Dating in NYC

Would love to hear other people’s opinions on dating in new york. I’m a pansexual cis man, mid 20’s. I’m curious how people tend to meet each other nowadays. Most of the people I know that are in relationships either met on a dating app or they met in college/high-school or a friend of a friend. I rarely hear people’s experiences of meeting a stranger out at a bar or at a random activity. Most of the social settings i’m in outside of work/friends, are at clubs/bars and outdoor parks. I don’t participate in club sports, I skate which is a pretty solitary activity. When I do go out to bars/clubs often times it feels weird approaching people I don’t know. Maybe that’s just my anxiety but I’m a masculine man so i don’t want to seem threatening.

It feels like people are more standoffish than i would have expected in New York. People don’t want to interact on the train, or really be bothered at a bar. I’ve been wondering if there’s better places in the city to meet people? i’ve always felt like meeting people clubbing was a great avenue but i’ve realized that most people are going to dance to be inside themselves not necessarily meet strangers. Maybe it also takes just being more confident in sparking new conversations with people I don’t know and taking those risks.

Just wanted to see others experiences? I’m a hopeless romantic so the thought of meeting someone virtually just doesn’t do it for me. Would love to find some more third spaces that invite interacting with new people.