summertime

The annual Taste of Chicago food festival and the Air and Water Show had the plug pulled on them in 2020 because of the pandemic. Now there's a big problem on the horizon for these two summertime favorites.

School's out, the weather is warm, and it's the perfect time to pack up and hit the road for summer vacation. But, where should you go?

Usually, when you think of a summer road trip, you're probably thinking about taking that trip out of Illinois. You may be thinking Wisconsin Dells, Lake of the Ozarks, Indiana Dunes, or maybe even farther-flung locales. A new study suggests that you consider keeping your next road trip within the boundaries of the Land of Lincoln.

For those that didn't know already, here in Rockford, we're in to several things. We love golf, and golf playdays. We love running (I don't, but whenever we have a 5K, 10K, or "fun run" of any sort, there's a huge turnout), we love street festivals (Stroll on State, anyone?), we can't get enough bowling, and we totally dig farmer's markets.

If you're like me (and, I know I am), you love summertime grilling. You also love the work of The Slo-Mo Guys, and most of all, you hope to end all of your grilling adventures by not being on fire. Okay, you're saying, I'm with you on all counts, but what do the Slo-Mo Guys have to do with the other two things...

Times change. I get that. When I was a kid, summertime fun could be had by spraying each other with the garden hose. Crazy fun was running through the sprinkler. Kiddie pools were small plastic tubs that you filled with the aforementioned garden hose...