Over the weekend, some friends joined us for an impromptu get-together to play Ticket to Ride. After all, it's January, it's cold, it's full of doldrums… why not play a boardgame which takes you to exotic cities… like Duluth?
Amy, Megan, Branden, & Sarah take on TtR Europe
The 11 of us played every one of our TtR games, including the original USA version (with the USA 1910 Expansion), Europe (with the Europa 1912 Expansion featuring Warehouses & Depots), Switzerland, and Nordic Countries.
We got snow on Christmas Eve here in Chicago, so Amy and I took a walk around the neighborhood. Here are some things we observed — when we weren't throwing snowballs at each other…
Pretty lights
It's almost Christmas!
Amy & I continued our 4-year Christmas tradition of watching White Christmas at the Music Box Theatre as part of their annual Christmas Show.
Music Box Theatre in Chicago
It's a fun time where they not only show the movie, but also have a visit from Santa, group caroling, and all-around Chicago holiday fun. (For those interested, recap posts from our Christmas show visits in 2008 and 2009.)
Steve & Amy in blurry, cameraphone self-portrait at event
The Music Box has been putting on a double billing of White Christmas/It's A Wonderful Life for 27 years and it seems to be getting more and more popular.
This is Part 2 of our State Street Showdown 2010. Make sure you read our Introduction before continuing…
Disqualified: Macy's
Another year, another time to mourn the loss of Marshall Field's.
Red lights in the trees on State Street (Last year it was blue)
As tradition here at the State Street Showdown, we cannot award Macy's a 1st Place award by default, given that there are no other competitors. Also, because Macy's is the Spawn of Satan. Continue Reading…
Welcome to the 8th annual installment of the State Street Showdown, a yearly tradition here at SteveandAmySly.com. This series was started in 2003 to evaluate the holiday windows on State Street here in Chicago. Of course, back then we had numerous stores showcasing their art. Today we're down to just one… Macy's.
Amy & Steve at Chicago's official Christmas tree
Before we jump into the windows themselves, I like to use this introduction post to take a look at Christmas in downtown Chicago.
It's Election Day and being our civic duty to uphold the high level of corruption that Chicago is known for, we headed off to the polling place down the street.
Amy holds... a lame piece of paper
Unlike many of the suburbs and other parts of the city, we don't get cool "I Voted" stickers. Nope, our precinct is cheap, handing out these pieces of paper instead.
How Exciting!
I'm trying to hold back the emotion that this piece of paper evokes!
Last weekend we returned to Jonamac Orchards for some fall activity fun in their corn maze. You may recall that we first checked this place out last September.
Beautiful Fall Sky
Steve & Amy tackle the corn maze
Jonamac is located in Malta, IL, right off the Lincoln Highway near DeKalb. It just takes a bit of travel from the city. Hop on I-88 and keep driving for a while!
On Thursday night, Amy and I headed downtown to Millennium Park to catch some music as part of the "Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz 2010" series. We did this last year as well and really enjoyed the night of quality tunes under the stars.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion at night
In effect, taking part in something like this is a lot like going to Ravina, with the suburban "snootiness factor" dialed down considerably. Since there is a large lawn at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, you can bring along a blanket and chairs, dinner, and some wine, and just enjoy some great jazz.
Last night we headed over to Indian Boundary Park on the North Side to catch another one of the Chicago Park District's summer "Movies in the Park" showings. Over the years, we've experienced many of these free films, including Surf's Up, Kung Fu Panda, and The Bourne Ultimatum. This time around it was one of our favorites… Clue.
Eerie evening sky over "Clue"
We were joined by our friend Nick Rosario — as well as his sister Heather and her two daughters. We made some food and brought it with us to have a little picnic ahead of time, "poor man's Ravinia" style!
Amy & Steve
