Wrigleyville bartender takes it off for Playboy

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Bartender Kimberly Cohen works at Sluggers, 3450 N. Clark Street and is featured in the June issue of Playboy magazine. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

Updated: August 28, 2011 12:22AM

At Sluggers in Wrigleyville, Kimberly Cohen stripped down to nothing but sheer, black underwear. Then, slowly, teasingly, she slipped that off, too.

“It was weird to get naked at work,” the stunning brunette barmaid told me. “I kept trying to remember where all the security cameras are. It was such a crazy day.”

Crazy is typical for the Australian-born beer slinger, who recently witnessed a drunken couple attempt love-making on a barstool at Sluggers after a Cubs game.

But her personal all-day strip show at work was particularly bizarre — a photo shoot for Playboy magazine.

Cohen, 28, got tapped for the nude pictorial in December when a Playboy scout out drinking on the popular 12 Bars of Christmas pub crawl spotted her in the dim barroom light.

“It was one of our busiest days and she asked if I ever thought about modeling for Playboy,” Cohen said. “I was so busy. I was like, ‘Yeah, OK. What can I get you to drink? Hurry, I’ve got a tab to close out.’ I was probably pretty rude.”

But Kate Horton, a Playboy content production manager, persisted and slipped Cohen her business card before heading to the next bar.

“The card had the Playboy Bunny on it. I knew she was legit,” Cohen said.

That’s how Cohen ended up naked on page 23 of the June issue, and on Playboy.com.

Cohen says she’s prepared for dealing with ogling men. Already, guys are calling the bar to find out when they can order a cold one from Cohen.

“I’m waiting to see what’s going to happen. It’s job security,” Cohen said. “I’ve already been getting texts from people who I haven’t talked to in years. ‘Saw you in Playboy.’ It’s really amazing.”

As far as neighborhood characters go, Cohen fits in perfectly with the Wrigleyville set. First, like so many apartment dwellers, she’s not from Chicago. And she roots for the Cubs, but doesn’t particularly like baseball.

When she was 15, Cohen’s family moved from Torquay, Australia, to St. Louis, home of the dreaded Cardinals. Despite taunts from her high school pals, she’s got no problem wearing Cubbie blue.

“I make money from Cubs fans, I have no problem putting on the Cubs shirt,” Cohen says of the tiny top she wore during the Playboy shoot. “Chicago fans are amazing.”

Cohen speaks without a hint of an Aussie accent until late at night after a few drinks, which also is when she’s been known to partake in “drunk Internet shopping.”

The self-proclaimed “free spirit” had lived in Atlanta, San Diego and New Jersey before settling in a Lincoln Park apartment two years ago. Still, everything she owns fits in her car if the need to skip town ever arises.

And, yes, because you’re probably dying to know, Cohen is a single lady.

But don’t get your hopes up, Wrigleyville bar-hoppers.

“I don’t believe in dating customers,” she said. “I’ve dated some people I’ve worked at bars with, though. But turns out that’s really not a good idea, either.”

Because she’s in Playboy, talk turned to her turn-offs: “Bad tippers and arrogant people.”

I ask about her turn-ons: “Guys who are rough around the edges. I love beards,” she says gesturing at my unkempt face. “You have a beard.”

Immediately, it became clear: Kimberly Cohen does not get lousy tips.