Summer is finally here! All of the city beaches are officially open and the heat has brought out the swimmers in full force. There is 26 miles of lakefront and each weekend it is swarmed by walkers, runners, bike riders and roller bladers…and those are just activities on land. There is also sailing, kayaking and paddle boating for those that prefer to play in Lake Michigan. Swimming is permitted and lifeguards are on duty at all beaches from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
The Fourth of July will be here in a flash, so make sure to head over to watch the fireworks at Navy Pier! They begin at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 and will be accompanied by patriotic music. If you are not going to be in town over the Fourth, have no fear, there will also be fireworks on Saturday, June 30, and Saturday, July 7, at 10:15PM.
Taste of Chicago 2012
Known as one of the world’s largest food festivals (past totals have topped 3 million visitors), 2012’s Taste of Chicago will take place from July 11-15. Originally running 10 days, the fest has been trimmed to five so make sure to check out some of the tastiest restaurant offerings while in town. You can buy a whole portion of food or a “taste” portion, just enough to wet your whistle. Taste portions allow patrons to try numerous food vendors without spending a lot of money. Tickets for food and drinks can be purchased from booths set up around the festival, there are no admission fees.
Some Chicago favorites such as Eli’s Cheesecake, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria and Original Rainbow Cone will be in attendance!
Each day/night there will be a live concert, this year’s list of performers -- Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan, Death Cab for Cutie, and Dierks Bentley. The concerts are free to listen to on the lawn, however there will be reserved seating available for purchase.
The Taste is located in Grant Park and one of the main entrances is right by The Art Institute on Michigan Avenue. Hours are 11AM-9PM each day.
Chicago SummerDance
If you are in the mood to learn some new dance moves, Chicago SummerDance runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6PM-9:30PM and Sunday afternoons from 4PM-7 PM (weather permitting), from July 19 through September 16. SummerDance is located at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, (601 S. Michigan Avenue) and has free admission. No need to be shy if dancing is not your strong suit, be adventurous and try something new; there are introductory one-hour dance lessons taught by professional instructors followed by two hours of live music and dancing.
Wherever your travels in the city take you, enjoy your stay at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment