It's been two years since Taste moved from Fourth of July weekend to September, giving festgoers a little more summertime Chi post-Labor Day.

The big picture: Taste of Chicago starts Friday in Grant Park and runs through Sunday evening, featuring 60 food and drink vendors from across the Chicago area, plus two concert stages.

What to try: The classics will be on hand, including Robinson's No. 1 Ribs, Harold's, Rainbow Cone and Eli's, but try out some new spots like Chillafry, Lexington Betty Smoke House and Khmai.

Zoom in: Music headliners include Lupe Fiasco (7pm Friday), JoJo (7pm Saturday) and Elvis Crespo (7pm Sunday).

• A DJ keeps the music going every night on the main stage, and DJs offer the beats for SummerDance classes in the afternoons, including line dancing, salsa, disco and, of course, footwork.

Plus, karaoke and neighborhood trivia!

• Is there anything more Chicago than eating ribs, sipping Old Style and showing off that you know where Chris Zorich went to high school?

If you go: No tickets needed, and most vendors will only take credit cards.

• Gates open at 11am Friday. Set your game plan by checking out the map before, which includes a QR code for menus and best ways to get there.
• We're not saying don't drive, but don't say we didn't warn you when you're stuck on the Kennedy with a full belly and bladder.

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Enjoy the first weekend of September with outdoor festivals and free fishing classes for the kids.

🍷 Revelry Food & Wine Festival

• Sip on wine and dig into everything from burgers to BBQ, curated lunches and more.
• Times vary, Thursday-Sunday at various restaurants and event spaces in Lake Forest.
• Tickets start at $78.

🎟️ Edgewater Music Fest

• Shop local vendors, enjoy food and drinks and catch live performances by local artists at this community fest.
• 5-10pm Friday, noon-10pm Saturday-Sunday on Broadway from Ardmore to Thorndale.
• Free, with a $10 suggested donation.

🎤 Dua Lipa

• Watch the London pop star on her "Radical Optimism" tour.
• 7:30pm Friday and Saturday at United Center.
• Tickets start at $140.

✍️ Printers Row Lit Fest

• Browse booksellers, support local authors, publishers and listen to some of your favorite writers.
• 10am-6pm Saturday-Sunday at S. Dearborn, from Ida B. Wells to Polk.
• Free
• If you go: Monica interviews Curtis Duffy, chef and author of "Fireproof," and Laurie Woolever, author of "Care and Feeding" at 2pm Saturday at the Center Stage.

🎵 79th Street Renaissance Festival

• The legendary hometown favorite Chaka Khan headlines the South Side festival that's celebrating its 20th year.
• 10am-8pm Saturday at 79th and Racine in Auburn Gresham.
• Free

🎣 Fish with a First Responder

• Take the young ones (2-15 years old) to an afternoon of fishing lessons from Chicago first responders, followed by a picnic-style lunch.
• 10am-12:30pm and 12:30-2:30pm Saturday at Columbus Park.
• Free

🪘Black & Bronze: A Bronzeville Music Fest

• Celebrate music, culture, food and wellness with Chicago artists honoring the South Side's legacy to American music.
• 1-7pm Saturday at Armstrong (Lillian Hardin) Park.
• Free, but donations are welcome.

🎭 Fighting Words Festival

• Grab a ticket for Babes With Blades Theatre Company's run of new stage shows and readings.
• Times vary, Saturday-Sunday and Sept. 13-14 at the Bramble Arts Loft in Andersonville.
• Tickets start at $10.

Go deeper: Here's a full lineup of major events happening this month!

Here's what's new on Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, BET+ and Tubi.

What we're watching: A spinoff of an iconic comedy series, a new chapter in the "NCIS" franchise and a musical drama from the creators of "Outer Banks."

"The Paper," available now on Peacock

State of play: The documentary crew that followed Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch turns its attention to a struggling Ohio newspaper in this spinoff of "The Office."

💭 My thought bubble: The show captures the spirit of its predecessor and does a decent job of portraying journalists, but these characters aren't as memorable as the ones we left at Dunder Mifflin.

"NCIS: Tony & Ziva," available now on Paramount+

Catch up quick: The newest installment in the "NCIS" franchise picks up with the titular characters raising their daughter in Paris after Ziva's dramatic return from a supposed death.

"The Runarounds," available now on Prime Video

What's inside: Real-life artists William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock and Jesse Golliher star in this series about recent high school graduates pursuing a music career.

Behind the scenes: This show is produced by the creators of "Outer Banks" and, like the Netflix series, it's set in coastal North Carolina.

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