Return To Speed Dating

This weekend -- for the first time in about two years -- I’ll be taking part in a speed dating event. When I signed up last night, I couldn’t help thinking about my past experience with this popular mechanism for mingling.

The Delancey Rooftop Bar: Sunday’s speed dating party will take place at this cozy Lower East Side venue

My inaugural outing with industry leader HurryDate produced four first dates and a five-month relationship with a well-intentioned but clingy Brit. Along with his warp speed wooing, he left an impression for something much less romantic – being uncontrollably gassy. He regularly referred to himself as my “Flatulent Prince.”

Then, there was the angry, tall guy whose opening gambit left little to the imagination.

“I’m 37, Asian and recently divorced – how the hell are you?”

Charming.

On my last speed dating go round, I rediscovered what a small world New York can be for a city with more than 8 million people. Of the dozen or so guys in attendance, two were repeats – one from a previous event, the other being a guy I’d gone out with once through a dating site.

Yes, sometimes it can feel like the Big Apple is pretty small when it comes to the finite universe of available single men here. Which is why it’s fun to shake things up and go on a one-night dating blitz.

Care to join me at Sunday’s speed dating party? Admission is $15, click here to reserve a spot.

Singles Event Pick: Live Jazz Night

When it comes to the smooth sounds of jazz, there’s no shortage of places in the Big Apple -- so named by musicians back in the 1920’s -- to hear it. On Monday, September 21st, the place to hear it will be at History Starts Now’s Live Jazz Night.

Pranna Restaurant: Live Jazz Night will take place here

The four-hour event will take place at trendy Pranna Restaurant on Madison Avenue and feature live music, mingling and luxury raffles. Also included in the $20 ticket price -- a free signature cocktail and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. The first 100 guests will receive a gift bag.

History Starts Now uses a multi-media approach to raise awareness for the fight against sex trafficking of minors in the U.S. Event proceeds will support the group’s partner, Redlight Children Campaign.

Live Jazz Night kicks off at 7pm on the 21st. For tickets and more info, click here.

Coming up…finding dates in unexpected places and going inside the tents at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Drinks At Trata

Tuesday night, after dinner down in the West Village, I headed up to my Upper East Side neighborhood for a late-evening drink with my brother Andrew and his business partner Parker.

I met them at Trata, a trendy Greek seafood bistro that happens to serve delicious white sangria.

Parker, a former financial big wig turned consultant, joined Andrew in giving me the scoop about their current venture capital project involving new medical technology and an heiress investor with spellbinding charm.

We also talked about my shortlived candidacy for Murphy-Goode Winery’s highly coveted Lifestyle Correspondent gig.

Earlier in the day, I had learned that I didn’t make it onto the Top 10 shortlist of contenders. Given how stiff the Top 50 competition was – seven other New Yorkers among them, including a guy with Food & Wine magazine on his resume – I wasn’t too surprised.

Once I got over the disappointment that I won’t be living on a vineyard for six months, I was actually relieved. Had I made the final cut, it would have been tough to weigh my wanderlust against my love for NYC. Because, for as much as I’m a travelgirl at heart, there’s still no place I’d rather be than the Big Apple.

Bryan Adams: Acoustically Amazing

Friday night, my good friend Sara and I went to see Bryan Adams in concert at NYC’s legendary Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side.

Sara and I in front of the Beacon Theater right before the concert

We were doubly excited -- to see the Beacon’s newly-renovated interior, and to experience our second Bryan Adams performance together.

That’s The Ticket: A memento from the last time we saw Bryan

Sara and I last saw the Canadian rocker 15 years ago, at Wembley Arena in London during our junior year abroad. This time around, Bryan was accompanied only by a guitar and, on some songs, the talented pianist from his band, Gary Briet.

Though our seats were in the rear balcony section, thanks to the Beacon’s transformative $10 million renovation, we could hear every note of Bryan’s beautifully raw acoustic sounds.

What A Makeover: The Beacon Theater has been majestically restored to its original glory

His energetic two-hour set kicked off with “Run To You” and featured a seamless mix of equally beloved classics with more recent hits. From ballads like “Heaven,” “Let‘s Make A Night To Remember,” and “You’re Still Beautiful To Me,” to rock n roll anthems like “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” and “This Time,” Bryan’s music filled the theater -- and had the audience singing along.

Guitar Hero: Bryan Adams filled the Beacon with his stirring sounds

Remarkably, Bryan managed to indulge all of us in a big karaoke session without losing control of the stage, especially during heartfelt renditions of “Please Forgive Me” and, of course, the timeless “Summer of ‘69.”

The singer really connected with the crowd, revealing a comedic wit and great gift for storytelling. My favorite tales were two about the beauty and bite of the Big Apple.

Prior to one of his Madison Square Garden gigs, Bryan got stuck in the Village, unable to find a cab. He ended up on the subway, only to find himself alongside a bunch of fans heading to the concert. One noticed him -- then discreetly guided Bryan in the right direction when he wasn’t sure how to get to MSG.

During another underground occasion, the singer asked a fellow straphanger for directions to SoHo.

“What, you can’t read?” was his response.

A six-song encore delivered even more of Bryan’s best -- including “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” and “Straight From The Heart.” He closed out the show with the “Three Musketeers“ tune “All For Love.”

More than once during the concert, Bryan spoke with great affection for Gotham, saying--

“I love New York.”

The feeling is more than mutual.

Bryan’s US tour continues through mid-May. For more info, visit his official website.

By The Numbers: Married Or Not Edition

I recently went to my first-ever engagement party. The bride to be is my first galpal here in New York to find Mr. Right -- so the occasion got me to thinking about the role of geography in finding true love.

The Big Apple doesn’t rate highly in most surveys about top dating destinations

Most of my friends who have tied the knot are from smaller cities. Many surveys support the idea that New York is a challenging place to be a single. The Big Apple failed to make either of The Top 10 lists in a Sperling roundup of best and worst dating cities in the U.S. (for the record, Austin, Texas was the winner).

In my own social circle, I’ve definitely seen the effect that where you reside has on who you end up with. Here are some examples of this dynamic -- By The Numbers:

Number of married girlfriends: 7
Number of married girlfriends who live in NY: 1
Number of single girlfriends: 13
Number of single girlfriends who live in NY: 11
Number of NY girlfriends in serious relationships: 2
Number of NY girlfriends who found love within days of moving back to the Midwest: 1

One of my best friends once asked if it has ever occurred to me that my soul mate isn’t in New York. The honest answer to that is no. And not just because I’ve been there and done the long distance thing, or because I’m not open to Mr. Right candidates outside of my zip code.

No, it’s for the simple reason that home is where my heart is. And I believe that even in a competitive dating marketplace like NYC, when your heart is truly in the search for happily ever after, eventually--statistical odds be damned--you’ll find it.

Girls Night Out At Sato

Sunday night, my friend Bobbi and I headed over to Sato, a new Japanese bistro on the Upper East Side.

Given how many Japanese eateries are in the neighborhood – there’s one on nearly every block – it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd. Sato succeeds, earning high marks for ambience with an inviting, low-lit space, and delivering a fresh take on sushi.

Welcome To The Neighborhood: Sato's inviting, Japanese inspired setting sets it apart from nearby competitors

As I enjoyed seaweed salad, shumai and some heavenly hand rolls, Bobbi and I talked about how we’re going to celebrate turning 35 next month (a spa day and big night out with friends) and about quirky male behavior we‘ve recently experienced. Like the possessive guy who acted jealous then regularly cancelled plans, and the man who began a date by saying he knew I was approaching because of my limp.

On the bright side, we both agreed to step up our socializing in ‘09 by attending fun upcoming events like the gala preview for NYC’s Auto Show. Because, much like trying out a new restaurant, taking the Big Apple by storm is twice as much as fun when you have a good friend to do it with.

By The Numbers: Anniversary Edition

This week marks a milestone of sorts – the three-month anniversary of Single Gal In The City.

Since launching SGITC in July more than 100 posts ago, life has been a veritable whirlwind. From amusing drama surrounding my dalliance with an ex’s best friend (and relief about said ex tying the knot) to schmoozing with the stars of “Sex and The City,” this quarter of ’08 has kept me on my toes and continually excited about single life in the Big Apple.

To celebrate SGITC's three-month milestone, here are some of the adventures I’ve blogged about – By The Numbers:

Approximate number of men mentioned: 14
Number of exes who have gotten married: 1
Number of dates with above mentioned ex’s best friend: 3
Number of run-ins with high school boyfriends: 1
Number of old flames who have become Facebook friends: 5
Number of celebrities met: 6
Number of concerts attended: 5
Number of evenings spent canoodling on my roof deck with hunky longtime friend: 1

As my hunky and impossibly charming friend said, our evening underneath the stars was paradise. You know a kiss is sublime when the mere thought of it weeks later makes you weak in the knees.

I’m looking forward to sharing many more of my romantic escapades. Single Gal In The City has only just begun!

Coming up…a sneak peak at Jeremy Piven’s new Broadway show and more outrageous date tales.

Eyes Wide Open

When you live in New York, it’s easy to get swept up in the city’s relentless pace and look straight ahead when you’re walking around. Not too long ago, I decided to open my eyes and find out what —and who--I might be missing along the way.

The impetus for my visual experiment was a dating advice book that suggested saying hello to at least three random men every day. Even for an outgoing gal like me, this felt too brazen so I opted instead to just smile at selected passersby.

As I attempted to make eye contact with some local male residents, I noticed for the first time just how radical a concept this is in the Big Apple. While I will always maintain that New Yorkers are more neighborly than we’re given credit for, the fact is most of us walk around with an intentionally unapproachable air. In fact, the inscrutable poker face is something of an art here. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a genuine smile is sometimes all it takes to elicit the same in return.

For example, during a ride on the downtown 6 train, I smiled at a guy sitting across from me. When I exited the train a few minutes later, he jumped off the train and handed me his number before getting back on the train to his final destination.

A couple of days later, I was sitting in a cab in traffic when a commercial van pulled up beside me. I smiled at the adorable driver, James, who proceeded to jump out in the middle of the street and ask me for my number. This led to a delightful evening at Kemia, a sensual Moroccan lounge near Hell’s Kitchen with low lighting, rose petals on the floor and a killer cocktail menu.

Though my date with James ended up being a one-shot deal (he commutes from the Poconos and is “separated”), I’ve heard several stories of long-term love that resulted simply from paying attention to what’s right in front of you. As a college student, my journalist friend Robert went into a Roy Rogers and looked up to find he had a lot in common with waitress Christine. The conversation Robert and Christine began that night has stretched into more than twenty years of marriage and raising a family together. Who knew fast food could be so romantic?

When you keep your eyes open, you never know where even the simplest of journeys can take you.

A friendly smile doesn’t hurt either.

Atlantic City Getaway

Last weekend, 14 of us piled into two limos bound for Atlantic City to celebrate the 30th birthday of my fabulous soul sister AP.

Our destination within AC -- The Water Club, a recent addition to the swanky Borgata hotel. A true sense of welcome greets you here, thanks to an enormous lobby decked out with flowers, greenery and a plush oversized sofa from which to take in the view.

Speaking of great views, Immersion Spa on the hotel’s 32nd floor boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Atlantic City’s harbor and modest skyline. It’s a stunning 360 degree backdrop against which to enjoy Immersion’s hot tub and 25-yard infinity-edge lap pool. The Water Club has a total of five pools, two of which are outdoors. But despite splashy amenities -- lush landscaping, private cabanas, underwater music -- the hotel fails to deliver on the promise of its name.

Strict security attends both the entrance and exit of the outdoor pools, primarily because the complex isn’t nearly large enough to accommodate an 800-room hotel. Our group had to wait 45 minutes one day and an hour the next to gain access. For a hotel charging $539 a night (and a jaw-dropping $196 for a 50-minute massage), that’s a problem.

While waiting for the afternoon outdoor crowd to thin out, we parked ourselves in The Sunroom Lounge for some cocktails and a light snack. I chose tea sandwiches and truffle fries. I’ve since decided that truffle fries are on my short list of life’s greatest gastronomic pleasures.

We partied like rock stars in a suite before strolling over to the Borgata’s MurMur nightclub, a velvet rope venue ideal for people watching. Men with spiky hair wearing untucked collared shirts and jeans were doing their fair share of ogling as well, with plenty of fake-breasted Lolita types sauntering through the crowd.

As club dancers shimmied above MurMur‘s packed floor, we all got our groove on to the DJ’s seamless mix of classics present and past, stretching back to 80’s hits like Madonna’s “Holiday” and, this being a Jersey crowd, Bon Jovi’s exhilarating “Livin’ on A Prayer.”

The next morning, after a few hours of relaxation poolside, we hit the road and headed back to the Big Apple in a roomy party bus with limo-style seating. Though I would think twice before staying at The Water Club again, I wouldn’t hesitate to revisit Atlantic City for future celebratory occasions. With my own milestone birthday right around the corner -- gulp, the big 3-5 in January! -- it’s never too soon to start party planning.