Have you found that lately all the tried-and-true methods of meeting men -- i.e., flirting at the gym, in bars, etc. -- are getting stale, not to mention fruitless? Well, those tired techniques aren't the way to find true love in 2004. If we've learned anything from the busy ladies on Sex and the City over the years, it's this: Meeting a man can happen anytime, anyplace. All it takes is the right mindset and a little strategy.

1. Puppy Love
A dog can be woman's best friend when it comes to meeting men. But don't take Fido for just any old walk -- bring him to the local dog park for a more social stroll. That way, while the pooch plays with his new pals, you can make a few of your own. Sex and the City featured the Madison Square Park dog run in New York City as a hotbed of single guys.
Meanwhile, many entrepreneurs are finding that our four-legged friends are natural-born matchmakers. Leashes and Lovers hosts cocktail parties for single dog owners to meet (and share photos of their pets). The company is based in New York for now, but it's soon to go national. And Singles with Pets is an online dating site with a guarantee: Your potential partner won't be allergic to your first love, your pooch.

2. Seminars for (Seeking) Sweethearts We're not talking knitting or flower arranging. Think y-chromosome-friendly activities. Anything from car maintenance to cooking (yes, real men are interested in learning techniques beyond boiling water) to the Brazilian dance/martial arts craze capoeira will do. Or let your taste buds do the talking with a wine tasting or a scotch tasting. Says New Yorker Sarah Parvis, "Men are impressed by women who want to learn about a [traditionally] 'manly' drink. And there's a happy hour after the event." The point is, looking for an overlap between your interests and what might intrigue guys is a great way to educate yourself and create an opportunity for meeting new people.

3. Home Depot Hookups
This home-improvement chain offers enough man-meeting potential to warrant its own category. In fact, iVillagers on the Guy Talk board have recently been discussing the abundance of available guys roaming the aisles for tools, fixtures, wood -- and dates. The store even offers classes on home repair and construction projects. Debbie Mandel, author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul, explains the appeal: "Men are looking for self-reliant women who can fix things and take some of the responsibility off them." She adds, "Some weddings have been celebrated at the Home Depot where the couple originally met!"

4. High IQ x 2 = True Love
Intellectual singles are increasingly meeting their high-IQ matches at events geared toward people looking to exercise their minds. Are you a Mensa member? Check for parties in your area. Enjoy scavenger hunts? Watson Adventures hosts hunts at museums, zoos, circuses and other interesting places in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Boston. Amy K., author of Brain Brilliant Dating: The Secrets to a Mental Orgasm, says, "Two people involved in an activity that mentally engages them will definitely generate sparks."