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Photos: It Was 83 Gol Dang Degrees Monday, And The Lakefront Was Hopping

By Mae Rice in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 19, 2016 1:29PM

The weather gods granted Chicago a nearly flawless weekend and Monday. It might have been a work day yesterday, but Chicagoans feeling #blessed and #grateful made time to enjoy that perfect moment between a face-stabbingly cold winter and sweltering summer when spring, at least for one day, was here.

The forecast for the rest of the week is back in the blah 50s and 60s, but Monday still marked the first day that the mercury hit 80 degrees this year, melting away our memories of hot coffee freezing as it hits the ground. Sunday was a bit of a tease: it was supposed to hit 80 but fell just short. The high Monday, though, was 83, according to Accuweather. The National Weather Service reports that this is almost exactly on schedule; on average, Chicago hits 80 on April 20.

To celebrate Monday's sunshine, our photographer Tyler LaRiviere spent yesterday afternoon exploring the lakefront, shooting ice cream vendors, sunbathers and lacrosse games. He even caught an off-leash poodle cavorting on the beach. If you want to spend today feeling nostalgic for yesterday's weather, as we know you do, check out his gallery above.