We decided to take it easy this year for the Holidays since it was a stay at home year (even years we head back home to Olathe KS for the Holidays). We planned a day in downtown Chicago as a Christmas gift to the kids. Wayne and I kept it a secret until we arrived at our destination. We just told the kids get up, dress warmly (very cold day of course!), and get in the car! We actually did this event on Dec. 12th because Rhianna's surgery was scheduled for Dec. 16th and we knew we'd be stuck at home afterwards. We had to leave the house at 6am because Rhianna had to stop by the hospital for her paperwork and bloodwork to be done to get the ok for the surgery. Nobody was happy about that. Boy did we have a bunch of whiners in the backseat all the way there!
After the hospital adventure we headed downtown. My Mom and Step-Dad gave us a membership to the Museum of Science and Industry for Christmas so we stopped there first to check it out. WOW what an amazing place! We had only planned on spending a couple of hours there but, like The Field, there is no way to see even half of the place in a day let alone in a few hours. Boy are we thankful for the membership!
We then needed to find something to eat and while the museum had eateries we wanted something special (Wayne and I had already planned it but we had to act like we didn't have a clue...), something different. We headed to Ed Debevic's. Nick loved this place! I have to say that while the food is okay and nothing to complain about it's the service and experience that makes it worth adventuring downtown! They treat you very special... by insulting you and treating you like crap. It is so much fun. Something you simply MUST experience if you are in the Chicagoland area.
After filling our tummies we drove a little further South to stop by Macy's and the Walnut Room. Rhianna dropped off her Santa letter in a special mail box. Macy's was giving the Make-A-Wish Foundation a dollar for every letter they received. We support this organization as often as we can! What a wonderful bunch of folks they are and we could never thank the KC Chapter enough for the wish they granted Rhianna several years ago. Anyway, we got there finally found a parking space (at $20 per hour) and walked to Macy's. We looked around, went up to the Walnut Room and came back out. To say this place was packed and busy is an understatement! We can now say we've been there and don't have to do it again. :) After leaving Macy's we walked down the block to the Christkindlmarket - passing the CBS 2 station on the way. We stopped to watch the news cast through the windows and then went across the street to the Market. It was too cold to stay out there and explore for long but what a cool place. We are planning to go back to the Market in the future Holiday Seasons.
After our walking adventures we asked the kids if they wanted some dinner and, of course, they were very interested. We already had plans for our dinner but they had NO IDEA... We had found a unique adventure called Tommy Gun's Garage. It's dinner and a show - gangster style! We arrived and had to give a password to get in then were seated in the garage. Our order was taken by our gangster and served. Then the show started! The songs were great, the humor was very funny (and occasionally not for little ears) and a very pretty flapper embarrassed Wayne on stage. I took a few pictures in the beginning but was told that photography wasn't allowed ... too bad to because I could have gotten some great shots of Wayne blushing! During the show the speakeasy was raided by the cops and we all had to act like we were at a prayer meeting. Too funny! Yet another discovery that if you are in the area GO!
After a long day we headed back home and enjoyed the Holiday lights and light snow that was falling. To cap the evening off the kids all slept on the way home and for me it made for the perfect closing of a great day!
