Photos courtesy of Megan Zimmerman Photos courtesy of Crystal Peone
Photos courtesy of Vyasa Tewari
Adam C. Banks and
Megan Zimmerman
As a huge fan of “The Office” and “Parks
and Rec,” I am all about workplace romances.
If you’re like me, then you’ll love
this couple’s meet-cute.
Megan Zimmerman and Adam C. Banks
crossed paths on the set of “Chef Roble
and Co.,” a Bravo cooking show. Zimmerman
was the show’s story PA (then associate
story producer) and Banks was Chef Roble’s
“right-hand man.”
“I thought, ‘Damn, who is this talented
man? Did I find my own version of Anthony
Bourdain with a twist?’” Zimmerman said.
One day on set Zimmerman and Banks
found out they both lived in Astoria and
bonded over their passion for the neighborhood’s
diverse cuisine. That day, they
split a car back to the neighborhood from
work in Park Slope and Banks “charmed”
Zimmerman into getting a drink with him
at the now-closed BLVD Bar on Ditmars.
“Our first date was food adventures all
over Astoria. We started at Astoria Park
then hit up Crescent & Vine. We wandered
to all the different markets like Parrot, Mediterranean
Markets. He took me to Artopolis
which looks and smells like heaven,” Zimmerman
said. “Adam’s version is we met
in the park and then made out. Then drank
wine, which is true, too.”
They kept their relationship a secret for
months because of the workplace, but
five years later Banks proposed at Mombar
on Zimmerman’s birthday.
The Astoria couple is currently working
on their own food travel show called
“Adam on Adventures,” among various
cooking and TV-related projects.
FAVORITE LOCAL DATE SPOTS:
MOMBAR
VIA VAI
DISTRICT SAIGON
LET LOVE INN
MOMA PS1
MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE
Crystal Peone and Corey Smith
FEBRUARY 2019 I BOROMAG.COM 17
No one can resist a good ol’ rekindled romance
— especially if it takes place in Astoria.
In 2012, Crystal Peone and Corey Smith met
(with some initiation from a mutual friend) at
Irish Rover and had a strong connection.
“Corey and I immediately had chemistry and
hit it off through our love of ‘Arrested Development’
and dark humor. When I first saw him I
remember thinking, ‘This guy is very cute and
sweet!’ His smile was what initially hooked me,”
Peone said. “Corey felt that it was effortless from
the moment we met. He was excited to 'Get
those digits' at the end of that night. We went on
a few dates at that time but then life happened
and we went our separate ways.”
Four years later, Peone and Smith’s paths
crossed once again and the attraction and
chemistry was even stronger. Peone explains
it as “love at second sight.”
“When we ‘re-met’ in 2016 we were immediately
attracted to each other, immediately comfortable,
and both felt as though the other had
grown up in very positive ways in the years since
we'd seen each other,” Peone said.
After their second meeting, the couple’s
first “real” date was at a Mets game and they
have been an item ever since. In 2017 they
moved in together in Astoria, and Smith proposed
to Peone right in front of Irish Rover in
2018. They plan on saying “I do” in May 2020.
Peone and Smith plan on spending a cozy
night at home with a home-cooked meal, red
wine and “Game of Thrones” for Valentine’s Day.
FAVORITE LOCAL DATE SPOTS:
IL BAMBINO
OFF THE HOOK
BLACKBIRDS
PASSAGE BAR
MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE
PRINCE TEA HOUSE
HI-FI RECORDS
QUEENS COMFORT
/BOROMAG.COM
/BOROMAG.COM
