With summer a couple weeks away, keep these summer events in Chicago on your radar:

Taste of Chicago 2013 - July 10 - 14: Considered the biggest event of the year in Chicago, the Taste of Chicago is also said to be the world's largest outdoor food festival with hundreds of local food vendors and nearly 3 million visitors. Live entertainment and music are also part of the fun.

Chicago Air & Water Show 2013 - August 16 - 18: The oldest and largest show of its kind in the country, Chicago's Air & Water Show attracts millions of spectators each year and features several high-flying acts, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Bill Stein Airshows Zivko Edge 540. The Air & Water show also features water-based performers including the Chicago Fire Department Air and Sea Rescue Team.

Green City Market 2013 - Outdoor Through October 26: After visiting European sustainable farmer's markets in 1998, Abby Mandel, chef, author, and entrepreneur, returned to Chicago determined to create a similar market in her own city. Green City Market was her brainchild and began as a small start-up with nine local farmers in the crosswalk next to the Chicago Theatre. The market quickly outgrew the location and moved to the south end of Lincoln Park where it currently operates May - October.

Also read: Taking Public Transportation in Chicago and Chicago's Best Beaches

Now through July 16, you can purchase your Chicago City Vehicle Sticker:

• online
• in person at City Clerk Office and at 400 community vendors (use this city sticker purchase locator)
• or by mail -- you must use your renewal form to purchase via mail and allow up to 30 days to receive your sticker. Remember: After July 16, police will ticket you for not displaying a current city sticker on your vehicle.

You may also have heard about changes coming to sticker sales. The most important change for you to know this year is that you must provide your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN can be found on your renewal form. If you don't have your renewal form, you will need to provide one of the following documents with your VIN on the document to purchase your sticker: State Vehicle Registration Card, Insurance Card or Vehicle Title.

Friendly reminder: Register your dog with the City of Chicago. If your dog gets lost, the finder can call the City Clerk's Office and they'll be able to reunite you with your dog.Registration is valid for one or thre4e years depending on your dog's rabies vaccination. It is $5 for a spayed/neutered dog or $50 for a dog that isn't spayed/neutered. Discounts are available for dogs registered to owners 65 years and older. Register your dog online. There are no additional fees to register your dog online and the city will mail your dog tag in just a few days.

Also read: June 2013 Events in Chicago l Chicago's Green City Market l Chicago's Best Beaches

Today marks the beginning of Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, which kicks off summer in the Windy City.

Be sure and check out Chicago's annual Memorial Day parade, considered one of the largest parades of its kind in the U.S.

Chicago's beaches also open this weekend, and the Chicago Botanic Garden will be open and has a stunning display of spring blooms.

And get a jumpstart on your plan for the 2013 Taste of Chicago with our Guide to the Taste, including entertainment lineups, food vendor information, ticket prices and more.

Did you know that today is "Don't Fry Day" - a national initiative to prevent skin cancer. Check out this article I wrote for Pain Resource magazine about sun safety tips, including the scoop on one of my favorite spa treatments to heal sun-drenched skin.

Today we'd like to give a shout-out to Chicago's Dusty Showers who gives tirelessly to help end breast cancer, and this week added a new niche to his philanthropic agenda: saving shelter dogs.

Dusty is driving from Florida to New York City to help save Spot, a dog given up by his owner when the owner had to move to Tampa, Florida for brain tumor treatment.

Spot is on death row in New York City's notoriously gruesome Manhattan Center, a high-kill shelter with horrific conditions. (Also meet Suka, who like Spot, is on death row in Manhattan Center.)

Learn about Dusty's journey to help save Spot from dying, and how you can help.

Dusty came into national prominence after he wore a pink bra to a breast cancer event. The bra, which Dusty felt ridiculous wearing, actually had a positive impact, bringing smiles to several women attending the event and dealing with their own cancer struggles. From that day, Dusty has dedicated his free time to educating women on breast cancer prevention.

Learn more about Dusty's breast cancer advocacy, The Second Baseman.

Also read: Taste of Chicago 2013 l Volunteering in Chicago l Volunteer Vacation Ideas