I didn't start going to Chill on the Hill in Humboldt Park this summer just because OnMilwaukee.com is a sponsor of the free, weekly, Tuesday night event. I started going because so many of my friends who live in the neighborhood -- and most them do, actually -- started going and invited us along.

A few years ago, you probably wouldn't have seen me at this family-friendly event. I would've opted for Jazz in the Park or a series a little more adult-oriented. But with Baby Tarnoff 1.0 coming soon, Chill on the Hill is a great way to catch up with my busy friends -- as well as their kids -- who seem to be doubling in size every week.

Take my godson, Eli, for example. This little dude lights up every time Uncle Andy and Auntie Velia show up at Humboldt Park. That is, when he's not being distracted by his peers: Owen, Ben, Izzy, Daisy and about a dozen of his closest friends running laps around their parents.

For my wife and me, we just plop down on our camping chairs and soak in a glimpse of our future lives. The music is pretty good, too, but it's usually just a background score for the conversations I wondered about having someday. (You'd be surprised how much you can learn about epidurals and strollers in one night.)

Fortunately, our childless and non-pregnant friends come out, too, which strikes a nice balance for the event and means that if the previous few paragraphs sound terrifying, there's some adult-themed conversation, too. And unlike some other series around town, it's not one of the "see and be seen" nights -- in my experience, that's not how our neighborhood rolls.

Unfortunately, summer is once again flying by, which means there are just two Chills on the Hill left. The Urbanites play a reggae set on Aug. 19, and Swing Nouveau does its big band thing on Aug. 26. The music starts around 6:30 p.m., and yes, you can bring wine and beer.

If you're looking for a nice, relaxing Tuesday, give it a whirl. Again, we're sponsors of the event -- but even if we weren't, you find me at the park more often than not.