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City Cast Chicago

Emily Mack

. Everyone has their go-tos, naturally, but consider hitting some potentially underrated spots this summer.

Solana, on the sixth-floor rooftop of the Robey hotel, technically has the only pool in Wicker Park. It’s not big, but hey, it’s a pool! And the frozen margaritas are solid.

Tucked away in quiet Edgebrook, Whealan is essentially the ultimate splash pad. There’s also a full pool with a slide.

Everyone knows the skyline is better from the South Side, and no beach has a more beautiful view than Rainbow. It’s also arguably the city’s most historic beach, the site of 

Somewhat surprisingly, this beach has a lot of shade! It’s the perfect place to stretch out for the day if you want to alternate between sand and water, reading … or splitting a six-pack.

While not exactly “hidden,” I don’t think all Chicagoans have experienced 

A biased pick, since I’ve been leaping off here my entire life. Bonus: The curve around the sanctuary is a simple meeting point that’s not (usually) too crowded.

Open seven days a week, this pierside restaurant features a different style of music and dancing 

Right along South Shore beach and near the South Shore Cultural Center, this six-acre-plus sanctuary includes dune, wetland, woodland, prairie — and more — types of habitat. Make a day of it!

 — but don’t forget you can also swim at the park’s manmade beach. It’s Chicago’s only inland beach.

Underrated swimming spots in Chicago this Summer.

Swimming Spots in Chicago

Hidden Gem Swimming Spots

Find the best of everything that Chicago has to offer.

Chicago’s Best

Chicago's Best

Chicago is a hot dog town — with very few hot dog carts.

 is licensed to cook hot dogs on a city sidewalk. Within parks, just around nine hot dog carts are licensed citywide. Similar legislation prevents many food trucks from opening … It’s all a far cry from the open-air sausage-slinging that once defined 

But on this National Hot Dog Day, let’s celebrate the hot dog carts feeding Chicago my favorite food, despite the ketchup-colored tape. 

This stand continues the legacy of Kim and Carlo's, a staple during my adolescent trips to Museum Campus. After Kim and Carlo's closed in 2024, its longtime manager opened a Chicago-Style Hot Dog Store with the goal of keeping everything the same — though she’s added jalapeño cheddar franks.

Sonia was the star student of Hot Dog University 

. It’s no wonder why: She previously learned all about the trade at Kim and Carlo’s! Now a master of the craft, Sonia’s opened her own cart, which will remain in Palmisano Park through October.

The proprietors of this lovely parkside cart are, you guessed it, former colleagues of Kim and Carlo’s! Their Chicago dog includes sliced red onion, and multiple flavors of agua fresca are available. "Chicago style is Chicago style, but to stand out, you gotta do something different,” co-owner Lalo said.

Inspired by the neighborhood hot dog vendors of their youth, two cousins opened this Armour Square Park cart in 2019. They also offer food truck-style catering.

at hot dog stands, but Lincoln Dogs is literally run by one. Lincoln enrolled in Hot Dog University when he was just 13. Now 17, he runs a cart near the tennis courts in Oz Park. It’s usually open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons and runs through Labor Day.

With a (seemingly rare) permit from the city to sell ready-made hot dogs, Austin’s Street Wieners operates weekend afternoons on Christiana and Diversey, March through October. It’s affordable, too: $4 hot dogs with many free dog days throughout the season.

I’m unsure what the nondescript white trailer across from 

 is called. But I know all I need: It serves an excellent (at times, lifesaving) beach dog.

You may need to haggle for all the Chicago fixings.

Okay, Relish is technically not a cart. But hey, it’s a seasonal shack and, with locations in the Loop and Streeterville, made for lunchtime crunchtime. It’s pricey — $8 dogs — but what can you expect downtown?

Again, not technically a cart, but functionally … these glorious metal boxes have 

. Coupling streetside vendor aura with the reliability of fixed, year-round locations, this parking lot feast is always a win.

Hot dog carts are rare in Chicago. Consider visiting one this National Hot Dog Day! 

Hot Dog Carts in Chicago

The Hot Dog Cart-icle

Back in April, I said every month feels like poetry month in Chicago. I feel the same way about Pride — this city stays bursting with queer energy. But, in honor of 

 Pride month, here are some local LGBTQ+ poets worth checking out.

 and all-around hometown hero. She’s also a decorated poet, often mining her Beverly upbringing for her work.

 you don’t fit in / everybody in your neighborhood color of white hen

Woods’ friendship with another local queer poet, Fatimah Asghar, inspired the series “Brown Girls.” 

Rachel Mennies is a Chicago-based writer whose poems get at queer longing. Her collection 

 is full of epistolary poems, written to the woman the speaker loves.

 / through my coat, enough to pool desire / where I most wanted you to touch me.

Britteney Black Rose Kapri is — I can attest — a great (though tough) poetry teacher. She’s published two books of poetry, including 

, as in dwelling, as in crib, as in where your inhibitions go to rest.

Born in Colorado, Katana Smith is now based in Chicago and previously served as Northwestern University’s artist-in-residence. Her poems 

 are an excellent package: petty and moving.

Maybe I was the only friend who would talk to you about him … I would have talked to you about literally anything.

Oli Rodriguez is an artist and writer born in Chicago whose intersectional work explores the AIDS pandemic.

 tells the story of a “sondaughter” raised in gay bars — and recalls the cruising hotspot that was Belmont Harbor.


📖 Read more Chicago poetry!

These local queer poets are worth checking out — during Pride month and beyond.

5 Queer Chicago Poets You Should Know

 opened to the public Saturday — perhaps you know it as The Belmont, the name dominating its exterior marquee. Or, like my friends, you’re simply referring to it as New Berlin.

Taking up the space of the former queer club Berlin, comparisons are inevitable. They’re also welcome, according to manager Marcus Devin, who was a Berlin regular.

“We’re back, but not really. It’s not the same, but it feels the same,” he said of Decibel, which operates from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Perhaps the biggest difference from Berlin is that the space operates a cocktail bar, called The Belmont, 

I visited during Decibel hours. (At 3 a.m. if you must know.) The dance floor was so rowdy, it was hard to imagine the early-evening lounge. But it was easy to imagine this spot flourishing.

Berlin, which dominated the block for almost 40 years, was the first club I ever went to. (

.) The same is true for countless Chicagoans. Berlin’s accessible location under the Belmont “L” always seemed to entice passersby.

“It was just such a welcoming crowd, the drag queens on the stage were pulling me up,” journalist Yareni Murillo 

, remembering her first legal beverage on the dance floor.

Berlin closed in late 2023 following the 

, “The magic that happened at 954 W. Belmont will never be recreated.”

Like Berlin, Decibel is a queer space. It’s owned by HV Entertainment, which operates several 

. The goal, Devin said, is creating a place for patrons to express themselves.

On opening night, the crowd was diverse in race and gender. Large groups formed on the dance floor. Shirts were peeled off. On the sidelines, people made out passionately.

 helped keep the vibe high, although future prices are not set in stone. At the door, you can expect a cover between $5 and $10. (Also not bad, IMO.)

When I asked a bartender about other changes, he simply rolled his eyes and motioned around. Gone is 

 behind the bar, replaced with a sleek, plainer backdrop and two large screens. The frosty new bar top lights up. The (eternally flooding) bathrooms were redone, thankfully.

I’m also happy to report that the short stage running through the center club is still there. Beckoning. Climbing up can make just about anyone feel like a star.

🏳️‍🌈 Have you been to Chicago’s other legendary gay bars? 

Decibel is now open in the former Berlin space on Belmont. Comparisons are inevitable.

Welcome to The Belmont and Decibel

Welcome to The Belmont and Decibel — AKA New Berlin

, is a brand-new venue for magic in Chicago, but its aim is old school. Set inside the historic McCormick Mansion, guests are invited to wander around the swanky space and experience a range of magicians close up. 

, “It marks a return to the golden age of Chicago-style live magic.”

Close-up magic, pioneered at the turn of the century by 

, is no-frills magic performed in an intimate setting. 

I grew up hearing those bar stories from my dad — specifically stories of the 

My dad, Steve, was a 20-year-old bartender there in 1975. Al was a hard-drinking, dildo-wielding magician. (He’d bang it on the bar. “The divorcees love it.”) Al also had a catchphrase: GTFM, or, “Get the f***ing money.” The acronym was emblazoned on the register. “GTFM!” he’d yell if my dad was ever distracted by 

If you were one of Al’s targets, your card might end up on his forehead. Or under your drink. You’d be looking and looking for the card while everyone else laughed.

Later, Al performed at Mycroft’s Pub on Lincoln Avenue. That was something of a magic stretch for a while, with New York Lounge and the 

The elegant Hand & The Eye mansion is a far cry from Chicago magic’s rowdy dive-bar days, but it does keep the close-up tradition alive.

 in Andersonville is also relatively upscale. However, 

entering through speakeasy laundry machines

 can make you feel like a rebel. Ticketed shows are nightly, but anyone can see close-up magic in the lobby bar.

. It’s adjacent to Goodman Theatre and Petterino's, and tickets include one drink.

 is available for bookings too. I can attest: He's spellbinding. I once saw the man do dove work in a cramped Logan Square living room!

 in Lincoln Park — not exactly a magic bar, but it’s got a fantasy vibe and, usually, a tarot card reader. Had to shout out at least one Lincoln Avenue spot!

♣️ Do you remember Heba Haba Al? I wanna know!

The Hand & The Eye is a new venue marketing Chicago-style magic. But what is Chicago-style magic?

Where You Can Still See Magic in Chicago

Chicago Was — Is? — a Magic Town

at Humboldt Park! Neighbors, myself included, were crushed to hear the swan boats flew the coop in 2025 due to years of slow business. The paddleboats first came on the lagoon in 2018 and will return April 25.

Besides the swans, there are plenty of water and boat activities to enjoy as the season heats up.

 is officially upon us! Rides run daily through September, and stops include Ogilvie, Michigan Avenue, and Chinatown. It’s $10 for a one-way ticket.

Yes, I drifted down the river in one of those floating hot tubs — 

. Six friends fit into the jacuzzis which coast along the river for 90-minute rides. And although that season is over, rentable party options for the spring and summer include 

The architectural boat tours are not just for tourists. Trust us. 

, which partners with the Chicago Architecture Center, is usually the go-to option. It’s also 

Many different companies offer river kayak rentals throughout Chicago. 

, one of the larger competitors, rents from Goose Island in May, with expanded summer hours beginning later that month.

 offers weekend rentals from Clark Park beginning Memorial Day weekend. 

 also offers rentals and tours from Rockwell on the River. Even further north, Forest Preserves of Cook County offers 

canoe, kayak, and different boat rentals on the Skokie Lagoon

 offers kayak rentals along Bubbly Creek.

 REI no longer offers kayak rentals from Ping Tom Park.

If you want to get wet, Seadog is the way to go. This speedboat ride, which leaves from Navy Pier, offers 30 fast minutes bouncing around Lake Michigan. Part tour, part thrill ride. Real thrill seekers should try 

Jet skis are available to rent at outposts across the city, from 

 but the season hasn't started yet — stay tuned.

👙 Personally, though, I just hang along the ledge, usually near the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, until a passerby jet ski offers me a free ride. Works every time.

Editor's Note: A version of this article was originally published May 13, 2025. 

As we mourn the Humboldt Park swan boats, there are still plenty of Chicago water and boat activities to enjoy as the season heats up. 


Chicago Water Rides and Boat Rentals

Chicago’s Splashiest Water Activities

. The City of Broad Shoulders is home to the 

, which publishes “Poetry” magazine, plus constant

spoken word events and workshop opportunities. We’re on it year-round. But since April is 

 National Poetry Month, consider diving in deeper.

Some classic and more contemporary lyric odes to the complicated city we love. 

Hog Butcher for the World … City of the Big Shoulders

Chicago who wears her skyscrapers like a necklace ...

Chicago … Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies, but never a lovely so real.

✒️ Favorite line: The whole thing! (It’s short.)

“the great stone lions outside monumentally pissed by jumbo wreaths and ribbons”

“whenever i’m at that land is chicago”

underneath my gym shoes. is a trail of salt. that last sentence is a test.

 “i’ll miss crossing guards ushering the grown folks too, like ducklings”

Chicago Public Library and plenty more organizations are hosting readings, workshops, lectures, and performances throughout the month.

 | April 8 | Call & Response Books | Kenwood

 | April 9 | Haymarket House | Uptown | Free

 | April 11 | Archer Heights Branch | Free

 | April 11-12 | Ruth Page Center for the Arts | Near North Side

 | April 13 | Portage Cragin Branch | Free

 | April 15 | Harold Washington Library | Loop | Free

 | April 19 | Offshore Rooftop | Navy Pier

Patricia Smith, Ashley M. Jones, Donika Kelly, Aimee Nezhukumatathil

 | April 23 | Poetry Foundation | River North | Free

Sijo and Sijo-song: Korea’s Poetry Form

 | April 25 | Little Village Branch | Free

Every month is Poetry Month in Chicago. But since April is actually National Poetry Month, consider diving in deeper. 

Celebrate Poetry in Chicago for National Poetry Month

Celebrate Poetry in Chicago

the city’s last Black-owned bowling alley

, closes permanently April 26. In operation since the 1950s, it was one of the South Side’s few remaining bowling alleys as the sport 

 after 98 years following the pandemic. More recently, 

 and closed its city site. My teenage haunt, Lincoln Lanes, burned down years ago …

There are just about a dozen bowling alleys left in Chicago. Lucky for us, though, they’re as fun as ever.

 in Logan Square — call in advance since there are lots of leagues. You can also form your own!

 in West Lawn is an old-school joint with a Sunday Special for big groups.

 may look old, but the manual-scoring spot is a fairly new addition to 

 in North Center is where it’s at. And if you’re at nearby businesses, keep on the lookout for those free coupons!

 in Jefferson Park has been a North Side birthday destination for over 50 years.

 in Forest Park is, yes, technically suburban, but it’s been a local staple since 1941.

 is located inside Marina City in River North, carrying on the 

long tradition of bowling within the famous complex

 in Auburn Gresham has 12 bowling lanes in addition to its 

 in River North and Wrigleyville. A free open house (with cheap drinks) for Wrigley’s summer league 

 in Bucktown is more known for, well, WhirlyBall, but the event space has several bowling lanes.

 in Goose Island, part of a national chain, 

Where You Can Still Bowl in Chicago

Sure, April showers bring May flowers. Tulips and cherry blossoms, specifically! But this month has a lot more than just rain in store. Check out all there is to do in Chicago.

. Just 130 galleries will be participating in the Navy Pier event, a drop of about 23%. (I will still be there, people-watching for outfit inspo.)

. That’s plenty of time to check out the jam-packed roster of shows at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Lakeview.

showcasing filmmakers under 22 returns to FACETS in Lincoln Park 

, but April has extra opportunities to dive in:

CAConrad, Rickey Laurentiis, Jake Skeets, S Yarberry

 | April 2 | Poetry Foundation | River North | Free

 and stay tuned to City Cast Chicago all month long for more poetry events.

The eight-day Jewish celebration starts tonight! Here’s where you can 

, Easter is a time for special delicacies in Chicago. 

Then it’s time for carrot cake. Reader recs include:

And if, like me, you find lamb-shaped butter heartbreakingly nostalgic, you can pick some up at 

April showers bring May flowers. But this month has a lot more than just rain, check out everything to do in Chicago!

Chicago's Best

Hidden Gem Swimming Spots

The Hot Dog Cart-icle

5 Queer Chicago Poets You Should Know

Latest articles

Welcome to The Belmont and Decibel — AKA New Berlin

Chicago Was — Is? — a Magic Town

Chicago’s Splashiest Water Activities

Celebrate Poetry in Chicago

Where You Can Still Bowl in Chicago

Your Guide to April 2026

Your Guide to March 2026