It was January when Ryan first noticed Julia: One of two girls sitting and laughing together on the patio of Comet Ping Pong in Washington, DC. An attempt to join their conversation received what couldn't be described as the warmest reception. But the interaction was enough to get a name: Julia Young. Learning that she worked as the gallery manager of Transformer where Ryan had mutual friends, he reached out and the two exchanged messages. She agreed to coffee, which he managed to stretch into an afternoon long adventure: a scooter ride around the city and a visit to the FDR Memorial. This first date went so well that Julia made up no less than five excuses to go on a second. His persistence didn’t seem to be working and, eventually, he got the hint. Fast forward a year, Ryan receives an email: Transformer would be launching a sound art mentorship program and needed someone to lead it, working alongside gallery manager, Julia Young. It seemed Ryan was being given a second chance to make a first impression and, this time, he decided to play it much cooler. This proved a better approach. Over the course of a few months, Julia and Ryan developed a friendship, that soon grew into a romance. Three years, two cats and one move across the country later, Ryan decided to try the assertive approach once again, asking Julia to go on another adventure. This time, she said yes. #youngholladayforever