In late February, I had the pleasure of attending SPARK: A Dating Workshop at Triskelion Arts (106 Calyer Street). The low key event describes itself as a dating workshop that’s “not for the faint of heart, where you get constructive feedback from a group of your peers.” As a single lady, I was definitely intrigued. It sounded like my own private focus group where I could ask questions, get feedback, and gain new perspectives on the exciting beast known as the dating game.
So, what is a dating workshop like? And, did I come out of it feeling good with key takeaways and new tips? You betcha. Read on for more details and insights from SPARK founder, Minna Taylor. Continue reading →
Ughhhh, is it iced coffee weather yet? It’s no secret that we New Yorkers aren’t blessed with a great climate. Winter = grey snow piles for days. Spring = rain, like we’ve had all week. Summer = sweat, gross smells, and sometimes you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. So what are outdoor sport-loving folks to do when NYC weather is THE WORST? Hit up The Pitch, NYC’s only indoor soccer-focused space, which just opened a few months ago in Williamsburg. Continue reading →
This past Sunday, Greenpoint metal bar St. Vitus hosted Speed Metal Dating. Two ladies on our Greenpointers staff went to check it out and potentially meet the metal men of their dreams (or nightmares?). Here are their stories. Continue reading →
It’s you’re every Fridayafter work happy hour at Broken Land and that hit-the-spot Pina Colada (yes, Tiki drinks are in) is mixing with that it’s the weekend feeling. The last of your crew arrives and the plan is to grab a slice at Franklin Pizza then head to 67 West to check out a few openings.
As you sprinkle the garlic power onto your slice (too much garlic powder) and begin to set it down on the counter, you instead put it into the hands of a stranger – a smoking hot stranger. You lock eyes for a moment. You both seem to understand each other’s mutual love for late night garlic breath make out sessions. (There aren’t many of you.) You think I may have met “the one.” You get tunnel vision and can see the entire universe expanding before your eyes. Then someone grabs your arm abruptly and drags you onto Franklin St.
Reconnecting Isn't Easy With Happn
“Eat and walk. Eat and walk,” your friend says.
“But…” you say as you look back at “the one” while shoving the slice into your mouth.
“Did that Pina Colada go to your head?” your friend says, “Back to reality.”
At the Fowler opening, the show statement for “Life of the Party” seems to have a message in it specifically for you. “Everyone wants to be the life of the party, but most of us also grapple with the need to be apart from the group, either in search of solitude or for the purpose of breaking new ground …”
You look around and realize you know every single person in the room – dated a few of them, even. This is reality. This is why you aren’t meeting new people. It isn’t your garlic breath that is holding you back, it’s that you travel with the same circle of friends to the same places. They are great people, but you long for new connections. You came to NYC to meet new people, but where is everybody? It seems like everyone is running around as busy as you and even when those magical moments happen, you are torn away.
Garlic dream lover wasn’t a random subway creep or an online fling but a real person and you want to reconnect – but how? Of course, there is an app for that.
Happn, a new app created in Paris, helps you meet people you’ve chanced upon in real life, be it at Transmitter Park while admiring the skyline, digging through vinyl at Record Grouch or eating a Donut Ice Cream Sandwich at Peter Pan (yes, heaven).
It uses your smartphone’s GPS to locate potential matches, real people who may be into the same things you are. Whenever you crosses someone’s path who also uses the app, his or her profile is added to the top of your feed.
If you’re interested you tap on the profile and start interacting with a simple “like” or a self-assured “charm.” If there is a mutual match in “likes,” you can start chatting. The interactions are based on reciprocity, and you will not receive messages from someone you’re not interested in.
Happn is safe and confidential. Your location is not saved and remains completely invisible to other members (only the position of where two people have passed each other is registered). Happn will never post anything on your Facebook feed, and if a profile no longer interests you, you can decide to never cross paths again. If only it was that simple in real life! You can report any unwanted behavior or block a profile by flagging it.
The app is already really popular in Europe, and you can use it when you travel! It is works on iPhones and Androids. Open it everyday to see a world of potential matches in Greenpoint or beyond. Reconnecting was hard to do, but not anymore with Happn.
It’s a momentous day for Greenpointers. Today we bring you the outcome of our first ever Love Bites in Greenpoint blind date!!
This week’s couple are Dean, 34 and Bryony, 27. We hand-picked them from dozens of applicants and we’re mighty glad we chose them to start the series off because it turns out they are both awesome!
The pair met for their blind date at Adelina’s (159 Greenpoint Ave), our favorite local Italian. The wine was free-flowing and the food was to die for but, at the end of the evening, was there romance in the air? Continue reading →
Dear readers – we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Greenpoint matchmaking series, Love Bites! Inspired by similar efforts by The Boston Globe Magazine and The Guardian, we’re partnering with some of your favorite neighborhood restaurants and bars to set up complimentary dates for Greenpointers who want to meet someone new. Here’s how it’ll work:
1) Submit your information to us via the form below – include a photo to help us get to know you. Continue reading →
Escorting your sweetie to the Brooklyn Night Bazaar is a genius Valentine’s date and here is why… First show your lover what a VIP he or she is with the Valentine’s Day SuperPass so you can skip the line in style! (Seriously no one wants to wait in line on a date…) Continue reading →
Beth Lewand & Chris Gray of Eastern District, on their wedding day in 2009
In the grand finale to our Valentine’s Day power couple series, we saved the most unique neighborhood love story for last, as it encompasses not one, but three couples with Greenpoint roots. Beth Lewand, who owns craft beer and cheese emporium Eastern District on Manhattan Avenue and Eagle Street with her husband Chris Gray, wrote a beautiful and historical narrative of her family’s relationship to the neighborhood. We think you’ll really enjoy it. Happy Valentine’s Day to our readers and to all the couples who shared the love in this series! Continue reading →
Since it’s Valentine’s Day, we are featuring two power couple in our series. First up – Flannery Foster and Ray Gonzales of goodyoga, an excellent place to flex some yoga muscle on Greenpoint Avenue. Continue reading →
