Eat. Watch. Do. — ‘Creed III’ review, Jiro-style ramen and ‘Once’ at Writers Theatre

It’s Thursday, Chicago.

Hopefully, you got outside and enjoyed the sun yesterday. With cloudy skies and snow on the forecast, March is coming in like a lion, and that’s reason enough to trek out to Schaumburg to slurp on hearty Jiro-style ramen at Chicago Ramen Annex to warm up your soul.

More indoor activities to stay entertained during the dreary weather include the premiere of “Creed III,” a new exhibition at the Art Institute celebrating the surrealist work of Salvador Dalí and the stunningly heartfelt production of “Once” at Writers Theatre.

Plus, it’s now Women’s History Month. Read about how one Northwestern professor is making waves for her analysis of horror movies, and how a Logan Square chef is commemorating the month here.

Enjoy the weekend, we’ll see you here next week.

— Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

Review: ‘Once’ at Writers Theatre focuses on the heart, and may be the best show this Glencoe theater has staged

“Once,” the Broadway musical now playing at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, “makes a strong case for being the best show this particular company ever has produced,” Chris Jones writes in a glowing review. He praises the ensemble as “uniformly terrific” and how director Katie Spelman “has a well-thought-out idea for every moment in this show.” Read the rest of his review here.

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Review: Jiro-style ramen at the Chicago Ramen Annex will cure your late-winter woes

While ramen isn’t the easiest dish to eat when it’s 90 degrees out, during a breezy, rainy March in Chicagoland, it’s a no-brainer. And a strip mall in suburban Schaumburg has some of the region’s best, writes critic Nick Kindelsperger. Read his take on the latest project from chef Kenta Ikehata here.

‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ review: On the road with a fictional ’70s rock band, with echoes of Fleetwood Mac

For fans of ’70s rock bands like Fleetwood Mac, “Daisy Jones & The Six” is a new 10-part Amazon Prime adaptation of a 2019 novel that starts streaming this weekend.

“Created by the screenwriting team of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (whose credits include ‘(500) Days of Summer’), the series falls into a number of expected traps,” critic Nina Metz writes. But musically, the show works well. Read more here.

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Mi Tocaya throwing a birthday taco party with an all-star lineup of top women chefs in Logan Square

Award-winning chef and owner Diana Dávila will host Mi Tocaya’s Birthday Taquiza on March 16. Dávila and her team will be joined by a host of female chefs and taqueras, and the event also honors Women’s History Month. Read more from Louisa Chu here.

‘Creed III’ review: Better than ‘Creed II’ — and Jonathan Majors keeps the champ on his toes

Out this weekend in theaters is “Creed III,” the ninth movie in the “Rocky” franchise. The movie showcases Jonathan Majors and Michael B. Jordan as “genuine, ambitious actors,” and is a notable improvement from “Creed II,” writes Michael Phillips. Read the rest of his review here.

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With 750 wines and Longman & Eagle alum, The Oakville Grill & Cellar bringing Napa Valley vibes to West Loop

For those who want to feel as if they’re touring the vineyards of Napa Valley in the middle of Chicago, Lettuce Entertain You is introducing an enticing concept. Its new restaurant, The Oakville Grill & Cellar, opens in Fulton Market this spring and was conceived to feel like being on a wine tour. Read more here.

‘The Black guy dies first’: A Northwestern professor is our leading expert on representation in horror movies

After studying agriculture in graduate school, Robin Means Coleman embraced her love for horror movies instead. Today she’s “our preeminent scholar on Black representation in horror movies,” writes Chris Borrelli. Her new book with journalist Mark H. Harris, “The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema, From Fodder to Oscar,” explores this history with a touch of humor. Read more here.

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Grab a magic wand for potions class: Wizard-themed bar The Cauldron opens soon in Wicker Park

Who says muggles can’t practice magic? At The Cauldron, opening in May in Wicker Park, you’ll be able to put your wizarding skills to the test at a potion-making class, and dine on “magical” interactive food and drink in their restaurant or speakeasy-style bar. Read all about it here.

Stop making sense: Why a new Art Institute show on Dalí revisits surrealism at exactly the right time

The Art Institute’s new exhibit “Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears” celebrates the work of the Spanish artist best known for his part in the Surrealist movement, in a time where almost everything seems surreal.

“Perhaps because, after a century among us, surrealism has evolved into a catchall, removed from its political origins, less a movement than an adjective, a go-to description for any break from the usual,” writes Chris Borrelli. Read about Chicago’s role in the artistic movement and its contemporary reiterations here.

DC’s cherry blossoms coming early due to confusing weather

Unusually warmer weather means Washington, D.C.’s iconic cherry blossoms are appearing early this year. Officials announced this week that 3,700 cherry blossom trees would reach peak bloom this year from March 22-25. Read about what this could mean for the trees here.