Eat. Watch. Do. — ‘Mean Girls’ review, bite-size restaurant takes, plus Chicago’s summer 2024

It’s Thursday, Chicago.

Another looming snowstorm has us planning out a legendary staycation ahead of the long weekend. If you’re in the same boat, you’re in luck, with much in the entertainment and dining world to ponder as the snow falls, including a book on one Chicago man’s cross-country journey to find wisdom from strangers.

We have mini-reviews for some hidden restaurant gems we missed in 2023, as well as the food and drink trends Chicago chefs forecast for 2024. Between “Mean Girls” at the movie theater and “True Detective” on streaming, there’s a lot to feast your eyes on.

And look forward to warmer days ahead with our roundup of all the festivals, street markets and celebrations to expect in Chicago this summer, here.

Enjoy the weekend, and we’ll see you back here next week.

— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

So much has changed in two decades. While the basic dynamics of “Mean Girls” remain in place, the war between Cady and Regina is captured by the characters’ cellphone cameras, TikTok and the cold glare of social media. Read Tribune critic Michael Phillips’ review here.

Last year was big for new restaurants, and here are a few we’re circling back to.

Eat. Watch. Do.

Weekly

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

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis play remote Alaskan police officers who can barely stand one another while working to solve the deaths of science researchers. Read Tribune TV critic Nina Metz’s review here.

From a focus on transparent pricing and social equity to an emphasis on fun, photogenic ingredients, here are some of Chicago chef and restaurateurs’ top predictions.

Clive Owen ably dons the fedora in AMC’s “Monsieur Spade,” which catches up with the character decades later. Read Metz’s review here.

The winter theater season is upon us. Tribune critic Chris Jones lists 10 Chicago-area shows opening between now and the end of March that look especially interesting, here.

Chicagoan Imran Nuri asked people across the U.S. the same questions: What would you tell your younger self that you know now? What did you have to learn the hard way? What do you wish you knew earlier? Read here, maybe along with a box of Kleenex.

Longer days await us this summer, with longtime favorites like Maxwell Street Market returning, and a celebration of Millennium Park’s 20th anniversary. Get it all on your schedule here.

Though it will be challenging to replicate the blockbuster spoils of 2023, the new year is off with a proverbial bang, with Brittany Howard, The Kills and Cat Power on deck to perform in Chicago this winter. Read more here.