Spend Your Fourth of July Weekend Outside

The weather is set to be sunny all weekend, so celebrate your Fourth of July Weekend outside with food and drink specials happening all over the city. Even though Independence Day this year lands on a Tuesday, restaurants and bars across Chicago are offering deals all weekend long. Bring along your pup, friends, and even kids to enjoy what Chicago is serving up this weekend. 

Joy District

Celebrate your Independence Day rooftop style at Joy District. They are opening at 3 p.m. to serve up $5 hot dogs from a hot dog cart, $6 Red, White & Booze jello shots, and $14 Frozen Firecracker cocktails made with Cruzan Rum. Joy District's special Mega Mule will be dressed up for the holiday and is available as a 94-ounce “Merica Mule” for $70. Don't miss out on this rooftop party happening on Sunday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 4.

River North - 112 W. Hubbard St 

---

MAK: Modern Asian Kitchen

Kick off Fourth of July weekend at MAK, the Wicker Park spot for modern Chinese. They are putting on a Happy Hour on Saturday, July 1. If the weather is nice you can enjoy the following specials on MAK's dog-friendly patio:

• Half-price Wine & Sake
• 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Wine and sake selections include Gekkeikan Cap Ace Dry Sake, Zipang Sparkling Sake, Bandit Pinot Grigio, and Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon

Wicker Park - 1924 W. Division

Castaways

Enjoy a weekend-long beach party for the Fourth of July at Castaways. This North Avenue Beach hotspot, is featuring live entertainment by DJ Jem from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, Sunday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 4. Join in on the fun on Monday, July 3, for happy hour specials from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. that include $6 Smirnoff or Absolut Lime Vodka you-call-its (not including Red Bull).

Castaway's special Independence drink is the "Stars & Stripes" frozen cocktail. It's a festive red, white and blue cocktail that features Castaway's signature Miami Vice (a frozen mix of pina colada and strawberry daiquiri) topped with blue curacao ($10). They will have have lunch and dinner, with menu items like fresh salads, wraps, sandwiches, and quesadillas, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. so you can continue your party all day. 

North Avenue Beach - 1603 N. Lake Shore Drive

---

Commonwealth Tavern

Commonwealth Tavern is opening at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday of Fourth of July weekend for a family-friendly brunch available until 2 p.m. They also have a new Kids Menu ($5-$6) so your little ones can celebrate with you. Don't forget to bring your dog along for the celebration as well because Commonwealth has a dog-friendly patio, weather permitting.

Commonwealth's Fourth of July brunch items include:

• Breakfast Burger (70% brisket, 30% bacon patty, tavern sauce, bread + butter pickles, fried egg on a brioche bun; $14), 
• Buffalo or BBQ Wings ($10)
• Pigmuffin (maple pig head, farm egg, American cheese, English muffin, fries; $12). 
• $3 Build-Your-Own Mimosa Bar
• $6 Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar

Roscoe Village - 2000 W. Roscoe Street

---

Roanoke

If you're heading downtown this Fourth of July weekend, stop by Roanoke in the Loop and fuel up with their brunch. For the holiday weekend, brunch will be available Saturday, July 1, Sunday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy Roanoke's breakfast or brunch al fresco on their new sidewalk patio on bustling Madison Street.

Brunch highlights include: 

• Brown Butter French Toast ($11)
• Braised Oxtail Taquitos Huevos ($12.50)
• Porchetta Eggs Benedict ($14)
• Ribeye Hash Skillet ($12)

The Loop - 135 W. Madison Street

Easy Bar

Easy Bar is opening a little later on the Fourth of July, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Keep the Independence Day party going all night with $2 and $3 select beers on Easy Bar's intimate, dog-friendly sidewalk patio.

Wicker Park - 1944 W. Division Street

---

Kanela Breakfast Club

If you're staying in town this Fourth of July weekend, Kanela Breakfast Club has al fresco, dog-friendly dining at all of their locations which include Andersonville, Lakeview, Old Town, Streeterville, Wicker Park, and the newest location in Ukrainian Village. Try out their new summer cocktails all weekend long that include:

• Cinnamon Toast Brunch (vodka, Kahlua, Rumchata; $9)
• Ginger Paloma (tequila, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, ginger syrup; $9)
• The Tony Danza (Bison Grass Vodka, lemonade, iced tea, Peychaud's bitters, strawberry; $9)

Andersonville - 5413 N. Clark St.

Lakeview - 3231 N. Clark St.

Old Town -1552 N. Wells St.

Streeterville - 502 E. Illinois

Ukrainian Village - 2127 W. Division St.

Wicker Park - 1048 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Miller Lite Beer Garden

The Miller Lite Beer Garden, on Chicago's lakefront at the East End of Navy Pier, is hosting live entertainment from local bands over this upcoming Fourth of July weekend. The beer garden offers live music paired with a menu of beers, cocktails, frozen drinks, beer-soaked brats, burgers, hand-tossed pizza and more. Bonus: enjoy the fireworks at Navy Pier on Saturday, July 1 at 10:15 p.m. and Tuesday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m. 

You can also visit on Friday, June 30 and Monday, July 3 to enjoy happy hour specials from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Featured specials include $3 Miller Lite drafts, $4 Blue Moon Belgian White drafts, $6 Smirnoff Vodka Lemonade, $7 Bacardi Mai Tai, $6 Loaded French Fries, $4 Cheese Pizza and a $7 Popcorn Shrimp Basket.

Friday, June 30

5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Dirk Quinn Band

9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.: Trippin' Billies

Saturday, July 1

2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Hyperplane

5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Beggars Banquet

9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.: Tinsley Ellis 

Sunday, June 2

2 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Old Town

Tuesday, July 4

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Andrew Leahey and the Homestead

4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The PriSSillas 

8 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Wedding Banned

Navy Pier - 700 E. Grand 

---

Chango Loco

Another Navy Pier spot, Chango Loco, has a patio with views of Navy Pier, Lake Michigan and the city skyline. This is a perfect spot for the summer holiday as Chango Loco has refreshing cocktails such as:

• The Wheel (Grey Goose spiked iced tea topped with a Malibu Rum floater and lemon wedge; $14)
• Absolut Lake Breeze (vodka, grapefruit, cranberry, splash of Sierra Mist with lime wedge; $11)
• Frozen Absolut Vodka Lime-Ade (made with Absolut Lime vodka; $11)
• The Garcia (Grey Goose, iced tea, lemonade; $14)
• Sauza Giro Margarita (available on the rocks or frozen; frozen flavors include traditional, mango, strawberry, and peach; 16-ounce: $11 or 64-ounce pitcher: $40).

Chango Loco also serves up Mexican favorites like nachos, tacos and carne asada.

Navy Pier - 600 E. Grand

Tavern on Little Fort

Tavern on Little Fort is opening at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday this Fourth of July weekend for a family-friendly brunch. Until 2 p.m. you and your guests can enjoy brunch on their spacious flower-lined, dog-friendly outdoor patio or in the hidden beer garden that outfitted with picnic tables that feature built-in beer and wine coolers. They will also feature a $3 Build-Your-Own Mimosa Bar and $5 Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar. 

North Center - 4128 North Lincoln Avenue

---