world like it, and being able to share that experience with someone else is really special.

Jeremy Cox, 36
Health insurance program manager

Charitable involvement: I serve as co-chair for my company’s recently formed LGBTQ+ business resource group. I volunteer annually for Community Servings’ Pie in the Sky fundraiser. I’ve also participated in their LifeSavor event multiple times by manning one of the silent auction tables.

Cats or dogs: I’m the proud owner of a 13-year-old cat I’ve had since he was a kitten. He’s a massive Maine coon and could give Sylvester a run for his money with his goofiness and giant cartoon eyes.

Nerd alert: I’m a mega comic book fan and have been reading them since I was 10. I can name almost all of the X-Men’s first appearances and even tell you what happens in an issue of Uncanny X-Men, just by seeing the cover. I’ve attended San Diego Comic-Con for 10 years—that’s nerd mecca and the tickets are nigh impossible to get, in case you’re wondering. I even got my most recent tattoo (bringing them to a total of seven) before coming home from San Diego last year.

Worst trait: My love of glitter. If you date me, you will find glitter on you days later at some point.

Fruit fetish: Another major interest is bananas. Yes, the fruit. I love them so much I have one tattooed on my right shoulder.

Celebrity crush: Russell Tovey. I discovered him as the nerdy, awkward and sexy werewolf George in the original British version of Being Human. It was love at first bite.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: Big ears. Don’t ask why or how. They just do. If you’ve got big ears and a beard, odds are I’ll ask you to make out.

Dating app you use the most: Scruff. So much so that they sent me a branded pair of socks for being a “top user.” Sorry. Not sorry.

Greg Kitowicz, 42
Vice president at City Winery

Career path: I spent some post-college, formative years in Newport as a tennis pro, then was plucked to run one of the most famous nightclubs in New York. I’ve been in the entertainment/hospitality business ever since.

Charitable involvement: We support a bunch of events through work. One of the more memorable was our support for marriage equality in Illinois  and then hosting one of the first weddings. I also like to lend money on kiva.org, mostly to small bar owners in underprivileged countries.

Special skills: I consider myself a good cook, but when your friends are world-class chefs, that’s a tough statement to live up to. Still, I’m happy to steal from them. And although I don’t enjoy playing anymore, I can still hit a 100 mph serve in tennis.

Awards: I was voted most intelligent in high school. Then I guess it was downhill from there, until now. Thanks, Improper!

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): It’s all been crazy, to some extent. I’m a hopeless romantic. I go all in, pretty hard. I sold a business. I took on others’ vision for my future. Lesson learned. There may also be some permanent tattoo ink.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: To paraphrase Sir Mix-A-Lot, “I like big butts, and I cannot lie.”

Most romantic place in the world: The ocean. Not in it, just next to it, listening.

Would you date anyone who didn’t love wine: Yes. The challenge to turn her would either become a life’s mission, or it would force to me cut many calories from my diet. I’m OK with both.

If you were a wine varietal, you would be: A New World cabernet sauvignon. Bold, complex, definitely not for everyone. Is it weird to say I would pair well with a steak?

Wendy Joy Diamond, 48
Registered nurse

Professional bona fides: I have double bachelor’s degrees in nursing and nutrition, and am a registered nurse and registered dietitian. I’m also a licensed and certified deep-tissue massage therapist. Basically, I’m a walking wellness center.

To stay fit: I’m an avid fitness enthusiast, somewhat of a gym rat—weight training, mainly, but I tend to go through phases such as dance, boxing and cross-training.

Dogs or cats: Big dogs—minus the drool. But I don’t have either.

Special skills: I’m a self-taught, pretty freaking amazing home chef and cake decorator. I’ve sold cakes for special occasions for most of my adult life, done in-home cooking lessons and was almost on the first season of MasterChef. I’ve taken classes with some of the best chefs, and I grew up glued to Julia Child when all my friends were watching MTV.

Best feature: My eyes, but they tell all. I’ve been warned: No poker for me.

Celebrity crush: Robert Downey Jr., for 30 years straight—even in his troubled times. I think I could have saved him.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): I agreed to jump out of an airplane. Amazingly, when I was up there, I wasn’t scared—once my chute deployed.

Deal breaker: No sense of humor. A sense of humor is a fairly good indicator that he has some interesting brain activity.

First date faux pas: Calling me by the wrong name. Once? Maybe OK. Twice? I’m finding a window in the ladies’ room.

If you were a wine varietal, you would be: Champagne. I look for things in life to celebrate, and I’m a little bubbly.

Tyrus Borck, 28
Global program manager

Provenance: I’m originally from Fort Worth, Texas, and I’ll always be a Texan at heart. But Boston already feels like home, even though I’ve only lived here for a year.

Sports: I wanted to try something new when I moved to Boston and I was happy to learn about a water polo team, Boston Wet Sox. I had never been a swimmer or played water polo, but I figured it would be a great way to meet people. Treading water with people trying to drown you somehow feels easier than finding dates in a new city.

Spectator sports: I love college football, specifically Texas A&M. Growing up in Texas, football is everywhere, and Friday Night Lights is a pretty accurate depiction of a lot of my friends’ high school experience.

Special skills: I have completed two weeks’ worth of home cooking from Hello Fresh with varying degrees of success.

Celebrity crush: Hugh Jackman. Or Chrissy Teigen on social media.

Best feature: After my parents paid for five years of braces, I’m sure they’d be upset if I said anything other than my smile.

Deal breaker: When someone invites you to binge a new show and then suggests going to lunch halfway through. We have made a commitment to this show. That’s why I brought snacks.

First date faux pas: Nothing. I’ve seen it all.

Most deplorable characteristic in others: An inability to load a dishwasher strategically.

Most romantic thing in the world: The fastest way to my heart is to send me the perfect gif. Not gift. GIF.

Natasha Moustache, 35
Nightlife and event photographer

Awards: I recently won a Boston Music Award for Best Music Photographer, which I’m pretty proud of, because it’s homegrown. Have you seen those awards? Beautifully designed.

To stay fit: I like to keep in shape, but going to the gym everyday doesn’t hold my attention. Recently, I had the opportunity to fight in my first boxing match at the House of Blues for Haymakers for Hope. It was four months of intense training while raising money for cancer research funds, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Currently I’m addicted to spin, which is something I never thought I’d say, but the music is too good. I’m spinning to Hamilton tonight.

Special skills: I’m a pretty good cook. I grew up making Seychellois curries with my mom, or whatever I could find in this kids’ UNICEF cookbook I had, so sometimes I’ll bust out a lamb curry at 2 am for a snack.

Deal breaker: A lack of interest in politics or social justice. I’m not trying to sit on the sidelines while others do the work. 

Celebrity crush: I have to pay respects to Angelina Jolie. That woman’s early film career got me through some tough baby queer years.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): I’ve driven to New York for just a few hours of face-time and flown someone cross-country for a Lady Gaga concert. Last-minute travel seems to be a recurring theme.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: It’s a photographer’s cliche, but I’m all about the eyes. Eyes and a smile—the way a person’s lips curve when they smile. Drives me nuts.

Proudest achievement: Photographing Garth Brooks for Garth Brooks Anthology: The First Five Years. I can’t explain what it means to me to have my name listed in the credits of that book.

Baron Bui, 25
Manager at Ruckus Noodles

Career path: I received my bachelor’s degree in graphic design from UMass Boston, and I do the digital design work for three restaurants (Shojo, BLR and Ruckus), which allows me to flex my graphic design muscles. I created the websites and keep them updated for all three spots. I also create promotional flyers and posters for events, signage on the windows for Ruckus, all the menus for the restaurants, clothing and uniform designs, etc.

Hobbies: I’m a huge sneaker-head and hype clothing collector. Supreme is my favorite. I also love winter in New England purely for snowboarding. I try to go a few times a month during the season. I’m also a closet nerd, especially when it comes to video games. Hip-hop music is my favorite, with house music following as a close second. I love to dance to both genres, and I’ve been cutting a rug since I was very young.

Special skills: I speak Vietnamese fluently but my reading and writing doesn’t go much beyond food items. My Japanese and Spanish could get me to the nearest civilization if I was lost. And I’m a master of a bunch of useless party tricks.

Best feature: My smile.

Celebrity crush: Gal Gadot

Most romantic thing in the world: Grand gestures with a lot of thought put into them.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: Eyes I could get lost in make me stammer.

First date agenda: Do some sort of activity, like seeing a concert or bowling.

Thing that a potential partner would have to understand: I consider myself an extroverted introvert; so while I love having a good time on a night out, I heavily value quiet time alone as well.

Nicky Enriquez, 32
Digital media producer at MassArt

Professional bona fides: I manage the college’s website and social media, but I moonlight as a substitute librarian at Watertown Free Public Library in my spare time. I’m a bit of a workaholic, but I love both organizations.

Charitable involvement: I’m a member of the MassCreative Leadership Council. I’ve been a volunteer with Boston Cares for nearly 10 years, and I also volunteer with the Boston Book Festival.

Awards: A few years ago, I won a poetry contest by the New York Public Library.

In your spare time: I’m always looking forward to my next getaway. In the past few years, I’ve traveled to Morocco, the Canary Islands, Madrid, Norway, Barcelona, Paris, London, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman and domestically as well. The world is such a big place, and there’s so much to see and experience.

Bookworm cred: I’m a voracious reader. My goal is to read 65 books this year. I also regularly attend author talks in town and love getting lost while browsing in bookstores.

Best feature: I’d say my smile, but former beaus have admired other bits.

Celebrity crush: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

If you were an ice cream flavor, you would be: Mint-chocolate chip. Cool and refreshing, with a burst of flavor in every bite.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): After rekindling with an ex at a mutual friend’s wedding, I flew across the country to be with him. It—unsurprisingly—ended in a deluge of tears and a hastily booked flight back home.

Favorite flower: Peonies. They blossom from a tiny bud into expansive, fragile petals, with the most enticing scent. They seem kind of magical.

Michael Zarren, 40s
Assistant GM and lead counsel of the Boston Celtics 

Career path: A lifelong Celtics fan and season ticket holder, I’m now in my 14th year with the team, after starting as an unpaid intern. My specialty is advanced statistical analysis of basketball players and teams, which is an important part of our strategic planning and player evaluation processes.

Legal eagle: At Harvard Law, I served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology. I also served as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and as an intern in the U.S. attorney’s office in New York.

Awards: I was a three-time national quiz bowl (trivia) champion in college.

Hobbies: Food, red wine, Boston sports, Arsenal soccer, sailing and international travel. I also adore finding new restaurants.

Special skills: I speak French. I played drums in a bunch of bands. I’m a published board game designer. And I can fix your dryer.

Best feature: Exuberance. I get excited about little things.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): Had a day off from a work trip in California, so I flew back to Boston to bring my girl some cozy fuzzy slippers because she was sick, and then flew back out west.

Deal breaker: Cigarettes. The smell gets on everything.

First date faux pas: If she only wanted to talk about the Celtics.

Celebrity crush: Charlize Theron

Most romantic place in the world: White Bay Beach, Peter Island, British Virgin Islands. But a fireplace, a cozy couch and some red wine isn’t bad either.

Kristen Fennell, 34
Healthy living director at the YMCA

Career path: In addition to leading a team of roughly 70 employees, I’m a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. In the spring, I’ll be facilitating the Livestrong program, which offers post-rehabilitation exercises and supportive care for cancer survivors.

Best feature: Probably my legs. They’ve done a whole lot for me.

Charitable involvement: The Last Call Foundation, honoring firefighter Michael Kennedy, selected me to run on its Boston Marathon team in 2015 and 2017, and I was able to raise more than $15,000 for the charity.

Hobbies: I’ve completed 10 marathons, including Boston twice. I’m hoping to run New York, but on my bucket list is the original marathon in Greece.

Special skills: I may have participated in a couple of karaoke contests.

Celebrity crushes: Jude Law, Jon Hamm and Jason Momoa.

Craziest thing you ever did for love (or lust): Shortly after college, I snuck off to the Dominican Republic with a boyfriend that no one in my family knew about. I made sure no one was home when he picked me up to go to the airport.

Physical trait that drives you crazy in a good way: Height. I love a tall drink of water.

Deal breaker: Disliking kids. I have 11 nieces and nephews and was a nanny for a long time.

First date faux pas: Finding out my date doesn’t like pizza.

Proudest achievement: Participating in a Reebok documentary with my friends while we ran from San Francisco to Napa Valley.