It’s Thursday, Chicago.
After a gorgeous long weekend, you may be welcoming the summer sun of June with open arms. Or, you may be strapping on high heels or sneakers to wait in long lines at Soldier Field to buy Taylor Swift merch, as the star kicks off three nights of the Chicago stop of her Eras Tour on Friday.
To help line up your summer calendar, we’ve compiled the most-anticipated food festivals, concerts, movies and other outdoor fun to get on your schedule. But you can also keep it laid back and low-key like me — just pick your favorite Chicago beach to lounge at, and you already have the perfect summer day on deck.
Enjoy the weekend, we’ll see you again next week.
— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor
Taylor Swift Eras Tour: What to know ahead of shows in Chicago
The sold-out shows promise sparkling nights of pure bliss for Chicago’s wonder-struck Swifties. Despite the Ticketmaster drama that left many fans broken and blue, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Taylor Swift in Chicago this weekend. Read on here.
Chicago post-punk band Stuck releases “Freak Frequency”
How a South Side church choir’s hit single made them stars
7 can’t-miss summer food festivals in Chicago neighborhoods — including 2 this weekend
Quash your street food cravings at two Chicago food fests this weekend — Greek cuisine and hot dogs will be on display — and get the rest on your calendar for splendid summer eats. Read more here, but don’t if you’re hungry!
‘Of the Earth’ exhibition opens at Morton Arboretum
Polish American environmental artist Olga Ziemska will become the first woman to have a major sculpture installation at the Morton Arboretum. The exhibition features female-formed sculptures made of rocks, tree branches and other natural materials. Read more about the installation here.
A Chicago cop for 3 decades, Peter Bella is now a photographer
Chicago’s favorite barbecue sauce titan makes it into Hall of Fame
More Top Picks Amazon Cloud Cam
As you slather Sweet Baby Ray’s on grilled meat this summer, take a moment to appreciate its storied Chicago past and latest honor. Dave Raymond, the creator of the barbecue brand, was inducted into the American Royal Association’s Barbecue Hall of Fame.
Read about Raymond and his journey in barbecue, as told to Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger, here.
Chicago summer events guide: Movies, music, TV and more
Your one-stop shop for fun in Chicago this summer is here. Read on for recommendations for summer blockbusters, must-see shows, movies in Millennium Park and more, here.
10 dance shows for summer 2023 in Chicago
‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3 finale: What a long, strange, uneventful season it’s been
“The show was the anti-‘Succession’ (which also had its series finale this week) and it dared to ask: What would it look like if people actually cared about one another? Like, genuinely cared,” Tribune critic Nina Metz writes. At the series’ close, Metz examines the lighthearted show’s impact, and where this season lost momentum, here.
My worst moment: William Fichtner and the horse-riding stunt
Taking my daughter to her first concert, and what I learned
A few lucky Chicagoans will experience their first concert this weekend at one of Taylor Swift’s shows. Tribune reporter Christopher Borrelli reminisces about taking his 6-year-old daughter to see Carly Rae Jepsen at the Aragon Ballroom for her first concert, and offers some helpful tips to first-timers and their caregivers. Read more here.
Chicago musicians share their first concert
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” comes out this weekend after 2018’s “Into the Spider-Verse,” and the animation in the sequel is just as exciting and unafraid as the first movie. “The movie may be a product and just another IP machine, but it feels human-made, and genuinely witty,” Tribune critic Michael Phillips writes. Read more about Miles Morales’ next adventure here.
Opening day at Ramsay’s Kitchen in downtown Naperville doesn’t disappoint, customers say
Gordon Ramsay’s new restaurant Ramsay’s Kitchen in Naperville is the third to be opened in the U.S. by the Michelin-starred chef and television personality. Read more about how you can sample pan-seared scallops, beef Wellington and a Chicago-inspired burger here.
Lap of luxury: How hotels are rolling out the red carpet for your pets
You don’t have to dump your dog at a kennel before your summer escape — take him along for the ride instead. More luxury destinations are catering to pet parents and offering “pet-menities” like specialty beds and blankets and gift bags. Get inspired for your next vacation with Fido here.