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SWEET, SWEATY SUMMER. Oh, how we’ve missed you! I’m Alexa, Eventbrite’s Chicago Marketing Manager, and I want to make sure you enjoy every last drop of this summer. Whether it’s listening to music at a street-fest, dining al fresco on a moonlit patio, or sipping drinks with a rooftop view, let’s be sure to make every warm day count!

CONTENTSAl Fresco Patio Dining

Sky-high Sipping

Best Outdoor Summer Sports

Race to the Finish!

The Best Festivals

Chicago’s Urban Treasure Hunt

Must-Not-Miss Sets of the Festival Season!

AL FRESCO PATIO DININGWe think all food tastes better on a

patio! Take every opportunity you can

to eat al fresco this summer at one of

these favorite spots.

Parson’s Chicken & Fish

2952 W ARMITAGE AVE

Finger lickin’ good chicken and negroni

slushies, all under an umbrella-shielded

patio. Best enjoyed on a warm summer

night with great friends.

City Winery 1200 W RANDOLPH ST

Expansive patio with (you guessed it)

an amazing wine list and delicious bites.

Napa who? Sonoma what?

Big Star 1531 N DAMEN AVE

A patio list wouldn’t be a patio list

without Big Star’s tacos & margs.

Go early, stay late, and be thankful

you found a seat!

RM Champagne Salon 116 N GREEN ST

Warm lighting, eclectic decor, bubbles.

More bubbles. Then a delicious

flatbread. Your recipe for a perfect

summer evening.

Briciola

937 N DAMEN AVE

Take note, gentlemen.

This neighborhood Italian gem is the

perfect date night spot. Dining in the

garden patio under the lights is a must!

Prasino 1846 W DIVISION ST

Prasino’s huge Division St. patio serves

up excellent local, seasonal dishes and

even better people watching. Get the

shishito peppers if you’re looking to

spice up your night.

Homeslice

938 W WEBSTER AVE

Pizza wars aside, Homeslice is where it’s

at. Order a pie and some beers on their

big back patio. It’s so good, you won’t

even notice the El overhead.

Fat Rice2957 W DIVERSEY AVE

Did you hear? Fat Rice now has sidewalk

seating! It probably won’t cut down

the wait time, but it’s still worth every

minute.

The Chop Shop 2033 W NORTH AVE

Butcher shop, restaurant, event space,

and a secret patio! Let’s keep it

between us...

Nico Osteria 1015 N RUSH ST

You’d be hard-pressed to find

something Paul Kahan can’t do. His

newest experience doesn’t disappoint,

and neither does its outdoor seating.

Put your name in…yesterday.

Nightwood 2119 S HALSTED ST

Nightwood is a Pilsen dreamboat, with

farm-to-table like you wouldn’t believe.

Indoor dining is a must, outdoor dining

is a plus. If you dig Lula Cafe, you’ll love

Nightwood.

Tango Sur 3763 N SOUTHPORT AVE

Their patio is lined with so much foliage,

you’ll think you’re in the jungle.

It’s BYO-whatever-you-want, and their

Argentine waiters aren’t hard on the

eyes, ladies. This spot is

NSFV(egetarians). For everyone else,

bring on the steak!

SKY-HIGH SIPPING Why do we have drinks on rooftops

during Chicago summers? Because we

can, that’s why! From skyscraping views

to homey heights, this city truly makes

great use of its building tops. Here are

our top picks for skyline sips:

Homestead on the Roof

1924 W CHICAGO AVE

Above Roots pizza? Check! Grow their

own herbs on the roof? Check! Killer

summer cocktails? Check! Homestead

is truly a summer charmer.

Drumbar 201 E DELAWARE PL

Delicious cocktails and posh ambiance.

Pro tip: Beat the rush by going on a

weeknight.

Little Goat Diner 820 W RANDOLPH ST

It wasn’t enough to create a quaint

diner spin-off from the ever-delicious

Girl & The Goat. They had to go put a

rooftop on the diner! And we’re okay

with it.

I/O Urban Roofscape 127 W HURON ST

Their name doesn’t exactly roll off the

tongue, but their retractable rooftop

will roll us all the way through the fall.

The bespoke cocktails (i.e. margaritas)

are so well crafted, you’re guaranteed

to have a second. And a third.

Kensington Rooftop 324 W CHICAGO AVE

A glass elevator brings you up to

this rooftop where you’ll need your

fancy pants and moderate tolerance

of “untzuntzuntz.” If that doesn’t

quite raise your roof, go early for a

pre-dinner drink.

WET Deck (W Hotel) 644 NORTH LAKE SHORE DR

Wind down with co-workers after a long

day at the W Hotel’s WET Deck. The

views of the lake are gorgeous, and it’s

the perfect spot for watching fireworks.

Terzo Piano 159 E MONROE ST

Situated on top of the Art Institute’s

modern wing, you’ll feel all sorts of

cultured while dining at this Italian gem.

The J. Parker 1816 N CLARK ST

Copious seating options and a

ridiculous view of Lake Michigan. Don’t

let the early summer night chill deter

you—they have outdoor heating!

Twisted Spoke 501 N OGDEN AVE

This place will make you want to ride a

Harley—or at least look cool

standing next to one. It’s a biker bar

with a diverse crowd, perfect for a

casual summer Bloody and a sidecar.

Tanta 118 W GRAND AVE

Tanta is topping everyone’s list lately.

Now there’s a rooftop lounge serving

pisco cocktails and made-to-order

ceviche! Okay, now you MUST try it.

BEST OUTDOOR SUMMER SPORTSSoar, SUP, spike, or sail your way

through the summer. We cram a year’s

worth of outdoor activities into four

months out of necessity, so don’t wait

until next summer to get outside and

try something new!

Chicago SUP Not to be confused with people being

too lazy to ask you “what’s up,” SUP

stands for “Stand Up Paddleboarding.”

If you can actually stand up the entire

time, it’s totally fun! Take a lesson or

rent a board and go solo.

Beach Volleyball

One of Chicago’s biggest summer sport

traditions. We’d recommend joining a

team that doesn’t really care about

winning as much as sticking around for

the people watching. Hello, beach bods!

Kayak Chicago River or lake, pick your poison.

Kayaking is a great upper body workout,

and equally as appealing to those who

just like to float. We just wish those

boats had cup holders...

Divvy Roses are red, Divvys are blue. That lady

on LSD rode one, and you should, too!

Hands down the best way to get around

this summer. Get a membership, it’s

worth it.

16” Softball Chicago“You mean to tell me you’re going to

launch a 16” ball at my face?” Everyone

says that before they realize how much

fun this Chicago native sport is. Gather

some friends and join a league!

Sailing ChicagoDid you know you can charter a

sailboat out of Belmont Harbor? If you

have experience tacking and jibing, you

can even take out your own boat.

Bon voyage!

Chicago Ultimate FrisbeeUltimate isn’t just for Umphrey’s

McGee-loving deadheads. There are

several Chicago leagues—some that

require tryouts. Make sure your game

face is on!

FlyboardFlyboard? Yes, flyboard. You can now

rent one of those water propelled jet

packs that shoot you 30 feet in the air

above Lake Michigan. Just don’t tell

your mom, she’ll worry.

Beach YogaLots of yoga instructors offer special

summer sessions for all experience

levels, right on the beach! Who wants

to go to a stuffy studio when you can

downward dog in the sand?

RollerbladingRollerblading is making a comeback this

summer. You heard it here first. Leave

those knee pads at home, strap up, and

roll down North Ave Beach like a boss.

RACE TO THE FINISH!

For those with a competitive spirit (and

for those who just love a good themed

race), here are our top picks for

summer endurance events.

L.A.T.E. RideJUNE 22

Ride or die with your crew during an

overnight, 25-mile bike ride through

more than a dozen Chicago ‘hoods.

Oh, and glowsticks! Oh, and charity!

Proud to Run 5K/10KJUNE 28 Chicago has pride all year round, but

celebrations of LGBTQ community

spike in June. Get those legs movin’ and

show your pride!

Dirty Girl 5K MudJUNE 28

We envision the soundtrack to this

being Christina Aguilera’s Dirty (the PG

version). Ladies, grab your girlfriends

and get muddy!

Bastille Day 5K/8KJULY 10

Berets optional, fun required.

What better way to celebrate this

French national holiday? And don’t say

“by eating bread”...

Tomato BlastJULY 13 Ok, so this isn’t exactly a race, but it

does involve beer, music, and hurling

tomatoes at perfect strangers.

Tomayto, tomahto.

Burgers and Beer 5K One Monday each month, Universal

Sole, Goose Island, and Saucony team

up for a Burger & Beer run. They sure

have the motivation thing figured out.

Men’s Fitness Ultimate Athlete GamesJULY 19

A bunch of hunky dudes competing to

be the #1 Ultimate Athlete. Think you’ve

got what it takes? Use code “FIRST500”

to get $20 off your registration!

Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll Half MarathonJULY 20

Historically, this race is well-attended

and a great practice opportunity

for those training for the “Big Race”

in October.

Chocolate 5K AUGUST 2

One way to get people to run a 5K is by

promising them chocolate throughout

the race and at the finish line! There are

no excuses for missing this one.

Elvis is AliveAUGUST 14

Bust out your polyester leisure suit!

As fools rush into the finish line, the

race concludes with peanut butter

banana sandwiches and a tribute

performance by the King himself

(kind of).

Badass DashAUGUST 30 Show your badass side by competing in

this 7K obstacle challenge. What’s even

more badass? You can use code “SUMMERFUN15” for 15% off your

registration!

THE BEST FEST RUNDOWNChicagoans fest hard in the summer

months. It seems like each and every

neighborhood puts its own unique

stamp on the festival season

(i.e. Wrigleyville Sausage Fest, not a

coincidence). But not all of these

parties happen on the streets! Here are

some of our favorite festivals and fairs

to cross off your summer passport:

Pride Fest JUNE 21-22

Chicago is full of pride all year long,

but this event is always a highlight for

the LGBTQ community. Treat yourself

to the VIP experience during this

year’s parade!

Wicker Park Fest JULY 26-27

Wicker Park Fest is actually a mini music

festival parading around as a street

fest. There are three different stages,

and the lineup is usually solid. If you’re

looking for live music but can’t shell out

for a Lolla ticket, this is a great option!

Chicago Craft Beer FestJULY 19-20 If there’s one thing Chicagoans love, it’s

craft beer. This summer beer fest on

Sheffield is yet another opportunity for

hop-loving, ale-drinking Chicagoans to

get their fix!

Hip Hop Day Fest

AUGUST 16-17

B-boys/girls take note! This celebration

of beats and flow takes place in August.

Bonus points because it’s free!

Bacon, Sports & Beer AUGUST 23 The holy trifecta of dude-ism. The team

at Bacon, Sports, Beer is back this sum-

mer for more of everybody’s favorite.

Use code “FUN” for $5 off your tickets!

The Hideout Block Party SEPTEMBER 5-6

Yes, you’re next to a garbage truck

graveyard, but you’ll get over that fast

because The Hideout Block Party is

probably the best bang for your musical

buck. Eclectic crowd, great music, and

cheap beer. What’s not to love?

Ravinia Food Network EventSEPTEMBER 20

All of your favorite Food Network chefs

team up at Ravinia this summer for an

epic mash up of food and music. Tunes

provided by John Mayer.

Chicago Gourmet SEPTEMBER 26-28 Bon Apetit’s Chicago Gourmet closes

out the summer in a big way. This is the

event for Chicago foodies and beyond.

Hundreds of Chicago’s best restaurants

serving up delectable dishes and

hugely popular chefs giving live

demonstrations. Forks up!

CHICAGO’S URBAN TREASURE HUNT Chicago has a slew of fantastic vintage

shops and artisan bazaars filled to the

brim with quirky finds. Whether you’re

in the market for some used vinyl or

some vintage duds, you’ll find it on this

urban treasure hunt.

Old Town Art Fair JUNE 14-15

About 250 artists will adorn the streets

of Old Town for this art fair meets

street fest. A donation is requested at

entrance, but after that, feel free to

browse (with a beer) before you buy.

Randolph StreetMULTIPLE DATES

This outdoor collection of local artisans

and vintage vendors has everything you

could ever want, plus some things you’d

probably never want. Score everything,

from fixings for your new apartment

to one-of-a-kind jewelry, all at decent

prices. Most vendors will barter and

there are always pop-up food and

beverage stands to refuel.

Renegade Craft Fair JUNE 21-22

This summer’s mini pop-up mart will

take place at Mana Contemporary

Chicago. This condensed version of

the normal fair will include indie artists,

bocce ball, booze, music, workshops,

and more! Be sure to check out the

shipping container art installations.

View the web version of the guide at:

eventbrite.com/l/chisummerguide

Lill Street Craft Fair JULY 26-27

This fair takes place in congruence with

Taste of Lincoln Ave. Art + food, a match

made in Chicago summer heaven.

Dose Market This monthly market is the definition of

handcrafted. Artisans working with tons

of different mediums, all gathered to

make their creations your treasures!

Broadway Antique MarketIt’s exactly what it sounds like. Dozens

of vendors lined up, lots of vintage

finds, and it doesn’t smell like your

grandma’s basement (score!). Unlike a

lot of flea markets, it’s open all week!

BrimfieldThere’s probably a nostalgic, vintage

Radio-Flyer sitting out front beckon-

ing you to come in. And you should!

Don’t leave without going upstairs. This

Andersonville charmer has so many

incredible mid-century treasures, you’ll

think you’re on the set of Mad Men.

Vintage Garage A six story parking garage in Uptown full

of vintage treasures. It takes place the

third Sunday of each month this sum-

mer, with the occasional special event

in between!

Luxury Garage Sale

Ladies, if you’re not looking to shell out

half of your paycheck for some new

summer looks, Luxury Garage Sale is

your spot. This Old Town consignment

shop sells only top designer threads at

more than reasonable prices.

Salvage One Salvage One is organized chaos in the

best kind of way. There are old

treasures everywhere you look, all

categorized in such a way that you’ll

think, “I have a million places to put this

life-sized bald eagle statue!” Just be

sure there isn’t a wedding scheduled

before you go. People love to get

married next to old stuff, apparently.

MUST-NOT-MISS SETS OF THE FESTIVAL SEASONThe lineups are out, you have your

tickets, but you’re already experiencing

FOMO because so many of your

favorite bands are overlapping! Some

might say go wherever the music takes

you, but we’re a sucker for a good game

plan. Need advice? Check out our must-

not-miss sets of this festival season:

PitchforkJULY 18-20 Affordable and manageable, this year’s

Pitchfork lineup is worth playing Friday

hooky for.

Sun Kill Moon’s folky/rock feel will send

you into the chill zone with sing-song

lyrics. You won’t be able to get “that one

song about Ben” out of your head.

Tune-Yards: Colorful, funky, and...what

the heck is that chick wearing on her

head? There’s so much happening on

stage at a Tune-Yards show, you won’t

want to miss a second.

Beck is back and he’s not a loser, baby.

Check out his new album before his

headline performance.

Hello, did you SEE Kendrick Lamar’s

Grammy performance? He’s sure to

bring some #*@& and @$!# to the

Pitchfork stage, but you shouldn’t miss

it. Seriously, it’ll be the $#!*.

LollapaloozaAUGUST 1-3 People complain about the headliners,

but 2014’s lineup boasts some great

artists actually worth the hassle of

weaving through a sea of drunk

people. Don’t leave without seeing:

Gemini Club - Give this local band some

love at their first (and probably not last)

Lolla appearance.

Chance the Rapper - This Chicago

southsider recorded his debut album

while on...nevermind. Don’t miss this

performance, trust us.

Jungle - The mystery surrounding

these artists isn’t the only intriguing

factor. You might not know who is

behind the sound, but you’ll most

definitely feel the groove.

Courtney Barnett - 60’s crooning? 90’s

grunge? We can’t figure it out, but we

know we like it—and you will, too.

Rudimental. And Broken Bells. And Nas.

And Vance Joy. Take that, haters.

Lolla lives!

Riot FestSEPTEMBER 12-14

People lose it when the Riot Fest lineup

is announced. This year was no excep-

tion, and rightfully so! Great bands, new

and old. If you score tickets, hit up:

The National - In our opinion, this set

will probably be the best of all time. For

ever and ever, Amen.

Wu-Tang Clan - You can’t spell Method

without Man. Make it worth your while

and hear that $5 million record

performed live.

Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Probably

nostalgic for those Bosstones fans, but

we’re really looking forward to seeing if

their set does, in fact, feel like a real life

version of the movie Clueless.

Flaming Lips - If you haven’t seen this

psych-rock band perform live yet, do

yourself a favor. Whatever comes out of

Wayne Coyne’s head is a trip. Literally.

PygmallionSEPTEMBER 25-28

While not technically in Chicago, this

fast-growing festival in Urbana-Cham-

paign is definitely worth the short drive.

Their lineup rivals that of the other “P”

festival and also includes spoken word

and art exhibits. While there, see:

Chvrches’ (pronounced Churches)

songs just sound like summer. They’ve

been on the festival circuit all year and

are going to close out the summer with

a great performance at #Pygfest.

If you missed Real Estate at Pitchfork,

here’s your chance to catch them at

Pygmallion! Sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Close out the festival season by listen-

ing to Tycho’s swirly, ambient tunes

while praying summer never ends!

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