Unexpected Places for Meet Cutes in 2026

It's no secret how much dating takes place on the apps today as compared to in real life. But online dating hasn't exactly led to more success in finding the right romantic partnership. Hannah Frishberg, WNYC/Gothamist culture reporter, has reported on places like bookstores, bars, and bagel shops are creating dating events to encourage IRL spaces for people to get to know each other and meet new people. She discusses what she found in her reporting and listeners share their in-person dating success stories and struggles. Photo by Arianna Medina. A local speed dating event. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.