Eat. Watch. Do. — Čálli review, RAGBRAI bike ride

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.

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.

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

— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

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.

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.

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” 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.

Eat. Watch. Do.

Weekly

What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life … now.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.