Dating in New York and San Francisco

Who Has More Fun when it Comes to Dating: New York or San Francisco?

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New York and San Francisco are large, cosmopolitan cities that have a lot to offer in terms of entertainment, culture, shopping and dining. But the similarities between the two cities end right there, especially when it comes to dating.

Let’s take a closer look as to how the game is played in the contemporary battlefield of romance where New Yorkers and San Franciscans win, lose and break hearts.

1. Where you meet:

NYC: Either some East Village dive bar or some fratastic sports bar in Murray Hill.

SF: You were introduced at a house party. Or online, through one of the many dating apps everyone seems to be on.

Dating in New York and San Francisco

 

2. Your first date:

NYC: Overpriced drinks at a dark, loud but chic lounge in SoHo.

SF: Overpriced coffee at an artisanal, organic coffee shop in the Mission.

Dating in New York and San Francisco 

 

3. He showed up:

NYC: At 10pm, coming straight from his investment bank’s office, wearing a suit and a tie.

SF: At 6:15pm, wearing a hoodie and sneakers. He was 15 minutes late because his shuttle bus was attacked by protesters.

Dating in New York and San Francisco

 

 

4. She showed up:

NYC: Hair blown out at Drybar, wearing a tiny little black dress and heels.

SF: Wearing jeans a T-shirt, carrying a yoga mat.

Dating in New York and San Francisco

 

5. During the date, he:

NYC: “I just gotta check my emails one more time. I’m working on a really important deal. I can’t talk about it. What was I saying? Oh yes, will be out in the Hamptons this weekend.”

SF:  “I’m just killing at my start-up. I want to retire by 35. Especially if my investments in Bitcoin go well. Until then, I’m just gonna keep going skiing in Tahoe on and go on meditation retreats.”

Dating in New York and San Francisco

 

6. During the date, she:

NYC: “TheEast Side is SOOOO much better than the West Side. I love having brunch & mimosas at Sarabeth’s.  And I always hang out at Ulysses for  happy hour.”

SF: “I just got my Google glasses and love them. Can’t wait to go wine tasting in Napa this weekend.”

Dating in New York and San Francisco

 

7. After the date:

NYC: He got in a black town car. She got in a taxi, after pleading with the driver to take her back to Williamsburg.

SF: You competed to see who can get an Uber or Lyft on their phone quicker. You split the fare on the app.

Dating in New York and San Fracisco

 

8. Second date:

NYC: You have a 50-50% chance of making it that far. But if you do, get ready for some tapas at Casa Mono or sushi at Morimoto. (That is if he is trying really hard to impress her)

SF: Walking around the farmers market, picking up locally grown strawberries. Or dinner eating organic kale & quinoa salad at The Plant.

Dating in New York and San Francisco

 

9. Form of communication:

NYC: Email or BBM. Wait, people still use blackberries? Yeah, in NY they do.

SF:  Snapchat. Any evidence of your flirty exchanges will self-destruct in 10 seconds.

Dating in New York and San Francisco

10. Long-term dating potential:

NYC: Hit or miss. One of you is bound to get way too busy with work.

SF: Greater than 50%. People always need a +1 to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge with.

Dating in New York and San Francisco
Did you love this post? Then check out The Only Dating Timeline You’ll Ever Need: Dating Advice For Women!
About Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB): Every day at noon, we introduce you to one single with whom you share mutual friends. You have 24 hours to LIKE or PASS your match (aka “Bagels”). Mutual LIKE leads to direct connection via text message on a private phone line.
Coffee Meets Bagel, Best Dating App

classic date ideas

Back to the Basics: Classic First Date Ideas in NYC

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Hey  Bagels!
We’re back with our Throwback Week series, where we bring you fun & original date ideas in your local city. We just covered  LA, SF, and now we’re coming for you, East Coasters, starting with classic first date ideas in NYC!
 
Catch a Broadway Show
Nothing beats Broadway in the heart of the Big Apple, where shows go on all year. Though popular favorites are Wicked, Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera, couples also love Book of Mormon and Chicago the Musical. Sing your heart out, Bagels!
classic date ideas
Pro Tip: Check out this awesome & comprehensive listing by NYC Tourist for the latest Broadway shows playing this summer and how to get tickets.
Prop Tip #2: If your busy schedule leaves you too booked to plan ahead for a Broadway show, check out the Theatre Development Fund where you can purchase day-of show tickets & get sweet deals too!
classic date ideas
 
Cruise to Lady Liberty
Cruise the Hudson River and take a visit to see the Statue of Liberty with Statue Cruises. Tickets are at most, $20, to priority access to the actual statue herself.
classic date ideas
A timeless classic, even approved by royal couple Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in 1957, the cruise is always a romantic getaway in the heart of the Hudson.
classic date ideas
 
Concerts in Central Park 
You can do more than just grab coffee (and a bagel!) while on your stroll through Central Park. Every summer, the City Parks Foundation puts on a SummerStage festival. With performances on the daily, Summer Stage has brought a wide range of artists like Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him, M83, and Amos Lee. Though events require tickets, most are free. Best of all, it’s all outdoors so you can soak up that summer sun! Download their app for on-the-go event schedules and artist performances.
classic date ideas
classic date ideas
 
 
 

great date spots in NYC

3 Places to Watch Fireworks for a 4th of July in NYC

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Nothing is more romantic than cuddling with your Bagel to watch the July 4th fireworks. In honor of Independence Day, we will be launching a series of posts focused on firework hot spots in your major city throughout the week, starting with NYC!  So, grab a picnic blanket and a beer or two, and hit up these great date spots for a romantic 4th of July in NYC.
1. Macy’s Parade: The best spots to view the parade (other than on the comfort of your couch) is on 12th Avenue between 23rd and 42nd Street. This year the show, “It Begins with a Spark,” will be collaborated with Grammy artist Usher so don’t miss out on this free show!
great date spots in NYC

great date spots

Pro Tip: Try to snag a spot before 5pm as it can easily get crowded very fast!

2. Empire State Building: One of the most iconic buildings in the U.S., nothing screams ‘AMURICA’  and summer romance more than the Empire State Building. Centrally located in downtown Manhattan on 5th Avenue with top notch viewpoints from the 86th and 102nd floor, the Empire State Building provides the perfect venue for patriotic fireworks viewing. Tickets can be purchased here for admission and complimentary light refreshments.

great date spots

Maybe you’ll find love here like Tom Hanks did in Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

great date spots in NYC
3. Cruising the Hudson: For a fun night full of drinks, dancing, a live DJ, and a perfect view of fireworks shooting off straight from the Hudson, check out the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. Tickets are also available for purchase here but get ’em quick before they sell out, as this tends to be a popular and classy affair.
great date spots

Best Summer Date Ideas: Festivals in NYC

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What’s up Bagels?
This is the final post for our coverage of summer festivals in the country. We previously looked at what’s going on in the midwest in Chicago, San Francisco, and LA. Now we’ve landed in New England, with our first stop being NYC. These events, along with other festivals in the area, make for some of the best summer date ideas.

1) Make Music New York  -From pianos to drums, this city wide music festival celebrates all forms and genres of music. Not only does this Make Music New York take place on the first official day of summer (aka the Summer Solstice), it is also celebrated by more than 500 cities worldwide.

Best Summer Dates

You got served!

What: Make Music New York

 

Where: All over NYC (Check out the map!)

 

When: Friday, June 21

 

2) Bastille Day On 60th Street– “From crêpes, éclairs, and fromages with refreshing wine and beer, to live music, you won’t want to miss New York City’s ultimate French summer fête.” Bastille Day celebrates the best of French culture in the Big Apple.

Best Summer Dates

Can you can-can?

What: Bastille Day on 60th Street

 

Where: Between Fifth and Lexington Avenues, NYC

 

When: Sunday, July 14; 12-5pm

 

Sunday Spotlight: Ellie Lee, an Aspiring Actress & Pro-Attention Seeker

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Ellie Lee is not messing around. Yes, Ellie is her full first name– not a kitschy shortening of Elizabeth, or anything else starting with “E”, for that matter. She hates carrots. She cannot live without eyeliner. She is the erudite mistress of the acting industry, and her Youtube channel covers such down-to-the-minute topics as twerking, being “BROKE AS HELL”, white boys, and most recently, Coffee Meets Bagel (featured above).
What makes her so interesting, so inspiring? An East Coast native based in NYC, this firecracker boasts a formidable Youtube channel with creative content that yields thousands of views a month. She also has interviewed some of the cream of the crop in Hollywood including Ryan Reynolds, Vanessa Hudgens, Blake Lively, Zach Galifinakis, and Neil Patrick Harris, to name a few.
Check out her youtube channel here, her Twitter @yo_ell, and of course, her hilarious video on Coffee Meets Bagel above!
 
Ellie Lee

Chloe Coscarelli

Sunday Spotlight #9: Chloe Coscarelli, the Amazing Vegan Chef!

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Sunday Spotlight #9 is Chloe Coscarelli, an amazing chef and a proud Coffee Meets Bagel member.
What makes her amazing? Chloe is the winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, which she won with her delicious VEGAN cupcake…yes, the cupcake that didn’t have any egg nor butter nor milk still kicked everyone’s ass…
Why else is she amazing? Just take a look at her photo – need we say more?
We asked Chloe to share an easy, fun recipe from her new book, Chloe’s Vegan Desserts (to be released in 2 days, on Feb. 19th!). She recommends Mojito Chocolate Chip Cookies, which you can easily try with your Bagel or your friends.
BONUS for NYC guys: Is Chloe your Dream Bagel? Dare to ask her out? Email us at [email protected] and we will make it happen for you.
Follow Chloe on Twitter @ChloeCoscarell.
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Mojito Chocolate Chip Cookies

MAKES ABOUT FORTY-SIX 2½-INCH COOKIES
This recipe mash-up combines the best elements of mojitos and chocolate chip cookies in one! The lime zest adds beautiful green flecks to an otherwise seemingly average cookie. Serve these at your next cocktail party for a sweet surprise.
Make-Ahead Tip:
Cookie dough can be made in advance and kept refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 1 month.
INGREDIENTS
COOKIES
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup vegan margarine
1 cup powdered sugar
½ cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons dark rum
2 teaspoons pure peppermint extract
2 tablespoons lime zest (about 2 or 3 limes)
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips (dairy-free)
TOPPING (optional)
½ cup granulated sugar Zest of 1 lime
To make the cookies: 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 or 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat margarine until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, brown sugar, rum, and mint extract, and beat until combined. Mix in the flour mixture ½ cup at a time, then add zest and chocolate chips. Mix until combined.
To make the topping: 
Combine sugar and lime zest in a small bowl.

New York Date Spots

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John Baldessari, “Double Play”
Double Play presents all new work by pioneering American artist John Baldessari. Combining art historical icons, Baldessari has created a sceries of paintings on canvas that aim “to make the unimportant important.” Complicating these strangely evocative pictures are texts, taken from the titles of popular songs, emblazoned across the bottom of each painting. This exhibit ends November 21st. So, enjoy it while it’s here!
WHAT: Artwork by John Baldessari
WHERE:  Marian Goodman Gallery (24 W 57th Street)
WHEN:  Nov. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, & 21
Read more about the artist
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John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey: This Must Be the Place?


Enjoy dinner and watch as Mr. Pizzarelli and Ms. Molaskey explore the idea of “home” and all that it entails with their expert musicianship and singular wit. Audiences will be left reflecting on the meaning of “home” and what it feels like to search for it, find it, lose it, and run away from it. Mr. Pizzarelli (guitar and vocals) will lead a quartet consisting of younger brother Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Larry Fuller (piano), and Tony Tedesco (drums).

WHAT:  Performance by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey

WHERE:  Cafe Carlyle
WHEN:  Tuesday – Saturday @ 8:45 PM until Nov. 24
Buy tickets here

Date Inspirations

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The weekend is almost here, and we wanted to give our awesome CMB members in NYC, Boston and San Francisco some fun date ideas for the weekend. Want to treat that special someone to a romantic night? Or maybe you want to make a great first impression with a new Bagel? Read on, city singles!
New York City goers, looking for something to sweeten up your weekend (literally)? The Annual New York Chocolate Festival is back with tickets starting at just $35 per person. Sample treats and decadent wine from over 65 chocolate companies, meet famous chefs and authors, and schmooze the night away!
WHAT: NY Chocolate Festival
WHERE: Metropolitan Pavillion
WHEN: Friday Nov. 9th through Sunday Nov. 11th, 10AM – 6PM
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For all our Bostonians, why not get to know your date better over some Art, Wine & Art at the Soprafina Gallery this Saturday? $40 per person for all the music, wine and hors d’oeuvres you can eat! Then maybe you two can grab some coffee afterwards at a nearby café (for an even more intimate night cap).
WHAT: Art, Wine & Art Exhibition
WHERE: Soprafina Gallery
WHEN: Saturday Nov. 10th, 7pm
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Finally – San Franciscans, how about exploring some new culture in the Mission? The annual Diwali celebration, the Festival of Lights, with $11 admission per person. Dancing starts in the streets and leads to the venue, where there’s sweets, good eats and music (and even dance lessons for those wanting really to join in the festivities)!
WHAT: Diwali Festival
WHERE: Public Works
WHEN: Saturday Nov. 10th, 9pm
So city singles, what are you going to be up to this weekend?
By Jessica Barone @chai_haiku

CMB Men's Series: 5 Pocket Friendly Date Ideas in NYC

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CMB Men’s Series is original content dedicated to (confused) men and dating in the city.
We kickoff our series with a guest post by Amanda Raye, Editor-in-Chief of Broke & Chic. Visit her at www.brokeandchic.com and @brokeandchic. 
New York City is one of the hardest places to find your soul mate. There are simply just too many fish, or should I say Bagels?
NYC is also notoriously known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, which is why the price of romance won’t always mix with your budget. Girls tend to be very picky in the Big Apple but don’t fret, here are 5 ways to take your girl out on a dime and STILL impress her.
1. Try Some Afternoon Tea

This is a daily activity done by our friends across the pond. It typically happens between 3 and 5pm and consists of tea, crumpets, scones and cucumber sandwiches! Luckily for New York, the West Village is bustling with “High Tea” shops!
Head on over to Bosie Tea Parlor on Morton and Bleecker. If you want to go all out, the High Tea experience costs $51 for two. If you want to be kinder to your budget and still not look cheap, order two pots of tea and a few scones. That’ll keep you under $20. Then, just sit down and talk about all the places you’d like to visit one day.
Bosie Tea Parlor: http://www.bosienyc.com
2. Go International

Take her on a tour of Europe in your own city. Head on over to Sockerbit in the West Village, a candy shop that has all things Swedish! Grab a bag, fill it with as much candy as possible and then sit on the bench outside and try all your new treats.
If you and your girl aren’t huge fans of sweets, head on over to Shi Eurasia, an international grocery store in the Lower East Side. You’ll both feel as if you’ve been transported to Piccadilly sans the nine hour flight. This grocery store has food and snacks from not only England but Scotland, Australia, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Italy…I could go on. Buy a bag of Worcester Sauce potato chips, a bottle of espresso soda and a green tea Kit-Kat bar and wander around the LES. Don’t forget to poke your head into all the cute boutiques and art galleries!
This could turn into a perfect afternoon with only a $20 price tag — subway tickets included!
Sockerbit: http://sockerbit.com
Shi Eurasia: http://shieurasia.com
List of Lower East Side galleries: http://www.lesgalleriesnyc.com
3. Street Art Tour

Any art fanatic would swoon over this idea. Grab a coffee together and Instagram all the works of art you can find. If you’re not searching for a specific artist, get off the Morgan L stop. There happens to be a ton of great street art in that part of Williamsburg! For a more planned approach, look up where all the Banksy pieces are in NY; there are quite a few of them in downtown Manhattan as well as in DUMBO.
No matter what, make sure to do some research ahead of time!
Banksy/street art links:
http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/13881/banksy-paints-nyc
http://streetartnyc.org
4. Bring her to the Museum of the Moving Image

This is a very under-glorified museum in Queens. Admission is free on Friday’s from 4-8pm. This museum is the country’s only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image in all its forms. There is also a ton of relics from old movie sets including Star Wars and The Black Swan (geeky girls will especially love it)!
This could turn into a fun and romantic evening for two, under $30!
Museum of the Moving Image: http://www.movingimage.us
5. Be a tourist in your own city

If you live Uptown and very rarely find yourself below 14th, or live in Queens and the word “Williamsburg” sounds like a foreign country, exploring is a fun and romantic way to change that!
Take your girl to a neighborhood you both know nothing about. Walk around, check out a few quaint boutiques and grab an affordable bite to eat at a restaurant neither of you have ever heard of. It’ll be like visiting a different city!

Sunday Spotlight: Claire Mazur

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In this week’s Sunday Spotlight, we hit up Claire Mazur, the co-founder of Of a Kind, “an art gallery for emerging designers” that carries exclusive limited editions. Of a Kind selects designers whose work it loves and features them on the site, one at a time (sound familiar?). As the first ever store to be launched on Tumblr, Claire & Of a Kind have been covered by WWD, DailyCandy, the Today Show and more.
Even though Claire is currently not single (sorry gents!), we couldn’t think of anyone better to get fashion & date tips than Claire—she’s been in the fashion industry since 16, after a chance encounter with Donna Karan. And being in the fashion industry also means lots of opportunities for social events at the hottest spots in the city!
To keep up with her latest & greatest, follow Claire on tweeter @ofakind
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1. What is the must-have accessories for men this summer that can elevate his looks?

Men need to make sure their summer shoe game is on point. This is, evidently, a struggle for them. I don’t think flip-flops are acceptable for dudes, and, in general, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a guy who can pull off any type of sandal. I think the single-color slip-on Vans (#1) are a nice and inexpensive solution—white is great if you can keep them clean. If you want something a little more substantial and are willing to shell out a bit more money, these Common Projects sneakers (#2) are also great.

2. Same for ladies?

I rarely leave home without my jean jacket in the summer—it goes with everything I wear and it’s clutch in combating the A/C-induced whiplash when moving from outdoors to indoors. I love this vintage one by reformation (#3) which they updated with lace sleeves—so perfect for summer. 

Something else I’ve been over-wearing most this summer are the wren batik print shorts in red (#4), which I purchased from Of a Kind. They are ridiculously comfortable and light—and also make me look like I’m putting in more effort than throwing on a pair of jean cut-offs. 

3. (Bonus for New Yorkers!) What is your idea of the best Sunday date in NYC?

Almost anything that tears me away from the computer and my inbox would be great! I love a good bloody mary, and I’ve been dying to try the one at Joseph Leonard, so I’d want to head there for a big brunch. Then we’d walk it off on our way over to the Megaplex at Union Square to see Magic Mike. I never get to see movies when they’re still in the theatres, and this one seems like it would be well-served by the big screen. This all assumes the weather is gross and I’ll want to escape into the air-conditioning, since that’s New York’s M.O. lately. On the off-chance that it’s pleasant out I’d love to try the free kayaking on the Hudson