Summer in Chicago

Temps in Chicago today are expected to hit 80 degrees. It’s currently a sunny 75 downtown and I am, as always, inappropriately dressed for the weather. But as I sweltered on my lunchtime walk, I couldn’t help but get excited for all the good times that summer in Chicago brings.

Beer Gardens and Al Fresco Dining
There’s nothing like sharing a few beers with friends on a sunny Saturday afternoon or enjoying a cold glass of pinot grigio by candlelight as twilight comes. Some of my favorite places for outdoor indulgence are:

Halsted’s Bar and Grill – This little beer garden oasis is the perfect place to sip a few beers with friends. The music is fun, the umbrellas provide ample shade from the hot sun, and they have great specials every day.

Rock Bottom Bar and Grill – Yes, it’s a chain, but the rooftop beer garden is a guaranteed good time. The food is basic bar food, but good and there is always a tasty beer on special.

Big Chicks – Gay or straight, it doesn’t matter at this laid back bar with a great outdoor patio. Pitchers of Miller Light are $8 every day, and on Sundays there is a delicious free barbeque spread.

Angelina – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Angelina has the best brunch in Chicago. $20 gets your unlimited mimosas and an entrée like eggs Benedict, salmon and lox, frittata or pasta. Add in the fact that in summer you can enjoy this on the streetside patio and I say, who needs church? I found my heaven right here!

To Avoid – Flatwater Grill – Right on the Chicago River, this looks like the ideal place to relax after a day of loop excitement. Too bad the service is awful, the food is mediocre, and the prices are far too high for what you get.

Summer Concerts and Movies in the Park
Settle in under the stars to watch movies or listen to the Chicago Symphony at Grant Park or get your groove on with free lessons to live music at Summerdance. It seems like there’s always something going on, and most of it is totally free. Ravinia, just outside the city, hosts a concert series featuring local and international acts. Watch from the lawn seating while munching and sipping on treats from your picnic basket.


Festival Season
It seems like every weekend there is a festival in Chicago. They celebrate cultures – like the Turkish Festival and Celtic Festival - neighborhoods – like the Sheffield Garden Walk and Andersonville Midsommarfest – foods – like the pizza fest and wine fest, or the mother off all, the Taste of Chicago – and lifestyles – like the Gay Pride Parade.

Outdoor Adventure
Okay, so it’s not really “adventure” but Chicago does offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Bike or run along the lakefront path, cruise down the river or on the lake, or sun-worship at one of the city’s 29 beaches.

We’ve got big plans for this summer. From June – December we won’t be taking any major trips (I’m in travel withdrawal already!) so we are going to try to make the most of summer here. In addition to the activities outlines above, we plan to spend a day at Arlington Race Track and take a few nearby road trips – maybe to Madison, Wisconsin, or back to Southwest Michigan for more wine-tasting. We'll also be celebrating Dan's birthday in August - hopefully I can top last year when I invited friends over to barbeque and then announced to Dan that we were going to Argentina!

I’m sure the temps are going to plunge back down again next week, but for now this unseasonable warmth has got me looking ahead to the fun-filled days of summer in Chicago.