Summer's in session!

In our minds, it’s already summer. But we’ve always been a bit overeager if it means another excuse to party—technically, summer starts Saturday. Make the most of the sizzlin’ season by preparing your plan of attack now, starting with our summer to-do list.

1. Boat party! What, no FWBs? (That’s friends with boats, you landlubber.) Check out "Whatever floats your boat" to plan a boat bash or booze cruise.

2. People watch on Division Street. Grab an outdoor seat at any bar along Division Street in Wicker Park/Ukie Village—we’re partial to Small Bar, but any ol’ patio will do—order a beer, then sit back and watch the action.

3. Bump. Set. Spike. North Avenue Beach has no shortage of scantily clad beach volleyball players, but the handful of nets at Oak Street Beach are great for casual, weekend pick-up games—and Hollywood Beach is a boy’s hot spot for picking up a date.

4. Expand your cultural horizons. Hit up one of the city’s many outdoor ethnic festivals, such as Ghana Fest in Washington Park, Croatian Fest in Bridgeport or the Korean Street Festival in North Center/Sauganash.

5. Go fly a kite. You’ll feel like a kid again when you tug at your string. Gear up at Chicago Kite (5445 N. Harlem Ave. 773-467-1428), where you can choose from hundreds of colorful kites for novices and serious kite flyers alike, starting at $10.

6. Kayak the Chicago River. See the city from a new angle on a paddling tour with Kayak Chicago or Waterriders (312-953-9287).

7. Beat the heat with a retro treat. Head to sweets shop Candyality for classic ice-cream treats—from push-up pops to Nestle Drumsticks to dog-friendly Frosty Paws—and slurp 'em outside on the new sidewalk patio.

8. Start your night with a bang. Watch fireworks at Navy Pier Wednesdays (9:30 p.m.) and Saturdays (10:15 p.m.) through Aug. 30.

9. Play hooky. Slip out of your cube early on a sunny afternoon and beat the happy hour crowds to your after-work alfresco spot of choice—we like Cactus Bar & Grill or Rock Bottom.

10. Drink a ginormous vodka-lemonade at a street fest. You’re bound to find a bar selling 32-plus ounces of vodka-lemonade if it’s on a street fest path—we’ve got our eye on the college bars lining Lincoln during Taste of Lincoln Avenue.

11. Watch the stars under the stars. Free movies abound. See "The Odd Couple" in Grant Park on June 22 (click here for complete Outdoor Film Fest lineup) or catch one of a the Park District's Movies in the Parks screenings.

12. Take your dog to dinner. Follow in the paw prints of our Reader Review crew, the Patio Hounds, and treat Fido to a finger-lickin’ night out at Bistrot Margot, Moonshine, The Fifty/50 and other canine-friendly spots.

13. Have a drink. Spend a hot summer night cocktailing on the 40-seat, drinks-only dock patio, slated to open by the end of June, at DeLaCosta.

14. Rock out, outdoors. From Pitchfork to Lolla, you’ve got plenty of choices. One affordable highlight: Wicker Park Fest (July 26-27) features Polvo, Bassnectar, Isis and Bob Schneider.

15. Go on a DIY pub crawl. Branch out! Pick a random bar you’ve never been to before, and make sure there are others that fit the bill nearby. Drink. Move on. Repeat.

16. Bike to breakfast. Hit the lakefront path early for serene lake views before the crowds move in, then refuel with ready-made eats—crepes, smoothies, vegan scones and more— at the Green City Market, 7 a.m. Saturdays and Wednesdays in Lincoln Park.

17. Go on, have another margarita. Not only does Salud Tequila Lounge have a spacious sidewalk patio, but the house margarita ($8) also placed numero dos in our Margarita Mania faceoff last month. We dare you to have just one.

[ Lisa Arnett, Karen Budell, Matt Pais, Rebecca Palmore and Kathleen Pratt, Metromix producers. ]
metromix@tribune.com