DAVE'S ONGOING, MOSTLY-CRIBBED GUIDE TO SUMMER IN CHICAGO

The Tribune ran a list of 99 things to do in Chicago this summer. Some of them are Chicago-specific, others are easily adaptable to other parts of the world, so I took the liberty of splitting them up. The ones I'm committing to doing this summer are in bold. Anything catch your eye?

99 Things to do this summer: Chicago-specific

3. Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae at Gayety's, 3306 Ridge Rd., Lansing; the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, 7347 W. Madison St., Forest Park; or Homer's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, 1237 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette.

4. Play drums Sundays at the Point (Promontory Point) in Hyde Park.

5. Enjoy a day at 95th Street Beach.

7. Go to the batting cages at the Bunny Hutch in Lincolnwood as often as possible (www.nerfect.com/bunnyhutch/bh00.html).

8. Go to at least one SummerDance class and bust some crazy moves with abandon.

9. Play the ponies at Arlington Park racetrack (www.arlingtonpark.com).

11. Visit a different city neighborhood every weekend.

12. Do Saturday morning yoga (8 a.m.) at Millennium Park (June 7-Sept. 27; 312-742-1168).

13. Kayak on the Chicago River.

14. Discover 5 great snacks in a neighborhood, by foot with friends, instead of going to Taste of Chicago.

15. Run screaming through a cold sprinkler at a Chicago park.

16. Get box seats ($12) at a Kane County Cougars game (www.kccougars.com).

18. See a show at Theater on the Lake (June 11-Aug. 3; 312-742-7994).

21. Reinvigorate your wilted self on a sweltering afternoon with an intense Vietnamese iced coffee.

23. After a long hot day, get take-out of assorted Middle Eastern/Greek dips with plenty of crusty bread and eat them with a cold cote du rhone with a loved one. Soak your feet in a pan of cold water while eating and pretend you are on the Mediterranean.

26. Challenge a chess master at North Avenue Beach.

28. Go to Great America to check out the new Dark Knight coaster.

29. Eat a brochette of meat washed down with a Coco Rico from one of the trailers in Humboldt Park.

30. Get to Lake Michigan in time to sit and watch the sun rise. Bring a blanket and pillow if you like.

33. Eat a pot bin soo (shaved ice, malt, sweet red bean and fruit sundae) at a Korean cafe.
35. Take a martial arts class at Chase Park as part of the Chicago Park District's cheap, comprehensive and convenient programs (www.chicagoparkdistrict.com).

36. Eat an arroz con leche paleta (essentially rice pudding ice cream bar) from a passing vendor.

38. Arrive at Green City Market super early when it's still cool and you can find parking. Sip Intelligentsia coffee while you ponder the lovely meal you will make with your stash.

39. Go to the Drinking and Writing Festival June 14 at the Hopleaf (www.hopleaf.com).

40. See Cirque Shanghai at Navy Pier's Skyline Stage (June 4-Sept. 1; 312-902-1500).

41. Go to Wizard World (June 26-29) at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont and see world premiere of "Batman: Gotham night." (www.wizardworld.com/chicago.html)

46. Get a freshly shaved piragua (shaved ice) from one of the piragua vendors in Humboldt Park.

47. Go to at least one movie in the Chicago Outdoor Film Fest in Grant Park (begins July 15; www.chicagooutdoorfilmfestival.us).

49. Spend a couple of hours on the beach beneath the Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston. Squint. Pretend you're on Nantucket.

50. Forget the sweltering heat and just groove your behind off to stellar live acts such as Girl Talk, CSS, Santogold, The National and, of course, Radiohead at Lollapalooza (Aug. 1-3).

51. Attend the first night of the Pitchfork Music Festival (June 18; www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com). See Public Enemy play "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" in its entirety, in order, start to finish.

54. Enter the Muddy Buddy race Aug. 3 (www.muddybuddy.com).

55. Volunteer for a day on the Red Witch Tall Ship (www.redwitch.com). Consider a life at sea.

56. Get a freshly made lemonade from one of Chicago's South Side "steak and lemonade" joints.

59. Picnic by Lake Marmo at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle (www.mortonarb.org).

60. Shoot a round of golf on one of Chicago's terrific public courses. If you don't golf, bring a friend who does and carry the clubs while he/she plays.

63. Avoid cover bands at other block parties and instead see Ted Leo and the Pharmacists rock out the crowd (8:30 p.m. May 31) for just a $5 donation at the Do-Division Street Fest and Sidwalk Sale May 31-June 1.

65. Learn a few words or phrases of Japanese, like "That ball was definitely out!"

66. Eat a softshell crab. Good places to find 'em include Hugo's Frog Bar, Mario's, Prosecco, Catch 35 and Shaw's Crab House.

70. See "The Dark Knight" (July 18). Point to Chicago locations you recognize.

71. Have a Signature Sunset ice cream cone (made with merlot) at Bobtail Ice Cream (www.bobtailicecream.com).

72. Check out the Jeff Koons exhibit, running virtually the entire summer at the Museum of Contemporary Art (www.mcachicago.org).

74. Take a jewelry-making class at Lill Street Art Center on North Ravenswood (www.lillstreet.com).

75. Take an early morning stroll along North Pier, before the shops open. It's a completely different place then.

77. Attend the first-ever Taste of Oak Brook on July 3 at the polo fields, and stay for the evening's 4th of July fireworks display there.

78. Get some freshly squeezed sugar cane juice with lime from one of the vendors on Devon Avenue.

79. Decorate a square ($10-$50) at the Chalk Festival in Oz Park on June 7, then watch the pros create their superior chalk murals.

80. Make plans to see the Chicago Air & Water Show, Aug. 16-17.

81. Dig into some roast lamb at the Croatian Fest (Aug. 15 at Princeton Avenue and 28th Place). They're planning on roasting a whopping 75 whole ones for this street bash that also features a parade, music, dancing and games.

82. When the heat gets unbearable, slip into Johnny's Ice House and watch a hockey game (johnnysicehouse.com).

83. Check out Northerly Island for a concert (Al Green?) or a nature hike.

87. Catch Elvis Night and Fireworks at The Cell on Aug. 22 (Sox vs. Tampa Bay, whitesox.com).

89. Explore the delectable eats at the Taste of Randolph Street, June 20-22. Bonus: the fest's live music has been great in the past.

90. Take a drive up Sheridan Road. Start in Evanston. Don't stop 'til you hit Highland Park.

91. Definitely, Kiddieland, in Melrose Park (www.kiddieland.com).

93. Pack a picnic basket and grab some lakefront grass for Venetian Fest, July 26. Enjoy the festive boat parade and the spectacular evening fireworks.

94. Grab a mitt, head out to Wrigley Field and be a Waveland Avenue ballhawk for a day. (This works best if you pick a day when the Cubs are playing.)

96. See Garrison Keillor when he tapes a live show of "A Prairie Home Companion" at Ravinia.

98. Take off your shoes, walk through the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park on your way to or from work.

99. Grab a burek (a flaky treat full of minced meat) at Deta's Cafe in Rogers Park (773-973-1505). Sit on the curb out front.

photo - Luis Castro

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