It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (2009 Edition, Part 13)

The wreaths are up on the Michigan Avenue bridge.  A couple of years ago the lights were changed from incandescent to something ghostly blue, maybe LEDs.  Sadly, the new lights can't compete with all of the other lights on Michigan Avenue.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (2009 Edition, Part 11)

The huts and tents for the annual Christkindlmarkt are being assembled in Daley Plaza (55 West Randolph Street).  It's a great event that I go to at least twice a year. There's nothing like eating a hot pretzel, or candied nuts, or a big hunk of schnitzel with snowflakes falling around you.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (2009 Edition, Part 9)

It looks like the cool color for Christmas lights this year is blue.  At least that's what's been installed along State Street in the Loop.  These are in front of the Harold Washington Library (400 South State Street). Unfortunately, they're not warm incandescent holiday blue, they're the cold techno-blue given off by LED lights.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (2009 Edition, Part 8)

A workers intertwines Christmas lights with the denuded extremities of a Michigan Avenue tree.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2009 edition, part 6)

Crews are festooning the trees at the Lincoln Park Zoo (North Stockton Street at Webster Street) with lights in anticipation of this year's Zoo Lights event.  It's another great way to show your kids that Christmas doesn't come in a box, and that Christmas spirit can be had for free.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (2009 Edition, Part 10)

The City of Chicago's official Christmas tree is up in Daley Plaza (55 West Randolph Street).  Instead of being dozens of trees lashed together, this year it's just one tree spotted in Mundelein by a tree scout.  Now there's a career I'd never considered before.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2009 edition, part 5)

The wreaths and garland are up along North Clark Street.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2009 edition, part 4)

The John Hancock Center Christmas tree arrived overnight and sits in the plaza awaiting decoration.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2009 edition, part 3)

Inspired by our series of posts about Christmas in Chicago (1 & 2), one of the usual suspects e-mailed in a few photos of her own.  It looks like the Christmas train display is now up and running in the basement of the John Hancock Center (875 North Michigan Avenue).

If you haven't been before, you should make an effort to go this year.  Or even better, make it a family tradition.  

Each day (according to Google Analytics), thousands of people from the suburbs read this blog.  This is a good year to take the kids into the city for a day of holiday walking around.  Look at the trains at the John Hancock Center, then walk down Michigan Avenue and get some popcorn at Garrett's (625 North Michigan Avenue). Next, wander into the Loop to look at the display windows at Macy's on State Street (111 North State Street), swing by Daley Plaza to take in the city's official Christmas tree sharing the plaza with the massive Picasso statue (55 West Randolph Street), then grab some hot chocolate and enjoy the sights in Millennium Park.  

The whole thing will cost you less than ten bucks. Do it every year to teach your children the joys of the holidays, and that Christmas spirit doesn't have a big price tag or come from Wal-Mart -- it's just the joy of being with someone you love.

Need tips on getting in, getting out, getting around and things to see for free with your kids?  Just e-mail me at editor@chicagoarchitecture.info and I'll be happy to help you out.

Now -- more pictures of the trains.  And thanks to everyone who e-mails in their pictures of Christmas in Chicagoland.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2009 edition, part 2)

A bundle of Christmas lights hangs from a tree on Michigan Avenue waiting to be deployed any minute now.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas (2009 Edition, Part 1)

Sure, it's just a chunk of black metal, but it's also the harbinger of the holiday season.  The base for the Christmas tree has been put in place in the plaza of the John Hancock Center (875 North Michigan Avenue).  Nearby, crews are putting the lights up in the trees that line the Magnificent Mile, and in the Loop, Macy's is working on its annual Christmas window displays.

And to think, I still have one more pumpkin to carve for Halloween.

Daley Plaza Isn't a Trailer Park

What's the difference between the Daley Center and a trailer park?  The Daley Center isn't waiting until April to take down its Christmas decorations.  The last of the trees that made up the massive city Christmas tree have finally been hauled away.  This picture was snapped on Friday, January 23rd as crews were removing the last bits of it.  Still, the fresh scent of pine hung in the air in a soothing way.  It was a nice contrast to the incessant blaring of taxi horns as the hacks honk at invisible leprechauns on their dashboards or whatever it is that causes their antisocial insolence.