Brooklyn..Need I Say More

While Lindsey* is at ComicCon dressing up as his favorite superhero, why stop the presses? If I have learned anything in my years of dating, as the cliche goes, it's to never put your eggs in one basket!

Meet Matt* This particular date verges into the realm of online dating. Despite what the rest of the world thinks, it is not easy to meet people in New York City. I'm not defending online dating, because let's be real, half these people are socially inept individuals that trick girls into thinking they are are tall dark and handsome while others are basically paying for sex via match.com, JDate, eHarmony--whatever their choice of poison may be.

Whether the exchanges between us started with a wink, a poke, a flirt-- we started chatting. His picture was super cute, dirty blonde Jew fro that appeared to be under control. He was all dressed up in a suit in his photo, possibly from a wedding (he's 34). We never really spoke of the unnecessary details of our own personal lives, but at the same time provided information that you would like to know about someone before going on a date. It wasn't weird, yet it was different.

Through our conversations we had both realized that we like the occasional "cool," yet not trendy bar and we both love dive bars. So the plan of action was to meet at the Blue Owl.

Date night: I waited outside of the Blue Owl, and for the first time in a while, I was excited. As I'm waiting, this tall "older" looking gentleman approaches me and he says hi! I looked at this guy like a deer in headlights. He was tall, just like he said, but he no longer had the Goldie Locks Jew fro. He had mousy brown short hair, a few "happy" wrinkles on his semi pimply skin. I wasn't convinced this was the guy I had been exchanging emails with for several weeks, but like an idiot and never actually confirming whether or not it was Matt, I followed him into the bar.

We sit down order a drink and for maybe the first 10 minutes, I was still convinced it was some other .com date that was confused. He then mentioned something that we had discussed, and I accepted that his picture might have been from his high school prom.

The conversation was worth the next couple rounds of drinks, so I agreed to let him blindly take me to another bar, which I was forewarned would be a dive bar. As we start walking to the next bar, I realize we were heading to the L train (non-New Yorkers, this means Brooklyn, which is pretty much my own personal form of hell.)

Me: "Are we going to Brooklyn?!"

Matt: Nods his head

We make our way over to the other borough, and he clearly doesn't seem to know where he is going. That's when the summer rain decides to set in. Umbrella-less, we have no idea where we are going, and in Brooklyn, most places close at about 10 p.m. We backtrack a few blocks, soaking wet and eventually make our way into the mysterious bar. He ordered a jack and coke and I got a PBR (when in Rome!) He then proceeds to drag me outside into the swampy NYC summer evening, and he shows me the mini golf course in the back of the bar. He was so proud that he found this awesome bar that there was definitely nothing like it anywhere else in the city. After a round of mini golf and some more drinks, it was midnight and I was a hostage in Brooklyn, I decided it was time to return to Manhattan.

We take the subway back (Brooklyn people don't believe in cabs), and with my dreadful thoughts of my 8:30am meeting, I tell him I'm going to get out at First Ave (the first Manhattan stop) and walk the 15 blocks (knowing the second I was out of the subway I'd hop in a cab and be home in 2.5 seconds.) Well, he wanted to be a gentleman and walk me home.

We walked the 15 blocks, continuing the slight awkward first date conversation. Finally we arrive at my apartment.

Matt: "I had a good time."

I provide him with hope and tell him I did too.

Matt: "Can I see you again?"

For my own sanity, I agreed to a second date, not really sure of what I actually wanted to do. Then, not really sure of the appropriate goodbye, he kisses me like some guy out of the 1950's; respectful, yet unsure what to do next. I bid him goodnight, and with that kiss I confirmed in my mind our second date.