Girls Night Out: Meatpacking District

Last weekend, my friend Bobbi and I enjoyed a girls night out in NYC’s Meatpacking District.

Agave: adobe walls and flickering candles contribute to the hip yet relaxed atmosphere at this Mexican eatery

Over dinner and a shared pitcher of sangria at lively Mexican eatery Agave, we talked about past and present affairs of the heart -- from our respective experiences of cops being major players to our different takes on May-December romance.

Bobbi is having fun with a twentysomething personal trainer-aspiring rapper. I prefer men who are my contemporaries or older, having had three boyfriends who were approximately 15 years my senior, and parents with a 25- year spread between them.

Later, Bobbi and I encountered a well-coiffed mixture of twenty and thirtysomethings at a crowded bar across from Pastis. Just when we were about to call it a night after a few glasses of wine, a tall, adorable guy with an Australian accent brushed past us with a group of male friends.

Originally from Melbourne, he introduced himself as Dave and quickly reminded me why Aussies have a reputation for being great storytellers.

Dave told us the tale of how he met his most recent girlfriend. While traveling to Africa, he found himself naked when his clothes were stolen during an afternoon of skinny dipping. His soon-to-be sweetheart stumbled upon him and took pity on his embarrassing situation, and so a romance was born.

Which just proves that you never really know when Cupid is going to strike. And that it’s preferable to be fully clothed when he does.

The Unexpected Love Connection

When you’re a thirtysomething single and you encounter women who’ve found their lifetime partner, you invariably find yourself asking – how did you meet him? After a recent exchange of this kind, I couldn’t help thinking about the unexpected ways in which someone special can cross your path.

While attending a chick lit lecture the other night, married gal Marissa and newly-engaged Wendy filled me in about their respective roads to happily ever after. Marissa met her hubby in a Brooklyn bar, only to discover later that they lived just four blocks from each other. Wendy, meanwhile, got lucky at a singles boat party she grudgingly attended at the insistence of her friends.

Their stories reminded me that, statistical probability be damned, you never know when chemistry will ignite. This weekend, I’m going on a date with Ali, the friend of a friend’s new husband. We met at the newlyweds’ moving-to-the-burbs party, where a romantic prospect was the last thing I expected to find.

That’s the thing about being unattached in New York. Thanks to the element of surprise, the next adventure is always right around the corner.

Romance In Unexpected Places

When you’re single and searching, you often hear that love happens when you’re not looking for it. I was reminded of how true that is today, upon hearing how my lovely colleague Shana met her current beau.

Panda Express: Who knew it could be romantic?

Shana was about to exit Chinese fast food chain Panda Express when she noticed a man blocking the front door. Looking right at her, he asked--

“Can I have your number?”

Unnerved by his brazen directness -- not even a hello?! she thought -- Shana resisted. Though she ultimately did give the bold stranger her number, she never imagined he would actually use it. Well, he did. Two months later, they’re still together and discovering the many things they have in common. Including a fondness for Slurpee’s and for their neighborhood (they happen to live five blocks apart).

Shana’s tale got me to thinking about the unexpected places I’ve encountered romance. Like the temp job that acquainted me with intellectual giant and super chivalrous Brooklynite Larry. Or, during my stint in Illinois, the dinner at a neighbor’s house that led to a passionate romance with her step grandson Steve. Or, most unexpectedly of all, the park in NYC’s East Village where, during a location shoot for “NYPD Blue” I ended up meeting my first big love, California native Mark.

Yes, the element of surprise has been a key element of my romantic experiences. Shana’s story of unexpected love gave me a much-needed reminder to keep my eyes open. After all, you never what-- or who --is right around the corner.