If you have a brood of red-blooded American youngsters, your summer is probably defined by daily visits to the local ice-cream vendor. Luckily, now you can banish that motherly guilt about loading your babes up with artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, thanks to the recently opened Red Mango frozen yogurt shops in Evanston and Naperville.

Want a little summer lovin’ – Travolta-style, that is? Show up in Grant Park tonight from 8:03 P.M. to 10:15 P.M. and fulfill your wishes with the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival’s presentation of Grease.

Are there some nights when you feel like even throwing Chef Boyardee in the microwave is too much work? Maybe it’s time for you and the kids to check out Cooking in the Cabin at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum. This class, which runs $24 per person for non-residents and $19 per person for residents, gives participants a taste of how and what early pioneers cooked.

Take advantage of Mother Nature’s mercy while you can and go for a bike ride along the Chicago lakefront. With 20 miles of path that are at your disposal until September 30, you’re certain to burn those pre-fall/winter calories and simultaneously take in the majestic waves of Lake Michigan alongside a variety of Chi-Town nabes.

Perhaps gas prices kept you and the fam away from that perfect little camping spot just across the state line, but that’s no excuse to retire your tents. Instead, simply make use of a closer venue and organize a campout in your own backyard.

What’s a Saturday without riding a sled down 2,050 feet of track to the banks of the Mississippi River? You won’t know what you’ve been missing until you jump on a lift and take advantage of the Alpine Slide at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena.

Chicago is nothing if not all about all that jazz, and August 28 through August 31 is the Windy City’s way of giving all its local hepcats something to celebrate. The 30th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival will take place in both Millennium Park and Grant Park and will feature talent ranging from the Chicago Bass Masters to the Sean Jones Quintet.