The staff of Chicago's North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau wishes you and your families a very safe, happy and healthy holiday season. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to work with all of you throughout the past year and we are looking forward to bringing even more visitors to our beautiful region in 2007.
Happy Holidays!
Gina Speckman, Executive Director
Kimberly Wright, Senior Sales Manager
Jennifer Williams, Sales Manager
Caryn Shulman, Tourism Marketing Manager
Johnnice Chew, Office Manager
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Dozens of Native American artisans, from throughout the Chicago area and beyond, will be exhibiting and selling their work at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian's Native Arts Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 2 (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) and Sunday, December 3 (noon - 4:00 p.m.). One-of-a-kind tabletop mobiles inspired by classic geometric shapes will make their first appearance at the museum's annual bazaar when retired University of Chicago medical scientist-turned-sculptor Robert N. Beck, a member of the Comanche tribe, exhibits mobiles he calls "jewelry for the home." Beck, the featured artist at this year's bazaar, will exhibit on 12/3 only and will give a presentation about his mobiles at 1:00 p.m. that day. Admission to the bazaar is included with an entrance donation to the museum. Suggested donation is $5 for adults; $2.50 for seniors, students, and children. Maximum suggested admission per family is $10. For more information, please call 847-475-1030 or visit www.mitchellmuseum.org.
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Take a magical trip this holiday season to a winter wonderland of twinkling lights, garden-scale trains, miniature Chicago landmarks and beautiful horticulture displays when the "Wonderland Express" arrives, for the first time ever, on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Inside the new Regenstein Center, you'll see the magnificent Wonderland Express, a 10,000 square-foot exhibit of miniature trains which wind over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls and through dozens of Chicago's favorite landmarks! Designer of the Model Railroad Garden, Paul Busse created this amazing exhibit exclusively for the Chicago Botanic Garden's holiday celebration. A sight to behold! Other holiday activities at the Garden include the 4th Annual Reindog Parade (Dec 2), a Hanukkah Dinner and Concert (Dec 18) and Breakfast with Santa (Dec 23). For more information about these and other holiday events, please call 847-835-5440 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.
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This grand opening of the Homestead's new restaurant, Quince at the Homestead, is right around the corner! Scheduled to open on Wednesday, December 6, Chef Mark Hannon (who was most recently with Azul at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami), has created a unique and truly exciting Contemporary American menu including such signature dishes as Seared Scallops, Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Roquefort risotto and sweet and sour carrots, Pan-Roasted Wild-Striped Bass with Italian sausage, corn, and a roasted pepper ragout, and Roasted Duck Breast with poached pears, bacon-braised greens and a sweet and sour glaze. The restaurant will be open every day for dinner (except Monday) and for Sunday Brunch. A New Year's celebration is also being planned. For more information and reservations, please call 847-570-8400.
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Kimberly Wright, CNSCVB Director of Sales, recently exhibited at two trade shows. From October 31 through November 2, she participated in the Christian Meetings & Convention Association's (CMCA) "Fall Showcase" in Overland Park, Kansas. Over 50 meeting planners visited the booth and several requests for proposals (RFPs) were obtained. CMCA is part of the Social/Military/Educational/ Fraternal/Religious (SMERF) market and is comprised of highly influential religious meeting planners. Later in November, Kimberly along with representatives from the Hilton Garden Inn Evanston and the DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center attended the Meeting Planner International - Wisconsin Chapter Expo in Madison. This very popular regional show attracted 100+ meeting planners who stopped by the booth to learn more about the many amenities the North Shore has to offer. According to Gina Speckman, CNSCVB executive director, expanding the Bureau's trade show schedule to accommodate more small, targeted trade shows has paid off in new business for the region.
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The public is invited to attend the Evanston Historical Society's Annual Holiday Open House, which takes place on Sunday, December 10 in the spectacular Charles Gates Dawes House. This highly anticipated event will feature free tours of the Dawes House decorated in all its glory for the holidays, live entertainment, refreshments and a kids' "winter craft" area, which will be open from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The Dawes House will also be home to a Holiday Food Drive benefiting Evanston and Chicago area residents. Coordinated in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, donations of nutritious, non-perishable foods (no glass, please) will be accepted on December 8, 9, and 10 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information, please call 847-475-3410 or visit www.evanstonhistorical.org.
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Directed by Joyce Piven and based on four short stories by Anton Chekhov, these world premiere adaptations illustrate the personal journeys and self-discoveries of four 19th century women poised on the brink of 20th century liberation. This production is recommended for ages ten and up. Post show discussions are available upon request. For more information, please call 847-866-8049 or visit www.piventheatre.org.
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The Hotel Orrington offers a fabulous holiday package for Westfield Old Orchard shoppers. Not only will you enjoy luxurious accommodations with deluxe linens and Aveda products, use of the Fitness Center, free Internet service, breakfast for two in the Globe Café and two  complimentary beverages in the Indigo Lounge, but you'll also receive a $50 Gift Card to be used at Westfield Old Orchard. Weekday room rate for this wonderful package is $249, and the weekend rate is $279. For more information and to make reservations, please call 847-866-8700 or visit www.hotelorrington.com.
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 To help ensure that people always remain aware of the lessons of the Holocaust, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced a $1 million grant to support construction of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, which is expected to host 250,000 school children each year. The Holocaust, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 6 million Jews, remains the world's worst example of intolerance, hatred, and violence in history. "It's been sixty years since the Holocaust," said Gov. Blagojevich. "It's important that our children learn about what happened and understand the struggle, hope, and courage of the Holocaust victims and survivors. The more we remain aware of the human potential for genocide, the stronger we remain on guard against it. This museum will keep these memories alive to teach the world important lessons about hatred and survival." The $25 million, 65,000 square-foot facility (adjacent to the Edens Expressway) is scheduled to open in 2008. For more information, visit www.illinoisholocaustmuseum.org.
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For the fourth year in a row, the hotel partners of Chicago's North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau will be spreading cheer this holiday season by offering complimentary hotel rooms to families with loved ones in local hospitals. From Monday, December 11 through Thursday, December 28, area hotels will be providing free overnight stays to those whose relatives are unable to leave the hospital to be with family and friends. "This is a wonderful program," says Gina Speckman, executive director of Chicago's North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The hotel managers are being extremely generous," she adds. "They are helping to lessen the financial and emotional challenges many family members face when caring for a loved one who must remain in the hospital during the holidays."
The program originated 15 years ago when Ed Copeland, General Manager of the Comfort Inn Skokie, decided to offer hotel rooms during the holidays to the families of patients being cared for at Rush North Shore Medical Center. The program evolved through the years, and was so successful, that it ultimately grew to include 10 local hotels and three hospitals!
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The Clean Plate Club Restaurant Group, which consists of Davis Street Fishmarket, Pete Miller's Seafood and Prime Steak, and Merle's Barbecue (all in Evanston), has a very special offer this holiday season. For every $100 you purchase in gift cards, you will receive a complimentary $25 certificate, which can be used at any of the four restaurants listed above. And, if you're planning a big holiday dinner, consider Merle's smoked turkey to go ($34.99/ serves 6-8 people). Merle's also offers a variety of tasty fixins' including their homemade stuffing, sweet potato cornbread and scrumptious pumpkin cheesecake. Orders must be received by December 22 for Christmas. For more information, please call 847-332-2993 or visit www.cleanplate.net.
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The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts has a terrific lineup in December including the Moscow Cats Theatre (the only entertainment of its kind in the world to feature non-stop action by a troop of talented felines), Centre East's presentation of "The Nutcracker" (performed by the Civic Ballet of Chicago), Northlight Theatre's "Bad Dates" (an uproarious smash hit comedy about a single mother who struggles to raise her daughter, run a popular restaurant, and find her way back to the dating scene in modern-day Manhattan), "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (Evanston Dance Ensembles' beloved story ballet takes you on a fantastic journey through the magical world of Narnia!), Centre East's "Zyngara: New World Cirque", an extraordinary theatrical kaleidoscope of sound, movement and light as six actor/dancer/acrobats bring carnival mysteries to life, Dudu Fisher celebrates the holidays as Fisher unleashes the full power of his magnificent voice in this electrifying showcase of songs and The Lettermen perform a new show saluting Broadway. Ars Viva! Symphony Orchestra presents "Amahl and the Night Visitors", an opera which tells the heart-warming story of a crippled shepherd boy, his destitute mother and their encounter with the three star-guided kings. This show captures the true meaning of the holidays. For date and time information and tickets for any of the above, please call 847-673-6300 or visit www.northshorecenter.org.
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Here's a how-de-do! Victorian England meets an imaginary imperial Japan in this sparkling send-up of all things British, by the renowned musical theater team of Gilbert and Sullivan. When the Mikado threatens to reduce the town of Titipu to a mere village unless someone is beheaded, his subjects must find a way -- in brilliant rhyme and tuneful song -- to let joy reign supreme. This production is a holiday treat for the entire family (ages 6 and older). For more information, please call 847-869-6300 or visit www.lightoperaworks.com.
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Be sure to welcome 2007 in style with First Night Evanston, Illinois' largest New Year's Eve Festival of the Arts. With 117 performances, 40 artists, 19 stages and midnight fireworks, this year's First Night promises a fantastic celebration for the entire family! In addition to specially priced overnight packages at Evanston hotels, First Night Evanston also features free shuttle service, free parking at designated lots and free metered street parking. You won't want to miss this spectacular New Year's Eve extravaganza! For more information, visit www.firstnightevanston.org or call 847-475-NITE or for a complete schedule of events.
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