Hook Them Up

Maureen Farrell, 02.06.08, 6:00 PM ET

Speed dating also shifts into high gear on Valentine's Day for DateandDash.com Chicago-based

speed-dating company that organizes events

in eight U.S. cities, Valentine's Day is the single busiest day of the year.

"It's like New Years or Mardi Gras for our industry," says Gavrilenka. Date and Dash averages

about 40 people per event; this Valentine's Day,

he has already sold out a 70-person event in San Diego and a 200-person event in Chicago.

This year, Chicago attendees also will have the option

to auction themselves off for a date, to benefit a local children's hospital.