Unscripted moments
JONATHAN ZELINGER • Paired Down
WORK • Tuesday Routine
JONATHAN ZELINGER • matchmaker and podcast host • Paired Down
Neighborhood you work in: All five boroughs
Neighborhood you live in: Park Slope
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m probably on a video call with someone who recently filled out our compatibility survey, trying to get past the surface stuff, and into who they really are: Their perspective, what they need, what gets them excited. Or I’m out walking around Brooklyn, talking to anyone who’ll chat. Matchmaking doesn’t stay indoors. It happens on Zoom, on sidewalks, in coffee shops. A casual conversation turns into a lead more often than you’d think.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Next up is designing a date for a match happening next week. At Paired Down, we’re not just offering introductions. Alongside my sister-in-law Sophia, we curate dates to your preferences and needs: informal activities, conversation prompts, the occasional small challenge meant to get people out of their heads and into the room. A good first date needs a little architecture. Left to their own devices, people often follow a script that doesn’t necessarily work for them.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
La Taq on 7th Avenue in Park Slope works every time. Unfussy, consistent, and home to the best burrito in New York. And it’s owned and run by really solid people, to boot.
JuJu Cafe in Cobble Hill is one of the best cheap eats in the city. You can’t go wrong with any of their onigiri, but the shrimp tempura version is worth the trip alone. They also do boba that seems to attract every middle schooler in the area.
If you can stomach the wait, Vato on 7th Avenue in Park Slope has a brisket and egg burrito with a smoky softness to it that works for breakfast, works for lunch (and if they were open for dinner, would work for that too). The pastries are delicious, and just filling enough to feel like a big decision.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
I just organized the Blue Moon 5 Miler, a race the Commonwealth Running and Walking Club hosted in Prospect Park under an actual blue moon, sponsored by Blue Moon Brewing. A blue moon only comes around every three years, so the whole thing felt a little like our Olympics.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
As both a runner and loyal neighborhood shoveler, I can’t recommend enough the Prodigio running boot by La Sportiva. It is the single most comfortable, versatile shoe that’s ever housed my foot.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
Leroy’s Place on 7th Avenue. Tchotchkes that feel distinct and high quality. I used to live in New Orleans, and occasionally miss the city’s particular brand of eccentricity. Walking into Leroy’s gets me close. We once bought my father-in-law a puppet there. I anticipate it’ll become a family heirloom. I also have to shout out Variety Coffee in Park Slope. Their manager, Colby, makes everyone there feel like it’s their living room.
Where are you donating your time or money?
CHiPS, right on the border of Gowanus and Park Slope, reliably feeding a high volume of people every day. I also founded the Commonwealth Running Club. You’ll find me at Grand Army Plaza twice a week with that crew, gearing up for a run or walk.