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Dining

Eat. Watch. Do. — Čálli review, RAGBRAI bike ride turns 50, plus beer tasting Mike Royko-style

Chicago Tribune
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It’s Thursday, Chicago.

And we’re sandwiched squarely between the swampiest weeks of summer. We hope you’re finding ways to stay cool! This week, we have a few indoor suggestions.

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If you’re planning your next night out, we have a review for the new restaurant Čálli in West Loop’s Soho House — possibly paired with “No Man’s Land,” the ensemble drama playing at Steppenwolf Theatre — or maybe a cozy night in watching the latest season of “Futurama.”

We also have a feature on RAGBRAI, the bike ride across Iowa celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and Prairie Grass Cafe, a Northbrook restaurant that is planning sensory-friendly dining hours in August with the goal of raising awareness about accessibility.

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Have a great weekend, we’ll see you next week.

— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

Review: Čálli shows flickers of passion, but needs more focus

Chef Jonathan Zaragoza on July 12, 2023, at Čálli inside Soho House in the West Loop.

Chef Jonathan Zaragoza on July 12, 2023, at Čálli inside Soho House in the West Loop. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger visited the new restaurant Čálli from chef Jonathan Zaragoza, looking for a taste of home, as the name is the Nahuatl word for “house.” But “instead of a warm hug, Zaragoza wants to keep us at arm’s-length,” he writes. Read the rest of his review here.

Review: Jeff Perry is the intense center of Harold Pinter’s ‘No Man’s Land’ at Steppenwolf Theatre

Samuel Roukin, Jon Hudson Odom, Jeff Perry and Mark Ulrich in "No Man's Land" at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Samuel Roukin, Jon Hudson Odom, Jeff Perry and Mark Ulrich in "No Man's Land" at Steppenwolf Theatre. (Michael Brosilow/HANDOUT)

The audience was “clearly well aware they were back at a great Chicago theater, listening to the words of one of the greatest playwrights ever born,” Tribune critic Chris Jones writes. Read his full review here.

Sensory-friendly hours launch at Prairie Grass Cafe for diners with autism, sensory disorders: ‘If they feel heard, that’s half the battle’

People dine at Prairie Grass Cafe on Sept. 22, 2020, in Northbrook.

People dine at Prairie Grass Cafe on Sept. 22, 2020, in Northbrook. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune)

Chef Sarah Stegner wants to make diners at Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook feel taken care of. New sensory-friendly dining hours at the restaurant are meant to be safe environment for people with autism, sensory input disorders, sensory sensitivities or disabilities. Read more here.

‘Futurama’ review: The animated comedy will not be quashed! It’s back for Season 11 on a new home: Hulu

Fry (voiced by Billy West) in Season 11 of "Futurama."

Fry (voiced by Billy West) in Season 11 of "Futurama." (Matt Groening/Hulu / HULU)

“Futurama” may have premiered nearly a quarter century ago, but the endearing qualities of animated TV comedy staunchly remain. Now in its 11th season, “with its return, ‘Futurama’ remains as joyously absurd and full of double-talk as ever,” Tribune critic Nina Metz writes. Read her full review here.

Justice of the Pies finds its home in Avalon Park as homage to chef’s parents

Chef Maya-Camille Broussard cuts her Tomato & Basil Quiche, one of her longtime staples, in preparation for a grand opening preview of her first Justice of the Pies brick-and-mortar store in the Avalon Park neighborhood on June 4, 2023.

Chef Maya-Camille Broussard cuts her Tomato & Basil Quiche, one of her longtime staples, in preparation for a grand opening preview of her first Justice of the Pies brick-and-mortar store in the Avalon Park neighborhood on June 4, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

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Eight years in the making, chef Maya-Camille Broussard’s new storefront is the latest home for Justice of the Pies. Broussard will host workshops, retail spaces for small Black-owned brands and continue supporting the South Side at the Avalon Park location. Read about what she has cooking here.

‘The Beanie Bubble’ review: Tiny treasures, massive workplace drama

Zach Galifianakis in "The Beanie Bubble."

Zach Galifianakis in "The Beanie Bubble." (Apple TV+ )

Four movies about the wonders of corporate mythmaking have been released in the first half of the year. “The Beanie Bubble” on Apple TV+ starring Zach Galifianakis is the latest. It takes a look at Westmont-based Ty Inc., the company behind Beanie Babies, Tribune critic Nina Metz writes. Read more here.

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John Manion to bring Brazilian-influenced Brasero to West Town

Chef John Manion at El Che Bar, 845 W. Washington Blvd. in Chicago, on June 7, 2018.

Chef John Manion at El Che Bar, 845 W. Washington Blvd. in Chicago, on June 7, 2018. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Warm up with a Rio vibe this November at chef John Manion’s Brasero in West Town. “Wood-fired and Latin-inspired” is how the chef would describe the project, with Brazilian classics like steak with chimichurri and caipirinha cocktails . Read on here for more details from Tribune critic Nick Kindelsperger.

Return with us, and Mike Royko, to beer-tasting days of old

Paul Durica, 45, left,and Bill Savage, 61, near the Chicago River on July 23, 2023.

Paul Durica, 45, left,and Bill Savage, 61, near the Chicago River on July 23, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

This Sunday, Old Town Ale House will host “Royko’s Beer Test 50th” with tastings for 11 beers by Chicago’s craft-brewing experts. The sold-out event pays homage to Mike Royko’s legacy and the explosive growth of craft brewing. Tribune writer Rick Kogan has what you can expect here.

Dave Chappelle coming to the United Center this fall

Dave Chappelle performs during a theater dedication ceremony honoring the comedian and actor, and to raise funds to support Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, June. 20, 2022.

Dave Chappelle performs during a theater dedication ceremony honoring the comedian and actor, and to raise funds to support Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, June. 20, 2022. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP)

Dave Chappelle is coming to Chicago this October, the final date of his tour. Read how to get tickets here.

With record-smashing ridership, RAGBRAI bike ride across Iowa turns 50

Riders participating in RAGBRAI — the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — roll out of Storm Lake, Iowa, Monday, July 24, 2023.

Riders participating in RAGBRAI — the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — roll out of Storm Lake, Iowa, Monday, July 24, 2023. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Des Moines Register via AP/AP)

The daunting Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa begins at the edge of the Missouri River and spans across the state to the Mississippi River. While organizers say this year’s trip aims to break the world record for the largest group bike ride, bikers learn to appreciate small-town life along the way. Read on here.

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.

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