Backyard Patio, Patio Lounge

Photo: Ben Goldstein

179 Fifth Ave between Berkeley and Lincoln Pls, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-857-3477

Head to this Park Slope spot at 9pm—an hour before the DJ begins—and pass through a door blanketed in heavy curtains, into a small bar that feels like your cool friend’s living room. Grab a shot of soju, a sweet, Korean, vodka-esque liquor ($3, or $15 for the bottle), then walk through the interior into the garden, where Ikea chairs, tables and umbrellas are set up in a tight circle—conducive to conversation and interaction with the other 20 or 30 Park Slopers that might be there. Bring games like Connect Four, Pick-Up Lines or just a deck of playing cards and, under cover of black lights, get ready to Cheshire Cat your way through a night of low-key Brooklyn love.

step 1 Get a table in the middle back so you can see the whole space and gaze at the people streaming in. If you like the folks sitting next to you, mention how tight the space is and suggest pulling the tables together.

step 2 Instead of lamenting the lack of table service, take advantage of its icebreaking convenience. You have to go to the bar no matter where you’re sitting, so you can talk to random hotties about how annoying this is. Perhaps they’d like to split a carafe of white-peach sangria ($15)? If it’s crowded, offer to get drinks for the people who have been waiting behind you. It opens up conversation, and is a genuinely nice gesture.

Photo: Ben Goldstein

step 3 You don’t have to be drunk to suggest to your new friends that you have games back at your table. Mention that you brought a deck of cards, and challenge the objects of your affection to a game of Asshole in the outdoor garden. Agree that the asshole has to buy the next round.

step 4 The DJ starts spinning mashed-up rock and hip-hop at around 10pm. People will begin shaking their rumps about 20 minutes later. You can’t see the dance floor from the patio, so tell your tablemates that you’re about to initiate a dance-off (um, yeah, be sure you have a wingman here).  Keep the flirty, competitive vibe going by suggesting a robot-off. Turn your robot into a Transformer (go from upright to compact in just a few herky-jerky movements). If someone can handle this, they’re probably awesome in bed.

step 5 Time to transform from group to duo. The outdoor area allows smoking, so it’s a good way to separate from the pack and try to get more alone time with whomever you’ve got your eye on. If you’re feeling particularly bold, use an ironic, cheesy line that actually nets results: “I’m going outside to make out, care to join me?” This might be a good time to mosey out front—especially if you want to try to slip your partner into a cab.