Summer is over, and so are the days of random flings. With fall's arrival single men and women everywhere are looking to fall in love, and, in some cases, paying as much as $2,000 to find it (according to the NY Times Styles section last week, the most recent trend in cosmopolitan dating includes coaches who charge hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a session). It's common knowledge that finding a mate in Manhattan is especially difficult, and as the age-old adage goes: money can't buy love.

So, for those willing to invest the time and effort, psychoPEDIA has put together a list of the best date spots in the city, as well as a few that are easily accessible by train. From the culturally stimulating to the palette pleasing, here are six unique ways to impress your sweetie:

Dia Beacon
Just over an hour north of the city (via Metro-North) is one of the most captivating contemporary art institutions on the East Coast, Dia Beacon. Not only is the Dia’s collection - housed in a former Nabisco factory – impressive (it boasts works by Warhol, Serra, Flavin and more, alongside rotating exhibits like the Sol LeWitt Drawing Series… currently on view). The two-floor, light-filled space is surrounded by greenery (perfect for fall visits once the foliage begins changing color) and is exceptionally quiet, even during prime weekend visiting hours. To boot, couples can cozy up on one of the leather couches in the Warhol room. And, after you’ve thoroughly exhausted the museum, you can travel just down Beekman Road to the River Terrace (845-831-5400), a quaint restaurant with spectacular views, for the perfect post-museum meal.
*Can’t leave the island? Check out Walter De Maria’s The New York Earth Room (one of three worldwide) – a permanent exhibit on Wooster Street of which Dia is likewise responsible.

DRV-IN
If your prospective mate is a film buff in the slightest, hitting Manhattan’s recently opened DRV-IN is a sure thing. For a mere $75 (a very reasonable price considering it ensures at least an hour and a half of quality one-on-one cuddle time in the backseat of an old-school Falcon convertible… and unlimited popcorn), you can watch any movie of your choosing in this Lower East Side drive-in. So, whether you’re in the mood for Italian Neo-Realist, or anything that’ll make your date cling to you in horror (think: Hitchcock’s Psycho, not I Know Who Killed Me), a stop at the DRV-IN guarantees some prime face-time, without the pressure of conversing for five straight courses.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns
If you’re looking for fine dining with a great atmosphere, and would really love to knock-the-socks off your date, we recommend a trip to Blue Hill at Stone Barns. The sister restaurant to the Greenwich Village-based eatery of the same name, Blue Hill boasts a fully-functioning farm, a seasonally-driven restaurant and an educational center, all of which are nestled in the spectacular Pocantinico Hills in Hudson Valley, New York. With a daily-changing menu (often including grass-fed meats, as well as Hudson Valley-raised fish), not to mention baby sheep playing outdoors, it’s the ideal relaxed yet romantic setting.

Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel
While the crowd at this Upper East Side staple may be littered with suits and tourists (those who can afford to be staying upstairs in the newly renovated Carlyle, that is), Bemelmans Bar is not-to-be-missed. The epitome of old-world romance – this one-room bar, whose walls and lampshades were hand-painted by Ludwig Bemelmans himself (author and illustrator of the Madeline series of children’s books), boasts some of the best cocktails in the city. Go after dinner and splurge on the cover charge posted nightly after nine when live jazz acts fill in the bar’s only open floor space.

Metropolitan Museum Friday Nights
The Met isn’t the most innovative idea when it comes to planning a date with your future mate... unless it’s on a Friday night. On this day every week, from 6pm-9pm, the Met provides live classical music in the lobby of the building. Plus it's cheap (the suggested donation is $12, but it's no problem if you give less), and less crowded than on weekend days. While there are countless exhibitions in which to lose yourself, we recommend heading straight to the Egyptian room, where ancient tombs, a reflective pool and floor-to-ceiling widows looking out over Central Park provide an unparalleled romantic setting.

ChikaLicious
This intimate East Village spot - New York's first (and finest) dessert bar - is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. And, the fact that it is run by husband-and-wife team Don and namesake, Chika Tillman, gives this little date spot even more romantic credibility. Whatever your weakness, ChikaLicious’ petite aphrodisiacs, which change daily, range from warm chocolate tart with pink peppercorn ice cream, and darjeeling panna cotta and peach sorbet, to the much-talked-about cheesecake, all of which come in a three course prix fixe assortment that can be paired with a wine for under $20. While it's a perfect afternoon or after-dinner date spot, if you can't stand the wait for a seat, soon you can visit Chikalicious' new sister spot, ChikaLicious Puddin', debuting across the street come November, for tasty take-home desserts that you can enjoy in the privacy of your own home.

Get Yours:
For more love advice, check out Leil Lowndes' How to Make Anyone Fall in Love with You and Linda Goodman's Love Signs

First photo by Anarpa via Flickr