Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Rent a Period Date!
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 10, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 10, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The best Valentine's Day related story we've seen yet must be this one from the Columbia Spectator, which looks at the Anachronistic Gentleman Rental Society. Now, while the men are actually free of charge, they can be dressed in period clothing. No joke - Columbia sophmore Genevieve Yang told the Spec why she founded the service: “One day last year I was thinking, what if instead of a one-night stand, you had a one-night-walk-in-the-park-hand-holding?” Other fun facts: Yang uses a parasol on sunny days and wears a corset, and seventeen guys have actually signed up but no one has ever rented them! This must mean there are very few aspiring ladies out there - and we thought you were suckers for Merchant Ivory films! Anyway, Gothamist recommends this as the basis for a short film at least, since the rent-a-date has been a film staple: See Can't Buy Me Love, Pretty Woman, The Wedding Date, and The Man from Elysian Fields. Also, this reminds us a little of Kate & Leopold, which we did see in the theaters and can justify seeing because it featured awesome Brooklyn Bridge mentions.
Remember when some students tried to rate Columbia ladies? And Gothamist tried to get our brother to try to find Yang's Facebook page and more about the AGRS, but he told us he was too busy instant messaging, wearing a jeans, t-shirt and sneakers, and living life to bother.
Tagged
And Gothamist
art
brooklyn
brooklyn bridge
Columbia Spectator
Elysian Fields
film
fun
gothamist
jen chung
love
pretty woman
style
the man
valentine's day
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Oct 2, 2026
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .