The majority of this date occurred under the blue neon shot glass at Barcelona Bar in Hell’s Kitchen. After the last date with Mr. 1987, I decided I was taking a break until the new year with new dates and I should’ve stuck to my guns. But, Tall T did an excellent job of keeping in touch for well over two months and made an effort to meet up so I obliged. We started chatting on OkCupid in October and our schedules just never really matched up to meet and then I went to FL.

We made plans to meet up on a Monday night at this place called Matt’s Grill in Hell’s Kitchen, his choice. He picked it because he said it was chill and quiet. I saw it as a local pub, not ideal, but was close to my office. Before the date I got a chair massage at the nail salon and felt guilty because I showed up 10 minutes late. I didn’t think the woman would give me a much needed free extra 5 minutes – so I felt guilty but well refreshed when I arrived at the date. Now this was one of those rare first meetings where the guy actually looks better in person than in his pictures, so I was pleasantly surprised. Tall (6′ 3”), blonde hair and blue eyes (I really need to toss a brunette in the mix here for the next guy!) and 32. But, lives in bum f*** Queens. He was definitely on the quieter side and after one drink I had the impression he wasn’t into me. I guess I was wrong because one drink turned into a second drink and us sharing a snack. My second drink was a dirty martini as I was inspired by the dirty martini on the Matt’s Grill menu and also it was a Monday. I appreciate alliteration.

At Matt’s we discussed family, work and all the typical first date conversations. Religion came up as well and he mentioned that he wanted to get back into the Catholic Church. I told him about the Young Adult Mass that would be occurring Wednesday. I didn’t invite him to go with me but said that would be a great way to ease back into the church with the younger crowd and social afterward. Of course he didn’t come last night.

During conversation after we finished sharing a chicken wrap, I mentioned Barcelona Bar across the street and how it is where my coworkers and I will go after work sometimes. He was intrigued and so we went! Upon arriving at Barcelona Bar (a shot bar), I treat Tall T to his first Barcelona shot – a chocolate covered pretzel. Delicious. Little did we know that Monday night is trivia night! I look at this as a super fun first date. Shots, trivia and games. In between rounds of trivia we would play hangman. Games photographed below:

Our team name ended up being “T & A” for our initials (and the dirty reference) to satisfy his team name suggestions that weren’t the classiest. The rounds of trivia included nicknames for drugs, which I’m glad to say that we bombed so I know he doesn’t do drugs. He knew “glass” because of Breaking Bad. I’ll allow that. I knew the other 4 out of the 8: marching powder, grass, lucy and x. Definitely wouldn’t be my first round of choice for trivia for a first date but the other rounds were celebrities, word association and playing of songs to name the artist. Unfortunately, they started a musical round while I was in the bathroom. I heard “Material Girls” and was excited to come back and say “Madonna!” but he was standing there CHEATING with Shazam! NOT OK! You cheat on trivia, I bet you’ll cheat on me one day! RED FLAG. I still made the most of the night and trivia but I was pretty turned off at this point.

We shared two pitchers of Bud Light, or should I say I sipped on one glass while he consumed the pitchers. He definitely got drunk and I definitely remained sober. Interesting turn around here. Tall T became much more into me with each drink he took. He kept grabbing my hand to hold and kept trying to kiss me. All this at Barcelona Bar under the neon blue shot glass. No, Tall T, I will not kiss you under a the neon shot glass. Not ok. He walked me to the subway and I allowed a small kiss goodbye. The yellow NQR signs were more appropriate than the neon blue shot glass sign at least.

In the end, “T & A” did not win in trivia or in love.