David Posey first made his mark as a line cook at Blackbird, the Randolph Street restaurant oft credited with kickstarting the “Restaurant Row” boom. Since then, the dexterous chef has climbed the culinary rungs under executive chef Paul Kahan to serve as chef de cuisine, earning national acclaim and establishing credibility as one of Chicago’s most talented forces. On August 1, Posey will depart Blackbird to begin working on his own restaurant while simultaneously working as Blackbird’s private dining chef. In the interim, Posey will be going out with a bang via a “best of”-style tasting menu available July 18 through his departure.

Living and working in a major metropolis entails getting crafty with urban gardens. Case in point, the new underground mushroom assortment beneath the Palmer House Hilton and Revolution Brewing’s rooftop garden installation, two unique ways restaurants are maneuvering the world of urban gardening.

Summer is prime time for picnicking, and thanks to a variety of custom picnic baskets curated by cafes and restaurants all over town, all you have to worry about is the sunburn. Especially considering the fact that July is National Picnic Month, it’s a great time to stock up, head outside, and eat on the grass.