Comments on: Chicagoland summer fun

By: Eszter

Eszter — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 22:38:05 +0000

Thanks for all the additional recommendations. A propos fireworks, here's a link to the schedule of fireworks at Navy Pier this summer. Basically, every Wed at 9:30pm and Sat at 10:15pm until the first weekend of September, plus additional times around July 4th weekend.

By: Jeffrey Utech

Jeffrey Utech — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 21:59:33 +0000

You also ought to check out the boat parade at Venetian Night at the end of July. It’s kind of an interesting gathering, and the fireworks that follow are usually pretty outstanding.

By: Dargie

Dargie — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 21:48:33 +0000

And I forgot the link for the LATE ride. Augh.

http://www.lateride.org/

By: Dargie

Dargie — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 21:47:51 +0000

Do check out Andrew’s site: http://bedno.com/ He’s got one of the oldest Chicago event sites, and covers stuff that even good mainstream resources miss.

As someone said, the Bike-the-Drive ride is over, but the LATE ride is in July, and that’s a great deal of fun because it begins at midnight. It used to go right past my house and I loved sitting on the lawn watching the cyclists fly past.

Glad you’re enjoying the city. I think it’s one of the greatest cities in the world.

By: geoff

geoff — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 18:40:48 +0000

Don’t forget Metromix (metromix.chicagotribune.com) for event information. I usually check it first for festival news and things like the Taste or the Air and Water Show.

By: Henry

Henry — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 16:42:50 +0000

It’s not just a summer event, but I highly recommend going to see any production by Barrel of Monkeys (I think they’re every Monday night). They teach creative writing units at Chicago public schools that lack art funding and then adapt their students’ stories into series of very short plays. The show I saw, “That’s Weird, Grandma!” was a collection of the best of those and was the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages (and it’s cheap, and a good cause, etc., etc.).

Their website is http://www.barrelofmonkeys.org, by the way.

By: Jonathan Dursi

Jonathan Dursi — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 16:39:34 +0000

You definately need to go to the outdoor film festival; it’s lots of fun. Go at about 6pm with a big picnic and some friends. Last year they got very strict about not allowing wine at those picnics. Different neighborhood parks also do this sort of thing on a much smaller scale.

The various neighborhood festivals are largely dissapointing; it’s more or less a block party with the same commercial booths at each one; go to the one nearest you or in neighborhoods you really like, but there’s not much in going to a bunch of them.

I personally find the Taste of Chicago frustrating; it’s expensive and hugely crowded. The more fun way to explore Chicago food is to wander into the various neighborhoods over the year and try them one at a time. Last year, McDonalds had a booth at Taste of Chicago.

If you cycle, the Bike the Drive is fun, but it’s already come and gone this year.

By: Amber

Amber — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:55:55 +0000

Don’t forget the Tast of Chicago (I beleive it will be over the July 4th weekend). It is absolutely wonderful!! You will gorge yourself on some of the best food EVER!