But open them at your own risk.
Category: Summer Guide
Posted inCity Life
There’s no joy in Bruce Rauner’s Springfield
A journey into the heart of Illinois’s bureaucratic darkness: the state capital
Posted inCity Life
Striving for a peaceful summer in a very violent year
With youth sports leagues and summer jobs programs, Englewood community groups will try to keep kids occupied and out of harm’s way.
Posted inCity Life
110 reasons to mark your calendar
110 summery things to do, every day from now until Labor Day 2013
Posted inCity Life
Summer Guide: Spiritual guidance, and bourbon, in Louisville
Summer Guide: camp in the hills, ride the Bluegrass Parkway, and Shakespeare in the park
Posted inCity Life
Summer Guide: 110 things to do this summer
Summer Guide: 110 things to do this summer
Posted inCity Life
Best of the rest of the fests
Whether you like your summer weekends loud with a side of light beer or a little more eclectic, the options for fairs and festivals that suit your mood are plentiful. Admission fees listed for most neiighborhood festivals are suggested donations for charity or community projects. May International Mr. Leather Chicago’s homegrown leather-man competition packs the […]
Posted inCity Life
Get on the water: Kayak, swim, jet-ski, surf, or sail – even if you’re the aquatically challenged
So you’ve always wanted to kayak, swim, jet-ski, surf, or sail. Chicago water sports are for the aquatically adept as well as those who wouldn’t know a paddle from a poodle—plenty of options let you sit back, sip a cocktail, and let someone else do all the work. Canoeing and Kayaking Chicago River Canoe and […]
Posted inCity Life
On two wheels: Bike rides and races
From Lake Shore Drive to the North Shore, from earliest morning to the middle of the night, from clothed to fully naked—in the summer, Chicago bike enthusiasts take their pick of roads, rides, and races. Bike the Drive The city closes Lake Shore Drive to cars and opens it to bikes for this annual event […]
Posted inCity Life
Dog days of summer: Five canine-friendly summertime events
Hey all you cocktail-loving, pizza-eating, cruise-taking canines: Here are five events to which you’re more than welcome to bring your well-behaved human. Sip & Give dog-friendly cocktail party A dog-friendly cocktail party/fund-raiser to benefit Found, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter focused on the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of dogs and cats that would otherwise be euthanized. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Summer book fairs
Little City Book Fair Billed as the largest used book sale in the midwest, this annual sale also offers CDs, DVDs, comic books, and collectibles. Proceeds benefit the Little City Foundation, which supports children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. 8/19-8/21: Fri 5-10 PM, Sat 10 AM-9 PM, Sun 10 AM-5 PM, Harper […]
Posted inCity Life
From scavenger hunts to beachathons to obstacle courses, the race is on
Mud pits, banana costumes, ice cream flavor identification . . . these are some of the summer’s more idiosyncratic competitive events. Most require advance registration, with prices—listed per person unless otherwise noted—increasing as race dates approach. Urban Assault Ride In teams of two, cycling scavenger hunters head to a dozen-odd checkpoints, stopping for activities like […]
Posted inCity Life
Farmers’ Markets: where to go for your greens
This year there are more farmers’ markets to choose from than ever, from Green City Market and the large city-sponsored one in Federal Plaza to markets in so-called food deserts like Pullman and Lawndale. Our annual guide follows. MONDAY Loyola 3:30-6 PM, 6/6-10/17, 6542 N. Sheridan TUESDAY City Farm Market Stand 3-6:30 PM Tue-Fri, 7/12-9/30, […]
Posted inCity Life
Alfresco: 25 notable spots for outdoor dining
Hundreds of the city’s restaurants and bars set up outdoor dining catering to customers starved for summer. We’ve selected 25 notable spots, including some newcomers; for complete alfresco listings search under “features” at chicagoreader.com/chicago/RestaurantFinder/Page. 90 Miles Cuban Cafe | Wicker Park/Bucktown | $ The second outpost of Alberto and Christine Gonzalez’s 90 Miles Cuban Cafe […]
Posted inCity Life
Blarney Island: A mile away from reality and dangerously close to paradise
“Babes. Bikinis. Bands. Boats. Beer. We think we’ve got it covered!” That’s the loaded promise that greets visitors to Blarney Island’s website. Each of the B-words pops up next to an empty square, which is promptly filled in with a large, exaggerated check mark as calypso music blares. Naturally, the checklist sits next to a […]