In a city full of transients, meeting someone who hails from the same familiar place as we do can make for an easy conversation starter. Such was the case for Bianca, 24, and Tyler, 26, who discovered they are both Wisconsin transplants over dinner at Midtown steakhouse STK. Were they able to work their Midwest charm on one another — or did familiarity breed contempt?
He said:
When I arrived, I was happy to find Bianca cute and upbeat. Conversation came easily, and we quickly found we have a lot in common.
Bianca and I are both from Wisconsin, and grew up about 100 miles apart. We’re also both involved with nonprofit organizations in the city and working a few jobs simultaneously to get a feel for what we’d like to do next.
The STK staff took great care of us. Bianca and I battled over dessert: My choice, strawberry rhubarb, versus hers, almond birthday cake. We let the waitress decide, she suggested mine, and Bianca admitted it was the perfect ending to a meal.
I was getting over a cold, but luckily my voice held out through 80 percent of the date. Bianca and I exchanged numbers and we’d like to get together again. I see potential for summer adventures before I delve into grad school this fall.
She said:
I arrived early, so I was waiting for Tyler. The photographer also arrived early, so we waited in front of the restaurant and we spotted a guy outside who looked lost. He was pretty cute in a geeky way with a bit of facial hair. It turned out to be Tyler.
We discovered we’re both from Wisconsin and we’d both been baristas, another similarity.
We tried a raw fish appetizer, because neither of us knew what it was. Tyler was down to just kind of go for it. We also discussed the big, expensive wine list — there was a bottle of champagne that cost about a month’s rent for my apartment.
I liked Tyler. Not sure why, but we got along well. I’d like to see him again.