Hi all,

I have been generally lurking this subreddit for quite some time and my game has improved immensely as a result of learning from the many trials and tribulations of those who post their stories and advice when out in the field. I thought I would post my story in hopes having a discussion for the benefit of others when things do not go as scheduled in addition to understanding how I can proceed with my current predicament.

So I met a girl online about two weeks ago and talked sparingly back and forth for a couple days, got her number, and sparked enough interest to convince her to meet me at a bar in the city. Up to this point, everything seemed fine.

I had us set to meet at a bar that seemed like a good speakeasy and I had heard from others was a good first date spot. However, I got there before her last night and this bar was really packed (it ended up being trivia night). She meets me out front of the bar and I tell her it is too packed inside and insist we go elsewhere. She was cool with the idea of going elsewhere. Since the bar was in the neighborhood she lived in, I asked if she knew of anything better close by (I should have had a contingency plan as I have read here that the guy is supposed to lead but I panicked and didn't know what else to do).

We end up walking a couple blocks to a bar nearby and sit at the bar. I knew right away this was not what I was gunning for when i started the night. The two of us sitting up at the bar on bar stools. How was I going to kino? How was I going to get closer to her? We each had a drink and talked/hung out for about an hour or so. Generally good convo just learning about each other and trading stories and such. I then suggest that we leave and go for a walk. She countered with walking to her apartment, which was a couple blocks away.

We walked the short distance, hugged and said our goodbyes.

I felt like afterwards that I wasn't able to escalate the conversation to anything of significance that I can build off of. I could not even get myself to text her until the next day just letting her know that I had a good time and hoped she did as well. She replied that she enjoyed herself as well.

How could I have better handled the curveballs that were thrown at me (i.e. packed bar, less than ideal seating situation)?

How can i proceed from here without coming off as desperate and making my intentions more clear as the whole thing felt as if I was just sitting up at the bar with a friend having light convo?