I just don't know how to pick up men anymore

Thursday afternoon I was riding my bike, and stopped at the corner of 9th and 1st for the red light. 2 bearded men in black hats, both in dark suits, began crossing the street. I noticed each had some sort of long-stemmed flower, and a yellowish, lemon-like gourd in their hands. As they continued crossing, my eyes stayed on the handsome one of the pair, and he turned in my direction, noticing me looking. He stopped in the middle of the road, and said: "Hello. Are you Jewish?"

(what I should have said) "No, but my mother is."

Instead, I meekly replied "Naw" and smiled as he smiled back and continued walking. So I missed what at the least would have been an interesting conversation.