CHICAGO — We deal with too much winter to complain about the heat. EMBRACE IT and get outside.
1. Grab A Beer And Watch An Outdoor Dog Aquatics Show: Yes, this is a real thing. To check out the city’s only street festival featuring DockDogs, an aquatics show featuring both trained professional dogs and dogs from the neighborhood, you’ll have to go to EdgeFest in Edgewater. Spend $30 in the ‘hood from July 27-Aug. 2, and get a token for a free beer. Now let’s see a dog do that! Add in a kid’s zone, local vendors and funnel cake, and it’s a street fest hard to beat. EdgeFest, Aug. 1-2, on North Broadway between Thorndale and Ardmore, $5 suggested donation comes with Edge Card.
2. Nothing Says Party Like Food on a Stick: Eli’s Cheesecake will celebrate its 35th birthday with its annual cheesecake festival. The celebration will feature cheesecake tastings — with a new flavor offered every hour — as well as cheesecake-eating contests, cooking demonstrations and a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers, who are set to fly over a giant Eli’s birthday cheesecake. Eli’s Cheesecake Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive.
3. Enjoy Homegrown Talent or Be Part of the Roster: Wicker Park’s namesake park brings back its popular “Wicker Mic” outdoor open mic, on the last Friday of the month through Aug. 28. Sign up starts at 5:45 p.m., show begins at 6 p.m. Performers get up to 5 minutes stage time. Free. Located at 1425 N. Damen Ave., on the edge of the softball field just south of the Schiller Street entrance.
4. Eat The City's Best Latin American Food: The Taste of Latin America is celebrating its third year in existence this weekend with a schedule packed with live music and local restaurants. The neighborhood's beloved Cemitas Puebla, which closed its Humboldt outpost earlier this year, will be among 20 Latin American restaurants participating in the fest. The weekend will include live cooking demonstrations, a chef competition, wine tastings and a kids carnival. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. 3600 to 3828 West Armitage, from Central Park Ave to Avers St.
5. Go to the Beach: With an umbrella, lots of water and lots of sunscreen. Also, be prepared to take a dip. It'll be a hot one. Plus, you swore you'd beach more this summer...
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