911 tapes released by the city show that North Avenue Beach was closed for more than just heat stress issues. more ›

Brother, in the year 2020: Hey, remember when Dad took us to the 2009 AVP Crocs Cup Championship Kentucky Grilled Chicken Chicago Open? more ›

We at Chicagoist love us some sweaty, bronzed beach volleyball action, so lucky for us the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Crocs Tour will be hitting Oak Street Beach this weekend. Qualifier competition starts tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.; men’s finals take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and women’s finals at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. General and courtside tickets run from an affordable $20 to a pocket-busting $100. [Ed. Note: The $100 tickets better include a meal, a shade umbrella, a foot massage, and a gallon of Gatorade!] more ›

We didn't make it out to the Lake View Polar Bear Club's annual winter swim yesterday because, well, it was cold. But we didn't miss too much. The group, even with a pickax, was unable to break through the ice. The 6th annual self-proclaimed "Celebration of Shrinkage" took place at Oak Street Beach and aimed to support the Prestangen family. Sherri Prestangen was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, and the Lake View Polar Bear Club... more ›

Do not be alarmed. That loud-ass noise you're hearing.. it's just the annual Air and Water show. The water portion of the show is held along the lakefront between Oak Street Beach and the Fullerton Parkway from 9am to 11am this Saturday and Sunday. Then the air show follows each day from 11am to 4pm. The Air and Water Show is Chicago's most popular event of the summer and is expected to draw more than... more ›

Anyone that's lived through a summer in Chicago knows that, from time to time, choice lakefront beaches may be temporarily closed due to high levels of E. Coli in the water. Yeah, it's gross, but you deal with it and just look forward to going back to the beach (like Frankie and Annette) when things settle down... but who knew that the sand at the beach can be just as toxic as the water? Researchers... more ›