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Personalitini: Tales of Drinks and Dates5 min read

Liz Batsche, MBA Class of 2014

Personalitini

Welcome to New York City! Welcome to Stern! Welcome to a Dating Challenging Environment!

Hello there! Sit down, pour yourself a drink and get comfortable! My name is Liz Batsche and I’m an MBA2. Don’t worry, you can introduce yourself later. You may be wondering, what the !@#$ does Personalitini mean? I think I may need to clarify since one time on an OKCupid date (more on that later) I was asked if this meant I had a tiny (“tini”) personality. This date not only lacked intelligence but the resemblance of his posted photos; I am typically down for a surprise, but not in this case! Anyhow, when I applied to Stern and wrote the “infamous” third essay, I described myself as a cocktail (you guessed it, the Personalitini). I plan to pursue a career in spirits marketing when I graduate, so there was an actual reason beyond me just loving cocktails. I loved the name so much that when I created my online dating profiles, I used “Personalitini” as my username. Whoever told me that I would never use my application essays again was so wrong! I’m writing this column to share with you my humorous tales of dating and drinking (quite honestly, I’m not sure which fuels the other). Unintentionally, I’ve become the Bad Date Whisperer. With each Facebook post of a friend’s engagement, pregnancy announcement or honeymoon photos, I am gifted with another dating tale. I’ve found misery loves company, so this column will share with you the lowlights and the highlights of my dating escapades. As a trend, the highlights tend to be the cocktails I Instagram after the date and not the date itself.

Last year I was full of hope when I packed my bags to move the hell out of Charlotte, NC. After five years of dating in a Southern city, this Jersey Girl was ready to meet all of the eligible men at Stern! In a class of nearly 400 people, there had to be plenty of men for me to date…right? I wasn’t concerned about meeting one person, but rather having to pick just one! I would no longer need to creep on the internet through Match.com! In a city of millions, I could surely meet at least one person. Call me Katniss, because the odds were in my favor.

You’re bright if you’re reading this, so I’m sure you can tell that I haven’t had much luck in the romance department. Instead of finding someone during my first year at Stern, I’ve found OKCupid, How About We, Match.com and Tinder. TINDER. I even judge myself. I’ve heard of new dating apps (I think a new one debuts each time someone gets engaged in my Newsfeed), but I refuse to have more dating apps than can fit on one row of my iPhone (I say NO after 4).

Once I arrived on campus in August for Launch, I didn’t realize that many “relationships” (loosely defined) had already started and ended during Summer Start. In addition to taking Statistics (highly stimulating), Summer Starters are incredibly resourceful and found ways to get stimulation outside the classroom. We are always working on developing our networking abilities in business school, especially with potential romantic partners!

Once I heard of the fraternizing during Summer Start, I was even more optimistic! Imagine what the possibilities could be during two semesters of this networking activity? I quickly found out there weren’t many possibilities. What stops the Stern community from being an incubator of not only businesses but also relationships? Is it the temptation of the city’s bright lights? Or that many students have already laid down roots in NYC before school? On-Campus “Dating” is replaced with On-Campus Recruiting.

Don’t get me wrong. There is that rare unicorn of a couple that dates at Stern. Remember though, they are the exception and not the rule. If you came to Stern hoping you’d receive not only an MBA but also an MRS or MR degree, there is hope. Remember how you applied to Stern one year ago and you were accepted? Apply that same discipline to your romantic goals! In the spirit of sharing information, I will be updating you throughout the year on my dating success stories and nightmares. I mean, who doesn’t love a good “Catfish” story?! Until next time, I’ve listed some bars that make great first date locations. The lighting is favorable, there are seats to sit on and you can have a conversation without yelling. If you have a date idea or a question, please email me at Liz.Batsche@stern.nyu.edu. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @personalitini. Last, but certainly not least, my blog: http://personalitini.blogspot.com/

Hoping you drink as well as you date,

Liz

First Date Locations

The Library at The NoMad Hotel (Flatiron)

1170 Broadway, Manhattan

http://www.thenomadhotel.com/#!/dining/library

PRO: You can drink fancy cocktails in a library setting

CON: “Fancy” cocktails are pricier ($15 average)

Nurse Bettie (Lower East Side)

106 Norfolk Street, Manhattan

http://nursebettie.com/

PRO: Awesome Pin-Up model atmosphere with burlesque shows on select nights

CON: Strangers dancing in sparkly underwear may be aggressive for a first date (or, this could be a PRO)

Jacques 1534 (Nolita)

20 Prince Street, Manhattan

http://www.jacques1534.com/

PRO: Near school (in case your date happens to be in your study group – play on, player)

CON: The staircase leading to the bar is steep – friends have fallen up (yes, up) the stairs. You’ve been warned!

Surf Bar (Willamsburg)

139 North 6th Street, Brooklyn

http://www.brooklynsurfbar.com/

PRO: This bar has real sand and delicious Tiki-style drinks

CON: Plan your outfit accordingly – no one wants to ruin expensive stilettos!

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