Americans are increasingly over the “slop bowl.” Chipotle, Sweetgreen and Cava — once stars of the restaurant industry — are struggling as diners tire of all those pick-your-own ingredients piled atop rice or greens. Instead, lunchgoers are choosing offerings with more texture, like sandwiches and tacos, that fill them up and often cost less.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra performs its “Holiday Spectacular” at Crystal Lake’s Raue Center and Elgin’s Hemmens, Naperville comedian Chris Ryan returns for a show at North Central, and the Ruth Page dancers perform their namesake’s “Nutcracker” in the city and suburbs.
Neer Beer, a non-alcoholic bottle shop, opened last week in downtown Wheaton. Owner Jason Krapausky said most of the NA options he sells would do well in blind taste tests with their alcoholic counterparts “except for the not getting drunk part.”
Make plans for Tom Arnold at American Place Casino, variations of “The Nutcracker,” dining with Santa, Handel’s “Messiah” and more.
A six-episode behind-the-scenes Disney+ docuseries about Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Rian Johnson’s third “Knives Out” movie, “Wake Up Dead Man,” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of the genre-defying, Grammy-winning band The Mavericks, has died. He was 60.
If you haven’t seen one of the many light shows happening across the suburbs this season, now is the time. Here are the shows currently on display or opening soon.