Last night was a great night that pretty much felt like an official end to a long and awesome summer—my beach volleyball team won our bracket of the Chicago Sport & Social Club’s rec league! We played against two teams, for two and a half hours, on wet sand due to passing pre-game rain showers, and well into the darkness to win the title (and a long-sleeve, commemorative championship T-shirt). Congrats, Purple Cobras!

To celebrate, the team went to Melvin B’s. It seemed fitting: As we marked an end to our summer league, the famous truck stop-themed bar and grill was supposed to be making its final call on Sunday to make way for a boutique hotel. Imagine our surprise when staffers told us they got a stay—Melvin B’s will now be open until October 1! Let’s raise a glass to a warm and dry September.

So keep summer going with Melvin B's frozen (and strong) strawberry daiquiris, rum runners and vodka lemonades while you can. Fill up on a juicy cheeseburger with fresh-cut potato chips. Order a round of brews with your pals. This patio scene has been a Gold Coast staple since the ’60s, and despite the bugs crawling up the trees and fences on muggy nights, or the dingy interior, this place has a special Chicago charm that draws a crowd. Thanks for the memories, Melvin.

Wow, this has not been a good time to be in the restaurant business. We've got even more closings to report. Sugar & Brown's, the River North gourmet grocery and quick serve, is done. Ranalli and Ryan's has also served its last pie (but you can still get delivery from this Ranalli's).

Don't despair--for every closed restaurant, new ones have sprung up, including a new sushi joint.

Yesterday, we told you Yak-Zies Bar & Grill, one of Lakeview’s venerable late night spots, called its last "last call" on Sunday, but we’ve also heard about recent under-the-radar closings for a trio of recent debuts.

Cosmospolitan, the cute little Humboldt Park pan-Mediterranean eatery, which opened earlier this summer, served its last supper over the weekend; co-owner Dimitra Bourounis, understandably, is being tight-lipped with details.

Dudley Nieto, the acclaimed chef who is almost as well known for his stove hopping as he is for his food, is pulling yet another disappearing act. Nieto, who clocked kitchen time at multiple Mexican spots (Adobo Grill, Zapatista, San Gabriel Mexican Café and more) before opening Xel-Ha in River North last winter, closed the restaurant on Monday citing lease issues. Nieto says he’s planning another restaurant in the Chicago area; check back for future updates.

Bucktown's Barcello's closed Friday, August 3. Look for another concept from chef-owner David Richards to debut mid-September in the same address. He won't give up much right now, but tells us "it won't be called Barcello's, it won't be Italian, and it won't be yellow inside." Check back for additional details.