It's a postcard, 80-degree Chicago afternoon as I park my Divvy bike and cross the street to line up at Miko's Italian Ice in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood.

Line chatter considers the more exciting of the dozen-plus flavors on offer: "Ooh, they have hibiscus!" But today I'm craving the tart-sweet classic: lemon ice. The first fluffy spoonful exudes the bracing essence of a lemon as it melts on my tongue. Summer is here.