New York City

[omni]

I've read multiple times on this board that NYC is THE place for dating. Well, I'm thinking of moving there next year to do just that. I'm a 33 year old corporate attorney in Dallas. Things aren't awful here, but I've lived in Texas since I was 12. Maybe it's time for a change.

I'm planning on visiting NYC for the weekend in February. My excuse is that I'm visiting a few old friends, but I really want to scope out the city to see if I can see myself living and meeting women there.

So, where do I need to go? What do I need to do? Which neighborhoods should I look into? Obviously, I want to live and play in an area where I'll have the greatest access to the largest number of really attractive single women. I'm currently a lawyer, but I've launched a side business that's doing well. So, the plan is to build the business full-time and quit the lawyer thing. As of now, I think I can afford to live in Manhattan, but I'll need to do more research (is $3000/month for rent realistic?).

I realize that this is a broad request, but that's because I'd love a broad range of responses. If you need more info from me, just ask.

Thanks guys, this idea came to me out of the blue last December, and I'm getting excited about the possible big change. I think it'll be easier to build my choice of lifestyle there, because I'll be further from extended family. And there's so much more to do. The problem is that I don't know much about living and dating in NYC. So what advice would you give to someone going to NYC?

[Jon]

$3000 per month will get you a pretty nice place in Manhattan. Doorman building, good neighborhood, big by NY standards (say 1000 square feet give or take).

For meeting women, maybe give some idea of the demographic you are looking for, and the type of scene.

[CHB2]

It really depends what you are looking for. There are many nice neighborhoods in NYC that would probably satisfy your needs. For the most attractive women, generally the meatpacking district is the place to go out at night and soho during the day, but these probably aren't the best neighborhoods to live in IMO. I like the east village, gramercy, parts of the upper west for my tastes. Need more info to give a better answer.

[omni]

Jon, what do you mean by 'type of scene?'

As for demographics, I'm rather vanilla: I want the most attractive woman possible. I don't have a type. I've dated short, tall, thick, thin, black, white, etc. If I had to pick, I'd say I want a slim, athletic-but-curvy swimsuit/lingerie model, mid- to late-20s. But then again, who doesn't? I'm Christian, so that's important for anything serious (which I'm up for, but not seeking), but I have no other major dealbreakers. Except smoking.

I'm into self-improvement, reading, music, athletics, and health/fitness, in case that helps. (Wow, that looks boring when you type it out.)

Celebrity crushes: Halle Berry, Kate Upton, Meagan Good, Marisa Miller, Heidi Klum, Chanel Iman, Minka Kelly

[omni]

CHB2, what kind of further info do you need?

[Jon]

Well, you have a few different going out neighborhoods with different atmospheres and types of people.

1) Meatpacking. This is a mix of club people and professionals, to varying degrees depending on the place. By club people I mean "models" "actresses," the occasional minor celebrity, and party girls. These are all clubs. Tough doors, expensive, bottle service

2) Lower east side - mostly people in their mid-late 20s with decently well paying jobs. If things get crowded doors can get tough, but if you know the area never trouble getting in. There are also some hipster bars in the neighborhood.

3) east village - low key version of lower east side. More NYU kids

In both the EV and LES you have some super trendy bars, but even there if you show up early you get in.

4) Williamsburg - hipster central.

[omni]

Thanks, Jon. Have you got any daytime suggestions? I'm open to trying the club scene, but it isn't my strong suit. And do you recommend renting in these neighborhoods or just partying there?

[Jon]

East village/lower east are great neighborhoods to live in.

Soho and the east village are great areas for day game. Streets and stores are great for that.

Williamsburg is in brooklyn. Good neighborhood, if you like hipsters.

The ideal NY area to live in would be, in my opinion, 23rd down to delancey, Broadway to avenue B.

[omni]

Thanks, Jon. Sorry if this should be obvious, but what makes that area ideal, specifically?

And hipsters sometimes annoy me....
(joking)

[Jon]

Variety of things.

1) proximity to nightlife. The area i said is basically the east village, lower east side, and slightly north of the village.
2) restaurants. Best concentration of good restaurants in Manhattan. This ranges from super cheap to super expensive
3) cafes: tons of good independent cafes, book stores, hangouts in the day time.
4) slightly lower population density - these are low rise buildings, so it's not quite as crowded as some other places.

The one, big downside to the neighborhood is lack of good housing

Basically, the area has tons of old walk up buildings that are often shitty, small, and overpriced. getting a nice, modern, elevator, doorman building can be more difficult here than some other places.

That said, at 3 grand per month, you should be fine.

[CHB2]

@omni yeah you pretty much covered the info about yourself. As long as you are relatively centrally located in Manhattan you can get to most places within 30min. I really like the gramercy area, which is a bit north of the east village. I usually go out in the east village or williamsburg, but I am 23 so probably have a little different preferences for nightlife.

I agree with Jon's suggestion of being on the east side and not too far downtown, most fun things are around there, and you can take the L train across to meatpacking if that's your thing.

[omni]

Thanks Jon and CHB2. That's the type of stuff I wanted to know.

Does anyone have recommendations for specific places I should visit when I'm in NYC this month? I'd love to have a few spots on my list to check out, especially if the ladies are there. I'll be mostly in Mid-town, Downtown, and maybe Queens, but I can get just about anywhere.