We've all got the weather, and some of us have sports, but once you've drained those two stalwart topics, you'll need to move on to something other than how much your commute sucked. Whether you're on an awkward first date or suffering through some other small talk-laden social event, here are some relevant topics on which you may as well have an opinion. Everyone else does.*

Girls
The HBO show, not the gender in general. Perhaps you got around having a perspective on Lena Dunham's Brooklyn-based comedy by, say, not watching it, but that's no longer acceptable (particularly if you're a Williamsburg/Bushwick/Greenpoint denizen—check your lease, guys.) You can start things off with the pilot, and from there, proceed to all the supporting materials: Lena Dunham on Colbert and NPR; arguments on the show's whiteness, myopia, or terrible clothing; or simply a how-to guide to follow in the lead character's opium tea-drinking steps. (If you're in need of an opinion on Two Broke Girls, instead, remember that there's only one: it sucks.)

Jay-Z's Brooklyn Nets Logo
You either tolerate it or hate it, but you can still agree that Jay-Z's involvement is awesome.

Citi Bikes
This summer, New York's finally getting a a bike share! Starting in July, 10,000 bikes will be scattered across 600 biking stations in the city. They'll be free to use if you keep your trips to under 45 minutes; people seeking longer rides can buy daily, weekly, or yearly memberships. Beware this conversation, though, as it contains a twist: the program's sponsored by Citigroup, and the bikes will be plastered by the Citi logo. Some folks are concerned about the potential costs to those on long rides.

Carbonated Cocktails
All of a sudden, everyone's talking about custom carbonation. Grub Street's got a breakdown on how they got here. If the first date's going well, suggest a trip to Lantern's Keep to try one of your own.

*Seriously. We road-tested it.