It seemed likely that this week’s couple, both ardent sports fans, would easily hit it out of the park at the Boathouse (appropriately, in Central Park). However, when Joe, 28, a real estate accountant, and Katie, 27, a marketing manager, were both more interested in the crab cake than each other’s conversation, it was clear that there was no joy in Mudville that night.
He said:
The date got off to a great start when I took a wrong turn in Central Park and showed up five minutes late at the Boathouse. I’m not sure how Katie felt about me being a little late, but if she was miffed, she didn’t show it.
When I walked over to the table, I realized that the Post photographer was already there to take our photos. The initial “getting to know you” conversation with Katie was simultaneously funny and awkward, mostly because after taking our photo, the photographer was the third wheel. We had ordered cocktails and he was drinking an Amstel with us, and I could feel him looking back and forth at Katie and I as we talked, which made me laugh.
Luckily, Katie was very friendly and easy to converse with. She’s originally from Minnesota, and I definitely found her different from some of the girls around here – in a good way. We talked about our careers and where we lived. We also both love music and play an instrument – she plays the piano and I play the guitar.
When the conversation turned towards politics, I was hesitant. But it turned out that we have similar beliefs and a shared disdain for Hillary Clinton.
Still, the date was lacking chemistry. While the restaurant itself had a great setting on a lake, I wasn’t feeling a spark. I don’t think she felt one, either – we split a cab and didn’t exchange numbers. Katie was nice, but not the right girl for me.
Rating: —
She said:
I arrived at the Boathouse at 8, and nursed a glass of wine while I waited for Joe. After 10 minutes there was still no sign of him, so the host seated me at the table. Finally, at 8:15, a man greeted me. Was this finally Joe? Nope – the Post photographer had arrived. Since Joe had yet to show, the photographer joined me for a drink.
When Joe finally arrived a little while later, I was slightly peeved because punctuality is important to me, especially when making a first impression. Joe apologized, so I tried to keep an open mind. He was attractive and nicely dressed, so I didn’t write him off yet.
Our introduction was awkward since we had to take pictures before we got to talk at all, and after the lukewarm start, I hoped we could turn the date around.
No dice. Joe was nice, but I couldn’t find enthusiasm in his background or interests. I spoke of moving to New York from Minneapolis, but he had lived in Long Island and Manhattan all his life. I talked of my trips to Scandinavia and Australia; the farthest he had traveled was Hawaii. Hoping to find a spark, I mentioned my passion for theater and wine and asked about his taste in music. His answers just lacked gusto.
Finally, I mentioned sports, another favorite of mine, and this seemed to work. We talked about various sports, including lacrosse, which he plays.
Still, I was looking for a little more of an intriguing character. To put it bluntly, the meal was more stimulating than my date. The crab cake was juicy and the lavender panna cotta melted in my mouth. Not to mention the sauvignon blanc, which paired well with the dishes and helped me appear interested.
We finished our meal, shared a cab and politely said goodnight without exchanging phone numbers. While Joe was a nice guy, I failed to find anything that grabbed me. It was great we could talk about sports and politics, but in all honesty, there was nothing that made him stand out from the average Joe.
Rating: -1/2