The winter was indeed a long one and so now that summer is here, it's most important to take advantage of all the terrific outdoor options available to Chicagoans and visitors to the city. It's true that the Pride Parade and Northalsted Market Days (August 9-10) dominate the northside calendar, there are many other interesting events of note that are sure to peak your interest this summer. The Big Ones -- The centre-piece festival in the city is of course The Taste of Chicago (June 27 - July 6). Held in Grant Park the Taste features more than 65 Chicago area restaurants, the fireworks spectacular (June 3) and musical acts such as Chaka Khan (June 27), Stevei Wonder (June 28), Plain White T's (June 29), Joss Stone (July 1), and Fantasia (July 2). Giant turkey legs are being served at the Helen's Restaurant booth while Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt has chicken & waffles on their menu. The other big events in the city during the summer include Venetian Night (July 26) along Lake Michigan between the Shedd Aquarium and the Chicago Yacht Club and the 50th Annual Air & Water Show at North Avenue Beach (August 16-17). The major music festival line-up at Grant Park features Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival (August 23-24) and the Jazz Festival (August 28-August 31). The Country Music Festival (October 11-12) will be held this yea in the Soldier Filed Parkland. And of course, you can't forget Lollapalooza 2008 (August 1-3), featuring Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, Kanye West and The Raconteurs. The Weeklies -- While the big summer events help define Chicago to the rest of the country and the world, it's the weekly and daily events that truly add to the quality of life of most Chicagoans. The Outdoor Film Festival takes place every Tuesday night (July 15-August 26) at Butler Field in Grant Park (at Lake Shore Drive and Monroe). Admission is free with the movies starting at sunset. This summer's schedule includes All About Eve (July 15), The Blues Brothers (July 29), and Grease (August 28). In the evenings every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 12 - August 24) the very exciting Chicago SummerDance takes place at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. This 11-week participatory dance festival features a one-hour dance lesson by professional instructors that is followed by two hours of live music and dancing on a open-air dance floor. The unique outdoor urban dance experience will feature the sounds of 43 different bands playing popular, traditional and folkloric music throughout the summer. Neighborhood (Festival) Watch -- While featuring vendors selling everything from high-end art to faux designer sunglasses, lots of food options, and live entertainment, it's the neighborhood festivals - more so than the big Grant Park extravaganza - that make Chicago a truly special city. If traipsing down to Grant Park for the Taste is not appealing, then maybe try on the Lake View Music Fest (July 5-6) for size at the intersection of Addison and Sheffield. With Wrigley Field as a backdrop, the music will be plentiful and loud as will the patrons. One of the newest neighborhood festivals in the city, Celebrate Clark Street (July 13) occurs in Rogers Park between Morse and Estes with a variety of musical performances and a unique array of vendors and artisans. The upscale 50th Annual Dearborn Garden Walk (July 20) takes place at the intersection of Dearborn & Goethe Streets. You need a ticket for this event ($30 advance at www.dearborngardenwalk.com / $35 at gate) in order to check out the 20 distinctive rear gardens, go on a narrated architectural walking tour, and to listen to live jazz and classical performances in select gardens. The World's Largest Block Party (July 18-19) is a self-explanatory fundraising gathering at Old St. Pat's Church in the West Loop at the intersection of Adams & Des Plaines. As cruisy for straights as Market Days is for gays, the Block Party claims to have matched more than 70 subsequently married couples over the years. A week later, one of larger neighborhood fests, Taste of Lincoln Avenue (July 26-27), celebrates its 25th anniversary between Fullerton & Wrightwood. Retro On Roscoe (August 2-3) between Damen & Western is highlighted once again by The Windy City Chili Cook_Off and an Antique Car Show with over 50 classic and muscle cars. Bash on Wabash (August 30-31) on the near southside between 13th & 15th Streets will be a showcase of the neighborhood's diversity, big-name musical acts, and food from the many outstanding local restaurants. Later in the month the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts (September 13-14) takes over Broadway from Belmont to Roscoe with 130 juried artists and an expected attendance of 40,000. Other big time neighborhood festivals are the Sheffield Garden Walk & Festival (July 19-20) in Lincoln Park at Webster & Sheffield; Wicker Park Fest (July 26-27) on North Damen between North Avenue and Schiller; Fiesta del Sol (July 31-August 3) in Pilsen between 1000 and 1400 W. Cermak Road; Bucktown Arts Fest (August 23-24) on Oakley Ave. at Lyndale; and Whole Foods Flavorfest (August 23-24) at Jonquil Park in Lincoln Park. As one might expect, the food at this fest will feature delicious, all-natural foods and products. The World In Your Backyard - One of the best things about summer in Chicago is the opportunity to take a trip around the world without ever stepping foot inside O'hare or Midway airports. Each weekend there is some sort of ethnic-themed celebration, concluding with German music, beers and brats at St. Alphonsus´ Annual Oktoberfest (September 26-28) at the intersection of N. Lincoln Ave. and Southport. But before then, the world tour of Chicago can include two consecutive weekends on the southside in Washington Park for GhanaFest (July 26) and Belize Day in the Park (August 3). The rest of August has the Taylor Street Festa Italiana (August 8-10) in the University Village neighborhood between Ashland and Loomis; Korean Festival (August 9-10) at 3200 W. Bryn Mawr between Kedzie & Kimball; the Ukrainian Festival (August 23-24) in Smith Park at 2500 W. Grand Ave.; Taste of Greece (August 23-24) in Greektown between the 100 and 400 block of S. Halsted Street; and Taste of Polonia (that's Poland in case you were wondering) (August 29 - September 1) on the northwest side of the city at 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. Definitely not a friendly environment for those of carb-free diets. There are dozens of other options to experience in Chicago throughout this summer. Check out the mayor's Office of Special Events website at http://egov.cityofchicago.org/ for more details and info about the summer schedule.