Memorial Day weather lures crowds to Montrose Beach

People play catch and let their dogs loose at the dog-friendly area of Montrose Beach on Monday. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, with the pandemic raging, a COVID-19 vaccine still months away and the lakefront officially closed, most people were staying home for the holiday.

Now, one can walk into many vaccination sites without an appointment, the number of new coronavirus cases in Illinois continues to decline and Chicago’s lakefront beaches are open again.

Temperatures hovered near 70 most of Monday afternoon, and crowds flocked to Montrose Beach in Uptown to take advantage — with some bringing their dogs along.

The sand and water aren’t the only lure at Montrose Beach on Monday. Some preferred hanging out on the grass for a Memorial Day picnic.

The water was still on the cold side, of course, but there was plenty else to do at Montrose Beach on Monday.