Summer ended, some say, with Labor Day. Now it’s time for school and work, time to box up the Slip ‘n Slides and head indoors.
But hold on — the weather’s fine. It’s that glorious tweenish season when summer’s final flicker has yet to be snuffed by the telltale signs of fall.
And what a weekend it is.
At Soldier Field Sunday, the U.S. takes on mighty Brazil in an exhibition soccer match. On Saturday, it was the site of the 10th anniversary Chicago Football Classic between Mississippi Valley State and Southern University.
Lyric Opera stars open their season Saturday night, belting out gratis serenades in Millennium Park.
There’s BMW Championship golf at Cog Hill. Illinois native Danica Patrick will push for her first win at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.
Music lovers have the Hideout Block Party on the North Side, beer lovers have German-American Fest in Lincoln Square and die-hards can watch the White Sox play Minnesota on the South Side.
But the outdoors has competition.
There’s the warm glow of the plasma screen, the welcome embrace of a couch waiting to be potatoed and six straight hours of pixelated pleasure — the Cubs in a pennant race, followed by the Sunday return of the Super Bowl Bears. There are art galleries opening — more than 70 across the city.
Nineteenth Century poet Celia Thaxter wrote: “There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.” Straddling the seasons, whether you’re grateful to be inside or out, it seems summer reigns.
