From Middle Eastern food in Bridgeport to doughnuts in Elmhurst, our latest issue has your food guide to the burbs. Plus: a profile of the CSO's new conductor and a conversation with a comedian on the rise. Check out the cover story here:

After years of serving city crowds, co-owners Chad and Alicia Hauge and Mike Melazzo noticed a lot of their regulars were making the trek in from the suburbs. So in 2018, they opened Common Good Cocktail House in Glen Ellyn.

Rendang Republic, John Avila's counter-service spot in Lake View, gives his fan base something to cheer about.

Towne & Oak in Winnetka, which opened in 2020, makes it easy to dine out as a family: The space is bright and airy, with plenty of room for stroller parking.

As we wrap up July (😢) we're looking at what's ahead with our August Agenda:

Your Sunday long read ☀️: Klaus Mäkelä is the buzziest name in classical music, and he's taking the helm of the CSO. “My God, the orchestra takes to him in quite a remarkable way," says a former Tribune music critic, comparing Klaus to Leonard Bernstein.

From dipped to swirled and everything in between, these are our four favorite soft serves right now:

When the French-accented Vietnamese and Thai restaurant Thithi’s.opened in Evergreen Park 10 years ago, it brought upscale dining and a classy martini bar to an area sorely in need of both. Here's why @AdrienneWrites thinks you should check it out:

The menu at Yana’s Speakeasy in Highland Park is mostly Eastern European (borscht, stroganoff, root vegetables). Plus its cocktail program is good enough to risk a Prohibition-era raid. Take it from Peter Sagal: the horseradish vodka is excellent.

Neon Fringey’s locally designed handbags are zapped with ’80s flair.

Out of Space in Skokie to a lemonade walk along Milwaukee Avenue — here's what to do this weekend.

The CSO Association president had his aha moment after Mäkelä’s first rehearsal before his guest debut. “I was being stopped in the hallway by any number of musicians saying, ‘This is the guy.’ ”

"It is not hard to see how the young conductor has won over the veteran CSO musicians. The way he looks at you, the way he makes eye contact . I have no doubt that if he wanted to start a cult, he could." . Our profile of @klausmakela

As Mike Royko wrote in Boss, nepotism “is part of the system of the Machine…A Chicago Rip Van Winkle could awaken to the political news columns and, reading the names, think that time had stood still.”

The folks behind Camp Wandawega have opened a West Town store stocking goods worthy of a merit badge.

Learn how to make Crust Fund's Royko pizza, named for the legendary local columnist and topped with  the classic Chicago combo of Italian sausage and giardiniera.

It’s impossible not to root for Cristian Orozco, the owner, executive chef, and head rooftop gardener for Five O Four Kitchen in Glen Ellyn. Every night, he offers a create-your-own five-course tasting menu for $85.

"Mäkelä describes his role as 'tour guide.' He sees himself as a consensus maker, there to keep the group focused rather than to push his personal vision at all costs.". Our profile of Klaus Mäkelä, the music director designate for the @chicagosymphony

Our rollicking food tour of the suburbs features everything from the best Japanese spots to the hottest bakery.

From spicy sundaes to classic dips, soft serve seems to be everywhere this summer. Here are our four favorites.