For Her: A great idea on the second or third date is to bring her a little gift. This is a really sweet idea that will really warm her heart, especially since it seems the old time standard first date flowers are a thing of the past. But after the first date, bringing a small gift shows that you were thinking of her, that you wanted to do a little something for her, and, if you get a gift that’s a bit unique, you were listening to her interests and were paying attention. That’s how you know she loves sailing and why you bought her little anchor earrings. The thing is you’re not going to go buy her expensive jewelry this early on, and no one expects you to. But just a little trinket can show that you’re really interested in who she is and that you care. There is a store on Prince Street and West Broadway in Soho called Girl Props. It’s an accessory store chock full of low price goodies. What makes this store your stop for that gift is that it’s got something for every woman. Some things are pretty, some are just silly. But your choice depends on what you gathered about your date the first one or two times you met. Here you can get her something creative and fun that will really make her say “wow, not only was he listening, but how original was this idea?!” Is she a little punk rock? Go for a cute studded bracelet. The kind of girl that embraces her eighties childhood and struck up conversation about what shows you guys used to watch? Girl Props actually has novelty jewelry with miniature eighties-era toys on them. (Is she going to wear that to a nice place? Well, no, but she’ll adore the thought and treasure it.) Is she more of a glam girl, loving a little glitz? Go for a delicate chain necklace with a pretty and sparkly rhinestone charm. You won’t spend more than $20.00 here, but you will walk out with a gift that will get you another date.
For Him: Same goes for you girls buying your guy something. Early on in the dating, you don’t want to go grandiose with the gift, you just want to get a little something that shows you were listening to him and what he likes, maybe even what his childhood was like. The gift in this stage is all about being thoughtful. Check out the classic St. Mark’s Comics on St. Mark’s Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. This tiny landmark is crammed with all things guy (and girl, of course). Your date does not have to be a comic book geek for you to find something that will totally catch him off guard with pleasant surprise. There are comics for every taste and interest, knick-knacks…okay, I know, women do not want to encourage the immature, toy-loving side in their guys. But this is just a fun little something that will show you were really paying attention to him, and that you thought of him enough to go get him that toy he spoke about worshipping when he was twelve. After this you don’t have to buy him any more toys or comics, I promise. But this will make you that unbeatably cool girl, and all of his friends will be jealous.
Girl Props - Soho
St. Mark's Comics - NY / Brooklyn
Written by: Courtney Iseman - SpeedNY Dating Resident Blogger
