Hot Singles Scene Brewing in Brooklyn Heights?

By on November 3, 2010 5:58 am in Fun

Gorbot via Flickr

A single gal friend of mine was looking at apartments in the neighborhood yesterday, and asked me what the action was like in the Heights. Hmmmm. Well, yesterday we asked you to weigh in on the best brew in town; it would stand to reason, then, that with all the new cafes around there should be some “meet cute” action, n’est-ce pas? Or perhaps we’re just cock-eyed optimists. (I know I am.) At any rate, tell us your favorite flirty places and maybe she’ll splash out for a jr. one-bedroom on Hicks St.

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  • AEB

    No one flirts in BH. Never have done. Never will. Had to sign a paper before I moved here.

  • DAISY

    I have to agree with AEB. Living in the Heights for 8 years now and I can say that is the truth for sure. Great place to live if you don’t care bout meeting someone and if you have pets as well but forget bout meeting singles there. It’s pretty much not going to happen.

  • Joe

    Agreeing with the posters above – as a single guy in BH, it is a wasteland as far as meeting people goes.

  • EHinBH

    I was single in the Heights, left, got married a few years later, and now have returned. Gotta say, it’s a lot better here once you are, well,
    “established.” You can meet people at Henry Street Ale, Floyd, Chip Shop… If not a drinker then there’s not a chance. Thing is, one of the best things about BH is that you can hang out in the City anywhere south of 14th and be back here by cab or 2/3 in a flash.

  • Whatelse

    I agree with the posts above… I thought I was the only single girl in the Heights, good to know there are more of us here.

    Maybe we should all meet and organize a rebellion!

    P.S
    Hey Joe… wanna do something sometime? ;-)

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    I met my wife at a party on the Upper West side, but when I told her I lived in Brooklyn Heights it was a major selling point. She had spent some time cat-sitting for friends here while she was in grad school at NYU, and had come to like the neighborhood.

    For a time before meeting my wife, I dated a seminarian who was interning at Grace Church, and whom I met at a social event there.

    There are ways of meeting people here besides the bar scene (though from what I’ve observed in my limited time there it looks like Roebling Inn may be a good spot for that). For example, you could volunteer to help Jonathan Landsman in the Promenade gardens. He’ll be needing help soon with planting tulip bulbs that will burst into bloom next spring (I’ll be posting more details promptly). Join in, and perhaps something else will blossom for you.

  • Livingston

    Have to agree w/ the above – not easy meeting singles here. Although I once had the experience of a way-too-old guy slipping me a note w/ his phone # as I looked over the steaks at Key Food. Gave a whole new meaning to “meat dept”.

  • ABC

    Tell her to look for a place in Carroll Gardens.

  • william

    Yeah, try Key Food. Meat, spices, beer, you name it. Ha, ha.

  • Joe

    It seems like the only people in the neighborhood who aren’t already attached are me, Whatelse, Brooklyn Law students, and the students that live above the Clark St. station.

    Still, I’d much rather live here than in my old neighborhood, the Financial District. I like being able to sleep at night without the constant bleating of construction vehicles.

  • Heather Quinlan

    Yeah, I adore living in Brooklyn Heights, but it makes your love life hilarious.

  • Luke C

    I think the best place to meet eligible singles in Brooklyn Heights is while looking at one-bedroom apartments during Open House. Plenty of fodder for conversation, awkward questions are handled by the realtor, successful connections can be extended by heading to the next open house…and it’s affordable on any budget (unlike the actual apartments)!

  • Teddy

    I know quite a few single women/men in their 40s and 50s living in the Heights which might not be a good sign for singles in their 20s and 30s.

  • Heightser

    As a married with children resident, I cannot understand why singles would want to live here at all. The draw is suburban-urban. This is NYC folks. Lots of excitement out there – go find it!

    When I was single, I only came to Brooklyn to visit the relatives.

  • Publius

    Are the rumors true there’s more than a little wife-husband swapping and other “non-traditional neighborliness” happening in the Heights? I’ve heard the rumors over the years.

  • bornhere

    I grew up and went to school here, and although I had some friends in the neighborhood (mostly from school), once I started college and work, I found my social life went well beyond my own backyard. I didn’t hang out here when I was in my 20s, and although I met my husband here, I was always glad that I could live in my never-want-to-leave-it neighborhood but get to the City for whatever social/dining/cultural extras I wanted. I am always surprised by all the carping about bad restaurants/bars, limited social scene, etc, in the Heights: this is New York. You can travel beyond Mayberry in no time. Does everything one does have to be within a 10-block radius?

  • friendlyneighbor

    @ Publius: Yes, the rumors are true but they are by invite only.

  • AEB

    bornhere, one lives in New York City for it’s New Yorkiness, which means for “morness,” which includes ample social/sexual opportunity.

    I don’t think that one should have to take a subway or walk for miles to enjoy that opportunity. To my mind it speaks poorly for our nabe that it lacks that –or, indeed, any street-life sexual vibe, Makes one feel that part of adult life is missing.

  • nabeguy

    For whatever reason, when I was growing up in the nabe in the 60’s/70’s, there was a disproportionate slant that skewed male. Yes, there were girls, but most of them were kept behind locked doors by their parents. Even into my adolescent years, most of my romantic endeavors were directed towards girls in my school, none of whom lived the the Heights. Of course, this is back in the day when the singles scene n BH was gay, and did a thriving business at Danny’s Hideaway. Given the comments on this thread, I think a singles-only gathering place is in order and the empty space on Henry & Cranberry would be perfect. You could call it “The Busy Hef”.

  • AEB

    It IS interesting, to me at any rate, that there is no (longer a) gay presence in BH.

    I suppose the reason for this is largely economic: young gay men can’t afford to live here, and gay women…well, ditto, and/or have found other Brooklyn enclaves more hospitable.

    The lack of a larger gay male population really deprives BH of much liveliness, let’s call it.

  • Jorale-man

    Agree with Bornhere – as a single person, I wouldn’t necessarily want bars all up and down my block. I don’t mind walking down to Henry Public in Cobble Hill or any number of places on Smith St.

    More to the point, bars aren’t a such a great place to meet people. Too noisy, too full of skeazy people. Things have moved much more online (Match, eHarmony, etc.) these days.

  • my2cents

    I feel like this nabe is a desert when it comes to meeting other young single people: once in a while you see something promising in the distance but it is usually a mirage. But at least girls from other hoods seem to dig it when you mention you live here…

    Maybe a BHB singles night is called for!

  • Joe

    Hey speak of the devil, another Joe? When did you join BHBlog, Joe? I think we need to duke out our handles lest my partner freaks out that I’ m claiming to be a single.

    I’ve always wondered why young single ppl would live here. I came to the nabe when I got married & got all the poison out of me.

  • north heights res

    I moved here when I was 33 and single – loved the beauty and “neighborhoodiness” of BH. I was moving here from London, and BH reminded me of living there: small scale, nice combination of residential/commercial, historic. And my my job was here, so I wanted, if at all possible, to be able to walk to work.

    Whether I’d meet men or not never occurred to me…but my first NYC boyfriend lived on Willow St. and the second in Cobble Hill.

  • K

    Would someone set up a single’s night, already? Where should we go, Roebling Inn?

  • Deb

    There is this speed dating site (http://www.hurrydate.com/) that sponsors events. I don’t know if it’s ever occurred to them to set something up in Brooklyn Heights. Seems like it would be a big hit! if only there was a bar/restaurant with a back room that would allow it… Also I never see street fairs here for “adults” – meaning with no bouncy houses and balloons… how about a food street fair on Montague? That would get the singles out and about at least.

  • Rabble

    I’m pretty sure my building is stuffed full of single ladies between 25-30 (including me). I love coming home to a nice quiet neighborhood after I’ve done my bar hopping on the lower east side or cobble hill. I don’t need crazy singles screaming outside my window all night, I’m getting old and need some rest. I’ve lived here for 5 years now and the low key atmosphere of this beautiful neighborhood is definitely one of the things that has kept me here!

    On the other hand, I would definitely be down for a singles night at the Roebling! When is it happening?

  • Heather Quinlan

    Let me see whose ear I have to bend to get a singles’ night organized. Maybe before the holidays? Everyone bring mistletoe! :)

  • lcd

    Different nights for different age groups perhpas? Wouldn’t want seniors/baby boomers showing up only to find 20-somethings – or maybe some would!

  • Joe2: The Joe-ening

    Ha! I didn’t realize someone had already claimed the handle! Far be it that I’d want to cause a disruption between First Joe and his partner.

    I’ve lived in the Heights for a little over a year now, but just stumbled upon the blog in the last few weeks. I typically don’t post comments to blogs – the commentariat most places scares the crap out of me – but this seemed like an easy-enough going place.

    I think Jorale-man is right. I tried the online dating thing for awhile, and it was 50/50 on BH as a selling point: the reaction was either (1) that’s such a great neighborhood, or (2) ew, you live in Brooklyn? And not even the artsy part? Pshaw.

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