EDGEWATER — Classes at Chicago Public Schools begin Tuesday. But before that are four final glorious days of freedom.
For kids living on the Far North Side, that means squeezing in crucial last-minute time on the lakefront at one of Rogers Park and Edgewater's many neighborhood beaches (grab some singles for the paleta man) — or at the very least one last round of mini-golf at the beloved Bunny Hutch (grab some singles for a pizza puff).
Before the season ends, make sure to check these five summer essentials off your list:
• Splash Around At The Beach: On the Far North Side, there is no shortage of public beaches. From Foster Avenue to Howard Street, Rogers Park and Edgewater are steadily dotted with lakefront access that gives access to soft sands and cool sparkling water, as well as walking and bike paths. The Chicago Park District officially closes its beaches for swimming starting Tuesday, so get out there while it's still possible.
• Mini-Golf And Swing Bats At The Bunny Hutch: It's technically outside of Chicago, but Far North Siders know it's still the place to be. This family-friendly outdoor park offers two classic and hilariously-themed mini-golf routes, batting cages, a small arcade, a vintage photo booth and T's Grand Slam Pizza & Grill, which serves up ice cream, pizza, sandwiches and more. Check it out at the northwest corner of Lincoln and Devon, 3650 W. Devon Ave.
The Bunny Hutch, 3650 W. Devon Ave., is West Ridge-adjacent and offers mini-golf, batting cages, arcade games, ice cream and food. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
• Watch Short Films About Chicago In The Park: Watching movies in the park during the warm months has become a Chicago summertime tradition. Just south in neighboring Uptown, the Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase is showing six, locally-made short films about life in the city. Kicking off at dusk (about 8 p.m.) in Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Ave., the films will explore topics like immigration, migration and creating homes.
• Watch Fireworks From A Pier: Beginning at 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Navy Pier will help bring summer to an official close with one of its last fireworks displays of the year — and you don't need a front seat downtown to enjoy it. Grab a blanket and stake out a spot along one of the lakefront piers, like Hollywood Beach's rainbow pier, to catch part of the action.
Navy Pier is holding its last summer fireworks event this weekend. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
