Exclusive | The hottest takeout spot in NYC is a brick wall in Brooklyn—here’s why

Maybe putting up walls can be a good thing for a relationship.

Dating apps are so last decade, say NYC singles of all ages who line up on weekends to post their photos on a wall in Brooklyn’s McCarren Park — hoping to find their next match.

“It’s just a much more exciting way to meet people,” Greenpoint resident Griffin McLaughlin, 24, told The Post.

Every Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 8:00 p.m., a brick wall across from the park’s tennis courts is transformed into New York City’s hottest spot as romantic hopefuls come out and test their luck. them in public.

To participate, you scan a QR code on the site and donate a tip of $25 to $60 – a higher price may also include a tarot card reading. For your money, you’ll get two Polaroid photos taken by local photographer Bob Greco, also known as “Picture Man Bob.”

A photo you take at home; the other you stick to the wall, along with a colorful index card that includes some personal details – your name, age, gender, what you’re looking for and words that describe you.

So far, over 600 people between the ages of 19 and 55 have tried the wall.

Those brave enough to take part are able to see their peers, telling the two organisers, Vaishnavi Sesetty, 23, and Cyrus Belsoi, 25, who they like and who they would like to pass on the pictures to. their details.

Participants’ photos are changed every five weeks, and wall lumni are also invited to a private mixer.

“It shows everyone that everyone else is single too and you’re not alone.” Daniel Miller, 25, of Westchester County told The Post. “It’s new and different and people do it just because it’s fun. Even if it doesn’t happen, it’s an experience.”

While eight in ten Americans report being “burned” by swiping on dating apps, the wall’s organizers have founded a no-swipe dating app called Pique Dating — but they barely promote it on the wall. They just want to help foster human connection.

That’s exactly what Alyssa Peck is looking for.

“These days it feels like people on apps aren’t really looking for real connections,” the 21-year-old told The Post — a sentiment echoed by many. “I’m looking for someone who is real.”

And some romantics hope for a love story.

“I like meeting people online, nothing special,” McLaughlin said. “But if you were to walk by a park, see someone really exciting, fall in love, it would be like a movie. That’s why I stopped at the wall. I would meet people cool enough to put their picture up there.”

He was walking through the park when the crowd gathered around the wall pulled him over – and he was far from alone.

Throughout the day, the wall attracts just about everyone strolling through the iconic Williamsburg/Greenpoint borderland, from married couples reminiscing about their dating days to singles thinking about adding themselves.

“That’s how you know dating is hard in New York,” Becky, a 25-year-old local single, told The Post.

“I wish there were more cool dates. I wish it was like in the old days or whatever, where you just want to meet someone and date them normally like that.”

But the wall has become that place for some.

Ben Abrahamsson has asked two women out on a date while hanging around the wall.

“It’s just chaos on those apps,” the 34-year-old told The Post. That’s why he added his picture to the wall.

As he was filling out his information card and waiting for his belongings to be taped up, he made a stupid joke that he can’t even remember to the woman next to him. The two chatted as they stood around and eventually decided to go to a nearby bar and have a drink here and there.

The next week, when he stopped by to look at the new photos, he chatted with another woman and asked her out—she was just visiting town, so it didn’t work. He has also thrown some likes.

“I like that I don’t have to slide. Honestly, that’s the biggest thing,” Abrahamsson said, noting that there’s a temptation on apps to always think the other person might be a better match.

“There are many options. Something like that helps. Limit the choices.”