CheekyChicago

Here’s the thing every true scenester knows about happy hour: it’s important. It’s more than just going out. It’s a useful tool in your life. Even if you haven’t realized it yet, you probably already use it. Want to propose that great new idea to your boss in a laid back atmosphere? Happy hour. Not sure if he’s Saturday night material? Happy hour. Catching up with your childhood friend and both your moms? Happy hour. Want to meet someone new who actually lives in your neighborhood? Happy hour.

Happy hour is the perfect low-pressure way to interact with just about anyone of any age in your life. Additionally, it’s a place where cocktailing is not just socially acceptable, it’s encouraged. It doesn’t have the formalities and time commitment (not to mention the calories!) that meeting for dinner implies. It doesn’t attach the awkwardness of do-you-or-don’t-you order that pinot gris that a lunch creates. And let’s face it, there are a lot of people in your life that you want to have a social relationship with, but they’re not the people you should be doing your weekend-night drinking with (hopefully, you didn’t learn this experientially!). Happy hour allows you to stay in contact with these people while enjoying a glass of wine to relax, without any judgment. It’s also the perfect place to meet new people: whether you’re looking to widen your social circle, meet that special someone or network for your career. Plus, people in a happy-hour state of mind are also usually in a meeting-people state of mind; the two just lend themselves to each other. You should take advantage of it. Because the ideal place to start a good conversation with someone is not on the dance-floor, late at night, in a too loud, Beyonce-blaring, crowded sweaty bar; not that there’s anything wrong with that. But there are only so many people in your life you should be sharing that with. We all need a good happy hour spot.

Which leads me to one of the best happy hour set-ups in town, hosted by none other than your very own Cheeky Chicago. On Thursday, June 4, Cheeky hosted the opening of Il Mulino’s Summer Patio with a killer kickoff cocktail party – for happy hour, obviously. And if you missed it – you’re in luck because it’s running all summer! The event only costs 10 dollars and includes two cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a goody bag. And though it’s hard to believe for that price, it’s one of the classiest ways to do happy hour. The cocktails are made with St. Germain liqueur. Made from the elderflower, it’s one of the newer liquors to enter the arena, and mark my scenester-words, it will be this summer’s prosecco.

The pasta bar, arancini and bruschetta were delicious and provided the perfect small bite to nibble on without making a mess! Of course, I expected the food to be amazing – Il Mulino is a longtime giant in the restaurant world and known for its consistently impeccable Italian food. What I didn’t expect was for Il Mulino to be so fun and hip. But the Cheeky crowd must have been out in full force! Every inch of the tree-lined patio was lit up with chatty smiles and engrossing conversations, toting their bags filled with goodies from Exhale Spa. The just out-of-the-office crowd was unwinding in a post work-day glow. Mothers and daughters had met for much needed catching up. And hundreds of introductions were being given because, like I said, where else are you going to go to meet people these days?

Il Mulino has spiced things up even more by adding a Cheeky Prix Fixe menu, which is a three-course dinner for 35 dollars, available during the week, only to those who are in the know enough to inquire about it. So just in case you do want that happy hour conversation to lead to more, you can stick around all night, have dinner and then decide if he’s weekend-night material…

See you there!