June was an excellent start to summer in Chicago. The weather was delightful, free street festivals kicked into high gear and everyone was reminded how amazing the city truly is when the sun is shining. These are the 10 best things we saw, ate and drank last month.
On a hot Monday night in June, the guys and gals who keep all of Chicago’s best bars going let loose at Artifact Events to celebrate the winners of the Time Out Chicago 2016 Bar Awards. We had killer drinks made with Tito’s Vodka from Billy Sunday’s own Lee Zaremba and got out on the dance floor to show off our latest moves. We had lots of fun and imbibed plenty of drinks—we may even admit to moving a little slower that next Tuesday morning, but we can’t wait to do it again next year. —Elizabeth Atkinson
Moody’s Pub
There’s no better harbinger of summer’s arrival than an outdoor evening at one of the city’s most charming beer gardens. But beer isn’t actually my go-to at this Edgewater institution—the selection is pretty limited compared to most Chicago bars. Instead, it’s the sangria by the pitcher that spells warm-weather delight (and is totally worth the sugar hangover). Long a cash-only holdout, Moody’s now accepts credit cards, but the waitstaff won’t split your bill between more than two cards, so if you’ve got a big group, either bring cash or Venmo it up amongst yourselves. —Kris Vire
LondonHouse and its rooftop opened last month to a whole lot of hullabaloo. The three-tiered roof space is situated across the river from Trump Tower, but otherwise the view is amazing. Like the Trump Terrace or the Hancock's Signature Room, you have to pay for the view—cocktails will cost you around $15. If you're really feeling saucy, you can get engaged on the rooftop's cupola for a cool $1,000. —Clayton Guse
Time Out Chicago's Yacht Party
The skies were a bit gray, and many were skeptical at first, but the kick-off to Time Out Chicago’s Yacht Party Series was a hit. We sailed Lake Michigan with free drinks, great music and a few games of cornhole, and everyone had a blast. It may have been a little windy that first evening, but how can you not have fun sipping wine on a boat? We're already looking forward to the next rounds on July 21 and August 18. —Laura Rote
Renegade Craft Fair
Art- and craft-makers lined the streets outside the Hideout for Renegade Craft Fair’s Chicago Pop-up during the last weekend in June. The fair featured a wide array of vendors, from jewelry makers like Mashallah INC to designers like Louise Dean. One of the many highlights of the summer fair was Blkk Hand’s vintage photo booth. Attendees could stop in and have their photos taken with an old-school 4x5 camera and walk away not with a strip of photos, but an actual tintype. If you missed out on all the fun that weekend, check out the photos here. —Jaclyn Rivas
[Redacted]
[Redacted] is a mostly monthly event where a group of people get together to act out a redacted version of a movie—think tearing apart plot holes and laughing at the ridiculousness of the acting or the characters. This month it was Dirty Dancing, where we learned once again why you should never put Baby in a corner. Our own theater critic Kris Vire starred as the one and only Johnny Castle, which only made the experience that much better. —EA
I didn’t run into Screech or Preppy, but dinner at the Max was not a disappointment. Of course, I ordered the "I'm So Excited" cocktail (vodka, Red Bull, maraschino liqueur and lemon juice) and recounted each of my favorite Saved by the Bell episodes aloud until my dear friend and colleague excused herself to Mr. Belding's office. —LR
Biscuits and gravy at Owen & Engine
On a recent brunch outing at the Logan Square English-style pub, I had a perfectly enjoyable meal from that day’s specials menu, but I found myself envying my friend’s order after sampling a bite of his house-made cheddar biscuits and hunter’s gravy. Served with a pair of eggs to order, the two massive, dense but fluffy biscuits are like the artisanal, platonic ideal of those Red Lobster crack numbers—perfect for sopping up the rich, savory gravy (which varies weekend to weekend; on this particular Sunday it was pheasant). We wound up returning the next Sunday so we could both get an order for ourselves. —KV
Chuck Klosterman at Chicago Ideas’ Curiosity Series
Admittedly, I hadn’t read Klosterman’s latest, But What If We’re Wrong, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to hear the author and pop culture nerd earnestly question everything we know to be true. The Chicago Ideas crew always puts together a good show, and the question and answer session with Klosterman was no exception. —LR
The Ponys at Empty Bottle
I first saw the Ponys back when I was in college, at a concert where I was probably more excited to see the headlining act (I believe it was Times New Viking). By the time I came to fully appreciate the band’s off-kilter post-punk sound, the group had gone on an indefinite hiatus, with members of the band moving on to acts like Bare Mutants and Disappears. That’s why I was excited to hear that the Ponys would be reuniting for a special show at the Empty Bottle, celebrating the release of a new book about the historic music venue. The band’s set—which drew one of the most tightly packed crowds I’ve ever seen at the Bottle—was a triumphant return, effortlessly recapturing the twisting riffs and reverb-drenched vocals that characterize its catalog. I don’t think this will be the last time the Ponys will get back in the saddle—here’s hoping we don’t have to wait years for the group’s next rodeo. —Zach Long