Say hello to June, Chicago.
There’s something about this month that always feels so full of promise. A slow spring bursts into full Technicolor effect, cautious flower buds finally open up to the June sun’s beckoning warmth, and schools are positively vibrating with students eager for the end of another year.
If you were among the Chicagoans drinking in that first taste of summer this Memorial Day weekend (perhaps in the form of these bartender-approved batch cocktail recipes), maybe you’ve caught that June bug too. My calendar is quickly filling up with the help of our entertainment team’s comprehensive list of their most-anticipated summer events across the spectrum of theater, jazz, pop, television, movies and more.
Even the snacks these days seem spiked with excitement — or perhaps that’s just a Carolina Reaper chip spotted at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo. Either way, I can’t wait to dig in.
See you next week.
— Ariel Cheung, food and travel editor
Review: 3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice is a one-dish wonder in Chinatown
“For a dish that’s basically just poached chicken on white rice, few dishes on earth inspire such fanatical devotion as Hainanese chicken rice,” Nick Kindelsperger writes in his latest review. And finally, he says, there’s a new restaurant in Chinatown worthy
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of the dish’s fans.Illinois’ only tahini maker, Albaik Tahini, wants to help you make better hummus
Column: Hollywood won’t save us from school shootings. Neither will cop shows.
In a city rife with cop shows, Tribune critic Nina Metz takes a moment to reflect on how the fantasy they churn out affects our perceptions of real-life law enforcement in the wake of yet another horrific school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas.
She asks what responsibility Hollywood can have in convincing elected officials to take action — even as it shapes our ideas about the world around us.
Subscriber exclusive: 5 batch cocktail recipes from top Chicago drink slingers for every summer gathering
Our pandemic penchant for outdoor gatherings brought one particular type of boozy beverage to the forefront: the batch cocktail.
So ahead of a summer we hope will be filled with picnics, beach hangs and campfire musings, we asked some of Chicago’s top bartenders and bar directors to whip up some easy cocktail recipes you can scale up for a crowd — and freeze for a long trip if needed.
Tears for Fears was one of those bands that, for an era or so, helped define popular music, were part of the sound of a moment — that era of course being the ’80s.
And now, the band returns with a new album and a tour that will swing by Tinley Park this month. Catch up with core members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith in their interview with the Tribune’s Doug George ahead of the show.
Review: ‘Lookingglass Alice’ at Lookingglass Theatre is a fun and timely trip down the rabbit hole
“When the world gets curiouser and curiouser, as it surely does, we all turn into some version of Alice,” writes Tribune theater critic Chris Jones, who found the 16-year hit play a welcome return to a favorite tradition. Check out his full review here.
Movie review: ‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’ a hilarious, heartfelt outing with Belcher family
Even if you’re not a fan of the endlessly witty hit TV show, there’s lots to love about the silver screen treatment of the irreverent, whip-smart Belcher family. Our review calls it one of the funniest, smartest and most unique summer movies of the year — and here’s why.
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“Look, this summer, read whatever you want,” declares Tribune writer Chris Borrelli. But if you are on the hunt for summer laughs, a blockbuster hit, Chicago-focused deep dives or a suspenseful read, he’s got a list of 44 picks perfect for now through Labor Day.
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Subscriber exclusive: Carrot Bacon, Carolina Reaper chips among hottest new bites at Chicago’s Sweets & Snacks Expo
Back for the first time in two years, the Sweets & Snacks Expo provides a glimpse into the hottest trends of snackage.
This year, Tribune food critic Louisa Chu found herself intrigued by the intense flavors on offer, from a roulette game featuring fiercely spicy gummy bears to plant-based bacon to Hattie B’s hot chicken skin chips.
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Artist Nick Cave made his first Soundsuit in 1992, in response to the acquittal of Los Angeles police officers who beat Rodney King, sparking days of unrest.
In the 30 years that followed, his work reflected flash points in our collective history, from Chicago gun violence to the death of Trayvon Martin, to happier moments such as family Easter celebrations. Cave walks us through the stories behind some of his designs ahead of his Museum of Contemporary Art retrospective, open now through Oct. 2.
Judy Garland was born 100 years ago this week. Chicago has 9 reasons why that’s very good news.
There’s simply no one like Judy Garland, writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. That’s what makes the upcoming celebration of her work at the Gene Siskel Film Center — marking what would be her 100th birthday — so enthralling.
Get the full lineup — and more on what made the famed actor truly stand out — in his full write-up.