It’s Thursday, Chicago.
It’s also officially fall starting today — perhaps you’d like to bask in the crisp weather at an apple orchard within driving distance of Chicago.
But it’s not just fall; there’s plenty to celebrate in the next few days. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are coming up, and we have a few roundups on kosher wines to try and Chicago restaurants that are doing holiday meal kits and dine-in specials. Oktoberfest festivities are also fully underway — along with events and specials around the city, our beer writer Josh Noel will be sharing his favorite Oktoberfest beers from Chicago breweries before the week’s end.
For your next cozy night in, enjoy what’s new on screens — but first, you might want to consult our critics’ reviews of “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Abbott Elementary.” Or if you’re looking to get more active before the winter slump, we’ve rounded up more than a dozen local running groups ahead of the Chicago Marathon next month.
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See you next week.
— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor
Apple picking near Chicago: 20 orchards within 100 miles of the city to visit in 2022
Now is the perfect time to spend a weekend apple picking at an orchard. Click through the map below to see 20 orchards within a 100-mile radius of Chicago, then check out our list of top picks. Want more intel on which orchards really impress the kids? The Tribune’s Kori Rumore and her 7-year-old son have the details on five spots filled with fun.
My son and I went apple picking at 5 new-to-us places near Chicago. Here are our thoughts and tips.
“Everything not right with ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ wasn’t right from the beginning,” writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. Even Harry Styles — and a massive dose of off-screen intrigue — couldn’t save it. Read his review here.
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These aren’t your bubbe’s kosher wines: 8 bottles perfect for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
With Rosh Hashana kicking off the Jewish High Holidays this weekend, we’ve got a list of eight kosher wines perfect for marking the occasion. Read up on everything you need to know about kosher and mevushal wines, and consider picking up a bottle to pair with some restaurant meal kits, challah and more food options leading up to Yom Kippur.
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30 Chicago Oktoberfest events and specials, from a 2-pound pretzel to stein-holding contests
‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 2 review: Welcome back, Brunson. Your dreams were your ticket in.
Class is back in session in our favorite fictional school, with the second season of “Abbott Elementary” premiering Wednesday after Emmy wins for stars Sheryl Lee Ralph and Quinta Brunson.
“I didn’t realize how much I had been holding my breath for its return on ABC (and Hulu),” writes Tribune critic Nina Metz. “I laughed all the laughs and choked back all the feel-good tears.” Read her full review here.
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Review: With The Omakase Room at Sushi-San, Lettuce Entertain You swings for the fences again
The Omakase Room is a River North luxury sushi spot that caters to a young and hip crowd who appreciate top-quality sushi curated by seasoned sushi chefs. The restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You’s most expensive restaurant, writes food critic Nick Kindelsperger, “is ambitious, and while it’s not yet flawless, it’s already close.” Check out his review here.
Swimply is like Airbnb for renting strangers’ backyard swimming pools. We tried it. Was it weird?
Summer might be on its way out, but with heated pools available on the so-called Airbnb for pools, you still have a few weeks to dive into Swimply. Tribune writer Chris Borrelli took his family to a stranger’s pool to test out the app — and he has a lot of thoughts on the art of legitimized pool hopping
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.As life expectancy drops for Black and brown Chicagoans, free cooking classes seek to close the gap
Several Chicago organizations hope to spark change with free cooking classes that pair food education with cooking tips that make eating healthy a lot easier — a potential way to close the life expectancy gap for Black and Latinx Chicagoans.
Director Barrie Kosky’s Lyric Opera staging of “Fiddler on the Roof” honors the traditions of the original and yet freshens it as well.
“Go. The run is very limited. And a Broadway producer should bring this masterpiece to the show’s home,” writes Tribune critic Chris Jones. Read the entire review here.
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Exhibitions around town this fall have a particular focus on identity and identity politics. Show sites include the DePaul Art Museum, the Driehaus Museum and the National Museum of Mexican Art. Read the full roundup here.
Last chance! Three not-yet-over summer art exhibitions in Chicago to see while you still can
Dozens of running groups across the city are helping runners of all kinds find community and promote healthy goals as the Chicago Marathon approaches this October. Read about one such Pilsen running group, spearheaded by a father and son.
African Americans converge on Martha’s Vineyard each summer in search of Black joy