A look at 10 can't-miss local summer events

Yes, winter was long and brutal, but now it's time to think about all the gloriously hot and sunny fun that lies ahead this summer.

And suburbanites will have plenty of options. Is live music your thing? Top-shelf acts will perform throughout the suburbs and city this summer. Looking for theater, food or sports? It's all happening right here.

To get your planning started, here's our list of 10 noteworthy events to mark on your calendar for the summer months.

Ponder this

Start your summer off right by seeing acclaimed Chicago band Poi Dog Pondering play a free concert in South Barrington at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 23.

The show is part of the Arboretum of South Barrington's Memorial Weekend Block Party, a two-day event that will include a sidewalk/tent sale and plenty of family activities.

The Arboretum, an open-air shopping center at the corner of Routes 59 and 72, has other special events planned for the summer. For information, call (847) 426-6200, or visit shopthearboretumsb.com.

Pirates!

Anyone who's spent a hot summer day at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee knows that after a few hours nothing feels better than a good soaking. With that in mind, the park is debuting a new water ride this year: Buccaneer Battle, located in the County Fair section next to the Farmer's Market. The ride won't deliver the thrills of a roller coaster, but it will get you wet. Very wet. Up to eight people travel in a boat around a pond, using a cannon to shoot water at other riders and those watching on shore. All those other people, meanwhile, are shooting water right back. Oh, and there's also a bucket that dumps 350 gallons of water on the riders.

Buccaneer Battle is just one of many attractions at the theme park, of course. For tickets and information, call (847) 249-4636, or go to sixflags.com/GreatAmerica.

Basebrawl

To most red-blooded Americans, summer means baseball. And baseball doesn't get much better than the annual Crosstown Classic pitting the White Sox against Cubs.

As always, the potential for drama is huge. Neither team has gotten off to a great start, which means the series could be an important momentum-grabber for one of the clubs. Will the Cubs' Milton Bradley and Derrek Lee catch fire? Will the Sox be able to win a game in Wrigley, where they got swept last year? Will A.J. Pierzynski get into a fight with anyone?

The first three-game set happens June 16-18 at Wrigley Field, and the second happens June 26-28 at U.S. Cellular Field. Tickets, of course, will be difficult to get at this point (especially for the Wrigley series). For online ticket info, go to chicagocubs.com or whitesox.com. You can also call the White Sox ticket office at (312) 674-1000 or the Cubs ticket office at (773) 404-2827. But if you get shut out, why not invite some friends over for a game-day barbecue at home?

Laugh it up

Comedy offers a great way to take the edge off this recession, at least for a while. And the Chicago area will be a very funny place from June 17-21, when a sparkling roster of comedy talent performs more than 70 shows as part of "TBS Presents A Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs."

Martin Short, Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon are among those who will perform at venues throughout the city, but suburbanites won't be left out. Comedian and television star George Lopez will perform four shows (June 18-21) at the Rosemont Theatre. For festival information, visit justforlaughschicago.com. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and by calling (800) 745-3000.

Sing the blues

For 13 years, Aurora has celebrated its history as a blues hot spot in the 1930s with its Blues on the Fox music festival. This year's event boasts a strong lineup of acts, but I'd suggest setting aside time for two in particular. Sugar Blue is a Grammy-winning artist who brings a startling level of virtuosity to the harmonica. Also playing at the festival is one of the best bands around - Los Lobos, which blends rock, blues and Mexican musical styles with literate, soulful lyrics.

The festival runs June 19 and 20 in downtown Aurora. (Sugar Blue will play at 5:30 p.m. June 20, and Los Lobos will play at 8:30 p.m.) For a full schedule, go to downtownaliveaurora.com, or call (630) 844-4731.

Look! Up in the sky!

The annual Eyes to the Skies event in Lisle adds an element of beauty to your Fourth of July with the daily launch of colorful hot-air balloons into the sky. The event has drawn crowds of more than 100,000 in the past, along with national media coverage.

This year, the fest runs July 2-4 in Lisle Community Park. (A carnival will run on site July 1-5.) Fireworks displays will occur each night of the fest, along with live music, food, a children's area and more. For information, go to eyestotheskies.org, or call (630) 541-6095.

Good eats

Summer and barbecue go hand in hand, and the can't-miss place to go for it is Naperville's Ribfest. Vendors from all over will be slow-cooking meat to tangy perfection during the event, which also features a children's activities area, a baseball camp run by the Chicago White Sox, fireworks and live music from such classic rock stalwarts as Heart and Todd Rundgren.

Ribfest runs July 2-5 at Knoch Park. Go to ribfest.net for information, or call the Naperville Exchange Club at (630) 357-0384.

A little 'Light'

If you'd like to be transported to another time and place this summer, then the lush, Tony Award-winning musical "The Light in the Piazza" might be for you. Joe Leonardo directs and choreographs the musical about a childlike young woman (Summer Smart, last year's Jeff Award winner for her performance in Drury Lane Oakbrook's "Sweet Charity") who falls in love with a handsome Florentine man (Max Quinlan) while on an Italian holiday with her mother (fellow Jeff winner Mary Ernster). The musical arrives at the Lincolnshire Marriott for a two-month stay, starting July 22. For tickets and information, go to marriotttheatre.com or call (847) 634-0200.

Rocking in the park

No rock fan can ignore Lollapalooza, the Grand Poobah of all Chicago-area outdoor festivals. This year's event takes place Aug. 7-9 in Chicago's Grant Park, and the lineup boasts a mix of superstar acts and buzz-worthy up-and-comers.

The headliners include the Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, the Killers and Jane's Addiction. The great Lou Reed will perform, along with such indie bands as TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes and the Kaiser Chiefs. That just scratches the surface of this year's lineup, which represents just about every style and taste in contemporary rock music.

For tickets and general information, go to lollapalooza.com. For tickets by phone, call (888) 512-7469.

Capes and cowls

Feel free to let your geek flag fly at the Chicago Comic-Con (previously known as Wizard World), which takes place Aug. 6-9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The show is a celebration of all things pop culture: comic books, of course, but also television, movies, video games and toys. Plenty of pros will be on hand to sign autographs, and hundreds of dealers from all over the country will be selling comics old and new. Plus, wait'll you see all the costumes! Go to wizarduniverse.com for info.