It’s Thursday, Chicago.
Did you enjoy the first crunches of leaves underneath your feet this week? I sure did. On Saturday we’ll transition into my favorite season in the city, so it’s time to make plans to do all those fall-friendly activities. Stay tuned for our haunted houses guide coming next week. But in the meantime, here’s a roundup of pumpkin farms in the area.
This week we have reviews for “Hamilton,” back at in the Loop for another round of adoring audiences, and Kyoten, the Logan Square omakase restaurant that mesmerized our food critic.
On screens, Chicago-native and Oscar-winner Matthew A. Cherry’s “Young Love” is out now on Max, and screenings for Chicago’s Reeling fest kick off this week. You can check out those stories, as well as how to save a little dough drinking merlot, in this week’s Eat. Watch. Do.
Enjoy the weekend; we’ll see you next week.
— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor
Review: ‘Hamilton’ opens back in Chicago, as spirited and moving as ever
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The musical that is Chicago’s most financially successful theatrical show made its return last week. “It’s hard to write that ‘Hamilton’ now seems to belong to a simpler, pre-pandemic time. But it’s true,” Tribune critic Chris Jones writes. Read his review here.
Review: 4 stars for Kyoten, Chicago’s best omakase
Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger awarded four stars to chef Otto Phan’s Kyoten. Read his review, and why the chef’s goal of winning a Michelin star might not be far off, here.
‘Young Love’ review: An Oscar-winning short becomes an animated series on Max
The sweet, unforced family comedy from Oscar-winner Matthew A. Cherry is set on Chicago’s West Side. Read Tribune critic Nina Metz’s review of the series here.
Enjoy summer’s end Italian style at these 5 Chicago restaurants
Sure, summer has winded down. But you can still enjoy Amalfi Coast vibes at a few Italian restaurants across the city. Read where to sample seasonal Italian dishes here.
Chicago’s Reeling fest: The second-oldest LGBTQ+ film showcase in America looks to a new era
Reeling, the nation’s second-oldest LGBTQ+ film fest, opens today with screenings across the city planned through Oct. 8. Tribune critic Michael Phillips interviews directors Brenda Webb and Morgan Jon Fox about the festival here.
Craving something from the Mediterranean? These restaurants have you covered.
With vibrant bursts of color, flavor and freshness, the cuisines of the French Riviera and Levantine region help us keep summer going just a little bit longer. Read where you can find end-of-summer Mediterranean dishes in the Chicago area here.
Review: In ‘Revolution’ at A Red Orchid Theatre, a sweet story unfolds in a mall parking lot
In Brett Neveu’s quirky new comedy, a young retail worker’s birthday is in need of saving. Read Tribune critic Chris Jones’ review here.
Tips from the pros on how to drink well in leaner times
For many consumers, high wine markups of late can be jarring. We spoke with a few restaurant professionals about how to be a savvy spender when wining and dining out these days. Read that here.
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With a new sound but with the same energy and talent, Denise La Grassa is back in the music business
Denise La Grassa’s new album “Flame” has a series of catchy blues-infused song stories, many thought-provoking. Read Tribune reporter Rick Kogan’s interview with La Grassa, and where you can see her perform this weekend, here.
Madison says it’s the biking capital of the Midwest, but there are worthy trails in other parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Read how you can plan your biking adventure here.