They say that, like in real estate, there are three key rules to meeting a new crush: location, location, location. Okay, fine… so no one really says that. But where you meet the next future love of your life does matter. Here’s where, and here’s why:
The Best Places
Class
Where else can you confidently assume that you’ll actually see your crush again? Not only is a class the perfect place to ensure repeated exposure, but you can also impress him with your analysis of Foucault or a perfectly constructed hydrocarbon isomer. (Although I’m not sure if the latter is a real thing…)
A Mutual Friend’s House
When you meet a crush through a friend you A) know at least one other person thinks he’s cool, B) have had him marginally vetted, so he’s probably not a serial killer, and C) secured the perfect interloper to play the classic “my friend thinks you’re cute” game that started in the fifth grade. And I’m spreading the gospel that, no matter what experts say, there’s no shame in C.
A Concert
If nothing else, you know you can open an awkward first conversation with an icebreaker about your shared musical interests. Those that play (music) together, stay together.
Online
So much has changed since the days of MySpace and Xanga—now when you meet someone on Match.com or OKCupid you shouldn’t automatically assume he’s a 12-year-old boy IM-ing you from his basement. If you meet someone through a legitimate dating website (note: Craigslist is not a legitimate dating website) your future relationship could be the bomb.com. Get it? (Don’t ever use that joke.)
Your Favorite Coffee Shop
Besides the bad breath, meeting a crush at a local coffee shop is perfect: you know you both frequent the same neighborhood, you’ll most likely run into him again, and you already have the location of your first date secured.
[pagebreak]
The Worst Places
The Gym
No matter what anyone says, you don’t want to develop a crush on a guy at the gym. Why, you ask? Because no one looks sexy in spin class. To avoid a sweaty, frazzled first impression (unless you’re Mia Hamm) hit the showers before giving anyone the once-over.
Work
Crushing on a cute guy at work sounds perfect. Until something awkward happens (you date and it doesn’t work out, you don’t date but he knows you want to date, he catches you staring at him, he overhears you talking about him… the possibilities are literally endless.) Then you have to work with him. And that is a crushing scenario.
A Party Thrown By Someone You Hate
The friend of my enemy is also my enemy. If the person you’re developing a crush on is beloved by someone you could do without, that’s a red flag. Best-case scenario: you end up marrying the crush and then have to put up with the awful friend for the rest of your life. Cut your losses and move on.
Vacation
There’s nothing more romantic than meeting Prince Charming on a beach or in a European piazza or on the ski slopes in Aspen. Until the vacation ends, and you never see each other again. No one wants a long-distance relationship even before the “relationship” part. So avoid falling in love with the charming stranger you meet on vacation.
Anywhere Else If Your Purpose For Going Is To Meet a Crush
Church. A political rally. A club. A class. Service trips. Great places to meet new, eligible people. Unless, of course, you’re going for the sole purpose of scoping out the singles scene. You will feel stupid when your new crush finds out that you’re not really into professional networking in Spanish, after all.