5 Ways to Spend Summer in Chicago

Whether you’re excited to spend summer in Chicago or if you’re a little bummed to not be going home, you have the great opportunity to explore parts of the city you didn’t get to during the busy school year. So for those of you staying here this summer, I’ve compiled a list of fun things to do in the city (but you’re a quick Google search from tons more!).

Lollapalooza (Aug.1-4)

A Summer festival staple, Lollapalooza is one the most exciting events to hit Chicago this summer. Boasting a four-day long circuit in Grant Park with acts like Childish Gambino, the Chainsmokers and Ariana Grande, we can guarantee that Lollapalooza will rock your summer to the fullest. Click here to get tickets

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Pitchfork (July 19-21)

Another major music fest, Pitchfork features a three-day lineup of stars from Rico Nasty to Charli XCX. The event - hosted annually in Union Park also features an excellent records sale and a huge array of food and art from across the country. Click here to get tickets

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Chicago Food Truck Festival (June 22-23)

If you’re a bit of a foodie, you’ll definitely want to check out Chicago’s Food Truck fest between 1800 & 1600 S Wabash Ave. It’s exactly what it sounds like, and an awesome way to spend the day with a fellow foodie friend. (Also available: vegan food festival on June 22)

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Chicago Craft Beer Festival (July 20-21)

For the beer connoisseurs out there, Chicago’s Craft Beer Festival is your playground. Featuring over 70 different varieties of craft beer from across the US, with great music and company on the side, the Craft Beer Fest will definitely be something to cheer you up this summer.

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Taste of Chicago (July 10-14)

Advertised as the world’s largest food festival, Taste of Chicago is a Summer must to experience this year. Not only does it present five days of mouth watering delectables, but its reputation has attracted the reception of huge musical acts. The best recipe for an amazing summer is always good food and good music.

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An Incomplete Guide to a Summer in NYC

When I got assigned this piece, never in a million years would I think I’d enjoy living in NYC. Yes, the City and its hustle and bustle, the never-ending stream of cars and people, the scorchingly hot sun, and the occasional breeze over the Hudson River.

At this point, if you are in New York, you have probably mastered the art of jaywalking. You have also likely figured out that it’s safe to walk on the street after midnight. But riding a Citi bike after a few drinks might still not be the best idea, even if it’s 1 AM. You might have noticed how difficult it is to find an actually bad restaurant. If you've been to Soho recently, perhaps you’ve experienced a tangible rendition of eudaemonia in a sea of beautiful summer sales dotted with ice-cream shops. 

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If New York is so great and everything, why did it take me so long to write this post? In all honesty, it took me a long time to reconcile the fact that this post could never be as comprehensive as I would like it to be. In fact, there would always be another shop I would want to go to and a bar I need to try out. In addition to some of everyone's tried and true favorite spots in the city, I am proposing some alternative pitstops that will make summer your NYC summer truly memorable.

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Your Local Grocer

I love grocery stores because they are a gateway to the local way of living. You might wonder why anyone would cook at home when there are so many places to eat out in the City, but these neighborhood markets are more than a place to buy fruits and veggies–they also have a great deli selection, prepared foods, and daily supplies. I mean, why would you say no to having some cheese and charcuteries in the fridge? Plus the stores might be a perfect spot to do some photoshoots!

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1. Sunrise Mart: a Japanese grocer with freshly made lunch & dinner options and a small selection of baked goods.

Midtown location: 12 E 41st St, New York, NY 10017

Ukrainian Village location: 4 Stuyvesant St, New York, NY 10003

2. New Foods of India: from chappati and dal, to Biryani masala and Amchur powder, this place has got you covered. 

121 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

3. Kalustyan's: literally next to the New Foods, here you'll find delicious halva and baklava in addition to racks and racks of spices, grains, and dried goods.

123 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

Anecdotal evidence of how good Kalustyan and New Foods of India are: a friend of mine took a tea break from work and 30 minutes later, her boss called her to question where she went. She returned to office full-handed with food.

4. Dainobu: another small Japanese store selling from prepared dishes and fresh produce to beauty products and living supplies. 

Midtown location: 129 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017

Union Square location: 498 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10011

Columbus Circle location: 36 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019

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5. Garden of Eden: produce, bread, pastries, cheese, and deli–you might come out of there with a full stomach and food for the next week

Flatiron location: 7 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003

Bloomingdale location: 2780 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

6. Fairway Market: food snobs can hold their criticisms now, this place is a bonafide gourmet store.

Upper East location: 240 East 86th St, New York, NY 10028

Harlem, Upper West location: 2131 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Chelsea, Kips Bay location: 766 6th Ave, New York, NY 10010

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The Great Outdoors

Just because you're living in one of the largest metropolises on Earth doesn't mean you can't find ample and engaging green spaces to relax in, recollect and have fun with friends. From picnics in Central Park to strolling down the HighLine or basking in the sunset orange glow of Manhattanhenge, there are a myriad of vantage points from which to enjoy the City–you just have to know where to look!

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1. Hudson River Greenway: ride a bike or walk along the waterfront on a nice day for a temporary getaway from the City

2. High Line Park: an elevated rail trail that takes you from Hell's Kitchen through Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, where art, food, and culture come together to redefine green spaces throughout the City.

3. Manhattanhenge: twice a year, the grid system creates a perfect spot for the sun to shine over the City and you get to take breathtaking photos. It's legit, New York Times even has an article about it.

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Late Night Show Tapings

Act early and fast! The tickets are free so they go very quickly during the summer season. By early, I mean start thinking of a reason to get off your internship early on whatever days tickets are still available!

1. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Tickets | Location: Ed Sullivan Theater, 1697 Broadway 

2. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Tickets | Location: CBS Broadcast Center, 530 W 57th St

3. Late Night with Seth Meyers

Tickets | Location: NBC Studios, 30 Rockefeller Plaza

4. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Tickets | Location: 733 11th Ave

5. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Tickets | Location NBC Studios, 30 Rockefeller Plaza

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This list of things to do is by no means comprehensive. The City has so much going on all the time that we might be able to pull off "partying all night and showing up to work on time." It's all part of the experience, while at the same time there are some alternatives to choose from that will complement your summer in NYC. Enjoy!

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Catch the Tail End of Summer with A Versatile Courgette Soup

Summer is the time of young vegetables, refreshing herbs, and light food. A long awaited season after many months of jumping back and forth between winter and spring, sunny weather has been in full swing in Chicago for the past few months. It's early October and I am so grateful for the weather. Before it gets cold, all I want to do is to savor the last bit of warm weather.

Inspired by the recipe from SeriousEats, I just had the picture of a perfect dinner in mind when I saw these baby courgettes in the produce aisle. They were not “baby” in size, but so young and delicate that a grasp would be enough to leave a mark on the surface.

Here is a simplified version with variations and tips:

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Courgette & Basil Soup

Ingredients: 

• 3 Courgettes (Zucchini)
• 1 Leek
• Basil leaves
• A few cloves of garlic
• Salt & pepper
• Olive oil

1. Prep
   1. Rinse the basil leaves and air dry; chop the leaves right before adding them to the pan
   2. Julienne the leek — cut it into small slices
   3. Peel the garlic cloves and cut them into small chunks; or just mash them 
   4. Dice the courgettes —  I did this while sweating the leek; when I saw clear juice oozing from the cut, I wanted to preserve the freshness.
2. Cook
   1. Heat the saucepan up a bit and pour enough olive oil to at least cover the base
   2. Add the leak when the pan is warmed up; frequently turn it around and season generously with salt to get the moisture out of the leek (add more oil or some liquid if the leek takes on color)
   3. Add mashed garlic and mix well with the softened leek slices
   4. Add courgettes and a handful of basil leaves when the smell of leek and garlic begins to take over your kitchen 
   5. Mix well and add liquid (water or stock if you want the soup to be light. I added almond milk and very diluted millet porridge because they were at hand and I wanted a little bit starch in my soup)
   6. Simmer till all ingredients are soft and cooked
3. Blend: Add some more fresh basil leaves and blend
4. Season: Salt & pepper it the way you like 
5. Garnish and Serve with bread: usually a few drizzle of olive oil and more herbs would do, but this soup is very flexible so however you want; some ideas: lemon/lime zest and peels,  thinly sliced red pepper, bacon crisp, more basil leaves… or even add potatoes, peeled and cubed, along with garlic if you prefer a thicker consistency.

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As a random cook and firm believer in “use whatever is at hand,” I really love this recipe for its flexibility and seemingly unlimited variations. 

This light soup is perfect for a summer evening, be it an entrée or a starter paired with bread, rosé or something sparkling. Toast to the season, bon appétit!

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All images courtesy of the author