Friday, June 27, 2025   |   View in browser  

Beat the heat in Evanston!

Our long awaited summer has finally arrived and Evanston's beaches and glorious Lake Michigan beckon us to its shores. Are you ready though? We got you covered!

Before bathers descend en masse to our city's beaches, we want to make sure you have all the things to make a day languishing on the sand an enjoyable one. 

This is the second installment of a three-part series that will showcase ways to heighten your summer experience in Evanston and all powered by local retail establishments who can provide you with everything you need. #buy-local.

Here's a guide to ways to enjoy more of summer 

Biking

• Wheel & Sprocket | 1027 Davis St.
• Bucephalus Bikes | 1424 Lake St. 
• Mack's Bike & Goods | 2948 Central St.

Swimming Pools

• Norris Aquatics Center | 2311 Campus Dr.
• McGaw YMCA | 1000 Grove St.

Hiking

• Evanston Along the Lake | guided walk through Evanston’s Lakeshore Historic District with the Chicago Architecture Center.

• Leone and Loyola Loop | 1.2-mile loop trail near Evanston. 

Evanston Rides: Saturday Family Ride

Cool off with a frosty margarita!

As temperature rises and we hustle to find ways to stay cool, we compiled a list of places to find the best margaritas in Evanston. They will have you coming back for more.

Central Street

• Comida, they have a rooftop, need we say more?
• Fat Shallot, great patio vibes with divine frozen margaritas.

Main Dempster Mile

• La Principal, the margarita here is the queen of the ball and the tasty food offerings are an added bonus.

Downtown

• Five & Dime, home of the OG margarita. Sip on their rooftop and enjoy incredible views of downtown Evanston.

Howard Street

• Ward Eight, the vibe is perfect and the margaritas are even better. Mark my word.

West Village

• Zentli, go traditional or get a little adventurous with the Tamarindo or Chicha. 

Summer vibes head to Main Street on Saturday

Celebrate summer at the Main Street Fair on Sat., June 28, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the 700 block of Main Street! This free, family-friendly event features 100+ artisans, live music on three stages, local food and drinks, a Youth Marketplace for young makers, and fun activities for kids and teens.

Presented by: Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club, Evanston Made, Art Makers Outpost, Main-Dempster Mile, and Around Evanston.

See below for local upcoming events!  In addition, you can find the full calendar of summer events on the Enjoy Evanston website.

Enjoy: The theater

• Diana, the Musical, Theo Ubique Theatre, runs through July 25
• 2nd Annual Gloria Bond Clunie Playwright's Festival, 5 p.m. Sat., June 28, and 3 p.m. Sun., June 29
• The Storm of the Century by Laughing Stock Theatre, June 29

Enjoy: Events around town

• Wickedly Good Food Truck Fest, June 27, 6 p.m., Ingraham Park
• The Garden Club of Evanston, hosts its 2nd Glorious Garden Walk, June 28, 11 a.m.
• Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, June 28, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Starlight Movies, WickedDennis the Menace, 5:30 p.m. and Uncle Buck, 7:20 p.m., Baker Park
• Evanston Made All Members Group Show at Evanston Art Center, through June 30th.
• Irish Music Session ft John Williams & friends,The Celtic Knot, 3 p.m.

Have a upcoming event?

Help us add to our calendar! We encourage you to submit all your upcoming events through our website.

Please review the following submission guidelines:

• Only public events may be listed
• Cannot be solely retail in nature
• Cannot be solely religious or political in nature
• Cannot be solely fundraisers or networking events
• Should be leisure time or recreational activities

Event eligibility is also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we are only able to accept event listings in English.

We're Outside: Running

It's running season and folks are lacing up, hitting the trails and paths as they ready themselves for 5Ks, half marathons, full marathons and to shake off winter's propensity to keep us from moving.

Commonwealth Running Company is a community-first running company that will take what local running stores do best and utilize technology to enhance that experience by offering everything a runner needs in a seamless and comprehensive way. Founded by a distance runner from Chicago, this grassroots running company will look to outfit and supply runners with gear that enhances their running experience, and in doing so, will look to grow the sport and expand a market.

The company is founded and owned by Matthew Abitbol. Matthew was born and raised in the Chicago area and first began running in 2008 shortly after losing 100 pounds. To date Matt has run 90 marathons across 39 states. Having started out as an inexperienced, unknowledgeable and overweight runner,

Matt always felt that the run specialty experience could be made to be more inclusive and less overwhelming to an average athlete or someone new to running. It has been his dream to bring that experience to life since 2010. Commonwealth Running Company is the embodiment of that dream.

It is a locally owned, independent, full-service running store located at 1631 Sherman Ave.

What do YOU enjoy about Evanston?

The City of Evanston and Transformative Research Solutions (TRS) are surveying all Evanston business owners to better understand the business climate, business owner relationships with local government, and the challenges and opportunities they face.

We are seeking feedback from home-based businesses, registered/unregistered businesses, and entrepreneurs preparing to officially start their businesses in Evanston. The findings will be used to inform local policy discussions and support efforts to create a thriving and inclusive business environment.

If you are an Evanston-based business, complete the survey