Where Ideas Come From: Inside HowAboutWe's Headquarters

This is part of an occasional photo feature that takes you inside the headquarters of today's top tech companies, from the big multinationals to the young startups of Silicon Valley. If you'd like to participate, or have a company to suggest, email me at njackson[at]theatlantic[dot]com.

Earlier this year, New York magazine decided to increase its avenues for potential revenue by creating a dating portal. The decision to partner with HowAboutWe made perfect sense for the trendy weekly. HowAboutWe, which focuses on actual dating rather than having users spend lots of time online thinking about dating, is headquartered in Brooklyn and has been adopted by users as the hip younger cousin to pay-based models like that of Match.com.

Founded by two former teachers in their early 30s, HowAboutWe was created around on a simple concept: Users propose and accept specific ideas for individual dates that are built on the prompt "How about we...." How about we go to the Swedish candy store and pick out snacks to eat along the Hudson? How about we go kayaking in the harbor? How about we grab breakfast before a weekend class at a DIY store? How about we make some sangria and chase fireflies and see who catches the most? These are all actual proposals on the site, compiled by Chicago's RedEye in a weekly round-up.

Some of them are cute, some quirky. They're all a little out there if you're not into the activities proposed. But, for those who are, HowAboutWe is a great way to bring people together. "People are at their best when they're doing what they really like to do," the service's website claims. "And that's what HowAboutWe is all about: helping you to find people who like the same places and want to do the same things as you."