2009 Summer Events Calendar and Chicago TO DO List

I always explain to non-Chicagoans that after eight months of Windy City winter, the city graciously apologizes and thanks its citizens for enduring the snowy brutality by providing non-stop activities in the streets of Chicago for the duration of flip-flop season. Summer is, no doubt, the best time to live in Chicago! So to kick off this festive season, I began compiling a list of all the exciting events and activities I wanted to experience this summer. Well, as you can imagine, my TO DO List became so extensive that I just had to share it with the public! So if you, too, were shaped by a parental summertime mantra like "It's beautiful outside. Turn off the goddamn tv, get off your ass and go enjoy it!", then this is for you!
*Dates are subject to change. Refer back for updates (additions noted in green). And please feel free to add more!

JUNE
6-7 ~ 62nd Annual 57th Street Art Fair ~ Hyde Park, on 57th St between Kenwood and Kimbark
12 ~ Movies in the Parks ~ Every Tuesday at Various Chicago Parks, chicagoparkdistrict.com
12 ~ Gold Coast Film Festival ~ Landmark Grill & Lounge @ 1633 N. Halsted
12-14 ~ Chicago Blues Festival ~ Grant Park @ 300 S. Columbus Drive
12-14 ~ 25th Annual Party at St. Mike's ~ St. Michael's of Old Town @ 1711 N. Cleveland
12-13 ~ Rib Fest Chicago ~ North Center @ 4000 N. Lincoln Ave
13 ~ 3rd Annual Humboldt Park Art Fair & Music ~ Humboldt Park @ 1400 N. Sacramento
13 ~ On the Run for Health 5K Race ~ Chicago
13 ~ All for Doggies Dog Day Festival ~ FREE Noon-4pm, 1760 N. Kilbourn
13-14 ~ Andersonville Midsummerfest ~ Andersonville @ 5200 N. Clark
13-14 ~ Old Town Art Fair/Wells Street Art Festival ~ Old Town @ North Ave & Wells Street
14 ~ Q101 Block Party ~ Charter One Pavilion @ Northerly Island
17-19 ~ TBS Presents: Just For Laughs Chicago Comedy Festival ~ justforlaughschicago.com
19 ~ Tasteful Art on the Avenues: Local Artisans Join Forces to Benefit Children's Memorial Hospital ~ Armitage from Kenmore to Halsted, 6pm-9pm
19 ~ Bike to Work Rally ~ Daley Plaza @ Washington & Dearborn Streets
20 ~ Children’s Memorial Hospital Race for the Kids 5K Run/Walk ~ Chicago
19-20 ~ 23rd Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games ~ 700 Oak Brook Road
19-21 ~ Body Art Expo: World’s Largest Tattoo Expo ~ Navy Pier, bodyartexpo.com
19-21 ~ Festa Pasta Vino ~ Little Tuscany @ 2400 S. Oakley Avenue
19-21 ~ Taste of Randolph Street ~ West Loop @ 900 W. Randolph
19-21 ~ 1st Annual Taste of Riverwalk ~ Along Wacker from Franklin to Lake Shore
19-21 ~ Chicago Peace Fest ~ Lincoln Park @ 1700 N. Stockton Drive
19-21 ~ St. Josaphat Summerfest ~ St. Josaphat Church @ 2311 N. Southport
20-21 ~ BAM! Belmont Arts and Music Fest ~ Roscoe Village @ Belmont & Damen
20-21 ~ Chicago Summerfest ~ Lincoln Park @ 2000 N. Clark
26 ~ Jammin’ at the Zoo: Sister Hazel and Josh Kelley ~ Lincoln Park Zoo, 6pm-10:30pm
26 ~ Southport Summer Stroll ~ Southport Corridor Shops, 5pm-8pm
26-28 ~ Chicago Soul Music Festival ~ West Loop @ 1501 W. Randolph
26-5 ~ Taste of Chicago ~ Grant Park @ 300 S. Columbus Drive
28 ~ 40th Annual Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade ~ Lakeview @ Halsted & Belmont
30 ~ The Music of ABBA ~ Ravinia @ 200 Ravinia Park Rd, Highland Park, ravinia.org

JULY
8-10 ~ Thai Festival Chicago ~ Daley Plaza @ 50 W. Washington
9 ~ Bastille Day 5K Run, walk and Block Party ~ West Loop @ 1100 W. Jackson
10-11 ~ Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party ~ West Loop @ 650 W. Madison
10-11 ~ BenFest ~ Roscoe Village @ 2215 W. Irving Park Road
10-12 ~ Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile Art Festival ~ Mag Mile @ 435 N. Michigan Ave
10-12 ~ Irish American Heritage Festival ~ North Park @ 4626 N. Knox Ave
11 ~ Volleywood ~ Noon - 7pm, North Ave Beach. Reserve your free ticket here!
11-12 ~ WestFest ~ West Town, on Chicago Ave between Damen and Wood
11-12 ~ 12th Annual Chicago Folk & Roots Festival ~ Welles Park @ 4400 N. Lincoln Ave
11-12 ~ Rock Around the Block ~ Lakeview @ 3200 N. Lincoln Ave
11-12 ~ McDonald’s L.A.T.E. Ride ~ 25-mile Overnight Ride, Buckingham Fountain
14 ~ Movie in the Park: Sunset Boulevard (1950) ~ 8:58pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
14 ~ An Evening with The Beach Boys ~ Ravinia, ravinia.org
15 ~ Jewels in July Benefit ~ Room & Board Store @ 55 E. Ohio Street; architreasures.org
17-19 ~ 4th Annual Pitchfork Music Festival ~ Union Park @ 1501 W. Randolph
18-19 ~ Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival ~ 2200 N. Sheffield Ave
18-19 ~ Taste of River North ~ Erie Park @ Kingsbury & Erie
19 ~ McDonald's Chinatown Summer Fair ~ 10am-8pm, Chinatown @ 2200 S. Wentworth
20-21 ~ John Legend ~ Ravinia, ravinia.org
21 ~ Billy Joel & Elton John Concert ~ Wrigley Field, Junior Council Children’s Memorial Hospital Charity Rooftop Event
21 ~ Movie in the Park: Duck Soup (1933) ~ 8:52pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
25 ~ 52nd Annual Venetian Night ~ "Hollywood on the Lake" Theme; Monroe Harbor @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive; Boat Parade @ 8:15pm
25-26 ~ Taste of Lincoln ~ Lincoln Park @ 2400 N. Lincoln Ave
25-26 ~ Wicker Park Fest ~ Bucktown/Wicker Park @ 1300 N. Milwaukee Ave, Noon-10pm
26 ~ Chicago Criterium Race ~ Grant Park @ Columbus & Balbo Drive
26 ~ Celebrate Clark Street Festival ~ 1pm-11pm Rogers Park @ 6900 N. Clark
28 ~ Movie in the Park: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1950) ~ 8:45pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
30 ~ Run for Gus 5K Race ~ Chicago
31-1 ~ Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Health and Fitness Expo ~ McCormick Place, RNRchicago.com
31-2 ~ Gold Coast Art Fair ~ River North @ 700 N. LaSalle

AUGUST
1-2 ~ Northalsted Market Days ~ Lakeview @ 3500 N. Halsted
1-2 ~ Retro on Roscoe ~ Roscoe Village @ 2000 W. Roscoe
2 ~ Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon ~ Chicago
4 ~ Movie in the Park: Born Yesterday (1950) ~ 8:37pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
7 ~ First Fridays & Happy Hour ~ Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art @ 220 E. Chicago
7-9 ~ Lollapalooza ~ Grant Park @ 500 S. Columbus Drive
8 ~ Bud Billiken Parade ~ Fuller Park @ 2900 S. King Drive
8-9 ~ 1st Annual Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival ~ Lincoln Park @ 2200 N. Racine
8-9 ~ 7th Annual Wrigleyville Summerfest ~ Wrigleville @ 3309 N. Seminary
11 ~ Movie in the Park: Psycho (1960) ~ 8:27pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
14 ~ Yo-Yo Ma’s Dvořák ~ Ravinia, ravinia.org
14-16 ~ North Side Summerfest ~ North Center @ 4050 N. Lincoln Ave
15-16 ~ 51st Annual Air & Water Show ~ North Avenue Beach @ 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive
15-16 ~ Windy City Ribs 'n' Soul Festival ~ West Loop @ 1501 W. Randolph
15-16 ~ NEW! Green Music Fest ~ Eckhart Park @ 1330 W. Chicago Ave, noon-11pm
17 ~ Pat Benetar / Blondie ~ Ravinia, ravinia.org
18 ~ Movie in the Park: Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) ~ 8:17pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
20 ~ Buyer's Seminar ~ RE Savvy collaborates with the Belgravia Group to introduce their Installment Contract Program ~ Learn how you can own RIGHT NOW for $5,000 down ~ 6:30pm @ 565 Quincy
21-23 ~ 60th Annual Greek Festival ~ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church @ 2727 W. Winona Street
22-23 ~ Lake View Music Festival ~ Wrigleyville @ 3600 N. Sheffield
25 ~ Movie in the Park: Tootsie (1982) ~ 8:05pm Grant Park @ 100 S. Lake Shore Drive
26 ~ 1st Annual Taste of the Gold Coast ~ brought to you by Raymi Productions; buy tickets online
27 ~ G. Love & Special Sauce / Michael Franti & Spearhead ~ Ravinia, ravinia.org
28 ~ Jammin’ at the Zoo: Five for Fighting with Angel Taylor ~ Lincoln Park Zoo, 6pm-10:30pm
29-30 ~ Bucktown Arts Fest ~ Bucktown @ 2238 N. Oakley Ave
29-30 ~ Taste of Greece ~ Greektown @ 100-400 S. Halsted, Noon-11pm
30-31 ~ Carrie Underwood ~ Ravinia, ravinia.org

SEPTEMBER
4 ~ First Fridays & Happy Hour ~ Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art @ 220 E. Chicago
4-6 ~ 31st Annual Chicago Jazz Festival ~ Grant Park @ 300 S. Columbus Drive
4-6 ~ 30th Annual Taste of Polonia ~ Copernicus Center @ 5216 W. Lawrence
5-6 ~ 6th Annual Bash on Wabash ~ South Loop @ 1300 S. Wabash
11-12 ~ 5th Annual Windy City Wine Festival ~ Daley Bicentennial Plaza @ 337 E. Randolph
11-13 ~ 89th Annual German-American Festival ~ Brats, lederhosen and beer! Lincoln Square @ 4700 N. Lincoln Ave
12 ~ 5th Annual Chicago 5K Lung Run ~ 2650 N. Cannon Drive
12-13 ~ 7th Annual Wells Street Wine Crush, Music and Comedy Fest ~ Old Town, Wells Street between North and Evergreen
12-13 ~ 7th Annual Renegade Craft Fair 2009 ~ Wicker Park @ 2000 W. Damen
12-13 ~ Ukranian Village Fest ~ West Town @ 2245 W. Superior
12-13 ~ 13th Annual Celtic Fest Chicago ~ Grant Park @ 300 S. Columbus Drive
13 ~ 13th Annual Chicago Half Marathon and 5K ~ Jackson Park @ Hayes & Richards
19 ~ LandShark Lager Oyster Fest ~ Roscoe Village @ 2000 W. Roscoe
23-30 ~ UniverSoul Circus ~ Washington Park @ 5531 S. King Drive
25-27 ~ Oktoberfest ~ Lake View @ 3000 N. Lincoln Ave
30 ~ 6th Annual MetroMix Best Bartender Bash ~ District Bar @ 170 W. Ontario
Saturdays ~ Millennium Park Workouts ~ 201 E. Randolph, Early morning classes in tai chi, yoga, Pilates, and aerobic dance/martial arts

TO DO THIS SUMMER
- See Jersey Boys
- Eat in China Town
- Odyssey Fireworks Dinner Cruise
- Cooking Class at the Chopping Block
- Untouchables Tour, gangstertour.com
- Sunday ~ House of Blues Gospel Brunch
- Take the dog to Montrose Dog Beach
- See an iMax movie at Navy Pier
- See comedy show at Second City, Zanies, and Improv Olympic
- Devil in the White City Bus Tour, architecture.org
- Buy art and jewelry at an art fair
- Go to Ravinia
- See Cirque Shanghai, Navy Pier Jun 3 – Sep 7
- See Cavalia, Racine & Jackson until end of August
- Eat at Top 10 burger spots in Chicago
- Do Weird Chicago 3-hr Tour, weirdchicago.com
- Run a 5K
- Eat at North Pond Restaurant
- Join summer sports league
- Figure out what Wisconsin Dells is
- Go to Adler Planetarium
- Dine at The Signature Room
- Do climbing wall at my gym
- Go camping
- Eat at Citizen Bar
- Eat at Zed451
- Eat at all restaurants w/ rooftops
- Do something charitable, chicagocares.org
- Architectural River Boat Tour [Shoreline Sightseeing]
- Grill out
- Go boating on lake
- Cubs rooftop
- Learn to salsa dance
- Adler Planetarium presents ‘3-D Universe: A Symphony’ ~ America’s first planetarium, founded in 1930, couples with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s 1874 “Pictures at an Exhibition” during a 3-D video suite of photos from space. This year marks the 400 year anniversary since Galileo first used a telescope to explore the skies.
- Free Tuesdays at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art ~ Jun - Aug, 10am to 8pm
- Buckminster Fuller Exhibition ~ Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Mar 14 – Jun 21
- Harry Potter: The Exhibition ~ Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Apr 30 – Sep 27
- Rent scooters / mopeds
- Get a massage from a massage therapy student for a discounted price
- Watch a horse race at Arlington Park
- Go on a segway tour [Segway Experience Tour / Chicago Segway Tour / City Segway / Steve's Segway / Architectural Segway on the Lakefront]


Request e-mail version at Lindsey.Grebitus@resavvy.com