On the news last night, NBC LA ran a story about the Angelino dating scene, based on a new Zagat survey. Apparently Zagat has recently produced its first “Los Angeles Dating (and Dumping) Guide,” after delving into the experiences of the city’s sassy singles like yours truly.
For the story, they set up shop at Wilshire restaurant in Santa Monica, which I’ve driven by many times but never realized was a hot spot for local pick-ups. (Even still, I think I’ll pass on checking it out since everyone they interviewed was given the scarlet letter designation “single” below their name on screen. I already associate myself with plenty of embarrassments – I’m good for now.)
But I was intrigued by the statistics, especially when in comparison to New York. A lot of it had to do with politics, which I believe, along with money and religion, shouldn’t necessarily be discussed early on. However, I’m guilty of these discussions as recently as last weekend but luckily they didn’t turn into a heated debate. Yet. Give it time, give it time.
Anyway, LA singles are pretty open minded when it comes to the modern, 21st century type stuff like religion, race and age but I thought it was amusing that 56% of single Angelinos won’t consider dating someone outside the LA metro area (about 10 miles) since it’s referred to as a “long distance relationship.” In New York, I knew plenty of people who lived in Brooklyn and dated someone on the Upper West Side, or who lived in Hoboken and dated someone in Chelsea. It takes just as long to get from one of those areas to another, yet when you’re stuck in LA traffic trying to do the same, it’s not worth the misery and you decide to just bag it altogether.
In terms of dates themselves, Angelinos are less interested in status than those moneygrubbers in New York and would rather go out on a casual first date (sushi, coffee, drinks) instead of a formal dinner. According to this survey, LA singles are also perceived as more ethical – 5% will date someone who is already in a relationship vs. 13% in NY. Home. Wreckers.
But a Zagat editor took these statistics a little too seriously if you ask me and said that LA singles are actually, “relatively mid-western conservative with rock solid values.”
I think that’s a bit of a stretch.
Update: I love NY, you know that. Stop sending me hate emails.
Here in sunny California, I’ve been adjusting to the granolas and hippies, but nothing shares my experience quite like the Aquamantra “I Am Loved” energy-enhanced bottled water sold at Whole Foods. No joke, this is their label:
