Before I moved to Chicago (almost 3 years ago!) I decided that the only logical way to prepare for the big move was to binge watch TV shows that would give an adequate depiction of what living in a big city would like. With the transition from small town Wisconsin to the big leagues, I figured watching TV was the easiest way to give me realistic expectations of what I had to look forward to as a 20-something living large in the Windy City.

So what did I choose to watch? 5 seasons straight of Sex in the City. Clearly, I set myself up for a rude awakening.

Once I realized Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment was 5X as large as my 450 square ft. apartment I shared (and that my closet was 50X as small), I started to come to terms with the fact that my life in Chicago might not be so Sex in the City-esque. Don’t get me wrong – I had an awesome job, enough money to pay the bills – but there was a lot less glamorous opening parties and more microwave meals than I had previously anticipated. And probably the hardest transition of all was feeling like I didn’t know anyone, except for the handful of people I’d met at work the first few months (still some of my best friends today! But after working with them for 10-12 hours a day, you don’t really feel like spending the weekends together either…)

So what did I really wish I had in life? A group of besties to have Sex in the City-esque brunches around town! Those scenes where Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte get together to recap their crazy weekends we’re always my favorite – and you can’t help but feel a little FOMO as you see what it’s like to have 3 best friends to count on through thick and thin in the big city. It took me at least a year of “friendship dating” (you know, those awkward – “Would you want to grab coffee sometime?” proposals you’d have to make to see if you were friendship compatible with your cousins best friend’s older sister?) to find a crew of my own, and I always know it’s hard when people move to Chicago to find theirs. And still, even though I have a few besties I adore, I’m always up for meeting new people too! And, as it turns out, there’s actually a better way to meet friends in Chicago, no awkward friendship date proposals required!

Cliq is a new app, built in Chicago that connects your group with other awesome people in your area that are also game to meet up for a change of pace. Whether it’s a Sunday brunch with a few ladies in Lincoln Park, meeting up with people for a concert on Navy Pier, seeing a hilarious 80’s cover band – you name it, people are finding the app as an easy way to meet new people and try new things. Even better, if you’re not super creative like me (I’ll admit it, I sometimes get in a rut even in Chicago), Cliq can give you recommendations of fun things to try – events, perks, free cover or drinks, etc. And when it becomes as cold as it does in Chicago during winter, you need a good excuse to leave your apartment – even on the weekend!

You can grab groups of up to five friends and find new people to hang out with, to make your own group even cooler. I’m planning on getting a few friends together to meet some other ladies for brunch in Lincoln Park soon to test it out for myself {I’m thinking Summer House, it’s always my go-to!} For anyone who’s looking to add some excitement to their social life {or looking for people to hang with in Chicago!} I’d definitely recommend giving it a try – so I’m teaming up with Cliq to sweeten the deal. If you invite me to Cliq through the app, I’ll pick one lucky winner at random to receive a $100 gift card to Beatrix in Chicago. And as one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago – your next few Cliq adventures will be paid for! Not too shabby, eh? Let’s Cliq – and eat some tasty food while we’re at it! Let me know if you have any questions about the app in the comments below, I’m happy to answer them! xx