While undertake to crowdsource a Tinder company at a little bar one Saturday night , two friends and I embark on a swiping marathon . We match with as many people as possible and send said lucifer the same memo to fall meet us . While toying with questioning responses , I experience the message that would birth my epic :
" I ca n’t , " wrote Hector , 21 . " But I have an special slate to see Deerhunter tomorrow . "
Hector and I exchange numbers and plan to meet the next daylight at a magnanimous park near the music venue . We do n’t recognize that our " date " is about to last 42 hours . Two day and night vagabond New York City with a perfect stranger ? Here ’s how it happens .
Daniel Fishel/Thrillist
Hours 1-3
It ’s winter in New York , but mild . The park still has visitor . I fetch up a Dasani bottleful of chardonnay by the time I reach the coming together berth . I ’m late . The common is encircled by a track lined with picnic tables ; Hector sits on top of one and his tiptop is staggering perched so mellow in the Moon . He ’s endure headphones and resembles the computer graphic of the dog on his shirt . We expect to clinch until I get on top of the tabular array . He compliments my shoe and says he did n’t expect me to go out with him .
Walking to the locale , he tells me he dated a nigh acquaintance of mine a few years back . I ’ve never learn Hector ’s name before . I discreetly text the friend he dated … along with a few others who may eff some background on this guy .
Hours 3-7
We go far at the locale , I go into a few people I roll in the hay , and Hector and I check out the opening band . The two of us go outdoors during Deerhunter ’s soundcheck . Hector ’s been salute in the venue and is now reeling with unembarrassed exuberance . His continuously thank me for being there , and offers unyielding extolment .
He compliment my pant . A few weeks prior I drew primitive symbolisation on them and wrote the lyrics to go down Out Boy ’s " Sugar We ’re Goin' Down " on the legs in white paint mark . Hector shows me his Deerhunter tattoo . I ask him about another tattoo on his arm : a musical scale , the symbol of the astrological sign Libra . I ’m disappointed to find out he ’s in reality an Aries . I peach about astrology for a long time . Hector is eager to listen , even though it ’s clear he has no thought what I ’m saying .
Hour 7-8
The show ends . We buy a duad of drinks from a bodega and sit on the rail in the park where we meet before . We simper at runners on the track as they go past . Nearby , police interrogate a couple of buzz people leaving the concert .
Hector and I get along comfortably with every sip . We hate cop . We love beast . He order me he has never been to Coney Island , or the aquarium there . I tell him I go with my family every year . I hint we go to a nearby Browning automatic rifle , Irene ’s . Hector has never get word of it .
We ’re on the inner cusp of a Polish neighborhood – so illustrated by Irene ’s , bring up after an old Polish woman , finagle by a halfway - senior Polish woman , with a clientele of old and middle - ripened Polish people and millennials . Irene ’s offer $ 1 Jell - type O shots and a jukebox . Hector ’s tail is wagging .
Going to a concert|Christian Bertrand/Shutterstock
Hour 8-8:10
Pure gelatinous gluttony .
Hours 8:10-10
After emptying Irene ’s Tupperware container , I feel lovesome enough that I take off my jumper for the first time .
" odorous shirt . "
“ Do you realize you ’ve congratulate every piece of my outfit at some point in time tonight ? "
Coney Island|Flickr/acidpolly
He ’s not embarrassed . His grinning is turgid , sheepish , and relentless .
We talk : music , jobs , instruction . I pull out a pen and notebook from my bag and inquire what he would do tomorrow if he could do anything . He tells me he would go to the Coney Island aquarium . I publish it down . He ask me the same doubt . I tell him I would get breakfast burritos . We work on the list , adding items both realistic ( soup dumpling in Chinatown ) and not ( eating them with Bradford Cox ) . We stop at Irene ’s and head toward the geartrain . We live on dissimilar geartrain contrast and Hector ’s has stopped run for the night . I tell him he can sleep over .
Hours 10-18
Subway to my apartment and slumber .
Hours 18-20
I wake with startling energy around high noon . On my phone are responses from the ally I texted the nighttime before require about Hector . Reviews depart from negative to neutral . The list he and I made the night before sit down on top of my pile of wearing apparel on the floor .
“ So , breakfast burritos ? ”
As we enjoy our brunch , I ask Hector his plans for the day . He has none . I urge him to go to Coney Island . I have no plan either . We decide to see how much of our listing we can check off .
Chinatown|Flickr/Dan Nguyen
Hour 20-21
Subway to Coney Island .
Hour 21-22
As before long as we begin our walk to the aquarium , Hector and I get distract by a packaging for an Applebee ’s drink . It ’s an galvanic - blue Long Island iced Camellia sinensis called " It ’s L.I.T. " We ca n’t withstand the joke . We rate them . We are repulsed by them . We exit .
Hours 22-25
Hector and I take the air the length of the boardwalk and watch the sea and other beach - goer . The rides are conclude for the winter . It ’s past 4 pm – the aquarium is closed as well . The Lord’s Day set as we seat on invoke wooden platforms . In no hurry , we are serene and warm as we observe the water . Old Eastern European man fish while their kin footle on the pier . We decide to hold back the next item off our list .
Hour 25-26
Subway to Chinatown .
Hour 26-27
The streets are hectic . The restaurant I have in mind is nowhere to be found . We drop a tenacious time walking around and initiate to argue . We pick a place for dinner party .
Hour 27-27 :15
Waiting for ramen , Hector and I are beginning to irritate one another . I suggest drinking saki bombs . The restaurant does not allow it . We pledge the interest and beer separately . For once , Hector is unimpressed .
Hour 27:15-27:25
I provide unrequested constructive criticism on Hector ’s Tinder bio until our food fall .
Hour 27:25-28
" Do you realize you ’ve ordered the precise drink or meal as me since we ’ve met ? "
The size and saltiness of the ramen agitate me . We decide to go to St. Marks Place . It is a street my parent partied on 50 year ago .
Hour 28-29
underground to St. Marks Place .
Hours 29-31
The journeying rejuvenates us . Hector and I take a hop around St. Marks , laughing and get small talk . We regularize shots of tequila at a karaoke bar . He blithely conjoin me when I perform Fall Out Boy ’s " Sugar We ’re Goin' Down . " He and I have likewise pitiable taste sensation . I show him photos I ’ve asterisk on my phone that live in the favorites section : clothes , meme , and tattoo ideas . Two dogs crossing heads .
Hour 31-32
" Excuse me , are you open?““For something small-scale , yes . ““OK , on this second joint then . ““OK . These are greyhounds , right ? What form of substance do they have to you guys?““None , we just met . "
Hour 32-33
We return to perform a conclusion : David Bowie ’s " Modern Love . "
Hours 33-41
subway system to my apartment . log Z’s .
Hour 41-42
Two modern buff part when Hector has to leave for band practice session .
Sign up herefor our daily Thrillist email , and get your mending of the best in food / drunkenness / playfulness .
