Another year is in the books, but Chicagoans are not wasting any time this first weekend in 2022 as they begin a new chapter of enjoying their weekends!  Who’s with them!

If you couldn’t enjoy all the holiday festivities around town because you were too busy preparing for the holidays, here are a few you can still enjoy:

Wrapping up this Sunday is Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood.  Start off 2022 by brightening up the winter season with the biggest indoor, temperature-controlled light garden boasting more than 600,000 lights in Festival Hall. This event also features large-scale light-sculpture displays, a regulation-sized Alpine ice rink, an authentic holiday beer garden, kiddie train rides, Santa’s Merry Main Street, a gift market, and more!  Plus, each ticket includes a ride on the Pier’s Centennial Wheel complete with fully enclosed and heated gondolas!

Now through January 9^th, Winter in the Wildwood is an immersive walking holiday experience staged at the Otherworld Theatre (3914 N. Clark St.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  Audiences are transported to a Fae-Realm filled with holiday trees, lights, and magic where they’ll meet a magical Faun and uncover the truth behind the fading Wildwood lights and then embark on a quest to restore magic to the forest!  Along the way, you’ll also enjoy fairytale stories, puppetry, magicians, and one-of-a-kind photo ops!  Plus, each performance is unique and tailored to the audience and runs approximately 75 minutes.  Please note:  because this is an indoor experience, proof of vaccination and masking will be required.

If you’re looking for a twinkling display, a holiday market, and a tubing hill, then head on over to the Amaze Light Festival at Impact Field (9850 Balmoral Ave.) in Rosemont. This amazing seasonal attraction ends on Sunday and features light shows that include over one million lights, a 3-story lit tree, a trackless Artic Express and more along with seven illuminated worlds to explore!  Plus, guests can fill up on food and hot beverages before visiting a candy shop stocked with festive treats!!

Missed out on New Year’s Eve celebrations, or still want to celebrate the New Year? You’re in luck with the New Year’s Day Bar Crawl in Wrigleyville.  A ticket gets you admission, a breakfast buffet, gift cards and more!  So, start off 2022 with a drink in hand surrounded by your favorite friends for some fun, dancing, and laughing.  All the Wrigleyville best bars are within walking distance so you can spend more time partying with your friends as well. It’s a bar crawl you do not want to miss!!

Finally, for all the Chicago sports fans out there, here’s who’s in town this weekend:

The Chicago Bears host the New York Giants at Soldier Field this Sunday at 12 p.m.  Or, if you prefer, you can watch the Bears play on a big, big screen at Time Out Market Chicago.  Their screen is 32 feet wide by 6 feet tall, and there’s no need for a reservation!

The Chicago Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames this Sunday at the United Center at 6 p.m.

The Chicago Wolves host the Rockford IceHogs this Saturday (7 p.m.) and the Grand Rapids Griffins this Sunday (3 p.m.) at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

May you start your 2022 off on the right foot!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

The year 2021 ends with a bang on Friday, December 31, and with proper Covid-19 protections, can be celebrated with gusto! And for a great start in 2022, there’s brunch to be had at many Chicago restaurants. Here are a few opportunities with reservations still available:

Gold Coast: Planning to watch the biggest ever New Year’s Eve fireworks show on Lake Michigan? Harry Caray’s Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, features some of the best views of Chicago’s spectacular fireworks show. A special holiday menu includes your choice of a succulent Pork Tenderloin or Salmon Florentine, and Molten Lava Cake, or their Holy Cow! Burger, Pulled Pork, and other specialties from the regular menu. Soulful Chicago singer Paolo Apuli performs live. While Harry’s private igloos are already sold out, you can fulfill that New Year’s resolution to try something new by learning the sport of Curling on their lakefront patio!  Groups of up to 6 may reserve Harry’s Curling Rink for 45 minutes for $5 per person. For dinner reservations, click here.

Lakeview: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in your private igloo, decorated and lighted for the holidays,atBarcocina! Fur coats are optional (but recommended) while feasting on traditional sweet, smoky, and spicy Mexican cuisine, such as Spanish Octopus, served with black beans, fingerling potatoes and sherry vinaigrette with Calabrian peppers, or Firecracker Shrimp, which pairs charcoal-fired shrimp with apple slaw and cilantro-lime sauce, served with tortillas. Cozy indoor dining is also an option. Barcocina is located at 2901 N. Sheffield Avenue. New Year’s Eve reservations start at $75 per person. For more information, click here.

Lincoln Square: The Warbler, 4535 N. Lincoln Avenue, features a special four-course, $65 pre-fixe New Year’s Eve menu. Chef Ken Carter features specialties such as grilled sturgeon with creamy risotto, roasted bosc pears and braised Tuscan kale and brown butter vinaigrette, and Chicken Two Ways, with a roasted chicken breast and crispy fried thigh, savory bread pudding, miso gravy, and steamed bok choy with fresh cilantro. For reservations, click here.

River North/Lincoln Park:  ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος (Happy New Year in Greek). Avli’s locations in Lincoln Park and River North are going all-out to welcome in 2022 with a five-course dinner by Executive Chef Nikos Kapernaros, music by DJ’s Peter Cannellis & Gus Moros, dancing, and midnight champagne. Avli will host two seatings for New Year’s Eve, and take dinner reservations for their regular menu until 7:30 pm. The New Year’s Eve celebration is $125 per person. For reservations, click here.

Wicker Park: Amaru, 1904 W. North Avenue, shares their culture, history and passion for Latin American food and warm hospitality by offering an elegant four-course prix-fixe menu for $85 per person. The menu features your choice of Piononos – Plantains stuffed with chorizo, wrapped in bacon or Tuna Pomme souffle-Yellowfin tuna, truffle avocado, kabayaki, and Thai basil, followed by Bacalaito-Salt cod fritters, heirloom beets, and burnt garlic, or  Requeson & caviar-Sourdough, requeson, pomegranate glaze, caviar, baby celery. Entrees include a Rum-marinated black bass, yuca mofongo, chicory salad or Picanha-Traditional Brazilian steak, sun-dried tomato chimichurri, truffle boniato puree. And don’t forget dessert!  Choose between Ecuadorian chocolate truffles and champagne or Hazelnut dream- Chocolate, toasted hazelnuts, coconut hazelnut texture. Reservations are on Open Table.

New Year’s Day Brunches

Cots, jammies and overnight stays are unavailable, but Avlli is also open New Year’s Day, serving a self-described ‘decadent’ brunch, featuring stations for omelets, carving, seafood, and desserts, along with other brunch favorites. For an additional $25, bottomless mimosas & bellinis will start the new year right. Avli’s Lincoln Park Taverna is located at 1335 W. Wrightwood Avenue, and the River North address is 702 N. Wells Street.  For reservations to all of Avli’s celebrations, click here.

Come in your pajamas to Café Ba Ba Reeba, 2024 N. Halsted Street between 9am and 3pm, and receive a certificate for a future meal equal to the price of your meal, (excluding tax and gratuity)! According to Trumba.com,  this venerable Spanish tapas restaurant includes complimentary churros con chocolate & fresh squeezed orange juice. Reservations are available by clicking here.

Another pajama favorite is Kitsch’n On Roscoe, at 2005 W. Roscoe. The Wicker Park hangout has served ‘Chicago’s Original Hangover Brunch’ since 1998. Specialties include Green Eggs n’ Ham, with scrambled eggs, nut-free basil pesto, smoked ham, scallions, spinach and rosemary hash browns. Also, Pesto Eggs In A Basket -Texas toast griddled with eggs cooked over-easy inside, cherry tomato, nut-free pesto with rosemary hash browns. Indoor dining, as well as a tented and heated backyard patio and enclosed sidewalk café are available for full winter ambience.  Reservations are available by clicking here.

Lifting a glass to a healthy, happy New Year!

Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago

Home technology has greatly improved over the last few years, helping to increase convenience and energy efficiency. But some smart home features carry more value than others. Here are some that will not only help you enjoy your home more, but will also help increase its appeal to buyers and potentially drive up the sales price when you are ready to sell.

Smart Thermostats. Smart thermostats can be controlled with your smartphone and allow you to schedule temperature adjustments based on your family’s schedule. Not only does this help you maintain ultimate comfort in your home, but helps you save on energy costs since heating and cooling will be reduced when appropriate. The Nest Thermostat has earned glowing reviews and almost universal praise, so it’s one of the surest bets for your home.

Automatic Lighting. Lighting is an overlooked part of home security—leaving the lights on in the evening can deter burglars because the lights suggest someone is home. With automatic and smart lighting systems, you can program your lights to come on in the evening or use your smartphone to turn on the lights before you arrive at home.

Smart Alarms. Gone are the days of controlling your security system from a panel inside the home. Now you can turn them on and off, view camera footage, and even speak through the system to your family members or visitors from anywhere using your phone.

Solar Panels. Although they are a bit of an investment up front, solar panels are a great way to create an energy-efficient home. Aside from saving you money on your energy bills, solar panels are great for the environment. Plus, they also look attractive as far as roofing goes.

With the Christmas season coming to its spectacular conclusion this weekend, this is the last chance for you and your family to experience some very special holiday events in the city. Don’t miss out on these amazing experiences for you and your loved ones!

Thursday, December 23 marks the final 2021 showing of the 38^th Annual Music Box Christmas Sing-A-Long and Double Feature of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life,’ and ‘White Christmas.’ Santa welcomes the audience and, accompanied by Music Box organist Dennis Scott, leads you in the singing of the most cherished Christmas carols of all time. For tickets, click here.

 Christkindlmarket in Downtown Chicago at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street, closes on Friday, December 24. But it’s not too late for last-minute holiday shopping for unique, handmade and imported gifts, the smell of roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, bratwurst and hot spiced wine, family-friendly events & intercultural activities! Special holiday hours are 11am-8pm on Thursday, December 23, and 11am-4pm on Christmas Eve, December 24.

That said, Christkindlmarket continues in the Wrigleyville location at Gallagher Way through December 31, with the same delicious smells and holiday shopping opportunities! 

Zoolights continues through January 2 at Lincoln Park Zoo, with free admission on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 4pm–10pm daily. Wednesday-Sunday, admission is just $5. Thousands of twinkling lights and light sculptures greet visitors as you walk through the Pepper Family Wildlife Center, the Main Mall, and the South Lawn. Visit with Santa through December 23, make your way through the Light Maze, and make yourself a s’mores snack! And the 18-foot holiday tree is sure to inspire festive oohs and ahs!

The Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker, reimagined by Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon, ends its 2021 run at the Lyric Opera House,  20 N. Upper Wacker Drive, on Sunday, December 26. In this version, young Marie and the Nutcracker Prince are sent on a Christmas Eve journey through the 1893 World’s Fair. All attendees eligible to receive an approved COVID-19 vaccine (ages 12 and older) are required to show proof of vaccination prior to attending a Joffrey performance and/or event through December 2021 at Lyric Opera House. Patrons are also required to wear protective face coverings at all times. For tickets, click here.

‘It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!’ is also a live, interactive show at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, presented by the American Blues Theatre. The Chicago Tribune gives it a rave review, saying the show is “filled with original music and classic holiday carols, this warm tale is the don’t-miss show this holiday season!” Directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside, with an original score by Austin Cook, the show remains the story of George Bailey – the Everyman from small-town Bedford Falls, who falls into despair and suicidal thoughts as his dreams of escape and adventure were stopped by family obligation and civic duty. Santa visits the show on December 24, which runs through December 31. Tickets are $25-$65. Click here for more information.

And for an indoor experience you and your family won’t soon forget – Navy Pier’s ‘Light Up The Lake’  runs through January 2 and features a sprawling light garden of large-scale sculptures, with more than 600,000 twinkling lights; an Alpine ice rink; authentic holiday beer garden; kiddie train rides; Santa’s Merry Main Street and other family-friendly and date-night activities. Additionally, take a a ride on the iconic Centennial Wheel! For tickets, click here.

Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago

It’s been a rough year financially for most of us – understandably. Yet, many are still feeling anxious over seemingly mandatory Holiday traditions.

Here’s why (and how) that should change:

It’s affecting everyone. From elderly relatives on a fixed income to younger twenty-somethings just getting started, it can be a financial drain to purchase Holiday gifts for a lengthy list of relatives and friends.

People are more reasonable than you think. If discussed openly and honestly, most adults are perfectly ok with buying themselves what they need and want for the Holidays! We’re all in the same boat, and are aware of how quickly a perfectly good Holiday can turn into a stressful experience. 

Supply chain problems. Lack of supply in stores caused a bit of a panic this year, but if you plan ahead, it doesn’t have to be catastrophic. My family decided to exchange gift cards. Perhaps a gift to someone’s favorite charity could work too. 

Kids will be kids. Of course, children can’t buy their own gifts! Remember though: most young kids are pretty happy whatever they get. Heck, some of the youngest of the bunch even love the box! 

As the kids get older and begin to have more expectations, simply ask for a wish list. It can also be great to give an “experience” gift. Does your kid love sports? Buy private lessons. Do they love music? Get tickets to see their favorite band. 

Pro-tip: don’t be afraid to speak honestly with your older kids and manage their expectations for gifts! They might be a little disappointed, but not nearly as disappointed if they had been given false expectations.

You’re not alone. I have been reading more often about many families that have decided to pass on gift giving between the adults in the family, and given the circumstances, it makes perfect sense. 

Bottom line, if you have angst or anxiety about buying presents during what is supposed to be a joyful season, you should give it up altogether. It’s not worth your peace of mind!

Here at the end of 2021, we have almost an entire year to give the idea a chance. If we start now, by next Thanksgiving we should be able to convince a majority of the family that this is the way to a stress free holiday season!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago