CHICAGO — Chicagoans are smack dab in the middle innings of this year's winter season, and a break is necessary.
Call it a mental health day, and for 24 hours, pretend that it's summer without leaving the city.
We have compiled a detailed schedule of how to spend the perfect summer day in Chicago right now.
Paul Biasco outlines a perfect summer day in the middle of a brutal Chicago winter:
9 a.m.-noon
Shake the cobwebs of both sleep and endless gray skies by imagining you are rowing down the Chicago River or working out in the sun on a 105-degree August day.
- WMS Boathouse at Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St., is the perfect spot to dip your toes in the water, close your eyes and row your way down the Chicago River, minus the ice. Drop-in sessions at the indoor rowing tank can accommodate 16 rowers and include waves and a current simulation.
- 105F Bikram Yoga studio. Raise your temperature while giving your entire body a thorough stretching in the 105-degree, 40 percent humidity room. Single classes are $17 and run 1½ hours at the studio's three locations, 1344 N. Milwaukee Ave. (Wicker Park), 2736 N. Clark St. (Lincoln Park), 47 W. Polk St. (South Loop).
Noon-1 p.m.
Tacos, notably fish tacos, are an excellent summer lunch option. While they are best eaten sitting outside on a patio, the memories that a taco will bring you will continue your day of summer vibes.
- Big Star, 1531 N. Damen Ave. Cozy up to the bar with a pal and a pitcher of Big Star margaritas. Order some guac and a slew of tacos. Everything at Big Star tastes and smells like summer. And after you down that pitcher, you’ll feel VERY warm.
- Del Seoul, 2568 N. Clark St., serves up Korean tacos and a supremely good fish taco ($3.99).
1:30-3 p.m.
Spend the afternoon ambling through the tropical plants, breathing in the humid air and pleasant smells of summer. Gaze upward at the palm trees as your glasses fog up. Bliss.
- Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., is the city's largest and most prized nature house. It was erected in 1907 and occupies roughly 4½ acres. (Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily)
- Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Drive, contains four display houses: Palm House, Fern Room, Orchid House and Show House. Try to spot the miniature dinosaurs among the ferns.
The @ChicagoParks Lincoln Park Conservatory helped me forget about what was waiting outside. #chiberia pic.twitter.com/KDwPuZfEUT
— Sincerely Jennie (@JennieSzink) January 12, 20154-6 p.m.
Before a night of eating and drinking, it is best to get a little active. Either hit the links for a quick nine, or climb the face of Chicago's tallest (maybe) mountain.
- Fairways, 1141 W. Armitage Ave., features a super high-tech virtual golf range on the second floor where you can swing away at real balls on 28 of the world's most renowned courses. Each simulator bay comes stocked with a mini bar and is adjacent to a bar if you prefer a specialty cocktail during your round.
- Brooklyn Boulders, 100 S. Morgan St. The bright and spacious new rock-climbing gym includes 25,000 square feet of climbing, yoga, cardio and more. A day pass will run you $25. A full gear kit with shoes, harness and chalk bag is an additional $11. Opens at 10 a.m.
Dinner
- Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N. Halsted St. This trendy California-inspired restaurant in Lincoln Park serves up wood-fired specials in a light and airy location that resembles a beach house. Don't peek at the restaurant's countdown to summer sign, it will spoil your day.
- mfk., 432 W. Diversey Pkwy. The husband-and-wife team that opened the new Spanish seafood spot this summer wanted it to be "a place that feels like summer all the time." The small restaurant focuses on light, fresh seafood and wines.
Drinks
The obvious way to end this summer day is with a fruity drink topped with a miniature umbrella. There are two options that both suffice. Chicago's tiki scene has come a long way since Uncle Fatty's ...
- Lost Lake, 3154 W. Diversey Pkwy. Paul McGee's latest tiki bar, Lost Lake, opened recently in Logan Square. The super buzzy bar touts "tropical vibes," more than 275 curated rums and a menu of classic tiki cocktails.
- Three Dots and a Dash, 435 N. Clark St. The back alley stairway will transport you to a dark tiki lounge where drinks come in skulls, totems and coconuts.
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