A New York City matchmaker claims a woman canceled a first date with a finance professional because he suggested a casual craft beer bar, a decision she defended as a matter of 'vibe.'
Blaine Anderson, a matchmaker, revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that her client, identified as RJ, was stood up by a 26-year-old woman he was introduced to. The reason for the cancellation, Anderson stated, was RJ's suggestion to meet at Crown Alley, a craft beer and cocktail parlor in Manhattan's Chelsea district.
Anderson described the woman as having an 'amazing' family, being 'sexy' and 'refined,' and initially agreeing to the introduction. However, upon learning of the proposed venue, she reportedly decided RJ was not a suitable match. "Based on that alone, she knows he’s not a fit," Anderson wrote. "Obviously, I feel bad for RJ, and yeah, it’s lame to be judgy about first date plans, but… I actually agree with her on this one."
The matchmaker elaborated that the decision was not about the cost of the date but about the woman's perceived 'vibe.' "Giant pretzels don’t exactly give 'sexy' or 'refined,'" Anderson stated, referring to one of the venue's offerings. She suggested RJ would be better suited for someone who prefers a more casual meeting, such as over a "ham and cheese toasty."
Crown Alley features $8 craft beer and cocktails, $8 soft pretzels, and $2.50 oysters, alongside burgers and salads. The establishment also offers a happy hour with $1 oysters and 13 craft cocktails for $8 each.
However, Anderson's assessment was met with disagreement from many commenters on social media. Some argued that individuals should communicate their preferences and suggest alternative locations rather than canceling outright. Others suggested that longer initial conversations are needed before making judgments based on a first date venue.
"You can't all be serious If someone you're open to meet proposes a date place you don't like – you just tell them: 'I don't feel like it, let's go somewhere else.' What's all this talk about tests and standards?" one commenter wrote.
Another user defended the establishment's menu, noting options like oysters on the half shell, warm olives, and blue cheese stuffed dates, and suggested the man had avoided a potentially high-maintenance individual. The Daily Mail has reached out to Anderson for further comment. The situation has been framed by some as a shift from the perceived desirability of finance professionals with trust funds and blue eyes in previous years.
