It’s Thursday, Chicago.
We hope you’re getting a taste of this sun-soaked day outdoors. This week, we have all the treats, turkey and trimmings available at Chicagoland restaurants and bakeries to help if you’re hosting a crowd next week.
Our critics also have you covered for your post-dinner movie marathon and long weekend TV binge. Tribune critic Michael Phillips reviews the latest “Hunger Games” prequel in theaters this weekend, and Nina Metz scopes out a series from across the pond
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that inspired a CBS remake.We have those reviews and more holiday entertainment guides to get you through the next few weeks.
Enjoy the weekend, and we’ll see you back here the week after next. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor
“Without new episodes of ”Ghosts” to air this fall due to the recent Hollywood strikes, CBS — in a rare stroke of ingenuity — is importing the first season of the original UK version instead,” Tribune critic Nina Metz writes. Read her full review here.
54 Chicago restaurants with Thanksgiving takeout, from truffle-roasted turkeys to pumpkin flan
Let these 54 restaurants do the heavy lifting for you ahead of Turkey Day. Read the full list here.
Our holiday theater list: Top 10 shows to make your season bright, from Cirque to ‘Carols’
“There’s no better time to get out and support Chicago theater than the festive season, when warm holiday performances abound,” Tribune critic Chris Jones writes. Read his full list here.
These Chicagoland restaurants and bakeries are selling Thanksgiving pies that will provide the perfect end to your meal. Read the full list here.
Review: ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is a prequel for pre-sold fans only
The “Hunger Games” prequel takes its dystopian hellhole duties SUPERseriously, with more solemnity than imaginative excitement, writes Tribune critic Michael Phillips. Read his full review here.
Culver’s opens first West Side location on grounds of new police and fire training facility
The Wisconsin-based chain has begun popping up in Chicago’s predominantly Black and Hispanic communities. Read the full story here.
Review: ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ superb, the best at Marriott Theatre in years
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No. 1 reason here is Kaitlyn Davis, a vulnerable, unpretentious actress who knows just how to play Carole King, writes Tribune critic Chris Jones. Read his full review here.
Chicago’s Grand Lux Cafe closing after 21 years, last day on Christmas Eve
Grand Lux Cafe came from the creators of the Cheesecake Factory, who were looking to create a new upscale casual restaurant concept. Read the full story here.
Holiday shows for 2023: Our 35 concerts, ‘Nutcrackers’ and theater around Chicago this season
Whether you’re a staunch “Christmas Carol” traditionalist or looking for off-color holiday humor, our guide has concerts and shows that’ll appeal to all stripes. Read the full list here.
Kura Sushi’s conveyor belt of plated food options, now rotating in Naperville
Kura Sushi, an international restaurant chain known for its rotating sushi bar, has opened its newest location in Naperville. Read the full story here.