Ten great reasons to love summer in the Chi

Waiting for the corn stands to open, anticipating friend-filled picnics in the American Legion Park and visiting with former classmates at my No-Class Reunion are just a few of the many activities I look forward to every summer in my little hometown of Dupo, Illinois, nestled near the banks of the Mississippi River. And even though there’s oppressive heat with no breezes, I still love summers in Southern Illinois. Now, after moving to Chicago nearly 50 years ago, I have collected a lifetime of warm weather memories right here in the Windy City. Let’s take a look at a few of the standouts.

1) First and foremost, I think ALL Chicagoans look forward to outdoor dining after being cooped up all winter long. There’s nothing like enjoying an Italian spumoni after dinner on the patio at Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap (1073 W. Vernon Park Place). This local favorite is still attracting crowds and has been in the same family since 1930. And you sure can’t go wrong with people-watching and dining on the patio at Gibsons Steakhouse (1028 N. Rush St.). From its prime location in the “Viagra Triangle,” you will see everyone you know coming and going throughout your meal. Chicago Cut’s sophisticated terrace (300 N. LaSalle St.) allows some of the best views of the skyline on top of a delicious menu. At Pizzeria Portofino, just down the river, you can dock your boat, dine in or carry-out. Gene & Georgetti (500 N. Franklin St.), another family-owned institution, came late to the patio party but is catching up fast with its colorful umbrellas, beautiful flowers and a menu that stands the test of time. And last, but not least, on the list of favorites is Pingpong (3322 N. Broadway). This local spot attracts an eclectic crowd both inside its cozy dining room and outside on the charming patio with the best mix of Asian, Thai and Chinese cuisines.

2) Farmers’ markets rank high on this list of summer favorites, too. Who doesn’t crave fresh fruits and veggies after a long, cold season of frozen food dinners (or is that just me?). One of my favorites is Green City Market in Lincoln Park that seems to get bigger and better every year. Now they have added music and more food vendors so attendees can shop, dine, and stay a while.

3) There are so many great excuses to spend time on the river. First and foremost, is the award-winning Chicago Architectural Tour. There’s nothing quite like seeing the city’s world-famous architecture up close and personal from the comfort of a Shoreline Sightseeing cruise. The 75-minute tour showcases hidden treasures as well as over 40 Chicago landmarks. We also love the uniqueness of being on the water in a 1930s era fireboat for the popular Chicago Fireboat Tours. Owned by two Navy vets, this cruise offers a step back in time aboard the fully restored Fred A. Busse boat in operation from 1937 to 1981. It also features a mini museum onboard. And, for the dog lovers out there, I love the Canine Cruise on the Mercury Skyline Cruiseline. What could be better than cruising with your pet? There are so many great possibilities to experience Chicago’s beautiful waterways.

4) Ice cream must be the number one food of the summer (besides fresh corn on the cob) and there are so many wonderful places to take the kids (and your sweet tooth). One of my favorites is Margie’s Candies (1960 N. Western Ave.), in operation since 1921. Chicago mobster Al Capone allegedly patronized this sweet shop during its early years. Margie’s cemented its place in Chicago lore in 1965 when it hosted the Beatles following their concert in Comiskey Park. According to the owners, the Poulos family, the band came in with five girls and ordered several six-scoop “Atomic Sundaes,” to share. (It’s also the home of the “world’s largest sundae!”)

5) There’s nothing like a visit to a county fair to signal summer. Kane County hosts a wicked flea market and there are others to be found in Lake County, DuPage, Will, Boone and McHenry counties as well as The Sandwich Fair. My husband Chuck and I attended the Illinois State Fair in Springfield a couple of years ago and, to be honest, were a bit disappointed. First off, we couldn’t find any decent places to stay and secondly, it just wasn’t as exciting as we had hoped. However, we did get a thrill (sort of) seeing the “famous” Butter Cow. This sculpture is made of 600 lbs. of low moisture, pure cream Iowa butter and people stand in line for hours just to file past it. We were two of those people.

6) In late summer, we look forward to the Printer’s Row Lit Fest, coming up Sept. 7/8. As book lovers and collectors, this is a big deal for us. A couple of years ago, I even participated in a panel discussion with author Christina Clancy. She wrote a terrific and well-researched work of fiction titled “Shoulder Season,” which is set largely at the former Lake Geneva Playboy Resort. In years past, we got lucky and discovered an advanced reading copy (ARC) of “A Game of Thrones” signed by author George R. R. Martin. So, this event is always on our list of favorites!

7) Chicago is fast becoming known as the city of pop-up experiences. Every time you turn around, a new pop-up, well, pops up. And, believe me, I’m not complaining. As a big fan of these attractions, I’m always excited to hear about a new one coming to town. Take for instance all the cool pop-ups in Goose Island, (1261 W. LeMoyne St.). Be on the lookout for Jack's Pumpkin Pop-Up coming back "bigger and better" than ever this September!

8) Food trucks. Yes, another summertime favorite. 10 years ago, I experienced my first food truck Babycakes, nicknamed Sweetheart, and it’s still happily tooling around the city dispensing the best gourmet pancakes around. Other favorites include The Fat Shallot, Pink Taco Chicago, Tamale Spaceship and the Happy Lobster food trucks.

9) Visiting Navy Pier has become a top summer destination for people across the country and around the world. With its increase in free programming and so many more attractions, food vendors, restaurants (Chef Art Smith’s Reunion restaurant is there!) and more, it is on the don’t-miss list for sure. This summer alone, this number one tourist attraction in Illinois, has offered dance performances, movies, workouts, weekly neighborhood markets, fireworks (every Wednesday and Saturday), outdoor live music, activities for the kiddos and so much more. What most people don’t realize is that Navy Pier is a nonprofit providing our communities with an abundance of fun, not only in the summer, but year-round.

10) Last, but not least, listening to music and watching movies under the stars. Thankfully, Chicago has so many opportunities to do this with Ravinia, Grant Park Music Festival, Chicago Shakespeare, Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Park District’s “Night Out in the Parks." As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of Chicago summers. It’s why we endure months of freezing cold and ice because we know there’s this beautiful, warm light at the end of the tunnel.

Please send some of your favorite summertime activities to CandidCandace@ChicagoStarMedia.com so I can share them too.

(First published July, 2022. Revised August 8, 2024)