The Dating Matrix: Where You Go Matters More Than You Think
When choosing a place for a night out — especially during this February week of love — consider these factors: how romantic it is, and, if you’re single, whether the ratio of men-to-women is in your favor.
We’ve made it easy with our Dating Matrix, plotting place categories on the spectrum of romance, while taking into account Foursquare visit data and Swarm check ins according to gender, to give you insight into the male/female breakdown you’re likely to find when you arrive.
The best date-night choice? Your nearby speakeasy, which over-indexes for romance. Want to impress your lady? For an unconventional choice, consider a cycling class (deemed somewhat sexy, with a high percentage of women). Depending on how you feel about the man in your life, consider a throwback date to a record store (kinda romantic), a stop into a hookah bar (totally neutral), or if you’re keeping it friends-only, go straight to the pool hall.
When you’re looking for ladies, consider that college residences are 56% percent female. And tech start-ups? For better or for worse, 69% male (no, the office doesn’t rank for romance).
The most ambiguous date spot in our study: a farmers market — guaranteed to blur the lines for men and women everywhere. Potential internal dialogue: Is this a date? No, it’s not. Well, maybe it is. Do I care? Uhh… oh look, Bartlett pears!
Happy hunting.
