Good morning, love fanatics. It’s Amy Rose, slinging my bow and heart-tipped arrows back over one shoulder after two weeks away. I missed you! But I’m glad you got to meet my sterling editor, Marisa (and her mom, whose personal ad is below), as well as an array of Cut romantics offering their first-date advice.

This week, my colleague Emily Leibert — you’ll remember her from her essay about going stag to weddings — reports from the lofty heights of dating while supertall. Is that positioning advantageous? Annoying? Drafty? I’m 5’7” barefoot, so I'm standing on my tiptoes, straining for a glimpse. 

Scroll down for evocative new date-wanted ads, including an otter seeking two good men, an artist brewing a pot of Adeni chai, and an Eve Babitz/Elaine Benes type — who could resist that combination? 

Write to me with advice questions, sordid dating stories, or whatever else at [email protected]. You can also place a personal ad that way, by leaving a message at 212-508-0800, ext. 1., or via our submissions form. If you want help finessing your ad copy, mention it when you write in and I'll see what we can do. Have a beautiful weekend. —Amy Rose Spiegel, senior editor, The Cut

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At just under five-foot-four, I’m the kind of woman one might call shrimpy. This is why, before I approach any man taller than six feet, I think of my friend Sue, who’s five-foot-nine. Where hardly anyone is too short for me, Sue’s preferred dating pool is smaller: She doesn’t date guys under five-eight because, unfortunately, she’s just not attracted to them. “I get frustrated when I see a five-two chick with a gigantic man,” she says. “Six feet is plenty for shorter women!”

From where I stand, embarrassingly close to the ground, I’m still familiar with height as a contemporary dating metric — if you’re on the apps, you’ve definitely seen it mentioned in people’s profiles, too. I’ve always been curious about how tallness preferences play out from an alternate vantage point: that of people with many more inches (or feet) on me. 

Unlike the straight men dating Polly Pockets, 28-year-old Mark Jackson, who is sweet, blond, and taller than Kevin Durant at seven-foot-four, prefers statuesque women. “I love a tall girl. It makes things easier,” he laughs. He recognizes the dilemma for women like Sue. “They’re dealing with a smaller pool, so I like to help out,” he says. 

Jackson’s height attracts attention. On Saturday, he was crowned Tall King at a New York meetup of over 1,000 tall people hosted by content creator Tyler Bergantino. Afterward, he and some buddies loitered around Times Square. A woman ran up and squealed, “I’m in love with you — I’m dying to date a tall guy!” He graciously brushed her off but eventually had to escape around the block. “There are so many great aspects of being tall,” Jackson said. “Unfortunately, sometimes people use it as an invitation to say whatever they want.”

While it checks out that a cis straight man might benefit romantically from supertallness, it can be more complex for others, even when people are attracted to their stature. Risa, a 28-year-old living in East New York whose name has been changed for her privacy, is six-foot-four and brushes up against ceilings. “Everyone love tall ppl,” she texted me. “I can see, in the eyes of some 5'2” transmascs, how they wanna climb me like the anxious squirrel they are.” As a Black trans person, Risa sometimes contends with people’s responses to her tallness as another form of unwanted fetishization. “It's wild how often someone will tell me they have a size kink, unprompted,” they said. “Unlike a 6'2” cis dude named Tyler, whose best trait is that he took a shower this week, I'm more than just a tall glass of water.” 

Another consideration Risa raised: “Anyone my height dating someone short definitely has back problems.”

Carson Rammelt, a 30-year-old electronic-music producer who goes by SIXFOOT 5, can likely relate. If his date is six feet or shorter, Rammelt has to bend at a right angle to kiss. He considers that a “small bump” compared to what guys assume he’s like in bed. “There’s a preconceived notion that you’re a top just because you’re tall,” he says. He corrects the record on his app profiles.

Does this version of size always have to matter so much? Not to Sophie Becker, a six-foot-two 31-year-old actor and ventriloquist. She sees her height as a blessing — and an icebreaker. Every first Friday, she goes to a monthly meetup thrown by Tall Club New York, and she also attended Bergantino’s Tall Tour event on Saturday. “I was talking to a guy about how many short people were there, and he was like, ‘I'm only talking to women over six feet. This is for you,’” she said. “I was like, ‘Yes. You understand the assignment. Tonight is the tall woman's night.’”

Becker, who is single but not rushing to date, says height doesn’t really factor into her romantic decision-making. “I've dated people much shorter, and I've dated taller people. I don't find that people like me or don't like me because of my height,” she said. She’s attracted to confidence, which she also does her best to project. The morning after the party, she put her six-inch stilettos back on to pick up a carton of eggs and a chai latte. —Emily Leibert, staff writer, The Cut

“Date wanted” ads from eligible people of all types, including yours.

Like something you read? Respond via the contact information in the ad. To submit: Call the Personals hotline, 212-508-0800, ext. 1, fill out our Google Form, or email [email protected]. Max 100 words. Some dos and don’ts are here. ABSOLUTELY NO AI.

Ads run for four weeks and are free, but we can't print every one we receive. The more specificity and character in your ad, the likelier it is to run. The Cut’s terms of submission apply to all messages.

DIEHARD CALIFORNIA GIRL, 28F, teacher by trade. You, 26–32M, unironic reader of bell hooks. Must be against all forms of war, prisons, and borders. Big plus if bilingual, bigger plus if you fuck with a Southeast Asian farmers’ market. If you laughed when Henry Kissinger died and cried watching Paddington 2, hit my line. Let’s shoot hoops, trade books, or walk in a park and forget to check the time. [email protected]

SELF-SUFFICIENT CAREER WOMAN seeking like-minded man for casual but consistent monogamy. Failing that, disaster-date stories with which to amuse our friends. Me: 32, 5’5”, 119 WPM. Uptown girl with offline hobbies and old school energy; Eve Babitz by way of Elaine Benes. You: 31–36, stable income, no pets. Must love repertory cinema. Must hate musicals. No tech optimists, and absolutely no gamers. Ideally too offline to see this, so if you know him, pass it on. @personaladspace

PROUD GUARDIAN OF 11 HOUSEPLANTS, 27M, writer, seeking 24–32F to adopt cat with after appropriate-length courtship. (Ideally, cat will be raised atheist/Jewish, but negotiable.) Love reading, hiking, dancing, gratuitous introspection, and strong opinions. Get along best with people who interrupt me. My red flag is that I don't really like dogs — but what other members of society are allowed to lick strangers and yell at babies? Get a hold of yourself, dogs. @ThatIsaacReuben

TALL EGYPTIAN ARTIST, 26F, seeks muse. East Village–dweller looking for 24–32M to share custody of her fancy coffee machine. Always has a portable charger and a Tide Pen. Can be found praying on Fridays, surfing on Saturdays, and staying in with a cat (that she doesn't have yet) on Sundays. Searching for a fellow Muslim, ideally who speaks Arabic or is willing to learn. Excited to be your passenger princess on trips and knit you a sweater while you drive. Looking forward to our first pot of Adeni chai together. [email protected]

BARREL-CHESTED OTTER, 40M, 5’10", Brooklyn-based, looking to meet MM couple, 42–60, for friendship and fun. Not interested in a throuple, but would love to be the character actor with a recurring cameo in your prestige TV series. I’m fit, handsome, hairy, and like books, bald guys, tall guys, megacities, optimism, and museums. I’m a bottom if it goes there. Tell me a bit about the two of you and let’s meet for drinks. [email protected] 

RECENTLY SENIOR SINGLE GAL seeks similarly situated fellow to share my premium YouTube subscription and attend No Kings rallies. Warmth, humor, and the ability to not take things so damn seriously required. The best is yet to come so join me in my Chicago hellscape in my quest to relax, have fun, and get ready for the next chapter. [email protected]

BRAINY BEAR WITH A CAT, 45M. Editor in Queens seeks a cute dude 35–55 who isn’t afraid of taking the 7 train. I like classical music, theater, artsy movies, urbanism, and sending you funny memes. I DVR Jeopardy every night. Sitges Bear Week over Provincetown Bear Week, Cherry Grove over The Pines. Not into video games or sports (except maybe one Mets game per summer). I will probably never love the gym, but I do belong to one. Let’s grab coffee, take a walk, and try to emulate “Mr. Autumn Man” from The Onion. [email protected]

LOW-KEY LOVER GIRL, 27F, in Manhattan seeking an emotionally available 26–38M who loves to giggle, reach Beli milestones, and make out in the back of an Uber on the way home from the theater. Turn-ons: can make me laugh, kind-hearted, chronically offline, bad dancer. Turn-offs: no opinions, big ego, likes animals more than humans. If you think we’d vibe, hit my line. [email protected]

OUTDOORSY TWO-TIME HARVARD GRAD, 41F, in Boston seeking a kind, curious 35–45M who wants to build life and family together. I run fast, hike far, read nonfiction for fun, and host dinner parties that become lore. Once rafted the Colorado through the Grand Canyon and slept tentless on the banks. Jewish woman with a career at the intersection of finance and social good who is open to changing locations for the right person. Usually mid–art project, always mid–big idea. Need a partner who is active, grounded, and can keep pace — and is optimistic and adventurous enough to venture out when it rains. [email protected]

ITALIAN SMART-ASS, 57F, Bronx, seeks commanding yet gentle man 52–65, and oh God, be SINGLE please. I'm a good baker, funny, short femme brunette, not even a little thin, messy at the edges, currently into Champions League, Sean Duffy mysteries, and Florence + the Machine. I do a little spellwork and I will bring the spark; we will light up the room together. [email protected]

BRUNETTE MUSEUM RAT, 31F, seeks lifelong connection with Clark Kent type 27–38 who knows that being bilingual means being bad at both languages. Can be found at the movies at least once a week and engages in cartoonish behaviors such as picking up figure-skating at a very late age. Very fond of walking, stationery, watercolors, and corresponding by mail. Has given up on the apparently ineffective strategy of reading in public and waiting for the love of her life to approach her, and so the DMs are open: @danifuficameraroll

OG SEX-COLUMNIST DIVORCÉE, Gen X, with a capacious heart, seeks smart, funny, caring, legally divorced man, early 40s–early 60s, who knows what capacious means. I ride a Trek Multitrack 700 and have written 13 books. I know the right water-to-coffee ratio in a pour-over and like reading in bed, the Classic Gin at Gage & Tollner, and hanging with my college-age daughter. I adore strength training and my parents. Favorite authors are Laurie Colwin and Charles Bukowski. Currently rewatching Contempt. My ideal guy can listen to women but also take control of a situation, and we both know baggage just means you’re real. Let’s go on our first date at Elsa. [email protected]

BICOASTAL GIRL NEXT DOOR, 36F, seeking left-leaning, ambitious go-getter. Currently LA, formerly NYC. Find me strolling Silver Lake, on my patio under the sun, wandering a city, swimming in the sea or hiking a mountain. This summer, it was Paris and Sardinia. Podcast producer and writer, with a creative, artful heart that’s always after fun and adventure. Love so much about being in my 30s, except that it’s becoming harder to find a friend or a mate to dance away the night. Are you that person? @not_thegirlnextdoorkate

DYNAMIC, INQUISITIVE ENGINEER, 40M, Greenpoint, seeks an energetic female partner, 30–42F, to explore the city with shared curiosity for the interesting and absurd — and most importantly, with joie de vivre. Let’s talk about astronomy, play tennis, bike to the beach, visit art, drive to an upstate hike, discuss the new Pynchon book, and eat and drink the best of New York. I studied space in Europe and more recently have worked in tech. I’m a blue-eyed, shaggy-haired introvert, but I can open up pretty quickly with the right company. [email protected]

GREEN-EYED SOCIAL WORKER and Zohran canvasser, 30F. seeks 28ish–37ish leftist to make deep eye contact with and make out. Bonus points if you wear glasses. Enjoys leaving the house for drinks and nights out just as much as staying home, watching Survivor and playing board games. Truly down for most types of activities, excursions, and adventures. Help cure me of my attraction to Brooklyn’s artsy sad boys (or prove me wrong about them). Let's burn down the establishment and watch scary movies. [email protected]

CUTE BISEXUAL JOURNALIST, 29F, in Brooklyn seeks smart and curious person who enjoys arguing. I live for overthinking, hiking, dancing, theme parties, and vegetarian cooking. Will sneak out of a bed for a run but bring you back coffee. If you’re a little kinky and want kids, hit my line. If you want a love out of Norman Rush’s Mating, just propose. [email protected]

THOUGHTFUL, CREATIVE BLACK MUSLIM, 32F, who loves a calendar invite and admiring trees. No pets of my own, but mourning Roscoe. Looking for a down-to-earth and curious dude, 25–40, to bring me out of my schedule and into the moment. If your idea of a good weekend is building community in collective liberation and listening to me play my cello, reach out with what you’re reading. [email protected]

THOUGHTFUL AND LOVING actor, filmmaker, and editor (for the bills). Brooklyn-based, LA-bred, Nigerian-British-American, 26F, seeks open-hearted, well-adjusted, passionate man that can give banter and fucking take it. I’m a bit obsessed with learning through film and books. Seeking a man who loves women (one at a time, please) and loves life. Lying is out. Great communication is in. Let’s make each other's hearts sing. @vournalist

HOT LIBRARIAN, fitness instructor, and generally strong-willed NYC woman, 29, seeks dashing, dark-haired man 25–38 to sweep her off her feet. My hobbies include interior design, dancing to disco, primal rage, and arts and crafts. You: love to read (even performatively), enjoy hobbies outside of your occupation/alma mater, make a decision without enlisting ChatGPT or your mother, and feel comfortable pondering the questions of the universe. Leftist values strongly encouraged. You won’t find me on the apps, so what are you waiting for? [email protected]

BRAINY BEAR WITH A CAT 45M editor in Queens seeks cute dude 35–55 who isn’t afraid of taking the 7 train. I like classical music, theater, artsy movies, urbanism, and sending you funny memes. I DVR Jeopardy every night. Sitges Bear Week over Provincetown Bear Week, Cherry Grove over The Pines. Not into video games or sports (except maybe one Mets game per summer). I will probably never love the gym, but I do belong to one. Let’s grab coffee, take a walk, and try to emulate “Mr. Autumn Man” from The Onion. [email protected]

GREEK WIFEY ENERGY, 36F, athletic brunette with long brown hair, olive skin, and hazel eyes. Dual-passport holder who loves opera, late-night tacos, and cooking big, wine-filled meals that linger long after the plates are cleared. I own a little place in Manhattan and summer every year in Europe. Ready for the next chapter: being a kick-ass wife, damn good arm candy, and raising curious, resilient kids. Looking for a grounded, brilliant man (35–50) who’s built something of his own — and wants to build the rest together. @greekwifeyenergy 

DRY-HUMORED MIDWESTERN PRINCESS, 22F, Brooklyn, seeks Paul Mescal lookalike, 22–26. You: will replace the thrill of academic validation, race my quick wit, buy flowers, and write love letters. I can be the muse for your Substack or indie rock songs, take you dancing at my favorite venues, plan sweet-treat tours of the city, and share endless laughs, including fun times in photo booths. Let’s see how it goes, then take spontaneous trips to mountain and seaside towns. [email protected]

QUICK-WITTED CRUSH-SEEKER, 35F, looking to develop a giggly crush of any gender, 28–45, that turns into fun kissing and real feelings. Pro-yapping, may or may not have an unhealthy relationship to sports fandom, and love a well-written (solicited!) sext. I'm hypersocial, well-read, and a bit of a nudge. You're full of life, a little silly, and brilliant. Let's hold hands and cheers our oysters. [email protected]

BROWN BABY WIF SPA’KLIN EYES, 39F, 5’7”, proud Bronxite, living life by the principles of Christ and Audre Lorde. Looking for a man, 38–55, great conversationalist, curious about the world and himself, reads, gainfully employed, committed to dismantling oppressive systems/“isms,” strong and compassionate enough to navigate life with someone with an MS diagnosis. [email protected]

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