In the world of dating, single people have a few options. They can use online dating services (uncertain), meet people in bars (fraught with peril), or meet future dates through mutual friends (potentially awkward).
Or — OR! — if they live in New York and ride the subway regularly, they can leave the whole matter in the hands of the “Love Conductor.”
Not familiar with the Love Conductor yet? Her actual name is Erika Christensen, and she prides herself on her knack for spotting true-love potential on trains. On subways in Manhattan and Brooklyn, the 31-year-old is running an ultra-personalized matchmaking service that tends to astonish unsuspecting participants.
“You're going to be a breeze with that face,'' she told one 28-year-old man.
Christensen, who blogs and tweets about her exploits, has about 12 clients who spend between $39 and $456 a month for matches, coaching services and date planning. Her Train Spotting website describes her as “the first matchmaker to go underground — targeting New York’s 1.6 billion subway riders, many of whom are the most alluring, creative and energetically sexy on earth. Ever been on the L train on a Friday night?? It’s practically a runway!”
"I think that you are getting the absolute best cross-section of all New York has to offer in the subway,'' Christensen told TODAY.
The West Virginia native, who is not single and did not meet her boyfriend on the train, said she’s been fascinated by the culture and energy of New York’s subways ever since she relocated to the Big Apple in 2004. She has used her curiosity to set up unique dates for her clients.
"I have set people on fully curated mystery dates, and that's always fun,'' she said. "Sometimes I'll give them code names (and) they meet somewhere.''