Dating in NYC can be a train wreck.
Just ask Anastasia Gregory, whose post-pandemic hunt for it was plagued by derailments and dead ends. Swiping far and wide on dating apps and making the scene at various Big Apple hotspots proved fruitless for the elementary school teacher.
It wasn’t until the 27-year-old took a look underground that her true love was found.
I met my fiance on the subway, Gregory, who grew up in Westchester, told the Post about her morning commute, beautiful date with groom-to-be, Spencer Seabaugh.
The straphanger cuties, who now live together on the Upper East Side, had their first date on a train downtown A in March 2022.
Now, they’re going to say I’m going to do a Big Fat Greek Wedding style November 2nd.
At the time, I was hoping to meet a woman I could marry, said Seabaugh, 27, a finance executive from Kansas. Then one day, she just showed up on the subway.
The constant explosion of the constantly ruined system due to being infested by rats, cockroaches and danger aside, the rails are in reality a virtual breeding ground for romance.
Thomas Knox, host of Date While You Wait, has transformed the platforms into mini mixers, providing a welcoming space for singles to socialize before a hectic trip.
Newlyweds Daniel Jean and Esmy Valdez, of Flatbush, chose the L train to serve as the backdrop for their wedding in late June.
The Underground Soy came complete with nibbles, bubbles and a big cake of the day for the bride and groom.
And when it comes to ski-wearing Gen Zers like Gregory and her boyfriend, who accidentally bump into their forever person while going about everyday tasks like commuting, it’s preferable to online dating.
In fact, 92% of men and 88% of women ages 18 to 27 prefer to meet a potential partner in person rather than online, according to a June report.
And the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is happy to double as the cool authority.
Nearly 4 million people ride the subway every day, making it a great place to meet people, MTA spokeswoman Kayla Shults told The Post.
Not only is mass transit the fastest way to get around the city, she added, but the love of your life can move on to the next stop.
Connell Barrett, a dating coach in New York City, agreed.
The subway isn’t all rats and robbers, said Barrett, who has been dubbed the real-life Hitch.
It could be a tunnel of love.
But the pro encourages passengers to consider his top three tips for making a move while on the move.
One, be mindful of other people’s personal space, compliment a non-physical attribute, perhaps a scent or outfit, and most importantly, read the room.
If you offer someone a compliment on the subway from a friendly distance and they give you a one-word response or avert their eyes, Barrett said, pick up on their social cues, excuse yourself politely, and move on.
Fortunately for Gregory, Seabaugh’s social cues signaled him to make the first approach.
Id rushed on the train to work and saw this cool financier bro in a suit, she told The Post with a laugh.
We kept making eye contact and I thought, should I say something? If he won’t, I will.
In her first attempt to initiate a flirtation, Gregory swapped her seat on the train with one next to Seabaugh and handed him her phone, wordlessly asking for his contact information.
She texted me later that day, we went on our first date a few days later and got engaged on Nov. 18, 2023, Seabaugh said.
The juxtaposition of this beautiful love story with the dark subway is interesting, so many things could have changed the outcome, he thought.
However, here we are and now we were getting married.
But the almost-married are not the only beauties that Cupids hit under the concrete.
My husband, Gary, and I met on the N train from 42nd Street to Ditmars 12 years ago, Allie Vider, 35, a stay-at-home mother of two young children told The Post.
The metro sweethearts, who now live in northern New Jersey, married in September 2015.
And, coincidentally, it blew up, my grandparents met on the N train and were married for 66 years.
Gary, 41, a stand-up comedian, often dates himself and his star-studded allies in his act, joking that if he hadn’t told God bless the cute girl who sneezed on train, he would be a free man.
But light hearted strokes do not bother his bright-looking bride.
I like it, she said of Gary’s sages. His whole act, he really cracks me up. And many of them are so accurate.
He is my soulmate, she added. And to think, if we had boarded different train cars, or if one of us had been five minutes late, we wouldn’t be here today.
It was a cool way to meet.
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Image Source : nypost.com