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Celebrate Pride by supporting these queer-owned date spots

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As a dating app working to give everyone a chance at love, whoever that may be with, we decided to celebrate Pride this year in one of the best ways we know how: By setting you up on great dates!

We’ve put together a list of queer-owned businesses in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles that are total first-date material. And hey, they’re perfect for third dates or friend outings or solo trips, too. Be sure to check them out not just this Pride Month, but all year long.

New York City

Baz Bagels

You know we had to start this list with bagels. Stop by this charming neighborhood deli in Little Italy for a casual breakfast or lunch date with some hand-rolled bagels. Might we suggest the rainbow variety?

Big Gay Ice Cream

Originally founded as a food truck by Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff, this spot is your stop if you’re in for a sweet treat. Grab some soft serve at either one of their locations in the Upper West Side or West Village.

Odd Fox Coffee

Want to inject a little whimsy (and caffeine) into a casual date? Odd Fox Coffee has two Brooklyn locations, so take your pick and enjoy a laid-back meetup.

Elmo

Whether it’s brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks you’re after, Elmo in Chelsea is a go-to spot for a first date. Indulge in some shareable comfort food, like deviled eggs or popcorn shrimp.

Ursula

Spice up a breakfast date at this New Mexican-inspired cafe in Crown Heights, owned by Eric See. Heads up: It’s a takeout spot with only a few outdoor seats, so maybe grab two burritos to go and enjoy a stroll with your date.

Los Angeles

Liberation Coffee House

Located at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, this bright and beautiful cafe and community center is perfect for great conversation with someone new. Fun fact: It’s run by graduates of the organization’s Culinary Arts program that helps prepare LGBTQIA+ participants for work in the restaurant and hospitality industries.

Casita Del Campo

Going out with a margarita lover? Head to this colorful local spot with a long LGBTQIA+ history for an authentic Mexican meal. Pro-tip: Don’t skip out on sharing some chips and guac.

Nickel Diner

Sometimes comfort food in a retro setting is exactly what you need for a date – and at this spot, you can split a homemade pop-tart. Co-owners Monica May and Kristen Trattner also implemented a new “Pay It Forward” program, where you can donate $13 to provide a meal to someone in need.

Little Barn Coffee House

Woman, Latinx, and queer-owned, this little coffee spot is calling your name if you’re interested in a quick drink or a lunch meetup with someone new. And bonus, it’s vegan!

Jewel

Another spot for our dairy and meat-free daters. Check out this plant-based restaurant in Silver Lake with a patio that’s perfect for good conversations.

San Francisco Bay Area

Boichik Bagel

Named after a Yiddish term of endearment for a young man, owner Emily Winston opened this bagel spot to bring a taste of her New Jersey roots to her new home on the West Coast. A great get-to-know-you question for this date: What kind of bagel would you be and why?

Third Culture Bakery

Looking for a casual spot on a beautiful day? Meet up at this counter service bakery for some matcha and mochi muffins, and enjoy them out front in their outdoor seating area.

Equator Coffees

Coffee really can be the best first date, if we do say so ourselves. Equator Coffees has several locations around the Bay Area, so you can easily find a spot that works for both you and your date.

Lion Dance Cafe

Looking for a plant-based date spot in Oakland? This casual space has rave reviews for its authentic Singaporean fare, which you can enjoy in their first-come, first-serve outdoor parklet.

Pinhole Coffee

Tea, coffee, pastries, anyone? Head to this woman, POC, and queer-owned coffee shop in Bernal Heights for a quick meetup that isn’t short on charm.

Show support this Pride and beyond

Pride Month is a great time to get out and support the LGBTQIA+ community, but don’t forget these are great date spots year-round – not just in June. And of course, this list is far from complete. So don’t hold out on us if you know about any other queer-owned spots we missed! Check out our Instagram post and drop your contributions in the comments.

15 AAPI-owned spots to support on your next date

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May is here and brings us Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. A time to celebrate diverse cultures, support our communities, and honor the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that have shaped who we are today. And as a company founded by three Korean sisters looking to shake up both the dating and entrepreneurial world, it holds a special place in our heart.

So in honor of AAPI Heritage Month, we’ve rounded up some AAPI-owned businesses in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles that you can check out on your next first date. Or third date or anniversary date, or just when you feel like getting something good.

San Francisco Bay Area

Sue’s Gallery Cafe

This mom-and-pop shop with coffee, tea, and pastries is the perfect spot for a casual coffee date. And bonus, you can browse their handmade ceramics while you’re at it.

Home Coffee Roasters

Owners Annie Cheng and In Hwan Heo know a thing or two about coffee dates, as they went on weekly ones together while dreaming of opening a shop of their own. Now, you and your date can follow in their footsteps.

FOB Kitchen

Visit this Oakland spot for delicious Filipino fare and island-inspired cocktails, brought to you by owner and chef Janice Dulce who grew up in the Bay Area and Guam and is now bringing recipes learned from her family to the public.

Cha-Ya

To our non-meat eaters, this one’s for you! Family-owned and operated in San Francisco’s Mission District, this is a great spot if you’re in the mood for Japanese cuisine that’s entirely vegan, too.

Dumpling House

Grab some Chinese bites, beer, and tea from this casual, family-owned spot – with a chef whose twenty-plus years of dim sum expertise hail from Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

Los Angeles

B Sweet Dessert Bar

Looking for something less formal than dinner, but different from the standard coffee date? Grab something decadent, like their famous banana pudding, from this dessert bar owned and operated by Barb Batiste, who grew up baking sweets for her close-knit Filipino family.

Bopomofo Cafe

Serving Asian American cuisine, co-founders Philip Wang and Eric Wang turned to bo, po, mo, and fo, “the Chinese ABCs,” to come up with the name for their cafe. Stop by for tea, espresso, matcha, and plenty of shareables perfect for a date.

Broken Mouth

Did you know that in Hawaii, “broke da mout” is used by locals to describe food so good you don’t even have time to chew? Owner and Chef Tim Lee, Korean by blood and born and raised on Oahu, serves up homestyle Hawaiian food for Los Angeles. But if you’re on a first date, maybe try to chew a little.

Pine & Crane

Looking for a casual spot? Head over to this Taiwanese spot in Silver Lake for some staples like beef noodle soup and loose-leaf tea. Emphasis on casual, as it’s first come, first serve.

Maru Coffee

You can’t go wrong with a classic coffee date at this spot in the Arts District. The name comes from native Korean San Ma Ru, which means “mountaintop,” to symbolize their high-quality coffee, as the best beans come from high altitudes.

New York City

Kopitiam

Head to this Lower East Side spot, which means “coffee shop” in Hokkien, for a taste of Nyonya cuisine. Chef and owner Kyo Pang uses family recipes and traditions to introduce visitors to this blend of Chinese and Malay flavors.

Soft Swerve

In the mood for something sweet? Soft Swerve has two locations in NYC where you can cool off with Asian-inspired ice cream flavors like matcha and ube purple yam.

Ihawan

Take your date to try the best barbecue in town at this family-owned and operated Filipino spot in Woodside. You’ll find classic dishes from the Philippines, plus their specialty Kapampangan cuisine.

Pasteur Grill & Noodles

Looking for a spot in Chinatown? Head here for authentic Vietnamese food that’s the byproduct of generations’ worth of family recipes.

Té Company

If the casual coffee date isn’t your thing, how about tea instead? This intimate spot in the West Village has a wide variety of teas sourced from Taiwan, plus Taiwanese food to pair with it.

Let’s support our communities together

We know this list is far from complete, so don’t hesitate to branch out and find other AAPI-owned spots in your area, this May and beyond! And if you have locations in mind and want to share with others, head over to our Instagram post and drop it in the comments.

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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The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Dana Middleton

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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The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Catherine Nguyen

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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The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Catherine Nguyen

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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The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Bronson Farr

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

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