Dog Days of Summer Fashion Show at Rockit Burger Bar

Dogs aren’t good models.  Or perhaps I’m not a good doggie photographer … er, photographer of dogs.  Either way, most of the photos in the attached photo gallery are blurry.

The images may not be crystal clear, but the sentiment is: dogs are darn cute, and dogs in clothes are damn cute.

On June 20 I was invited to Rockit Burger Bar in Wrigleyville to view its Dog Days of Summer Fashion Show.  Yes, it was a dog fashion show.  Yes, there was a catwalk.  Dogwalk?  

Yes, it was silly.  But it was also fun.  Rockit Burger Bar has a dog-friendly patio (read, like many other Chicago establishments, they’ve taken over most of the sidewalk) within sight of Wrigley Field.  Cubs fans and their four-legged friends are welcome all summer long, on game days and otherwise.  

The Dog Days of Summer Fashion show was a charity event for PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, a no-kill animal shelter.  Sponsors, other than Rockit Burger Bar, were Pet Stuff, a local chain of pet store that delivers – a service this car-free pet parent has used often – and Paw Naturals, a Chicago-based premium dog and cat food supplier.

I was not able to bring Isis, my adorable Doberman (that’s her smiling in the grass), because of silly CTA regulations regarding dogs on trains, but I nonetheless received many doggie kisses in the lead-up to the fashion show.  It was during the lead-up that I took most of the photos in the gallery.  It was also during the lead-up that dog- and fashion-themed music was playing: “Dog Days of Summer,” of course, and “Bad to the Bone,” and “Vogue," to name just a few.

The fashion show itself was short and sweet, as fashion shows tend to be.  Instead of fiercely tall and thin models stomping down a long catwalk, the dogs were kindly requested to please stay on the red-carpeted platform for at least 30 seconds, a feat that proved nearly impossible for most the doggie divas participating.

All of the fashions – which included tutus, ear bows, bow ties, sunglasses, and vests – were provided by Tails in the City, a local luxury dog boutique.  Sure they're silly, but they're also adorable, and who wouldn't want her dog to look even more adorable than she already does?

The next time you and your pooch are in Wrigleyville be sure to avail yourselves of the patio at Rockit Burger Bar which, along with drinks, serves burgers, sandwiches, bar snacks, and pizzas.  And if you’re there on a weekend there’s brunch as well as a bloody mary bar.

Doggies welcome, of course.