Such strange temperatures have caused a lot of discussion about global warming, although I do know that we do get a warm day or two like things each winter, so it is inconclusive.

The temps should start dropping tomorrow and will be back to winter by the end of the week, so enjoy it while you can!

Chicago, weather

I always like seeing the different ways that the police officers in Chicago get around the city. My favorite is probably via horseback like the picture above. I have also seen police officers in cars (of course), four-wheeled all terrain vehicles, and even Segways. When patrolling down town it doesn’t really make sense to be in a car, especially when most of the people you are dealing with are on foot and not in a car. Segways are great for patrolling the parks, like Millenium Park and Grant Park because the paths are wide enough for it and they can patrol a large amount of area quickly.

Here are some shots that I took at a suburban train station yesterday, just for fun. (I was waiting for my husband to pick me up, so I had some extra time).

We had a lot of ice this week, which makes for some nice photographic opportunities (although it is not the most fun to have to walk through!)

Here is a shot that I took of a plant. I liked the contrast between the ice and the plant. (I know, I have too much time on my hands)

I hope to make posting my own creative photographs a regular feature on this blog. I figure that as long as they are in Chicago and the surrounding area that it fits with the topic. Chicago is about the details, not solely about giant landmarks and tourist attractions.

Fannie May Chocolate Ferry
Take the Chicago Water taxi on the weekends between now and December 23rd and not only will you get a free ride, you will also get free Fannie May Chocolate samples. This is a good way to get from downtown to Michigan Avenue shopping. You will also get a coupon for a free cup of hot chocolate at the Fannie May flagship store at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive.

Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge
Yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds. There are several locations, hopefully one near you. I have been to the one at Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, where my husband and I shared chocolate fondue. It was “research” because we planned to have a chocolate fountain at our wedding and we needed to know what tasted good dipped in chocolate. Of course the answer was “everything” and we ended up not using the fountain, but it was well worth the trip.

I have also stopped by the location at the 900 N Michigan building for a hot chocolate. Also recommended. They have comfortable chairs, so you can just stop in, get a delicious chocolate treat and rest your tired feet for awhile.

Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop
830 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Walk into this chocolate heaven and you will get a free sample of one of their signature chocolate squares. My favorite is the one with caramel, but they are all pretty great. In addition to chocolate treats, they also have a wide variety of ice cream products, like shakes and sundaes. My favorite is the World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae. I highly recommend it.

This is the last post in my 12 Days of Chicago series. I hope that I have given you some ideas of fun things that you can do in Chicago this Christmas season. The deadline for the accompanying contest is today at 12:00 p.m. Chicago time. If you have not yet entered, click here for more information.

Chicago, Ethel’s Chocolate Shop, Ghiradelli, chocolate, Fannie Mae

There are lots of opportunities throughout the city to visit with Santa and his helpers. While visiting Santa in a shopping mall, at Daley Plaza, or at a department store makes for a pretty run-of-the-mill Santa visit, there are some more elaborate ways you can meet with Santa, which makes the season a bit more fun.

One of the oddest ones that I found was a local suburb, Elk Grove Village, actually had a swim with Santa event. It makes me wonder, what exactly Santa wears while swimming? Does he take off his hat? Wear red swim trunks? Or will he just be hanging out while the kids swim?

Swim with Santa
December 16th, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Pavilion Aquatic Center
Elk Grove Village
$7 resident / $10 non-resident (pre-registration required)

Odyssey Cruise brunch with Santa
Three hour event featuring a two hour cruise
December 16th, 11:00 a.m. board time
Shoves off from Navy Pier
$52.90 per adult; $15 per child age 3-11*

Ride the CTA with Santa
Santa and his elves ride specific el trains throughout the holiday season and hand out candy canes.
They ride the trains, a different route depending on the day, from 1:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and 3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. on certain weekdays. Here are the dates for the remainder of the season:
* December 16 — Brown and Orange Lines
* December 17 — Brown and Orange Lines
* December 18 — Orange Line
* December 20 — Yellow Line
* December 21 — Purple Line Express
* December 22 — Red Line
For more information, visit the CTA website.

There you have it! Three unusual ways to spend some time with Santa this holiday season. Hopefully you can talk him into bringing you a Nintendo Wii.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Chicago, Christmas, Santa Claus, Swim with Santa, Odyssey Cruise, Navy Pier

Nothing says winter more than ice skating. In Chicago you have plenty of chances to lace up the skates and take a whirl, perhaps in a nice holiday sweater.

Millennium Park
Open now through March 16, 2008, weather permitting (it’s outdoors)
Cost: Free. Skate rentals are available for $9.
Hours: The rink is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Holidays: On Christmas Eve, the rink will be open from 10am to 6pm. On Christmas Day, the rink will be open from Noon - 8pm. (Please note that the rink will close at 8pm on Thursday, December 27 and Monday, January 7).

Navy Pier
Now through January 6th
Cost: part of Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest; Skating and skates rental included in cost of upgraded wristband, which is $18.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Holidays: On Christmas Eve the hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Chicago Park District
Located throughout the city
Hours vary
Check the link above times and places.

If ice skating is not your cup of tea, head to the United Center where you can watch the hockey professionals show you how it is done. Chicago Blackhawks tickets are still available for the remainder of the season and they are playing well this season, so you might want to check them out. The Chicago Wolves are another hockey opportunity and they play at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Gurnee Mills shopping plaza
6170 W. Grand Avenue, Gurnee IL (near Great America)
What’s makes it special: giant indoor outlet mall where you can get some great deals
Department Stores: Kohl’s, JcPenney, Sears Grand, Value City, Saks Fifth Avenue outlet
Places to eat after a long day of shopping: Two different food courts, Ruby Tuesday, The Rainforest Cafe
How to get there from the city: I-94 W to Gurnee Mills Circle East

I highly recommend Gurnee Mills as it is the kind of place that, after going once, was sad that I had not been before. Some tips, though: go early in the day because it gets incredibly crowded; wear comfortable walking shoes because it is a huge mall and your feet will get surprisingly tired. There is also a movie theater if you get bored with shopping and need to rest a while.

They have some unique stores that you cannot find in the city like Bass Pro Shops, Borders Outlet, and wide variety of others. For a full list of the store directory check out this listing here. They have varying hours over the next couple of weeks for the holidays, so be sure to check this link for hours before you head up there.

Woodfield Mall
Golf Rd. at Route 53, Schaumburg IL
What makes is special: It provides the real “mall” experience that you cannot really get in the city, providing lots of mid-to-high end stores under one roof
Department stores: Macy’s, JcPenney, Sears, Lord & Taylor
Places to eat after a long day of shopping: A&W, Stir Crazy, The Rainforest Cafe, Red Robin
How to get there from the city: I-90 W to Illinois Route 53, south to Woodfield Road

I certainly do not love Woodfield Mall the way I do Gurnee Mills, but I recognize that not everyone likes the “outlet” experience. For those people, Woodfield would be a good fit. It is also deceptively large, so wear comfortable shoes and get an early start to the day. There is certainly not a lack of places to shop or eat in the mall. For a full directory, check out this link.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Chicago, shopping, chicagoland, Gurnee Mills, Woodfield Mall

Here are a few options when it comes to holiday shows, although it is by no means an exhaustive list:

The Nutcracker
The Joffrey Ballet
December 12-30th (Friday-Sunday only)
Auditorium Theatre
50 E. Congress Parkway
I saw the Nutcracker performed when I was in the fourth grade it is a very memorable show, even to this day many years ago. It is a great show for younger kids, as well as adults. The music and performance is magical. Another version of The Nutcracker will be peformed in Naperville from December 14th-16th. Visit the North Central College website for more information.

A Christmas Carol
Now through December 29th
The Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Another version of the show will also be presented at the Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook Terrace.

The Second City’s Dysfunctional Holiday Revue
Now through December 31st
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
Arlington Heights

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
December 7-9, 14-16
Albright Theatre
Batavia
This is based on one of my favorite childhood books of the same name, which is authored by Barbara Robinson. The play version would no doubt be a fun show for children, especially if they haven’t been to a theater performance before. This type of play, which encourages children to attend is a good place for a child to go to their first show. They can be taught proper theater etiquette in a friendly environment.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Chicago, theater, ballet, Nutcracker, Joffrey Ballet, Christmas Carol, Second City

Therefore, one of the best things you can do to get in the holiday spirit in Chicago is just go for a walk. It is difficult not to get excited about decorating your own tree or wrapping some gifts after seeing how beautifully decorated the city is each year. The best part is that looking at decorations is free.

Michigan Avenue is decorated with millions of lights starting with the lights festival, and the rest of the city is not lacking in the lights department either. The outside of hotels throughout the city are also covered in lights, as are the majority of trees in the medians throughout downtown. Even the statues outside of the Board of the Trade get into the act, each lady holding a Christmas wreath.

Macy’s department store, in addition to its window display, also decorates the outside of its store for Christmas (see below).

Even the CTA gets in on the action, such as this el station on State Street which features a holiday train atop its entryway:

So one day on your way home from work or when you are rushing around, trying to finish your shopping, take a minute to slow down and look around. Taking in all the beautiful decorations is one of the things that makes Chicago great at Christmastime.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Chicago, Daley Plaza, Chicago Christmas, Nativity, Macy’s

I think zoo lights events can be a lot of fun. Many young children love the sparkly holiday lights and get memorized by all of the elaborate displays. As an adult I must admit I can be pretty impressed by the lengths the light displays can go to. I wonder what all of the animals think about all the extra lights and nighttime visitors?

For more information on the events, check out the official websites, which are listed above in the descriptions.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Chicago, Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, zoolights, zoos

Now that winter is here, Navy Pier is about to start their Winter Wonderfest event. It begins this Friday, December 7th, and runs through January 6th. Admission to the event is free, although you have to get a wristband to have access to the rides and activities. There are two different wristbands, one for $15 and one for $18. They both include an unlimited access to the rides and activities. The more expensive wristband allows you ice skating rental.

So what do you get for that money?

Arctic ice rink: A fun indoor ice skating rink which is an alternative to the outdoor skating rink at Millenium Park. The photo above is from the rink.

Ferris wheel: Although Navy Pier is famous for its outdoor ferris wheel, in the cold weather they have a great 50 feet indoor ferris wheel. Although you won’t get the great city views that you would from the outdoor ferris wheel, you will have a great view of the wonderfest.

Rides: There is a matterhorn spider web and a hand gliding ride. Also, there is a reindeer express train which allows you to see the whole fest while saving your energy for ice skating. There is also a carousel, inflatable games, and a ropes course.

Other Activities: You can watch a cabaret show or join your child in decorating holiday cookies.

For more information on attractions, visit the official site.

This post is part of the 12 days of Chicago series, which brings you 12 fun and interesting things that you can do for the holidays in Chicago. In conjunction with the series, this blog is sponsoring a holiday contest, which you can read about here.

Chicago, Navy Pier, Winter Wonderfest