Just because the calendar says summer is gone doesn’t mean we need to stow our ice cream cravings for another year. On the contrary, ice cream season rages on thanks to glamorous new concepts like Parlour at the Pavilion within The Langham, Chicago.

In the vein of doughy snacks reaching a fever pitch, pierogies are falling in line nicely right alongside doughnuts, bagels, and empanadas. Considering Chicago’s enormous Polish population, it’s only appropriate that Poland’s contribution to the dumpling world would eventually arise in Chicago’s culinary landscape. And boy is it doing so.

Back-to-school season is a lot more fun when hard liquor is involved, and the only homework of note is drinking. Ravenswood’s preeminent beer and whiskey bar Fountainhead turns its attention to mezcal for a series of Master Mezcalier classes in honor of the Indie Spirits Expo, allowing spirited students to learn a lot more about this south of the border staple.