Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
you pay for the sampling, of course.
June 24 through July 4.
Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade,
Halsted Street, from Belmont
Avenue to Broadway, south to
Diversey Parkway, and east to Lin-
coln Park, where a rally and music
festival are held (
&
773/348-8243
).
The floats and marching units have
to be seen to be believed at this col-
orful culmination of a month of
activities by Chicago's gay and les-
bian community. Halsted Street is
usually mobbed; take up a spot on
Broadway for a better and less claus-
trophobic view. Last Sunday in June.
July
Independence Day Celebration
(
&
312/744-3315
). The holiday is
celebrated in Chicago on the third
of July, concurrent with the Taste of
Chicago. Concerts and fireworks
are the highlights of the festivities
in Grant Park. Expect huge crowds.
July 3.
Sheffield Garden Walk,
starting at
Sheffield and Webster avenues
(
&
773/929-WALK
). Here's your
chance to snoop into the lush back-
yards of Lincoln Park homeowners.
The walk isn't just for garden nuts;
the bands, children's activities, and
food and drink tents attract lots of
swinging singles and young fami-
lies. Mid-July.
Dearborn Garden Walk & Her-
itage Festival,
North Dearborn and
Astor streets (
&
312/632-1241
). A
more upscale event than the
Sheffield Garden Walk, this event
allows regular folks to peer into pri-
vate gardens on the Gold Coast, one
of the most expensive and exclusive
neighborhoods in the city. As you'd
expect, many yards are done up by
the best landscape architects,
designers, and art-world luminaries
that old money can buy. There's also
live music, a marketplace, and a few
architectural tours on tap. Mid-July.
Old St. Patrick's World's Largest
Block Party,
700 W. Adams St. at
Des Plaines Avenue (
&
312/648-
1021
). This annual, hugely popular
blowout is hosted by the city's old-
est church, an Irish Catholic land-
mark in the West Loop area. It can
get pretty crowded, but Old St.
Pat's always lands some major acts,
who are presumably doing penance
for skipping their Hail Marys. Six
bands perform over 2 nights on two
stages and attract a young, lively
crowd. Mid-July.
Chicago SummerDance,
east side
of South Michigan Avenue between
Balbo and Harrison streets (
&
312/
742-4007
). From July to early Sep-
tember, the city's Department of
Cultural Affairs transforms a patch
of Grant Park into a lighted out-
door dance venue on Thursday, Fri-
day, and Saturday evenings from 6
to 9:30pm, and Sunday from 4 to
7pm; ethnic dance lessons for kids
are offered Saturday from 4 to 5pm.
The 3,500-square-foot dance floor
provides ample room for throwing
down moves while live bands play
music from ballroom, jazz, klezmer,
and country and western to samba,
zydeco, blues, and soul. One-hour
lessons are offered from 6 to 7pm.
Free admission.
Chicago Yacht Club's Race to
Mackinac Island
has a starting line
at the Monroe Street Harbor
(
&
312/861-7777
). The grandest
of the inland water races, this 3-day
competition is scheduled toward
the middle of July. The public is
welcome at a Friday-night party.
On Saturday jockey for a good
place to watch the boats set sail.
Venetian Night,
from Monroe
Harbor to the Adler Planetarium
(
&
312/744-3315
). This carnival
of illuminated boats on the lake is
complete with fireworks and syn-
chronized music by the Grant Park
