Flirting is a lost art, especially in D.C., where everyone has a Type A personality and two phones in hand. But it’s never too late. I’m not here to tell you how to flirt (that’s a skill issue, my guy). But I can tell you where to go to try out your moves this Valentine's Day.
14th Street NW Trader Joe’s (Freezer Section)
This Trader Joe’s is the Wild West of eligible D.C. singletons. Sunday morning brings out hordes of hungover 20-something-year-old bachelors and bachelorettes searching for orange chicken, and maybe even … love?
The Philosophy Section At Lost City Books
Picture this, you’re both reaching for the same copy of Foucault. Your hands touch. You blush. Suddenly, you’re chatting about disciplinary power principles and the analysis of sexuality as a social construct. Then you kiss.
The Climbing Gym
After work, the Bouldering Project in Eckington turns into a club. The music is bumping. Everyone is sweaty, ripped, and covered with white powder. Use the magic words, “Do you know the beta?” as an icebreaker. Trust me.
Lost City Books. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Pottery Class
That scene in Ghost is famous for a reason, ok? Pottery is sexy. Plus, it displays how good someone is with their hands, for, you know … other stuff.
The Metro Platform
Crammed next to someone on the Metro again? Make the most of the situation and initiate a meet-cute. Just don’t break any of the unwritten rules of taking the metro.
Dirksen Cafeteria
Maybe not traditional, but I had to throw one in for our lonely Hill staffers. Why NOT flirt over some Senate Bean Soup? Nobody’s stopping you.
The Eaton Hotel Bar
Drinking alone at the hotel bar is a serious power move. Plus, it gives you a chance to meet out-of-towners, which, if you’ve been dating in D.C. for a while, can be a major reprieve.
