advertisement
The husband-and-wife team of Heather Bublick and D’Andre Carter at their restaurant, Soul & Smoke, located at 1601 Payne St. in Evanston. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Soul & Smoke opens flagship with acclaimed barbecue and new fine dining dishes

Soul & Smoke, best known for its critically acclaimed American soul food and barbecue, has finally opened a long-awaited flagship in Evanston, inspired by roots in the South Side and, perhaps more surprisingly, molecular gastronomy.

West Dundee’s Grafelman Park is once again hosting True Patriots Care 9/11 Memorial Healing Fields. Shown here, 403 American flags fly in the park in 2025 to honor first responders who died on Sept. 11, 2001. (Rick West/Daily Herald)

How the suburbs will honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11

Communities across the suburbs will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, with ceremonies featuring flag displays, memorial services, and guest speakers with personal 9/11 connections.

Parade spectators danced in the streets of downtown St. Charles on Sunday during a re-creation of the famous parade scene from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” It was part of a parade celebrating the 100th birthday of the Arcade Theatre. (Karie Angell Luc for the Daily Herald)

Dancing in the streets of St. Charles to celebrate the Arcada’s 100th

From “Twist and Shout” to just “The Twist,” they were dancing in the streets Sunday when hundreds gathered in downtown St. Charles to celebrate the landmark Arcada Theatre’s 100th anniversary.

St. Charles’ beloved Arcada Theatre celebrates its centennial on Sunday, Sept. 6. (John Starks/Daily Herald)

Enduring Arcada: Landmark St. Charles venue celebrates centennial

For the last century, the landmark Arcada Theatre in St. Charles has hosted stars from George Burns and Judy Garland to Buddy Guy, The Gin Blossoms and Loretta Lynn. The onetime vaudeville palace turned concert venue celebrates its centennial on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Enjoy carnival rides, live music, a car show and more at Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4-6, at Sunset Park in Lake in the Hills. (Joe Lewnard/Daily Herald)

Things to do Sept. 4-10: Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Festival, Naperville Jaycees’ Last Fling, Buffalo Grove Days and more

Mark your calendar for Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Festival, Naperville Jaycees’ Last Fling, Buffalo Grove Days and more.

Doug Brousil of Algonquin enjoys a stein of beer at the Platzkonzert Germanfest in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. The event returns to the village Sept. 11-13. (Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

Hop, hop, hooray! Sip your way through the suburbs at these fall beer fests

Beer events are brewing up around the suburbs as we approach Oktoberfest. From traditional festivals to a beer 5K, there’s something happening most weekends for beer lovers over the next couple of months.

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, the Michelin-recommended New York restaurant known for its handcrafted soup dumplings and authentic Shanghainese cuisine, will open its newest location in Chicago this summer. (Nan Xiang)

Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao restaurant debuts first Midwest location in Chicago

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, the Michelin-recommended New York restaurant known for its handcrafted soup dumplings and authentic Shanghainese cuisine, opened its newest location in Chicago this summer.