Eat. Watch. Do. — ‘Top Gun’ review, Orange Garden history

It’s Wednesday, Chicago.

The luxuriously long Memorial Day weekend is almost here. Before you fire up your grill for the holiday, read up on the humble hamburger’s origins, which took place right here in the Midwest.

And what pairs better with burgers than a cold beer? This week, we take a look at Three Floyds, the Indiana brewery known for Gumballhead and Zombie Dust. Over the years, the company has transformed from scrappy underdog to one of the largest breweries in the Chicago area, and we wanted to see how its beer stacks up, 10 years later.

Our series of Top 10 summer previews continues, and this week we’ve got recommendations for jazz, pop music, art shows and theater. It’s time to pull out your calendars and get planning — I’ve already snatched tickets for “The Devil Wears Prada” musical (and my spring florals to match).

See you next week.

— Kayla Samoy, deputy senior editor

If you’re a fan of body humor comedy that is crass and filthy, head over to Sleeping Village in early June to catch “Saturday Night Live” cast member Sarah Sherman, aka Sarah Squirm. Read the full story here.

Orange Garden, which recently sold its iconic neon sign, is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Chicago. Tribune critic Louisa Chu writes about the restaurant’s storied history, which has ties to everything from the World’s Fair to a certain notorious mob man. Read the full story here.

In “Top Gun: Maverick,” Tom Cruise is back 36 years later reprising the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot and congenital speed-needer. The film’s release may have been delayed by the pandemic for two years, but Tribune critic Michael Phillips writes that it “can’t lose, really.” Read the full review here.

Eat. Watch. Do.

Weekly

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

Cynthia Clampitt, a food historian and travel writer, explores all 12 Midwest states and steers readers to the lesser-traveled paths in her new book “Destination Heartland: A Guide to Discovering the Midwest’s Remarkable Past.” Read the full story here.

Summer music events are coming back to Chicago this year. Besides the big-name events such as Lollapalooza and Ravinia, there are a ton of new, locally created music festivals and performances by some of the city’s brightest acts. Highlights include the first-ever Sueños Music Festival and Phoebe Bridgers. Read the full list here.

It used to be way harder to get a six-pack of Three Floyds — legend has it, some fans lurked outside stores waiting to snatch up a shipment as soon as it dropped. But after 10 years of growth, the question is this: How’s the beer? Tribune critic Josh Noel seeks to answer if Three Floyds is still the same Three Floyds. Get his beer-by-beer rundown here.

It’s that time of the year when farmers markets are popping up all over the city, offering seasonal fruits, vegetables and other goods. We’ve gathered the details on more than 50 farmers markets in Chicago and the suburbs and put together a searchable map and list.

Chicago theater proved a tough business in the winter and spring of 2022, but there’s hope for a recovery this summer. In the coming months, you can see shows such as the high-profile Broadway tryout “The Devil Wears Prada” or “Choir Boy” at Steppenwolf Theatre. Read the full list here.

Joe Weber, founder and CEO of Chicago’s Four Star Mushrooms, said he is working “to revolutionize the cultivation of mushrooms and change our food system.” His company is already supplying high-quality fungi to some of the city’s most ingredient-driven restaurants, including Alinea, Smyth, Oriole and vegan spot Fancy Plants Cafe — and he’s on the brink of a major expansion. Read the full story here.

Tribune critic Chris Jones writes that Court Theatre delivers “a blisteringly entertaining new Ron OJ Parson production of August Wilson’s ‘Two Trains Running.’” Read the full review here.