my fiance and i are treating ourselves to see the radio city hall rockettes christmas spectacular in chicago (actually in rosemont). we're going dec. 16-18 and want to do some christmas-y things in downtown chicago.

i heard the walnut room (restaurant) at marshall field's has a big christmas tree in the middle of it. is it worth eating there? what else is very seasonal?

thanks, feliz navidad.

~sarah

Walnut Room, go and have a look at the tree which is covered in Swarovski crystal but I wouldn't wait the 2+ hours you will have to wait at that time of year to eat there, food is nothing special. Try the Atwood Cafe which is close by if you want a nice meal or Rick Bayless just opened up a "fast food" branch of his popular Frontera Grill restaurant in Marshall Field's on State. Be sure and check out the Tiffany mosaic ceiling while up looking at the tree. And of course check out the Marshall Field's windows, Cinderella is the theme this year.

Right across from Marshall Field's on State is the Christkindl Market, a great place to stop and have a bite to eat and shop, plus the city's Christmas tree in Daley Plaza which is one more block over. Also in the vicinity is the Cultural center which also has a couple of Tiffany glass domes and Garrett's Popcorn, a must stop if you like popcorn (cheese and caramel mixture is a favorite).

Other things-skating in Millennium Park, Christmas trees from around the world at the Museum of Science and Industry, holiday tea at various hotels (the Drake is the traditional place)

I would add seeing The Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol as well as The Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker. Both are definitive versions.

You should also check out metromix.com for more options.

thanks for the tips...i definitely would love to take in some ice skating and a holiday tea and will skip eating at the walnut room, but will still have look. and my fiance LOVES popcorn, so that's an excellent idea. i hope they have kettle corn for me

(thanks for the tips on the nutcracker and a christmas carol. i've seen both several times in columbus, so i'll pass on seeing them in chicago. 'preciate the tip, though.)

- i just looked at the drake hotel, and i think we'll go there after the rockettes show for dessert, wine, coffee and jazz music.

Woh, thanks Kristi. What great advice. We will be there on the weekend of 13-16 Jan. This is definately being saved. Sounds like we wont be able to do much outdoors stuff, due to the weather, so these are all great ideas.

aussie dreamer- unfortunately, most of Kristi's suggestions will be closed by the time you get here in January as they are very Xmas specific. You can still eat at the Walnut Room, for example, but without the tree is really is not recommended as the food there is not so good.

The Chriskindlmarkt will also be gone, by then as well Field's windows.

Millenium Park will still have their skating rink up and swinging, though.

Aussiedreamer, Aschie30 is correct, many of my suggestions wrap up before Christmas or just after New Year's Day. You can still have afternoon tea at the Drake although it's not a holiday tea and the skating rink at MP stays open past the holidays.

I would still recommend a stop at Marshall Field's to see the Tiffany ceiling and the Cultural Center, just a couple of blocks to the east, to see the Tiffany domes. You can travel between the two in the pedway which is underground and a bit warmer. And Garrett's popcorn is right across the street.

Chicago has a lot of excellent museums to spend your time in if it's cold, the well known ones such as the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute (free on Tues, open late on Thurs), Museum of Science & Industry and some lesser known ones such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Nature Museum and Chicago Historical Society. There's plenty to do in Chicago in every season!

bondgirl78, no kettle corn at Garrett's, just regular, cheese and caramel. Make sure you bring along wet naps if you plan on munching on the cheese while walking around ;-)

Thanks for all your help.

You MUST try the cheese and carmel combo. They are a match made in heaven.