Whoa! Cool it, people! Your scorchin’ hot summer hookup stories are making us blush. Actually, keep sending ’em. There’s nothing like vicariously living the single life.
While some of you are combing the beach for hot bods, plenty of you are hitting beer gardens, patios and other outdoor spots in search of fresh-air flirtations. In fact, that’s what our new Reader Review crew, the Alfresco Flirts, will be up to this summer. We know, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!
Get some practice in tonight: Head over to the patio at Pontiac Cafe & Bar, where the metromix crew will be hanging out, sipping summer cocktails and getting our flirt on. Smile, wink, wave and be friendly: You might catch the eye of a hottie–or the eye of one of our staffers scoping the scene for potential members of our Flirts squad.
Think you’ve got the guts to approach guys and girls on a whim? Have a creative line to woo a cutie? Or are you just one helluva wingman, er, wingperson?
In applications we’ve received already, we’ve read everything from straightforward approaches to some of the most unprintable pick-up lines we’ve ever heard. (We can’t imagine the latter working on anyone at the bar, because they sure didn’t work on us!) Think you can do better? Fill out an application at metromix.com or, better yet, apply in person at Pontiac. You’ll get entered in raffles and have the chance to score an on-the-spot interview.
We need single guys and girls amped about checking out alfresco venues and flirting up a storm, then reviewing the scene and spilling the beans on all of their steamy stories. Here’s a sample of what we’ve heard from you so far.
What’s your best opening line?
From the mundane to the “Man, you’ve got to be kidding me!” we think we’ve heard it all. Stephanie S. goes straight in with the query: “Wanna do a shot of Jager with me?” Mike D. goes for the slightly scary “Haven’t I stalked you on MySpace before?” And whether or not you’ll actually score, you should get a laugh with: “Is your last name Campbell’s? Cause you’re mmm, mmm good!” (courtesy of Vinod G.) or, “I wanna rock with you . . . all night” (from Jeff H., who says chicks dig old Michael Jackson lyrics). Some of you–ahem, Edie D.–just throw people off guard with “Actually, I love nipple rings too!”
What’s your dating philosophy?
We’re not talking soul mates and life partners, people. Just a little summer love. Like Rachel S. says, “Play hard, get lucky.” So don’t overthink things; take a cue from your fellow readers. Tom T. advises, “Date quantity while searching for quality.” And Melissa M. likens dating to a day at the pool: “Open mind, take a deep breath and dive in.” But when it comes down to it, Anna P. hit it head-on with a simple formula: “Eye contact plus smile equals success!”
Tell us about the strangest or funniest flirtation you’ve had outdoors.
This is where we had to put the papers down. We’ve heard about sloppy, closing-time makeout sessions, naughty alleyway hookups and, oddly, more than a handful of stories about meeting a cutie at a street festival Porta Potti. Ew!
We do always love a good bet gone wrong, like when Dan G. was forced to hang out at Castaways wearing a Lincoln Park waitress’s tight tank top. He tells us this conversation-starter lured in a crew of female flight attendants. Or there’s always Anthony S.’s slightly awkward and offbeat approach: At a Cubs game, send a group of girls hot dogs without the buns. Have you, too, been left with a wiener in hand? We want to hear about it!
ARE YOU A FLIRT?
Take our quiz and find out–then compare answers with that cutie at tonight’s party.
Do you get handsy when talking to people at a bar?
A. I maintain my personal space.
B. I’ll touch an arm or two after a few drinks.
C. I’m all over ’em. Call me Jack Handy.
How do you act around a group of new people?
A. Total wallflower
B. I’ll mix ‘n’ mingle a bit.
C. Social butterfly
Do you make naughty comments around a cutie?
A. Not really; I’m too shy.
B. Sometimes, if I’m feeling silly.
C. All the time, you sexy thang.
Do you wear clothes that flaunt your best features?
A. I stay pretty buttoned-up.
B. The occasional low-cut top or good ass-jeans
C. The more skin showing, the better.
If the bar crowd seems dead, what do you do?
A. Finish my drink and leave.
B. Order one more. You never know what’ll happen.
C. I’ve got a game to get the party started.
If you answered B or C more than three times, we want you to apply to be an Alfresco Flirt. Find an application online at metromix.com or woo us in person at Pontiac tonight!
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KMBUDELL@TRIBUNE.COM
