Chicagoans are feeling the return of the summer spark, as sunny skies and 80-degree temperatures filled the city on Saturday.
From rooftop bars and outdoor yoga to a Chicago Bulls playoff game and blooming flower conservatories, there are plenty of ways to savor the weekend – indoors and out.
Here are some things to do in and around Chicago:
Sip a cocktail on the rooftops
Bar With
The open-air bar offers a menu with Spanish and Portuguese touches and views from the eighth floor of Ave River North. Cocktails, wines and beers are part of the establishment’s beverage range.
Reservations can be made here.
Cherry
Find Cerise’s indoor-outdoor rooftop space on the 26th floor of the Virgin Hotel for a mix of cocktails, culinary creations and curated music. The Loop’s modern restaurant pairs tasty drinks with panoramic city views.
Reservations can be made here.
Cindy’s
Perched atop the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel in the Loop, Cindy’s rooftop bar serves drinks and American fare while offering stunning views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.
Reservations can be made here.
Kennedy roof
Signature and presidential cocktails, such as The Abe Lincoln with gin, cucumber, mint and fresh lime, shape the Wicker Park rooftop bar. The urban space also offers panoramic views of the city.
Reservations can be made here.
Offshore
A full-service bar, world-class cuisine, and entertainment spaces help rank Offshore as one of the largest rooftop bars in town at 36,000 square feet. The year-round bar is on the third floor of Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, overlooking the Chicago skyline and lake.
Reservations can be made here.
Raised
In addition to its American bites, Raised serves seasonal cocktail programs and city-brewed drafts. The lounge is located on the third floor of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.
The restaurant does not take reservations.
tanta
The South Loop restaurant is hosting its bottomless mimosa brunch on its rooftop this weekend. Catch specials on Peruvian drinks and plates from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations can be made here.
Utopian tailgate
The year-round rooftop terrace sits atop The Second City comedy club in Old Town. Tailgate-themed drinks and food, colorful furniture, and fresh greenery fill the 10,000-square-foot space.
Reservations can be made here.
Vu rooftop bar
Handcrafted and unique cocktails are the hallmark of Vu. The 13,000 square foot bar sits on the 22nd floor of the McCormick Center, offering views such as land and lake.
Reservations can be made here.
Z-bar
The Peninsula’s rooftop lounge not only offers views of the Magnificent Mile, but also a plethora of globally inspired drinks and bites.
Reservations can be made here.
Catch Bulls vs. Bucks NBA Playoffs
The Bulls entered the best-of-seven series against the defending national champions as underdogs, but the Milwaukee Bucks took the lead Friday night at 2-1, with Game 4 set to be played at the United Center on Saturday.
On Friday, the Bulls trailed up to 37 points and the 111-81 final marked the biggest margin of defeat in a home playoff game in franchise history.
Saturday’s game will be one of the first playoff matchups Chicago has hosted in five years.
Tickets are available here.
Bask in the sun with rooftop yoga
Event venue Morgan’s on Fulton is collaborating with sports brand Lululemon for a morning session of yoga and brunch with views of the city skyline.
The “Collective Breath” experience will host a 60-minute vinyasa yoga class followed by a recharge session with a meal. Fruit, grilled vegetable egg white frittatas, turkey sausages, mimosas and more will be loaded onto the brunch menu.
The session will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now for $65 and can be purchased here.
Head for a “Bridgerton” ballroom dance
Esteemed members of the Ton are invited to a party in Chicago. ‘The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience’ has transformed a ‘secret’ location in the city into Regency-era London for fans of Netflix’s global hit.
The pop-up – which debuted on Wednesday – features immersive decor and costumes, Instagramable floral curtains, towering powdered wigs and a cast of royal actors for guests over 21.
Organizers also plan to have a live string quartet playing iconic tunes from the show, including a rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams.”
The immersive extravaganza will last 90 minutes. Tickets are available here.
Listen to Lorde’s concert
New Zealand artist Lorde will light up the Chicago Theater for another night.
The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter will perform her new album, “Solar Power,” on Saturday, following an exhilarating concert on Friday. His previous discography includes “Melodrama” and “Pure Heroine”.
Tickets can be purchased here.
View Art on theMart
Art on theMart organizes its spring program at 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. every evening.
The art installation will display 30-minute video projections in the 25-story Merchandise Mart throughout June 29.
Climate change is central to this year’s theme, which is presented in partnership with the Shedd Aquarium.
The Chicago Riverwalk, especially the section between Wells Street and Franklin Street, offers the best views of the show. More information about the show is available here.
Discover various flower conservatories
While April showers bring May flowers, two Chicago conservatories show the flowers a little earlier.
Garfield Park Conservatory’s spring flower show “Knock Knock” features a collection of vintage doors hanging above arrangements of tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils and hyacinths. An abundance of knock-knock jokes can be expected, according to the website. Tickets are available here.
The Lincoln Park Conservatory’s “Pillars of Spring” spring flower exhibit features more than a dozen freestanding pillars covered in geraniums, nemesias, snapdragons, fuschias and more. Tickets are available here.
Visit an immersive exhibition
“Immersive Frida Kahlo” opened Feb. 24 in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood and depicts several stages in the Mexican-born artist’s life on a larger scale with animated projections of her works set to music. .
Visitors can also book a 35-minute yoga session with a certified instructor in the multi-sensory Kahlo exhibit. After class, guests can browse the exhibition for 25 minutes.
The experience will be open until May 28. Tickets can be purchased here.
