CHICAGO TRIBUNE – READY, SWEAT, GO!

Ready, sweat, go!

30 Things to do Before Summer Ends

You wouldn’t know it from the recent sweltering temps, but summer is slowly slipping away. And to top it off, you still haven’t hit the beach, eaten Italian ice or checked out a rooftop patio.

Fear not; there’s still time. We’ve rounded up your best options. The rest is up to you.

Today

Off the Eaten Path gives you the chance to much on edible exotica- -rattlesnake, fire-roasted ants–plus take a nature walk designed to bring out your inner forager. 6:15 p.m. Free. 21 and over. Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, 200 W. Fullerton Pkwy. Must RSVP redwoodcreek.com

Thursday

Get a jump on Lollapalooza at Cansapalooza with live music and $4 Svedka vodka cocktails. 4 p.m. Cans, 1640 N. Damen Ave. 773-227- 2277.

Friday

All-girl trio Sleater-Kinney will go on indefinite hiatus after this summer’s shows. Head to Lollapalooza for what may be their last Chicago show. 7:30 p.m. $65-$150. Grant Park. 300 S. Columbus Drive. 888-512-7469.

Saturday

Be the first of your crew to check out Wicker Park’s newest spot, Jun Bar, as it celebrates its grand opening. 9 p.m. 2050 W. Division St. 773-486-6700.

Sunday

It’s time to put on those flip-flops, take off that shirt and sweat your stuff at the second (and last) day of Northalsted Market Days. 11 a.m. $7. 3500 N. Halsted St. 773-868-3010.

Monday

Citizen Bar boasts an impressive 4,000 square feet of outdoor space split into two scenes: a rooftop and side patio. Stop by this River North locale for after-work cocktails. 364 W. Erie St. 312- 640-1156.

Tuesday

Cure the midweek blues and hang outside at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Tuesdays on the Terrace jazz showcase with guitarist Alfonso Ponticelli. 5:30-8 p.m. Free. 220 E. Chicago Ave. 312-280-2660.

Aug. 9

Theater on the Lake closes its summer season with a chuckle in “Songs of The Second City,” a musical sketch comedy retrospective. 7:30 p.m. Through Aug. 13. $17.50. 2400 N. Lake Shore Drive. 312- 742-7994.

Aug. 10

You still haven’t seen the World Champion Chicago White Sox in action? It’s time. Catch ’em battling the Yankees. 7:05 p.m. U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W. 35th St. 312-559-1212.

Aug. 11

Get in gear for the weekend with Spirit of Chicago’s Happy Hour Cruise. 3:30 p.m. $25. 600 E. Grand Ave.  866-211-3804.

Aug. 12

Road trip! Support Illinois’ version of yellow gold at the 59th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. 9 a.m. Main and Washington Streets, Mendota. 815-539-6507.

Aug. 13

Raise the heat index with your special someone and a picnic at Promontory Point, offering perhaps the most majestic views of the city. 5491 South Shore Drive.

Aug. 14

The best way to brighten up a Monday: Mario’s Italian Lemonade. The famous slushies at this curbside stand come in flavors like chocolate and banana, though good ol’ lemon still is our favorite. 1068 W. Taylor St.

Aug. 15

Sip pink cocktails during Think Pink When You Drink. Half of drink proceeds benefit Y-ME breast cancer research. No cover, prices vary. Parlor, 1745 W. North Ave. 773-782-9000.

Aug. 16

Score a manicure ($10) and martini ($5) at Sheffield’s when the bar screens “Project Runway.” 7 p.m. 3258 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-281- 4989.

Aug. 17

The Chicago Underground Film Festival kicks off with a world- premiere screening of Usama Alshaibi’s documentary “Nice Bombs.” 8 p.m. $8-$15. Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. 773-871- 6607.

Aug. 18

Hit Stone Lotus–which aims to please with VIP treatment and Chef Dale Levistki’s mouth-watering eats–while the buzz still is hot. 873 N. Orleans St. 312-440-9680.

Aug. 19

Check out R&B powerhouse Mary J. Blige at one of Chicago’s best outdoor concert venues. 7 p.m. $59.50-$85.50. Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Drive. 312-559-1212.

Aug. 20

Catch Day 2 of the Chicago Air & Water Show at North Avenue Beach (with play-by-play coverage) or Oak Street Beach. 9 a.m. Free. 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive. 312-744-3370.

Aug. 21

Eat foie gras legally at Chicago restaurants for the last time. Do it up right: Head to Fixture for a $35 degustation menu, featuring so much duck liver you won’t care if you ever have it again. 2706 N. Ashland Ave. 773-248-3331.

Aug. 22

Experience the waterside idyll of lunch or dinner at Marina Cafe in Jackson Park, one of Chicago’s best-kept summertime secrets. 6401 S. Coast Guard Drive. 773-947-0400.

Aug. 23

Wet your whistle on a Wendella Boats Wine Tasting Cruise. Even if the architecture lecture is a snore, there’s plenty of wine to keep you nodding along. 5:45 p.m. $50. 400 N. Michigan Ave. 312-337- 1446.

Aug. 24

Make your way to Millennium Park where Chicago jazz veteran Ken Vandermark leads his Territory Band 6, with saxophonist Fred Anderson. 6:30 p.m. Free. Jay Pritzker Pavilion. 100 N. Michigan Ave. 312-742-1168.

Aug. 25

Last chance to be a beach bum and catch live music and cold drinks at Castaways, where Chicago Sport and Social Club ends its summer Sunset Jams series with a bang. 7 p.m. $10. 1603 N. Lake Shore Drive. 773-281-1200.

Aug. 26

Get a taste of some of Chicago’s most interesting chefs and hear live music at Flavor-Fest. 11 a.m. $5 donation. 1023 W. Wrightwood Ave. 773-868-3010.

Aug. 27

Take a tango lesson at the last Summer-Dance session, then groove to the sounds of the Teddy Lee Orchestra. 4 p.m. lesson; 5 p.m. music. Free. Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Ave. 312-742-4007.

Aug. 28

Take a hike, literally, with the Chicago Hash House Harriers for the Walk Across Illinois Hash, a non-competitive, 4-mile walk across offbeat terrain. Highlights: Beer en route and postrun pitchers. 7 p.m. $6. Christina’s Place, 3759 N. Kedzie Ave. 312-409-2337.

Aug. 29

Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Heed his advice and don’t miss “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” at the closing night of the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival. 8 p.m. Free. Butler Field, Grant Park, 100 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-744-3315.

Aug. 30

You have exactly four days until the Chicago beaches close. Grab your suit, slather on the sunscreen and head east until you hit water.

Aug. 31

Can’t escape to the Cape? Here’s an East Coast summer tradition you can savor: Maryland crab boil at HB. Fifty bucks buys 20 crabs, corn on the cob, potatoes and salad. 3404 N. Halsted St. 773-661- 0299.

Aug 2, 2006

Contributed by metromix staff