On Saturday, December 8, 2012, we jumped into the van and drove down to Chicago, the city with the big shoulders, the windy city, the hog butcher of America! 
We started our adventure at the Kris Krindle festival (yes I spelled it right) at the Daley Plaza. While very crowded and cold, it did put us into the Christmas Sprit. We walked the few blocks to Macy’s Dept. store where we viewed the old-style windows, listened to the Salvation Army Band and strolled through the store.
From there it was only a short walk to Millennium Park. We watched the skaters and saw the famous “Bean” sculpture. 
From there it was off to Navy pier. We ate at Harry Carrey’s restaurant and saw a fellow who looked remarkably like Bill Early. He wasn’t. 
It was getting dark so we drove down to Michigan Avenue to view the beautiful white lights that Michigan Avenue is noted for at Christmas time. For better viewing (especially for the driver of our car), we parked, got some hot chocolate from Ghiardelli’s and took a half hour carriage ride. It was wonderful. Cathy and I had been to Chicago at Christmas time 25 years ago and we had always regretted not taking that carriage ride. It was getting late so we drove back north to Milwaukee for a late dinner at a place we had eaten at before when the girls were in school. The restaurant is called Louise’s and it’s on the Cathedral Park square. While they square no longer hosts the ice rink, it was decorated to the hilt with lighted trees and decorations,
Sunday morning included Mass at Gesu Church on the Marquette Campus and a visit to the Pabst Mansion on Wisconsin Avenue. Every year they tastefully deck it out for Christmas and this year was no exception. Both girls had a chance to meet up with friends from Milwaukee and we headed for home. The snow was falling pretty hard but we all wanted to make a stop in Sheboygan to see Jeane, the girls and her Christmas tree. The house looked wonderful and the cookies were delicious. Sunday night meant the Packer – Detroit game. Kathleen and a friend used the tickets and had a chance to watch a pretty good game.
Thanks for letting us share a special weekend with you.
Ken, Cathy, Kathleen and Erin.
