CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Square, Andersonville, Portage Park

Lincoln Park: Mark your calendars for July 17! It’s the Art on Clark Opening Night Party, from 6 to 8 pm. Join for a night of fun and art to celebrate the return of Lincoln Park’s annual public art program. Pick up your event passport at Gaslight Bar, which includes a self-guided tour highlighting all ten sculptures along Diversey Parkway and Clark Street. You’ll also receive a free drink and a bite to eat! If you make it to four select sculptures along the route, you’ll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win one of five gift cards to shops, pubs, and restaurants along Clark Street. Find more information here!

Lakeview: Looking for the perfect summer camp for your kiddos? Look no further than Steve and Kate’s Camp! The camp has locations all over the city, but the Lakeview camp is located at Bell Elementary School. The camp runs from June 25 through August 24. The hours are flexible, which is great for kids that have other summer commitments but still want to have a memorable camp experience. Whatever your child’s passion, they can push their limits at this camp. There is stop-motion animation, fashion, coding, breadmaking, sports, music, dance, and more! Intrigued? Discover more about this amazing camp and sign your kiddos up here!

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Kick off the summer with Chicago Parks Foundation at “It’s Your Park Day” in Wicker Park! Families, company groups, and individuals are all welcome to participate in this day of park enhancement and community bonding. On Saturday, June 16 from 9 am to 2 pm, the Chicago Parks Foundation is hosting a city-wide clean up. Community volunteers will be mulching trees, replacing fibar on playgrounds, and cleaning the parks’ green spaces. Volunteers will receive “It’s Your Park Day” t-shirts; tools and supplies will be provided by Home Depot. KIND snacks and water will also be available. Ready to do it?? Find more information here!

Lincoln Square: Have you ever taken a culinary tour? Well, now is your chance! Embark on a 2.5 hour walking tour of Chicago’s Little India with a trained chef with South Indian roots. On Friday, June 15 from 10:30 am to 1 pm, you’ll learn how to shop for and use pantry staples to recreate your favorite Indian dishes at home and enjoy flaky samosas, mango lassis, and other Indian specialties. You’ll also build a deeper understanding of Indian food and culture and gain the confidence to explore Indian restaurants on your own! Finally, you’ll leave with copies of Chef Susan’s favorite family recipes and all of her culinary secrets. The tour costs $65 and tickets can be purchased here.

Andersonville: It’s not too early to mark your calendars for the Andersonville Summer Sidewalk Sale! The event is July 27-29 from 9 am to 9 pm daily. Participating businesses spanning from 4900 to 5800 N Clark St. and the adjacent side streets will open their doors to line the sidewalks with summer sales, bargain antiques, one-of-a-kind merchandise, fashion apparel, and local treasures. The Women & Children’s First Used Book Sale will also be held on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29 at 5233 N. Clark. The sale will benefit the Women’s Voices Fund, whose goal is to foster discussion of feminist issues and culture, and to nurture children’s delight in books. Alamo Shoes will kick off their portion of the summer sidewalk sale on Thursday, July 26. Find more information about this exciting event here!

Portage Park: Entertain your kiddos this summer! Take them to a performance of “Beauty and the Beast”, put on by the Chicago Kids Company. Performances take place at two locations. The first is the Stahl Family Theater (5900 W Belmont) through June 29. The second is the Patio Theater (6008 W. Irving Park Rd) from July 11 through July 21. Weekday performances are at 10:30 am and there will be one afternoon performance on July 21 at 1 pm. The show is geared towards children ages 2-10. Find more information about showtimes and ticket pricing here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO