photocredit: tourismandfood.com
BY: RACHEL SMITH
Olaf from Frozen said it best and, honestly, I can hardly even say those words without singing them. Summer can mean a variety of things to different people. For some, it’s just the same old grind of going to work every day. Punching the clock and dreaming of the weekend.
For our fabulous teaching staff in Clear Lake, it’s a time to recharge and refresh after a long school year.
For kids, summer means pool time, beach time, lazy days of sleeping late and nights at the ball field.
And if you’re a Clear Laker, summer means BUSY!!
It seems we’ve jumped directly into summer this week with both feet. Or maybe it was our whole body. Not kidding, it’s gone from zero to sixty in a snap around here. The team of race directors are diligently finishing up the final preparations for the 3rd annual TRI Clear Lake, one of the best sprint triathlons in the Midwest. Athletes travel from all over to swim, bike and run our beautiful course. And then, in true Clear Lake fashion, they can kick back, relax, and celebrate lakeside at the most fabulous finish line party around.
If you’ve never been downtown during this event, I highly recommend it. Or even better, sign up to be one of our volunteers! It’s only a few hours in the morning, and then you, too, can enjoy the finish line party and after hours at the new craft beer bar, Tap’d.
But before we even get to the weekend, did y’all know that THIS Thursday is the first Thursdays on Main of the summer?!
**pumps fist wildly**
There’s not much better in life than strolling through downtown Clear Lake, the sounds of the Rock ‘n Roll Revue floating into your eardrums. I love it. Mostly because it’s just the epitome of ‘summer’ to me; out with friends, grabbing a cold beer from Rookies or the VFW, stopping at one of the awesome food trucks for a bit to eat. Warm air, cool lake breezes.
Pure Heaven!
But that’s not all, folks. You think Thursdays on Main and TRI Clear Lake are the only things going on around town this week?
Awwe, that’s cute… you must be new here!
Don’t get too comfortable in that lounge chair on the patio, my friend. Wednesday night, the Lady of the Lake is firing up their Dockside Night for the year. Great music, spectacular view of the sunset, and cash bar. Or, if you’re more of an “open road” type of person instead of a boat type of person – it’s Bike Night at The Other Place. Running from 5:30-9pm (weather permitting) all summer, it’s a great place to meet up for food, drinks, and great fun!
One thing you can count on for sure in Clear Lake, is live music. As our weather is finally starting to turn from the cold, rainy mess of spring to the warm sunshine of summer, it’s a great way to really embrace the beauty of our town.
On the docket for live music this weekend we’ve got:
Thursday – Spenser Rahm at Sunset Sharky’s – 5:30pm
Friday & Saturday – Johnny Holm Band at PM Park – 7pm
Friday – Harry O at Sunset Sharky’s – 8pm
Friday & Saturday – Surf’s Up Party in the Surf Parking Lot – 80s cover band
Whoa! That’s a lot of live music packed into one pretty amazing weekend!
While music fills the air in the evenings, daytime in Clear Lake is for other various activities. Central Gardens has Fresh on Fridays, Farmer’s Market is Saturday morning in the Surf Ballroom Parking lot, and you can do Yoga by the Lake bright and early Saturday morning at the seawall.
One thing is for sure, Clear Lake knows how to do summer. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. This is the time for you to get out and LIVE. Experience everything this amazing place has to offer in the summer months. It’s what pulls us through those long, cold, miserable days of winter. Fill your tank with summer fun and lots of sun.
Clear Lake – our slice of Heaven in Iowa.