Windy city full of summer entertainment

If you're suffering from that suffocating choke of the small town blues and 15 cent drafts at the Bluebird just aren't cutting it in terms of weekly entertainment, your summer salvation is waiting for you in that "same old place, sweet home Chicago."\nChicago in the summer bursts out of that poor "Windy City" wrap and packs in the heat with more cultural, artistic, educational, recreational and musical entertainment than most cities even offer. \nWhether you're a beach bum or an art connoisseur, Chicago will dazzle you with its cornucopia of options for inexhaustible fun. \nFinding nature in a concrete city center may seem a thorny task, but with a five mile stretch of park filled with gardens, trails, playing fields and scenic lakefront paths, Lincoln Park does more than fulfill the expectations for a beautiful breath of fresh air. At 150 years old, Lincoln Park is home to the nation's oldest public, free zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo. Not only does it house lions, tigers and other exotic creatures, but there are also periodic free concerts at the venue. \nLincoln Park's expansive spread also contains two popular lakefront beaches. North Avenue Beach, a crowded, multicultural and trendy sweep of sandy shore, can be reached by crossing over Lake Shore Drive via the Lincoln Park footbridge. North Avenue is perfect for potential sun-worshippers, beach volleyball fanatics and swimmers.\nFullerton Beach is less congested and holds a more local crowd. Fullerton is more suitable for family barbeques and bookworms. During the summer months, Fullerton's Theatre on the Lake presents various productions from the city's professional theater companies, ranging from modern plays to the masterworks of Shakespeare. \nJust down the lakefront, Navy Pier ushers in the summer with a boom. From Memorial Day to Labor Day this popular venue -- for shopping and good Chicago eats -- lights up the city sky with a spectacular fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. every Wednesday and at 10:15 p.m. every Saturday, free of charge.\nNavy Pier also boasts an enormous 150-foot ferris wheel. Each of its 40 cars holds six passengers and makes for a great way to end an evening with friends overlooking the city's stunning skyline. \nNo trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison St., where there is not a bad seat in the house. Wrigley, home to arguably the most humble fans in sports, packs this stadium to its gills with rowdy crowds during the summer. Tickets for games run between $10 to $30. \nWrigleyville, the neighborhood surrounding the park, is chock-full of bars, restaurants and clubs for some early-to-late, 20-something summer evening fun, especially after the "Cubbies" take home a win. \nIf the oppressive summer heat is too much to endure, there are plenty of indoor activities to help you cool off but still enjoy all Chicago has to offer in the form of priceless works of art.\nThe Art Institute of Chicago exhibits its priceless permanent collections, with renowned masterpieces like "American Gothic," "Nighthawks" and Seurat's gigantic masterpiece, "A Sunday on the Grand Jatte." The Institute also boasts new shows for June, including "The Wilds of the West," a brief history of the photography of Americas Western Landscape, and "Faces, Places and Inner Spaces," an interactive exhibit designed to familiarize patrons with art from different cultures, time periods and geographic regions.\nArt lovers will also appreciate the Terra Museum of American Art, 664 N. Michigan Ave. Terra is home to over 700 American works -- paint, print, drawing and photography -- by some of America's most well renowned artists, including Thomas Cole and Mary Cassatt. It is free of charge to students with a valid student ID.\nIf you're only planning a weekend trip to the nation's third largest city and one time kingdom of Michael Jordan, then plan longer and pack heavier because Chicago in the summertime does not sleep.