Chicago Air & Water Show Weekend

BEST DATE NEWS

Aug. 14, 2025: Best Date News Volume #139

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s edition, you’ll read about the 2025 Chicago Air & Water Show, the Chicago River Swim, a loose sheep, the Man in the Bean, Savannah Bananas, what to do this weekend and more!

Aug. 14: National Holidays

• National Creamsicle Day

• National Financial Awareness Day

• National Love Your Bookshop Day

• National Tattoo Removal Day

• World Lizard Day

Sponsored by our friends at Utopian Tailgate

Chicago’s Best Summer Spots

• Utopian Tailgate: Head to Utopian Tailgate, the colorful rooftop bar above Second City in Old Town, and see if your crew can conquer The Feast of Burden. It’s $110 and serves 8–10 people with an over-the-top spread.

• The Feast of Burden includes nachos, buffalo wings, chimichurri wings, carne asada fries, a Sancho hot dog, flautas, elote dip and plenty of dipping sauces. See their full food menu.

• Pair it with one of their large-format drinks like Peaches, Peaches or Big AF Electric Touch, perfect for sharing while taking in the skyline views. Drink menu.

• With bright decor, games, great summer vibes and big tables, Utopian Tailgate is one of the best Chicago rooftops during the summer! Reservations.

Chicago News

• Chicago Air & Water Show: This weekend, Chicago’s lakefront transforms into the largest free air and water show in the United States. The Chicago Air and Water Show runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16–17, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a full rehearsal Friday. Catch high-flying thrills from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights, plus dozens of aerial acts, all centered at North Avenue Beach between Fullerton and Oak Street.

• Chicago River Swim: For the first time in 98 years, a sanctioned open-water swim will take place on the Chicago River on Sunday, Sept. 21. Hundreds of athletes will swim a one- or two-mile loop between Lake Street and Wabash, with the river closed to boat traffic during the event. The Chicago River Swim will raise money for ALS research at Northwestern.

• Loose Sheep: A runaway sheep caused chaos in the West Loop on Monday after escaping a Halsted Street butcher shop. The animal trotted through the neighborhood for hours before being caught and sent to Chicago Chicken Rescue in Woodlawn, where he’s now awaiting a permanent farm home. A few Chicagoans documented the chaos on video as it unfolded: one, two and three.

• State and Lake: Chicago’s historic State and Lake “L” station is getting a major redesign, with wider platforms, full ADA accessibility and a new glass-walled street entrance. The project will also add public space beneath the tracks, aiming to make the area safer, more comfortable and more welcoming. Construction will take place while the station remains open, with work expected to begin later this year.

• Chicago Public Pools: 19 Chicago Park District pools, a 58% increase from last summer, will stay open through Labor Day, Sept. 1. The extension prioritizes neighborhoods with the highest heat risk. Water spray feature season will be extended through Sept. 30.

Just For Fun

• Man in the Bean: A mysterious group called the Man in Bean Coalition claims a full-grown man has been living inside Cloud Gate since artist Anish Kapoor created it two decades ago. They’ve handed out flyers, posted viral videos, provided Big Bean Media Recaps and urged people to contact Ald. Brendan Reilly, who calls it an “online hoax” but says his office has fielded about 200 calls and emails on the subject. The coalition has more than 35,000 Instagram followers and insists “Big Bean is lying to you.”

• NewCity for Sale: The NewCity shopping center in Lincoln Park, home to Mariano’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and an AMC movie theater, has been listed for sale. The 391,000-square-foot retail property was completed in 2015 and sits in the busy Clybourn Corridor. Its 199 apartments are not part of the offering.

• Labubu Desserts: 2d Restaurant in Lake View, known for its two-dimensional hand-drawn art, has debuted the first-ever Labubu-themed food in the Midwest. The new La-TwoTwo menu features a monster sandwich, latte, pudding platter, and a mascarpone-filled monster mochi donut.

• Sarah Sherman: It was just announced that the SNL star known on stage as Sarah Squirm is bringing her surreal, sharp-witted comedy to the Vic Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 20. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.

• Dutch Bros: The popular West Coast drive-thru coffee chain Dutch Bros is opening its first Illinois locations by the end of the year. One will be in Glen Carbon and the other in Urbana at 809 W Green St, bringing the brand’s signature drinks and lively service style to the state for the first time.

Sponsored by our friends at The Forge

High Ropes Course Deal

• The Forge: One of our favorite spots in the Chicago suburbs is The Forge: Lemont Quarries, an outdoor adventure park in Lemont, Ill., with one of the largest aerial ropes courses in the world!

• We have teamed up with them to bring you our exclusive Zip, Putt & Sip package, where you can climb 200 ropes course obstacles, zipline 1,200 feet across a quarry, play a round of 18-hole mini golf and get your choice of a beer or seltzer for just $69. If you bought that all separately, it would cost $100.

• Check out our video of the experience. This deal isn’t listed anywhere else and is only available through our link. Check it out this weekend!

Weekend Plans

• Air & Water Show Guide: Planning to catch the Chicago Air & Water Show this weekend? Arrive early to claim a good spot along the lakefront. North Avenue Beach is the center of the action from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., but Oak Street, Fullerton to Diversey, or Montrose offer solid views with more space. Consider taking the CTA, which will have extra service, to avoid traffic and parking headaches. What to know if you go.

• Friday Concerts: Two big shows are hitting the Chicago area tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 15. Tate McRae brings her “Miss Possessive Tour” with Zara Larsson to the United Center at 7:30 p.m., while Cynthia Erivo performs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, also at 7:30 p.m.

• Savannah Bananas: Banana Ball comes to Chicago’s Rate Field this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15–16, as the Savannah Bananas face the Firefighters in a fast-paced, rule-bending showdown. Expect fan-caught foul-ball outs, outrageous on-field costumes and choreographed dance breaks, all packed into one bright yellow show. You can watch on ESPN2 or try the secondary market for tickets.

• Taylor Street Festival: Chicago’s Little Italy comes alive for the Taylor Street Festival from Thursday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 17. The event runs Thursday and Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m., with over 20 food vendors and live music on six stages, plus cultural displays and family-friendly activities.

• Glenwood Ave Arts Fest: Rogers Park hosts the Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival from Friday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug. 17 along Glenwood Avenue between Morse and Lunt, by the Morse Red Line stop. Enjoy the Cobblestone Jam Friday evening, then the Artists’ Market Saturday and Sunday with over 100 booths, live performances and food.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last newsletter, we asked if you would try the new Ketchup Smoothie from Heinz and Smoothie King. 84% of you said no, it sounds gross. Shout out to the 16% of you willing to try it!

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):

• Sunrise: 5:57 a.m. (7 minutes later)

• Sunset: 7:51 p.m. (10 minutes earlier)

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