So technically this might be cheating since I went to a mingler a few weeks ago rather than this week. But I feel like because I promised I would talk about Minglers in my first blog, and because they are what started me on this journey, and they are what I believe socializing in Chicago is all about, I wanted to kick of the year talking about it.

What is a Mingler?  A Mingler is a fantastic party, held in a loft on the north side, by a phenomenal hostess.  (I’m new to blogging, and I’m not sure if I should be posting names on here?  Perhaps my social-bloggy mentor  will see this and let me know if I should mention her name or not?) Here is the catch: NO ONE KNOWS ANYONE!!!! Everyone is a complete stranger, so there are no cliques, inner circles, or shy awkwardness!

How do you find out about these fantastic parties?  You go to the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Productions website and sign up!  http://macncheeseproductions.com   And it’s free! She doesn’t bombard you with emails and offers, she just occasionally sends newsletters of cool events that are coming up.  I’m about to get ahead of myself, let me talk about these Minglers before I start in on all the other fun stuff she has.  So when you see the date of a Mingler, you just e-mail your request to attend.  Now, she does ask who told you about Minglers in order to keep the event pure, and insure that you do not attend the party with someone you know.  And she really does check who knows who- I almost didn’t get to go to a party because a girl I told about it was going.  (Thankfully she cancelled, so I got to attend after all).  I don’t know how Hostess does it, but she manages to prevent any friends from going to the same party about 95% of the time! 

What happens at a Mingler?  So when you get clearance to attend, you pay $15 to Paypal- which goes to Hostess- and thenyou are assigned a snack or beverage to bring.  On the evening of the party, you start the night off with a fantastic icebreaker game.  It’s an easy way to start getting to know each other.  You spend the rest of the evening drinking, snacking, getting to know each other, and playing some really creative, hilarious games.

Who goes to Minglers?  In addition to making sure no one knows each other, Hostess tries to keep it an even number of guys and girls (about twenty total at each party).  She does a pretty good job, but inevitably, we ladies tend to go to these types of things more than the men. In truth, the average participant is a  single, woman, late 20′s-early 30′s, well-educated, straight, liberal and of course, attractive.  HOWEVER, there are men, I have seen ALL races and ethnicities, gay, older, younger, conservative and a very good and ecclectic mix of people.  But best of all, the kind of people who go to a Mingler are genuinely fun, interesting, outgoing, and looking to meet now people.

How would I rate the Mingler? I would give it five stars ouf of five! To me, this is the essence of all things I desire in a social event.  While I haven’t gotten a date from it myself, I have met a very cool guy at each Mingler I’ve gone to- I just didn’t manage to close the deal.  But they were there!  And I know others have met there and dated.   I HAVE however, gotten girlfriend dates out of this! This is really an ideal situation for meeting new friends.  I have met some very cool chicks here.  But it doesn’t stop there….Hostess allows time for each person to promote their business, volunteer organization, cause, social group, or anything else they want to promote.  So it is the ideal place to network as well.  This is why I am telling all of you GO TO A MINGLER!!! The only negative comment is that I wish they were more often!

One more thing…. if you think this sounds good, you should check out Fear Experiment.  This is also part of Mac’n'Cheese Productions.  Strangers who have never danced, or done improv join, well, the Fear Experiment dance or improv group.  After weeks of intense training, they perform at Lincoln Park West.  I have not done this- only because full-time work and school do not allow a girl much time for fun- but it sounds amazing, and I hear it is hilarious! She also has several other fun events that you can read about in the newletter, or hear about at a Mingler, or check out on my blog when I go to another one of her events!

Stay tuned….next week I will tell you about Grub With Us or How About We.  I’m not sure which yet.  I guess we’ll all be interested to find out!