Fall is around the corner, and there are plenty of reasons to be pumped for summer's end. That said, the past season in Chicago was one of the best in recent memory. After another painful winter and a gross, wet spring, Chicagoans were itching for the rapture of warm weather and outdoor festivities. From another sports championship to amazing events, here's a look back on an awesome summer in the city.
The 606 finally opens
After months of delays, the 606 (a.k.a. the Bloomingdale Trail) opened on June 6 to a whole lot of praise. The elevated rail line-turned-park now connects four neighborhoods with its 2.7-mile path, and attracts thousands of joggers, walkers and cyclists every day. The project is often compared to New York's High Line, but rather than being a tourist hot spot, the 606 is more of a community path. With a handful of new parks that accompanied its construction, it's been a huge addition to the city's near Northwest Side.
The Blackhawks establish a dynasty
In June, the Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup title in six years, and the city proceeded to go nuts celebrating. Chicago sports teams didn't have a great deal of success the decade after Michael Jordan left the Bulls in 1998 (the White Sox did win a World Series title in 2005, but that was fleeting). The Blackhawks' championship kicked off the summer with a rush of civic pride and euphoria, and left the city hoping that the team can repeat their success next year. After a series of roster shakeups, a Stanley Cup in Chicago in 2016 would be a tremendous feat.
An incredibly timely and celebratory Pride
Two days before the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade, the Supreme Court ruled that all 50 states are required to recognize same-sex marriage. Last summer, Illinois' same-sex marriage bill went into effect shortly before Pride, but this year's celebration was even more resounding. More than one million people attended the parade, which was estimated to have the largest turnout in its history. There have been rumblings that the Pride Parade will move out of Boystown and head downtown, but this year's event demonstrated that the North Side neighborhood can handle a huge crowd without too much trouble or incidents (a trait that wasn't shared in nearby Wrigleyville the night the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup).
Chicago's cocktail bar scene continues to boom
Chicago has seen a surge of amazing cocktail bars open around town over the past few years, and that trend continued this summer. The Chicago Athletic Association opened, and with it came four new spots boasting glorious boozy creations. The Freehand Hotel replaced the old, dilapidated Tokyo Hotel, and is now home to The Broken Shaker, a Miami-style cocktail bar that has some of the most interesting drinks in the city. The Heavy Feather opened above Slippery Slope in Logan Square, which added to the neighborhood's deep drinking scene. Wicker Park also welcomed two new solid options for alcohol aficionados in Bom Bolla and Pub Royale.
The city's summer music festivals run deep
Chicago jammed out harder than ever this summer. The inaugural year of Mamby on the Beach brought some sick tunes to Oakwood Beach on the South Side, and proved to be way better than the Wavefront Music Festival of years past. Pitchfork's lineup was stacked, and was headlined by Chicago natives Chance the Rapper and Wilco (who released a surprise album the night before they headlined the festival). Lollapalooza had a healthy mix of geriatric acts (Paul McCartney, Metallica) and up-and-coming groups. Riot Fest managed to survive being kicked out of Humboldt Park and ended up putting on a stellar festival in Douglas Park. On top of all of that, a great roster of street festivals made this one of the best summers for live music in Chicago in a long time.
A park finally opens on Northerly Island
Meigs Field was shut down overnight by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2003, and Northerly Island has since been a relatively unused pit on an incredibly valuable location. In early September, Northerly Island Park finally opened to the public. Featuring a winding trail for cyclists, joggers and walkers, loads of indigenous grasses and a killer view of the skyline, the area is a welcome addition to the city's park system.
The Cubs have a successful season (for once)
Chicago's North Side baseball club hasn't won a World Series title since 1908 and hasn't made the playoffs since 2008. Cubs fans were excited coming into the team's 2015 campaign, crying out the stereotypical "this is the year!" With a lineup featuring a few outstanding rookies (including American dreamboat Kris Bryant) and stellar pitching, the Cubs have all but clinched a spot in the playoffs. It's been a pretty magical season for the team and if they were to win it all, the events that would immediately follow in Wrigleyville would be pretty damn memorable.