Meet 20 something Single Women in NOVA/ DC (Arlington: low income, receptions)

[krishnat]

Hello guys - I am trying to find bars/clubs/places where one can meet single women. I usually used to go to places like Ultra Bar, Park - but these places are now filled with 18, early 20 college going kids. And most of them are no interested in meeting someone new.

Any suggestions would be great.

[Carlingtonian]

I'm happily married, but I'm happy to pass on my long-unused expertise. ;-)

Skip the bars. If you want to meet attractive, brainy women who aren't "long-handled soil-tending garden implements," hit the art museum receptions, bookstores, dog parks, coffee shops, etc. At high-culture events, you'll see it's maybe 50% old people, 30% gorgeous young single women, maybe 10% non-elderly couples, and the rest are gay men. I.e.: The odds are in your favor.

They'll also regard you as a cultured, gainfully employed, stable gentleman--an impression you will alas have to maintain at least for a while, before you admit you actually live in Mom's basement and run a business selling Metallica t-shirts online. (Haha.)

Also, these days it seems like if you can find a coffee shop near a yoga place, that would be a good idea.

The torch has been passed. Good luck and godspeed, brother!

[perries]

Just showing up at busy venues, events or places doesn't really mix you in meaningfully, but getting involved in the community is how you meet people, including nice young women.

For example, if you take yoga, there will be a lot of women in the class, but the way to maximize your chances of meeting someone compatible to you is to get to know the people in that community by volunteering, participating in social opportunities, taking weekend workshops, going on retreats.

If you do the art route, you would probably need to do more than just show up at receptions, by again getting involved, cultivating an interest, actively socializing around it.

So my advice is pick some areas you think you could be interested in naturally, because if you get the ball rolling then meeting compatible ladies will be an organic part of the process.

Think outside the box and expand beyond the bars and clubs. Me and my dh met in a book related fashion. We are both big readers who are now married and like to go to libraries, bookstores, read a lot, talk about books etcetera. We actually did go on the same Lindy Promotions pub crawl before we met, and I even noticed him, but we didn't talk and only met several years later over this common interest.

[FindingZen]

Many people here have extolled the virtues of Meetup.com. The types of gatherings that people are suggesting can be found here...as well as more organized bar-hopping. If you're actually looking for a "meat market", I don't know if that's the most appropriate thing to ask about here but if you're looking for Miss (Could-Be) Right, then I agree that the bar scene is not the place.

[CaliTerp07]

Gotta agree with getting involved in something. Volunteering is a great way to meet someone (and you'll feel good about yourself too!) I volunteer tutor teens in low income housing in Arlington, and nearly all the tutors are 20-something women. The few young guys there are ADORED by the kids, and there's plenty of opportunity to talk to the women before/during/after tutoring, or at the happy hours and social activities planned for volunteers.

[stpickrell]

Be handsome. Be attractive. Don't be unattractive.

In addition to these things, work out and read newspapers, magazines, and books. Or, if you must skip one, skip the working out and read twice as much.

Avoid frustration and anger. Most men don't really like that, and women can detect it and will flee if you're not so good-looking as to just draw women from that.

Don't sign up for something you're not interested in only due to the female/male ratio.

Thing is, if you're not attractive or a good conversationalist, you'll find women will interpret your actions as creepier than they are. Often times, the difference between flirting and sexual harassment is how the woman interprets it (and I'm not talking about cases where a boss gropes a woman or insinuates she can sleep her way to a raise.)

[oneasterisk]

For the past few weeks I've been hanging out at the local Borders studying for a certification exam. I've noticed a lot of attractive college age girls there studying or chatting up with each other. Since NOVA has a lot of highly educated folks, I'm sure these gals would be quite the catch.

[jokerstars]

Don't listen to the [people] who say you should avoid bars. People go to bars to socialize and hang out with friends.

Any normally socialized 20-something girl will like to go out and get drinks at a lounge or bar. Club girls, maybe.

[krishnat]

ALL - Thanks for all the advice. I think, I will try the Art route and Volunteering route. Any idea, where I can look for volunteering posiitons for Mclean, VA area?

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by krishnat

ALL - Thanks for all the advice. I think, I will try the Art route and Volunteering route. Any idea, where I can look for volunteering posiitons for Mclean, VA area?

What are you interested in, volunteer wise? (Education, animals, children, elderly, homeless, literacy, poverty, skills based volunteering, etc?)

There's a craigslist section for volunteers. You have to wade through a lot of muck, but there are some good opportunities on there.