- Best Date News
- Posts
- Let's Celebrate Summer in Chicago
BEST DATE NEWS
June 26, 2025: Best Date News Volume #132
Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s edition, you’ll read about The Bear Season 4, new transit day passes, Back to the Future in Concert, concerts and cake, Pride celebrations and more!
Via Ryan Duffy
June 26: National Holidays
National Handshake Day
National Coconut Day
National Chocolate Pudding Day
National Bomb Pop Day
National Canoe Day
Sponsored by our friends at Hideaway Brew Garden
Hideaway Brew Garden
Hideaway Brew Garden: Tucked away in Hoffman Estates, Hideaway Brew Garden is a hidden gem you need to check out this summer! It’s a live music and entertainment venue that hosts free outdoor shows every Thursday through Sunday.
Watch our Instagram Reel from last night to see how cool the place is. Entry is totally free, and you can bring your own lawn chairs, grab a picnic table or upgrade your night by renting one of their themed private spaces.
Their private rentals are perfect for groups. They have fun campers with themes like The Office, Friends, Barbie and a brand new hand-drawn camper in collaboration with 2d Restaurant.
A full menu of food and drinks is available for purchase. We love the nachos and giant soft pretzel. If you’re with a group, don’t miss their wild large-format drinks like the Sears Tower (beer or cocktails) and the Dynamite Device with 20 test tube shots.
Check out their 2025 summer schedule of shows and events! We saw Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press earlier this month and had an amazing time.
Via FX
Chicago News
The Bear is Back: All 10 episodes of The Bear Season 4, set in Chicago, hit Hulu yesterday. See which local spots made cameos and watch Ayo Edebiri (Sydney) chat with Jimmy Kimmel about what it was like acting and writing this season. Plus, West Loop’s After by Chef Curtis Duffy is offering a special Bear-themed takeout menu through Monday, in partnership with Uber Eats. His other restaurant, Ever, has been heavily featured on the show. Our favorite Benny the Bull even got in on the action this week.
Transit Day Passes: Say goodbye to juggling CTA, Metra and Pace tickets. The latest Ventra app update introduced the new Regional Day Pass on June 20, offering unlimited rides across the city and suburbs for 24 hours from purchase. It’s an easy add-on that bundles Metra, CTA and Pace for just $2.50 more than a regular Metra day pass, totaling $9.50.
Chicago Pride Parade: The iconic Chicago Pride Parade returns this Sunday, June 29, stepping off at 11 a.m. from Sheridan and Broadway in Uptown. Expect floats, music, dancing and a full day of celebration as the parade heads south through Lakeview. This year’s parade features 150 colorful entries along a 20-block route that winds through Broadway, Halsted, Belmont and Diversey before ending at Cannon Drive.
Back to the Future: Here’s a unique cinematic experience. Catch Back to the Future in Concert on the big screen tonight through Saturday (June 26–28) at Symphony Center’s Orchestra Hall. The classic film will feature its iconic score performed live by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The show runs two and a half hours, and tickets start at $55.
Tuesdays on the Terrace: One of Chicago’s best free summer concert series, Tuesdays on the Terrace, is back at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Every Tuesday through August 26, you can catch live music on the back terrace from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Bring a picnic blanket and relax on the lawn or grab a seat and a drink up top. Gates open at 4:30 and some people start lining up early, so plan ahead. Get all the details.
Via Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago
Just For Fun
38 Best Restaurants: Eater just dropped the spring update of The Eater Chicago 38, their must-know list of where to eat right now. It covers everything from iconic spots to neighborhood gems. This edition adds newcomers Maxwells Trading and Perilla Korean American Steakhouse to the mix. One of our favorite spots for cheap burgers, Redhot Ranch, made the list!
Maroon 5: Maroon 5 is bringing their Love is Like Tour to Chicago on November 13, highlighting their eighth studio album. The show will take place at the United Center, and tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday, June 27 at 10 a.m.
Steve Aoki: Speaking of concerts, we had a blast at Steve Aoki’s Cake on the Lake show at Navy Pier last Saturday. Check out our Reels of him throwing cakes into the crowd, like he always does, and sticking around after for a couple minutes to take selfies and sign autographs with fans.
Deep Dish Cake: Now here is a cake that we wouldn’t want Steve Aoki to throw! You have to check out this impressive, new deep-dish pizza cake that Sweet Mandy B’s is now selling at their Lincoln Park location.
Lizzano: The Italian sandwich spot Lizzano is opening a signature store on Michigan Ave this Sunday, June 29, at 200 N. Michigan Avenue. They opened a River North location earlier this year at 636 N Wells St. To celebrate, they’re giving out free ice cream with every panini purchase all day Sunday.
Sponsored by our friends at Eataly Chicago
Summer Saturdays - Amalfi
Eataly Chicago: This Saturday, June 28 from 2 to 4 p.m., Eataly Chicago kicks off its Summer Saturdays series with a celebration of the Amalfi Coast. Each weekend will highlight a different southern Italian destination, starting with one of the most iconic.
You’ll get a taste of Amalfi with over 10 small bites featuring dishes like Pasta al Limone e Gamberi, Fritto Misto, Focaccia Limone and handmade Ndunderi di Minori. Olive oil tastings and live music are included with every ticket.
Tickets start at $40 and include all bites, olive oil tastings and live music. Upgrade to a $50 ticket with two glasses of wine or get a four-pack with wine included for $175 total ($43.75 each) for the best value.
If a summer getaway to the Amalfi Coast isn’t in the cards, Eataly Chicago is the next best thing! Wander through food stations, sip chilled wine and enjoy your dream Italian vacation this weekend without leaving Chicago.
Via Steven Koch
Weekend Plans
Pride Celebrations: If you are looking for Pride celebrations this weekend in Chicago, there are a lot of big ones happening including: the Chicago Pride Parade, Navy Pier Pride, Pride North, All of Us Chicago, Edgewater Vintage Pride Crawl and the Queer Book Fair.
Weekend Festivals: Other big festivals this weekend include the Chicago Food Truck Festival, Logan Square Summer Vintage & Artisan Fest, Taste of Chicago is Maquette Park, Ida B. Wells Festival and more. Check out 19 Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend.
Craft Brews: Sip and stroll through the Lincoln Park Zoo after hours this Saturday, June 28, at the Craft Brews 21+ event. Enjoy 100+ craft beers and ciders, plus live music, yard games and food trucks. Tickets include 20 tastings, a souvenir cup and access to all the fun.
Poll Question of the Week
In honor of National Handshake Day, do you know what a Chicago Handshake is?!We'll give you a hint, it's a local drinking tradition |
Poll Results: Last newsletter, we asked which ice cream flavor was your favorite. Here are the results:
27%: Cookies & Cream
24%: Cookie Dough
22%: Mint Chocolate Chip
8.5%: Strawberry
8.5%: Other
5.1%: Chocolate
5.1%: Vanilla
Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago
Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):
Sunrise: 5:17 a.m. (2 minutes later)
Sunset: 8:29 p.m. (1 minute later)
Sponsor Best Date News!
Sponsored posts allow us to keep Best Date News free for our readers. If interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to [email protected].
Reply