In case any other readers are Chicagoans, I thought I would type up a late night, thunderstorm-induced, summer to do list. I won’t get to all of these things but in case you have also spent many summers in Chicago and are looking for something new to do, here are some thoughts:

TO DO: Bike the North Branch Trail, which offers relief from the crowded Lake Michigan trail and ends

at the Chicago Botanic Gardens

Bike the prairie path and end with a beer at Two Brothers Brewery in Warrenville

Drink wine at art gallery openings every second Friday of the month in Pilsen

See the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform live while watching Titanic at Ravinia (!!)

And of course, picnic at the Pritzker Pavilion either for the summer concert series or movies 

in the park. Even better, dance salsa in the park for the summer dance series or rock climb at

Maggie Daley Park nearby.

GETAWAY: Lake Michigan camping (Sleeping Bear Dunes or Nordhouse Dunes)

Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois 

Red River Gorge near Lexington, Kentucky

EAT/DRINK: For patio dining, there’s Lula Café, Longman and Eagle, Parson’s Chicken and Fish, Big Star, and Happy Village. I’d also like to make my way to the Green Mill. Maybe this will be the year! Though most likey, I’ll be spending my nights in my backyard with a clara con limòn, which sounds perfect too.

Anything else that I’m missing?