Date ideas for NYC and Beyond

November 4, 2019 6:25 PM

One specific and one general question for fun date ideas; let’s go!

So long story short I’m going out with guy friend on a date in NYC this Thursday. I’d usually have tons of ideas, but since he’s coming in from out of town specifically to see me and this particular Thursday doesn’t seem to have a plethora of options. I’m anxious over planning a first date with so many constraints. Normally, I’d love to do something like go to an event (storytelling like the moth or mortified) go see a rock show, go see a movie at Bam or Film Forum, ice skate, walk around a neighborhood and talk and find a place for dinner and a fun bar for afterwards to continue the fun.
Because he won’t be getting in until 7 pm, and I would like to talk to him for at least part of the night, I’m not sure what to do. Oh, and for a benchmark we’re both in our early/ mid 30’s.If you have any ideas for things to do in Manhattan/ Brooklyn that would make for a good date, please advise me! Also I will be more than happy to take general date ideas for both Thursday and going forward. Many thanks!

posted by Champagne Supernova to Society & Culture (9 answers total)

How do you feel about jazz? What's going on at the Jazz Standard?
posted by kokaku at 6:44 PM on November 4, 2019 [2 favorites]

It's apparently only a Friday and Saturday thing in NYC but file under "going forward": the Neo Futurists do their thing in New York these days and (in my experience once in Chicago where they originated and once in the Bay Area) a fun and probably conversation-provoking performance to take in on a date. Plus shorter than a play so it leaves time for conversation before.
posted by less of course at 7:40 PM on November 4, 2019 [2 favorites]

You could check out the installation at Artechouse and grab a drink at their bar there. You could then head upstairs to chelsea market and get some foods. Then head out and up and walk the highline (if it's not too cold for you). Since you'll be in Chelsea, Thursday nights are also good for a gallery crawl -- you could start your night there, then move on to the installation, then drink/dinner, then romantic chilly walk?
posted by greta simone at 7:53 PM on November 4, 2019 [2 favorites]

I'm not local anymore, but you might find good future dates on the Nonsense list or the Gemini and Scorpio list. They come out on Friday and list all sorts of goofy, lefty, alty events and parties and art and stuff.
posted by vrakatar at 9:17 PM on November 4, 2019 [1 favorite]

Back when i was dating I thought walking and looking and chatting through a museum was a lovely low-key way to get to know someone. The Brooklyn Museum is now open for free on Thursday nights til 10 pm.
posted by nantucket at 10:17 PM on November 4, 2019 [2 favorites]

Will he have eaten? If not, why not start with dinner at a cozy, candlelit restaurant? On my first trip to NYC before moving there, I went straight from the airport to meet a friend at Frankie's in Carroll Gardens, which I found totally charming. I'm assuming if the flight arrives at 7, you wouldn't be able to meet until 8 or later, right? Going to a restaurant followed by a bar or a walk seems perfect to me.
posted by pinochiette at 4:56 AM on November 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

Take the Staten Island Ferry! It's free; you can buy drinks at the terminal if you like to drink beer or wine; it's fucking BEAUTIFUL; and it's one of those things that lets you sort of do nothing together in a not-boring way, which I think is a nice way to spend a date. I guess you could eat dinner in Staten Island but I usually just get off the boat and get right back on it.

You can also ride the NYC Ferry (the east river route is good), which is also fun and beautiful (the ferry goes under the bridges which is pretty amazing) - you can take it from 34th St in Manhattan to DUMBO (it stops in LIC, Gpoint, and Wburg on its way - after DUMBO it goes over to the fidi).
posted by entropone at 5:06 AM on November 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

The Brooklyn Museum is open until 10pm on Thursdays. You could walk around there and get conversation going over the exhibits, then move on to late food & drinks in Crown Heights / Prospect Heights. Some of my favorites:
• Cheryl's Global Soul
• Mayfield
• Glady's
• Puerto Viejo
• Cafe Rue Dix
• Chavela's
• Barboncino
Or for fun-casual dessert-and-drinks only:
• Butter and Scotch
posted by D.Billy at 7:13 AM on November 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure whether "getting in" means "landing" or "actually arriving in the city." I'd get a casual dinner at Kopitiam, which should be good for chatting, and then walk the 2.5 blocks to the Metrograph to see Downtown 81 (at 9:30 pm). Afterwards, should you wish to continue the evening, it's only a few blocks to Attaboy, which I believe is open til 4 am every night. (Advantage: Kopitiam is LES/Chinatown, so he won't have to cross Manhattan in traffic.)
posted by praemunire at 8:04 AM on November 5, 2019 [1 favorite]