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Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Holiday Guide 2022

Let us help make your holiday season in Chicago the best it can be with fun events, recipes from local chefs and more.

Holiday things to do
The annual Christmas Tree lighting is set for Nov. 18 in Millennium Park. 
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday things to do in Chicago: Christmas lights, skates, crafts and more family fun
‘Tis the season to take advantage of cozy winter events in and around Chicago with the whole family.
By Joanna Gaden
 
“The Immersive Nutcracker” rings in the holiday season at Germania Place.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday things to do in Chicago: Myriad spins on ‘The Nutcracker’ arriving on area stages
By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times
 
“The Steadfast Tin Soldier” returns to Lookingglass Theatre this holiday season.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday things to do in Chicago: Theater
By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times
 
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Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday things to do in Chicago: Music
By Joanna Gaden
 
Holiday recipes

Chicago-based chefs provided the Sun-Times with exclusive recipes for some of their go-to holiday dishes.

Chef Federico Comacchio, owner of Gioia Ristorante & Pastificio, is photographed with his restaurant’s extensive wine collection.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Federico Comacchio’s tortellini in brodo recipe
“This was a must dish for Christmas Day lunch,” says Comacchio, the chef at Gioia Ristorante & Pastificio,
By Contributor
 
Yasmin Gutierrez, partner and executive pastry chef at Beatrix, holds a plate of her spicy Mexican chocolate cookies.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Yasmin Gutierrez’s spicy Mexican chocolate cookie recipe
“Each bite reminds me of Mexico,” says Beatrix executive pastry chef Yasmin Gutierrez, of her holiday cookies.
By Contributor
 
Chef Joe Flamm, owner of Rose Mary restaurant, is photographed at his Fulton Market eatery.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Joe Flamm’s Christmas ravioli recipe
Ravioli in tomato sauce is a breeze with the Chicago chef’s recipe.
By Contributor
 
Chef D’Andre Carter serves up his collard greens with smoked turkey and cornbread muffins at at Soul & Smoke in Evanston. 
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Evanston chef D’Andre Carter’s recipes for collard greens and smoked turkey, cornbread muffins
Cornbread muffins and collard greens with smoked turkey are pure comfort food with Soul & Smoke chef’s classic recipes.
By Contributor
 
Chef Bill Kim is photographed at urbanbelly in Wicker Park.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Bill Kim’s Korean rice cake soup with simmered dumplings recipe
“Korean rice cake soup is my favorite thing — really a childhood memory for me,” chef Kim says.
By Contributor
 
Big Bowl’s executive chef and partner Raul Gutierrez finishes plating a traditional serving of cochinita pibil in tacos. 
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Raul Gutierrez’s cochinita pibil recipe
“Cochinita pibil is prepared and used for multiple dishes like tacos, tortas or panuchos. It is always served with a salsa called xnipec,” says chef Raul Gutierrez.
By Contributor
 
Chef David DiGregorio stands inside Osteria Via Stato on the North Side.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef David DiGregorio’s ‘Holiday Pescatore’ recipe
By Contributor
 
Master sushi hef Kaze Chan is photographed at his restaurant, Sushi-san, in River North.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Kaze Chan’s recipe for Vietnamese pork
By Contributor
 
Nonnina executive chef John Boudouvas is photographed at the North Side restaurant.  
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef John Boudouvas’ grilled sourdough crostini and smoked potato gnocchi recipes
By Contributor
 
Chef Rudolf Cuadros is photographed at his restaurant, Amaru, in Wicker Park.
Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday dining at home: Chicago chef Rodolfo Cuadros’ beef empanadas recipe
By Contributor
 
Holiday theater
The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the errors of his ways in “Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol,” which is having its world premiere stage debut at Writers Theatre this holiday season.
Holiday Guide 2022
Manual Cinema’s ‘Christmas Carol’ finds alchemy in ordinary objects
Like all Manual Cinema work, “Christmas Carol” is grounded in moving images rendered cinematic via old-school, overhead projectors.
By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times
 
Larry Yando is celebrating his 15th season this year as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” at the Goodman Theatre.
Holiday Guide 2022
Actor Larry Yando truly knows what it means to be a Scrooge
The veteran Chicago actor has portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol” for 15 seasons.
By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times
 
Playwright Vichet Chum (pictured at Steppenwolf Theatre) is the child of Cambodian refugees and writes about the aftermath of the country’s genocide in his world-premiere play “Bald Sisters.”
Theater
Steppenwolf’s ‘Bald Sisters’ recalls Cambodian genocide with resilience, humor
In his world premiere play, writer Vichet Chum honors family members who survived the Pol Pot regime.
By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times
 
Holiday movies and comedy
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Holiday Guide 2022
Holiday Movie Preview 2022: Our 12 films of Christmas
These promising titles will take audiences to 19th century West Point, 1920s Hollywood, the distant moon Pandora and beyond.
By Richard Roeper
 
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Comedy
As her star rises, Cameron Esposito makes it ‘a priority’ to return to Chicago, where it all started
The comedian, now appearing on ABC’s “A Million Little Pieces,” feels connected to the places that used to showcase her unique voice.
By Steve Heisler | For the Sun-Times
 
Holiday music and dance
Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs in concert in 2021. They bring their Christmas tour to the Allstate Arena in December for two shows.
Holiday Guide 2022
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s ‘Ghosts’ tour a familiar lights- and lasers-filled Christmas extravaganza
The group, affectionately known as TSO, returns to Allstate Arena with “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve — The Best of TSO and More.”
By Jeff Elbel - For the Sun-Times
 
Chanticleer performs at First Presbyterian Church in Chicago in 2019. They return this holiday season for two concerts in December.
Holiday Guide 2022
Chanticleer returning to Chicago for annual Christmas concerts in church
Since 1995, the all-male vocal ensemble has become an essential and beloved part of the city’s musical celebration of the yuletide.
By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times
 
Erin Barnett, founder and director of the Black Girls Dance Ensemble is photographed in one of the dance studios at the Mayfair Arts Center as her dancers rehearse their upcoming presentation “Mary A Holiday Dansical.”
Holiday Guide 2022
In ‘Mary, A Holiday Dansical’ Black Girls Dance reimagines Langston Hughes classic for the season
Told from the perspective of a teenage girl, “Mary” offers a contemporary spin on the nativity story and delivers a message of empowerment.
By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times