The Time Out Chicago blog team

Take your sandwich game to another level (literally) with cannabis-infused spicy giardiniera from West Loop sandwich king J.P. Graziano. Created in collaboration with local family-owned retailer nuEra Cannabis, GiardinuEra features the eatery’s classic giardiniera recipe, packed with fiery peppers and crisp vegetables, complemented by a balanced dose of high-quality, lab-tested cannabis extract.  Photograph: Courtesy Page and PlateSpiked giardiniera from J.P. Graziano and nuEra Cannabis The spiked giardinera sold out quickly after the duo’s initial drop in late 2024. The first innovation of its kind, GiardinuEra proved immensely popular among Chicagoans (no surprise there). It’s hard to believe a fresh JPG sub could taste any better, but this very well may be the secret.  Photograph: Courtesy Page and Plate Starting Aug. 29, two oz. jars of GiardinuEra are available in 25mg ($10) and 100mg ($20) doses at all nuEra locations and select cannabis dispensaries across Illinois for a limited time. 

Few Chicago restaurants can say they’ve earned the accolades that Next has racked up since its debut in 2011: a Michelin star for four consecutive years from 2020-2024, a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in America and immense critical acclaim.  The Alinea Group’s dynamic darling continues to captivate diners with a completely reimagined theme and menu multiple times each year. This fall, the group’s chef/owner, Grant Achatz, and his team will guide diners on a journey through the final frontier with the upcoming theme, Space. We expect cuisine inspired by the cosmos, glittering edible works of art and an interstellar level of creative dining. According to the restaurant’s announcement, “interstellar dining” is “envisioned on Mars, in a rocket ship, or in a galaxy far, far away.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Next Restaurant (@nextchicago) In previous years, they’ve transported guests to the World’s Fair via fare crafted among Ferris wheels, lightbulbs and other innovations of the era, and even to childhood through gourmet cuisine served in a lunchbox with Oreo-esque sweets and a handwritten note from mom. If Space is anything like their previous concepts, it will certainly be immersive.  Bookings will open on September 13 through Tock. Guests can choose from three dining locations: the main dining room for parties of 3-4; the Kitchen Table, a private spot with a back-of-house view for groups of 4-6; and a private...

Chicago’s iconic ART on THE MART projections will light up the Riverwalk once again this fall, debuting a new visual experience on September 11. City Circle Heart—a collaboration with local nonprofit Arts of Life, which is celebrating 25 years of supporting artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities—will adapt the work of Arts of Life artists for the Merchandise Mart’s larger-than-life canvas. Originally created for the 2020 ART on THE MART projections, City Circle Heart weaves together colorful, abstract visuals into a dynamic moving display, complete with its own unique soundscape. Featuring work by Marcelo Añón, Veronica Cuculich, Stefan Harhaj, Hector Jones and Maria Vanik, City Circle Heart invites people of all abilities to appreciate the movement, colors and beauty of the Chicago Riverwalk.  “Arts of Life is thrilled to showcase our artists and celebrate our 25th anniversary with a featured presentation on ART on THE MART,” Arts of Life cofounder and executive director Denny Fisher said in a press release. “This is an ideal opportunity to highlight our commitment to supporting artistic expression, to providing professional development opportunities for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to introducing our artists’ work to new audiences.” 

 Founded in 2018 in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, ART on THE MART is one of the world’s largest digital art platforms (after all, it’s hosted...