hooking up

Dating is soooo yesterday, according to this NY Times column.

What's taking its place? Hooking up.

The column has hit the blogosphere today -- mainly because it's not really news. This Salon blogger puts it nicely:

"For many people older than 20, 'hookup culture' will sound remarkably like, well, 'college.'"

But even beyond college, I've seen more and more serious relationships start with a spontaneous physical encounter. It's not a one-night stand, either. That first hookup takes the place of inevitably awkward "what kind of movies do you like?" first dinner date.

You start off as friends, hook up to break the ice and then go out to dinner to see if it's a connection worth pursuing.

In your experience, what comes first: the date or the hookup?