Gen Z’s new go-to date night mixes booze with crafts, eliminating ‘awkward’ hangouts with activities, art and ‘liquid courage’

This is the new go-to Gen-Z date night —  and there’s plenty of mixing going on.

Hangouts where couples combine booze with activities like painting or pumpkin carving are exploding in popularity across the Big Apple as some say the unlikely pairings eliminate “awkward” first-date jitters with the help of a drink or two.

“There could be an element of liquid courage, where I think sometimes we get a bit anxious and a little glass of wine would take the edge off,” Valeen Bhat, owner of Brooklyn-based art studio Private Picassos, told The Post.

“We’re definitely seeing a rise in couples coming in – pre-pandemic, there were a lot more friend groups.”

Couples are taking a shot on the latest trend at brick-and-mortar shops like Chinatown’s Wick and Pour and Manhattan-based Paint and Pour, which are dedicated entirely to boozy activities — while pop-up classes are offering activities such as boozy pumpkin carving and even “puff and paint” weed-infused outings.

“They want to experience different things,” NY Cake Academy owner Jenny Kashanian told The Post. “We started adding the BYOB option to our classes, and people really loved that.”

Kashanian began offering BYOB classes about two years ago, starting with a boozy cupcake decorating that has since expanded to BYOB cake decorating as well as pasta- and pizza-making.

Kashanian’s Gen Z students seem to be the ones baking the most frequently with their beaus, even though the classes are attended by people of various age groups, she said.

“We’re seeing more date nights for younger people,” Kashanian explained. “Instead of going out to dinner, they’re coming here. Then they sit down afterwards and eat here.”

Bhat added that the rising cost of living, especially for city dwellers, could play a role in Gen Z’s interest in the events.

“I’ve lived in Brooklyn for 25 years, and it’s gotten very expensive,” Bhat said. “BYOB restaurants don’t really exist anymore, so I think an event where you could bring your own thing means you’re saving a little, and I also think you’re more in control of what you’re spending on.” 

Nurullah Gokdogan, who co-owns the Manhattan-based crafting workshop Kraft Stories, told The Post that “90%” his BYOB clientele come in pairs — and that it’s hard to beat a deal like wine and an activity for under $50.

“If you want to take someone on a date, it’s usually a dinner date or a coffee date,” he said. “Here, you’re combining it in this unique experience, it’s a more enhanced version – with a bottle of wine and an activity you can work on together. That’s why it’s super attractive to couples.”

Bela Gandhi, a dating coach at Smart Dating Academy and host of the eponymous podcast, told The Post that BYOB dates are a good idea for all generations – but have spread quicker with young people given the rapid fire pace of social media.

“I love the idea of doing something on a budget that’s still fun and lets you connect,” Gandhi said. 

“As a dating coach, one of my favorite first dates is going for a walk with coffee – [or] any place when you’re walking, doing something and getting to know them. It just seems less awkward and expensive than dinner.”

Gandhi told The Post that participating in an engaging activity – especially on a first date – can lead to more intimate conversations “where you don’t feel a stranger staring into your eyes.” 

“Wine nights, movie nights, going for ice cream: these are all super cute and one of my favorite low-cost dates at any age,” she said.

“Because it’s lower cost, and it’s cute, it almost goes back to the rom-com days,” the dating coach added. “I see it with my clients at any age: people want to find ways to connect that don’t take too much time and too much money. A first date is a vetting process — its not like people want to spend $200 on that.”

Despite her overwhelmingly positive review of BYOB art classes for date night, Gandhi cautioned against bringing dates with a known competitive streak.

“I think that if you get someone that’s super into the project, a lot of alpha people, you put them in front of something and they’re going to want to win,” she said. “They may be more focused on the project than on you.”

Bhat, whose studios offer a range of boozy activities from holiday card making to pumpkin carving, said her classes are arranged in a way to limit any hazards for tipsy patrons — and prevent any date from souring with an injury.

For BYOB pumpkin carving, attendees work with pre-gutted pumpkins and dull blades, Bhat said. Three other BYOB class facilitators interviewed by The Post couldn’t recall any disasters as a result of a student overpouring drinks.

“The carving happens at the beginning of the [carving] workshop, in case someone does have one too many,” Bhat noted.

Kashanian, who runs the 33-year-old NY Cake Academy with her sister, said BYOB classes aren’t just good for couples, but they give a boost to the small businesses that offer them as well.

Hosting classes based on trends has been a method of survival for the business, she said, noting that her latest offering is a class on how to make a Dubai chocolate bar class based on the viral confection. 

“We’re grateful to still be around, to be a small business in Manhattan is really tough,” she told The Post. “We just try to keep up with the trends.”