Dana Varinsky

Fellow New York transplants, maybe you've had this experience: you return to the place you grew up (I refer to both Oakland and Brooklyn as home), and half the people you talk to reel off some reason that they could never live in Gotham. “It's too noisy for me,” “I couldn't live without my car,” “Why would I ever live in a place where cocktails cost $14?” RECOMMENDED: Full guide to New York attractions Chances are, if you're reading this, you get defensive about NYC life when you're traveling, too. You never feel as overwhelmed by crowds or put off by rudeness as non–New Yorkers assume you should. Of course, there are frustrating things about the city (the L train shutdown, creeps on Tinder and terrible roommates, to name a few). But in case you need a quick retort for someone who just doesn't get it, we've rounded up the 15 most common misconceptions about the city. Here's why they're not true (mostly).   1. It's too crowded Yeah, there are a lot of us sharing the streets and subways. But that also means there are more people to meet, more funny conversations to overhear and more memorable chance encounters. Plus, it makes running into a friend feel extra special. 2. It’s dirtyIf you want to live somewhere clean, go somewhere boring. Sure, New York can be a bit dirtier than other places on the planet, but that just means it’s more loved. And also, you can walk around most of the mess. (Just don’t look at what’s been hiding under that snow bank all winter when it starts to me

New York City is chock-full of transplants who hail from every corner of the country and the world. Many people who land here are quick to adapt, but there are a few kinds of non-native New Yorkers who are easily recognizable no matter how long they’ve lived in the city. Chief among them: Californians. Those who hail from the Golden State have a unique set of dietary requirments and habits that make them stick out like sore thumbs. Wondering how to spot one in a crowd? Here are 20 way-too-generalized telltale signs.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to New York attractions 1. They try to order a Double-Double Animal Style at Shake Shack. 2. They complain loudly and frequently about how they can’t find good tacos or burritos anywhere on the East Coast. 3. They hate humidity and are constantly reminding you that they are ill prepared to deal with this level of sweat despite regularly engaging in sweat-inducing activities.  4. They only bring a towel and a cooler of booze to the beach—what’s with all the umbrellas and tents, people? 5. They're the ones asking to add avocado to everything they order (or just eating it plain with a spoon). 6. They didn't know what Dunkin' Donuts was when they first got here. 7. Their summer wardrobe is infinitely better than their winter one. 8. They either marvel at the wintry beauty every time it snows, or sit and pout for six months when it gets cold. 9. They always ask to add sprouts to their sandwiches in the hopes that somewhere this may be a real o

New Yorkers are used to getting what we want when we want it, so it’s no surprise that this city is a mecca for food delivery. Whether you’re looking for a dish from one of the New York’s best restaurants or just don’t want to stop your Netflix marathon, there’s a service for you. And if you want something more than just dinner? Well, that’s what our list of the best apps is for.

Summer means sunbathing and reading on the beach—even the New York public library has an outdoor reading room. So to satisfy your literary cravings, we asked the independent bookstores involved in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s outdoor literary series, Books Beneath the Bridge, for their summer reading recommendations. Here are their 15 top picks. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do in the summer in NYC

Hobokeners are the hippest of them all, according to a new ranking from website FindTheBest.com. The site compared cities with more than 50,000 people, and determined which have high percentages of college grads between the ages of 20 and 34. Then they looked at how many cafés and yoga studios there were for every 10,000 residents and voilà: Hoboken was the winner. Since we don’t quite believe Williamsburg and Bushwick should take a backseat to New Jersey, we’ve put some of the most iconic hipsters we know into Hoboken, to see if they fit. Flip through and decide for yourself.  RECOMMENDED: See the essential guide to Hoboken, NJ

Dean Strang and Jerry Buting, the legal team featured in the massively popular Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer, have come as close to rock-star status as any lawyers could hope. On Sunday, April 17, their 27-city speaking tour, “A Conversation on Justice,” hits the Beacon Theatre, where they’ll discuss the Steven Avery case and its implications for the criminal justice system. We talk to them before they take the stage. Defense attorneys don’t usually go on national tours. What spurred you to do this?Buting: After the documentary came out, people were writing us with thoughtful questions about the broader issues brought out in the documentary, so we said, ‘It would be good if we could have a forum where we could have a conversation with people about what happened in this case and more importantly, what can we do to try to improve our system of justice. There seemed to be a great deal of interest, and it just sort of grew into this national tour. Obviously it’s very unusual for defense attorneys. We were surprised that there’s this much interest in us and in the film, but we’re glad. It’s a real opportunity to talk with the general public—not just lawyers—about what goes on in our courthouses and what steps we can take to try and improve things. I imagine you didn’t realize this series would catapult you into the national spotlight. What has that been like? Strang: It was entirely unexpected for both of us. And I’m not sure Netflix expected the reception that the

St. Patrick’s Day is more than an excuse to break out that St. Patrick's Day shirt or down a pint of Guinness at Irish pubs in NYC. Around New York, there's the St. Patrick's Day Parade, events, special food deals and many other ways to get into the Irish spirit. Take a look at pictures from this year’s celebrations. RECOMMENDED: See the full St. Patrick's Day in NYC guide

David Tennant is best known for his television roles—he currently stars in the popular British detective show Broadchurch, he played the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, and was the supervillain Kilgrave in Netflix’s Jessica Jones (one of the best TV shows of 2015). But on March 24, Tennant makes his New York stage debut as Shakespeare’s Richard II at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The play is the first in a series of four: Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2 follow Richard II, with Henry V concluding the set. We caught up Tennant about the show. What about the role of Richard II drew you in? I was just fascinated by this capricious and quite likeable character who by the end you feel such great empathy and sympathy for. He’s far from a heroic king, yet he achieves this kind of heroic status by the end through the power of his rhetoric and his wit. I suppose there are more famous kings in Shakespeare’s plays, but Richard II had always particularly appealed to me. He’s a bit unknowable and surprising. Do you miss Shakespeare when you’re busy with your television roles? Do you make an effort to return to it? I do relish the opportunity to. The writing’s just really good. What you’re always chasing is that script that you have to work to be worthy of, rather than a script that arrives and you think, Right, how am I going to say that word to sound like something a human being would actually say? Rather than find a way of making these words bend to my will, I have to bend to the will of these w

Dating in the city isn’t easy. We know that it can be tough to navigate weird people on Tinder or frequent the city’s best hookup bars hoping to meet someone. That’s why each week, we invite our readers to ask for help with their sex conundrums and confess the terrible, awkward encounters they’ve endured while looking for love (or at least some action). If you want to get a question answered or just tell us about your worst date, fill out the form below. Fill out my online form. // var m15feycd0jwebr9;(function(d, t) { var s = d.createElement(t), options = { 'userName':'timeoutnorthamerica', 'formHash':'m15feycd0jwebr9', 'autoResize':true, 'height':'526', 'async':true, 'host':'wufoo.com', 'header':'show', 'ssl':true}; s.src = ('https:' == d.location.protocol ? 'https://' : 'http://') + 'www.wufoo.com/scripts/embed/form.js'; s.onload = s.onreadystatechange = function() { var rs = this.readyState; if (rs) if (rs != 'complete') if (rs != 'loaded') return; try { m15feycd0jwebr9 = new WufooForm();m15feycd0jwebr9.initialize(options);m15feycd0jwebr9.display(); } catch (e) {}}; var scr = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0], par = scr.parentNode; par.insertBefore(s, scr); })(document, 'script'); //

After 12 years, numerous delays and a whopping $4 billion, the main transit hall of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub is finally about to open. The station, which will connect 11 subway lines, PATH trains and the Hudson Ferry Terminal, will welcome commuters beginning in the first week of March. The building sits adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and One World Trade. From the outside, the structure evokes both a dove in flight and a gleaming ribcage, with an interior that’s clean, bright and airy. A 330-foot-long operable skylight along the middle can open when weather permits, and floats a lofty 274 feet above the main floor at its apex. Take a tour through these photos.

Becoming one of the funniest New Yorkers isn’t easy (just ask any of the standups in this month’s best comedy shows), but being the man responsible for perfecting New Yorker cartoons is even harder. Before the release of a new documentary about the magazine's cartoonists, we talked to Bob Mankoff, the editor who decides which cartoons make the cut each week.How many cartoons do you look at per week?Between 500 and 1000. I mean, 500 from our direct contributors and then we get around to all the stuff that comes from the outside.You let anyone show you their drawings once a week, right?Yeah Tuesdays is open call. We’re always looking for new cartoonists. We’re especially seeking to diversify the people who do our cartoons.Do you have any rubric or basic guidelines that you tell newbie cartoonists?Yeah, I do. I say first of all do the stuff that you like. We may not publish it or we may say that’s not right for us, but if there isn’t some part of it that’s coming from you, we’re not interested. My other piece of advice if a newbie comes in and says how many cartoons should I do a week, I say 10. And if they ask me why I say because 9 out of 10 things in life don’t work out.There’s a new documentary coming out about you and some New Yorker cartoonists called Very Semi-Serious. In the film, the artists seem to indicate that they all have some outsider perspective that allows them to see things differently. Do you think that’s the case?Absolutely. In the movie I say being funny is

There’s nothing quite like fall in New York City. From viewing the fall foliage in Central Park to reveling at Halloween parties and parades, New Yorkers know how to get into the autumn spirit. Don’t let the season pass you by: Here are the fall activities to check out before winter sets in. How many have you done so far? RECOMMENDED: See all the best things to do in New York this fall  // $(window).load(function(){ $("input[type='checkbox']").change(function(){ if($(this).is(":checked")){ $(this).parent().addClass("selectedstatus"); }else{ $(this).parent().removeClass("selectedstatus"); } }); }); // // function showScore() { $('#seencount').html($(":checkbox:checked").length); $("a[id='shareme']").attr('href', 'http://www.facebook.com/dialog/stream.publish?app_id=110523762296825&redirect_uri=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/nyc-fall-bucket-list&picture=https://media.timeout.com/images/102925296/750/422/image.jpg&description=How many of the 26 best fall activities have you done?&name=I%27ve done ' + $(":checkbox:checked").length + ' of Time Out%27s 26 best fall activities. How about you?'); $("a[id='tweetme']").attr('href', 'https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I've%20done%20' + $(":checkbox:checked").length + '%20of%20%40TimeOutNewYork's%2026%20best%20fall%20activities%20in%20New%20York.%20How%20about%20you%3F&url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/nyc-fall-bucket-list&related=timeoutnewyork');} // Click all the on

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.   Why they're single:Lindsay: Is picky about her type—femme lesbians can be hard to find—and isn’t in the lesbian-community cliques 
Naimah: Feels like she’s awkward and doesn’t know how to approach girls Ideal date:Lindsay: Drinking whiskey or good beer at a nice bar and then walking around a park Naimah:  Some daytime drinking, maybe at brunch, then wandering around the city and seeing cool things  THE DATE First impressionLindsay: “She looked like a cool, chill person. I liked her outfit. But I tend to like very girly girls, and she wasn’t particularly that type. We shook hands first and then hugged.”Naimah: “When I got there, she was already sitting down. She looks very gay, which is a positive. I don’t have a type, but she was cute and seemed super chill. I love chill.” ChemistryLindsay: “There wasn’t romantic chemistry, but we definitely connected. We’re in different industries but have similar philosophies about doing what we’re passionate about.”Naimah: “Neither of us was really flirting. We settled into a hang-out-and-be-bros type of situation. I asked a lot of questions—I was interested in hearing what she had to say.” Awkward MomentLindsay: “These two tipsy women came up from the bathroom and thought we were the coat check. I was like, ‘Sorry ladies, I do

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.   Why they're single:Tyler: Got out of a long relationship a few months ago and is new to the cityMorgan: Recently ended a long-term relationship, so has been bouncing around looking for something new Ideal date:Tyler: Listening to live music over cocktails or grabbing beers outside if the weather’s nice Morgan: Going to a bar 
and doing trivia THE DATE First impressionTyler: “I got there 10 minutes early, and she’d beat me—I don’t like to be the second one to arrive. She seemed like a cute, nice person. I liked her glasses. We hugged it out.”Morgan: “We had a handshake–half-hug thing. It was a warm greeting. He seemed really nice and tall. He looked like your typical New York guy—flannel shirt, watch, clean-cut.” ChemistryTyler: “It was a standard date. I was trying to be as natural as possible, given the staged situation. There wasn’t crazy chemistry, but there was never a bad moment.”Morgan: “We’re both from the South, so we talked about that a bit. He was cracking jokes all night long. There was never a dull moment. He seemed like someone I would date.” Awkward MomentTyler: “As we were eating, I’d look up and she’d have her glasses on, and then I’d look again and she wouldn’t. It would happen so fast, David Blaine style. They’d just vanish!”Morgan: “He kept joki

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.   Why they're single:Cliff: All the women 
he’s interested in already 
have boyfriendsKo: Is looking for that rom-com feeling or moment Ideal date:Cliff: Having a nice 
glass of bourbon at 
a quiet, lowly 
lit barKo: Going to an art museum, then eating dinner at a nice Italian restaurant THE DATE First impressionCliff: “She was half an hour late, but it was reassuring that she called to let me know. The first thing I noticed was that she had pink in her hair. That really stood out.” Ko: “I was running late, so I called the restaurant to let him know. He was very calm and cool. He was good-looking, but 
I didn’t feel any immediate attraction.” ChemistryCliff: “As things went on, she started to open up more. She’s a fascinating person. There was never a point where I felt bored or had to strain to find something to talk about. ”Ko: “Even though he wasn’t the type I usually go for, I decided to enjoy it. That was easy because of his easygoing personality. 
It was pleasantly platonic.” Awkward MomentCliff: “When she came in late, you could just see the apologetic look on her face and the embarrassment. She was like, ‘I hope you’re not too mad at me!’” Ko: “The only awkward moment came on my Uber ride there. The driver asked if I had a boyfriend and if I wanted to go on da

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.       Why they're single:JoAnne: Has been busy applying to graduate programs over the past 
year so hasn’t had 
much time to dateElliot: Is bad at reading green lights and red flags Ideal date:JoAnne: A nice Mexican dinner and a walk 
in the park Elliot: Eating dinner 
outside, walking near a lake 
or ocean, then dropping 
by a bookstore  THE DATE First impressionJoAnne: “He was chivalrous—he stood and shook my hand. He’s kind of an all-American boy-next-door. He has a beard, which isn’t my preference, but he was warm and friendly.” Elliot: “She was really nice. She seemed excited, and I was excited to get to know her. I was glad we were dressed on the same level—neither underdressed nor overdressed.”  ChemistryJoAnne: “We had great conversation. I could tell he’d prepared questions. One was, ‘If you could write a book, what would you write about and why?’ I thought that was cute.”Elliot: “The conversation was warm and honest. She teased me because I have a flip phone—it was fun. But as far as romance goes, there wasn’t any flirting.” Awkward MomentJoAnne: “It was a little awkward because he doesn’t drink. I think he might be Mormon—he’s from Salt Lake City. I didn’t ask, because 
I don’t like to talk about religion.” Elliot: “There was a spider coming down from the c

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.   Why they're single:John: Leads a 
busy life and is a little 
strange so may not be to
everyone’s tasteKristi: To quote 
Taylor Swift, goes on too 
many dates but can’t 
make them stay Ideal date:John: Hanging out 
and having drinks 
in a blimpKristi: Laser tag 
and drinks after  THE DATE First impressionJohn: “She was 30 minutes late, but I’m not a person with places to be. She was normal looking—I wasn’t enamored or disgusted. Like, Oh, a human, just what I was expecting.” Kristi: “I was really late, so I was happy he wasn’t fuming. He had on a vest, corduroy pants and a studded belt. Dude, it’s August, do you know how hot it is?” ChemistryJohn: “We got along really well. We’re both Bernie Sanders fans—we got really excited about him. I felt a little romantic chemistry, but 
I don’t act on these things right away.”Kristi: “I was having a good time—he’s nice, he’s funny—but I don’t know how long I could sustain the conversation. I feel like we had one date’s worth in common.” Awkward MomentJohn: “When she showed up, she was like, ‘Nice to meet you,’ and then didn’t say anything for three minutes—just looked at the menu. It was confusing. I think she was hungry.”Kristi: “We were comparing dating stories, but 
I had a lot of them and he didn’t really have any. So it e

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.    Why they're single:Gregor: Is fiercely independent and a workaholic; feels very comfortable 
being alone Lindsay: Is still trying to figure that out with her therapist Ideal date:Gregor: A nice glass of 
wine and good conversation in a 1920s lounge Lindsay: Live music or 
a sporting event, followed by dinner, drinks and walking around the city  THE DATE   First impressionGregor: “She was clean-cut and attractive. She reminded me of someone who was probably in a sorority in college or maybe whose parents own a house in the Hamptons.”Lindsay: “Physically he wasn’t my type but definitely a handsome guy. He was tall and had a nice smile. I could tell he was laid-back and kept a cool, calm demeanor.” ChemistryGregor: “We had light, funny conversation. I like somebody with a sense of danger, mystery and quirkiness. She had some but not enough for me to feel sparky with her.”Lindsay: “It started off great. We didn’t have a ton 
in common—he’s more of a creative free spirit, and I’m Type A—but conversation flowed well. We laughed a lot.” Awkward MomentGregor: “I referenced La Vie en Rose, and she asked what it was. She hadn’t heard of Edith Piaf 
or Marion Cotillard. It’s a little off the beaten path, but I was taken aback by that.”Lindsay: “He asked if I’d make out with m

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.   Why they're single:Keith: Is really 
shy about approaching cute 
guys, so almost never 
hits on anyone, and is 
kind of pickyScott: Hasn’t had luck with dating apps and living on Long Island makes it hard 
to meet people in the city Ideal date:Keith: Drinks at 
a nice, dimly lit 
wine barScott: Grabbing 
a coffee and walking around Central Park THE DATE   First impressionKeith: “He was cute but not my typical type. 
I’m from Washington, D.C., so I like preppy, traditionally good-looking guys. I’ve gone for blonds mostly, and he was brunet.” Scott: “He was cute and in good shape. He seemed like a nice guy who had his stuff together. I thought he was older, but I realized he wasn’t so old.” ChemistryKeith: “He was pretty nervous off the bat, but we bonded over the fact that we were both fat kids growing up. We had playful banter, but there wasn’t a ton of chemistry.”Scott: “The date felt mostly businesslike. It never got flirty or anything. It was hard to read him. You could just tell it wasn’t going to go anywhere after that night.” Awkward MomentKeith: “When we were leaving, the hostess wanted to take a picture of us. I didn’t know what to do, so she took it on her phone. It’s just living there now.”Scott: “Within the first five minutes, he brought up that his frien

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.       Why they're single:Everett: Says the universe is 
a capricious place Leandra: Moved to New York three 
months ago and is just
 now putting down roots  Ideal date:Everett: Something out 
there, like buying jewelry 
at a 99-cent store and 
walking around town wearing itLeandra: Steak, fine bourbon and sparkling conversation THE DATE First impressionEverett: “She looked like an attractive girl, like a million other attractive girls in New York, and had a bubbly vibe. She had amazing earrings that looked like the Taurus sign.” Leandra: “He seemed shy and quiet. He was dressed very casual—just a T-shirt and jeans. I tend to try to dress a little nicer on dates.  I’m old-fashioned that way.”  ChemistryEverett: “The first hour was just chitchat. But after that, we got a little deeper—we talked about political issues, feminism, depression—and I started to feel some chemistry.”Leandra: “He was an intelligent conversationalist. We talked about philosophy, yoga, science fiction, documentary filmmaking. But the basic chemistry wasn’t there.” Awkward MomentEverett: “There were a few moments where it was like, All right, we’ve talked that topic out,  that’s the end. What should we talk about now? But it wasn’t a big deal.’”Leandra: “He was shy, so I felt like I needed to ask

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.         Why they're single:Ben: Is shy about pursuing relationships and doesn’t know how to take 
things to the next levelGray: Is fiercely independent, super busy and 
has a great group of friends 
that keeps her satisfied  Ideal date:Ben: Drinks at a bar 
with a mellow atmosphere, then a walk in 
the parkGray: A picnic 
and an outdoor 
movie  THE DATE First impressionBen: “She was extremely pretty. Turns out she’s from Virginia, so she was very friendly. She had a cool denim jacket, and she was really well-spoken, smart and funny.” Gray: “He had a ponytail, which normally is not what I go for—my type is more clean-cut. But he seemed really nice and friendly, 
so I was like, All right, let’s do this.”  ChemistryBen: “We had a surprising amount in common. 
I thought there was at least social chemistry. I couldn’t tell whether she was into me, but I think she had a good time.”Gray: “I didn’t feel an instant attraction to him right off the bat, but we were there for like four hours, and there were never any awkward silences or weird lulls.” Awkward MomentBen: “I’m used to going out with people I’m already in contact with, so I forgot to ask for her number. I didn’t realize I wouldn’t be able to get in touch with her. Oops.”Gray: “I didn’t want to do the ‘let’s-do-this-a

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.       Why they're single:Eyra: Puts herself 
in the friend zone prematurely 
and assumes guys won’t 
be interestedBrian: Just finished three years of school, so studying was his top priority until recently Ideal date:Eyra: Going to a baseball game and drinking some beers Brian: Walking and talking outside, then grabbing lunch 
and drinks  THE DATE First impressionEyra: “He was like, ‘Hey, I’m Brian,’ and gave me a hug. He seemed very friendly, energetic and excited, which was nice. The hug really helped make it less awkward.” Brian: “She was cute—really pretty, big smile, very athletic. She seemed a little 
nervous, so I said, ‘Let’s hug out all the awkwardness,’ and I gave her a big one.”  ChemistryEyra: “He mentioned that he liked dark chocolate, and I thought, Oh, yeah, we’re going to have a good time. He was really easy to talk to. There was definitely attraction on my part.”Brian: “We had a lot in common—we both like horror movies and are both into fitness. We laughed a lot, but I didn’t feel a romantic spark. There wasn’t much flirtation.” Awkward MomentEyra: “He brought up his ex pretty quickly and then directly asked about mine. That’s not something I’d typically bring up on a first date. Like, my ex is not your competition.”Brian: “We started wrapping up arou

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.           Why they're single:Beth: Is a self-described “grass could always 
be greener” kind of girlBill: Works odd hours, is very picky and has grown accustomed to 
being on his own Ideal date:Beth: Walking around 
the city and grabbing 
some street food Bill: Seeing a movie at 
an indie theater and then 
dinner or dessert   THE DATE First impressionBeth: “I could tell he was kind of nervous, but he seemed like he was there to have a good time and not take it too seriously. He was cute. He had nice blue eyes.” Bill: “She was very attractive. I was pleasantly surprised. She had a great dress on—it was very summery. She was obviously intelligent and deep, which was cool.”  ChemistryBeth: “I went in nervous, so I didn’t let myself do much flirting. I was just thankful the conversation was going well. For a blind date, that’s as comfortable as I can be.”Bill: “We really got to talking—I don’t think we looked at the menu for a good 20 or 30 minutes. She had a good sense of humor, which sounds trite, but it gelled with mine.” Awkward MomentBeth: “He ordered edamame, and I’d only had them outside the shell before, so I ate an entire one, shell and everything. He was like, ‘You’re not supposed to do that.’”Bill: “At the subway, we made a run for the A but  just missed it. I

Each week, we take two New Yorkers who swear they're totally undateable, and put our matchmaking skills to the test. Afterward, we find out what went well on their date, and what went horribly, horribly wrong.   Why they're single:Scott: Has been traveling a lot since college 
and is just now starting to 
feel ready to settle downRandi: Finds it hard 
to meet people organically 
in the city, and online dating 
has a hookup vibe Ideal date:Scott: An art gallery, 
gelato and a walk on 
the High Line Randi: Drinks at 
a speakeasy or cocktail bar THE DATE First impressionScott: “She looked professional, confident and secure, which is positive, but my type is an artist having an existential crisis. I’m a sucker for someone confused and wandering.” Randi: “He’s not my normal type—he had long hair and was kind of skinny and a little shorter than me. I usually go for taller guys with shorter hair, but he was really nice.” ChemistryScott: “It was actually an impressive match. We’re both liberal, Jewish and digital advertisers. The attraction wasn’t there, but it was super fun.”Randi: “We talked for two hours nonstop. I was pleasantly surprised at how well we got along—we had so much in common. 
I laughed a lot. He was really sweet.” Awkward MomentScott: “When we went up to the host, I wasn’t 
sure what to say, so I was like, ‘Um, I’m undateable?’ The host just gave me that one-eyebrow-raised look.” Randi: “The girls next to us were very drunk and singing Third Eye Blind. We’d wonder