Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Whether for religious reasons or because of work, not everyone is celebrating the holiday today.
For those who don't celebrate Christmas today (or any day) Dec. 25 can still be a nice day. Almost everyone has the day off, so maybe you take advantage of that to spend the day with family and friends. Downtowns, parks and streets are usually empty, so perhaps you hit a favorite ethnic restaurant that's open or go for a quiet run or long walk. For those working, the day often means visits from family bearing the gift of a home-cooked meal and the promise of a Christmas celebration on another day. What's your non-Christmas Christmas Day tradition?
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Last minute holiday shoppers are in luck. Some stores will be open all night until Christmas Eve, so get going!
No more procrastinating. You have three days left to get that Christmas shopping done. But it should be easier to finish up with special all night hours at several big store chains including Macy’s and Toys R Us. Both stores are open round the clock until Christmas Eve. Holiday hours at area malls Gurnee Mills is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christma Eve. Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. Mallseeker.com lists all malls in Illinois and their websites, which includes the hours. Stores like Kohl’s have …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Bring a little Christmas cheer to those young and old who will be spending this holiday in the hospital by donating an ornament to HOPE Ornaments.
Living with a high blood pressure disease that has caused blackouts and seizures, Lyzzi Elliott, 28, of Grayslake, has spent several holidays in a place no one wants to be—a hospital. She's made it her mission to bring Christmas cheer to others in the same situation, by collecting holiday ornaments to donate to hospitals throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. Elliott said she was inspired to establish HOPE Ornaments seven years ago after bringing an ornament to her friend's daughter, who was hospitalized with leukemia. "The moment she saw the ornament she smiled, and it changed everything," said Elliott, who understands what it's like to be stuck in a hospital bed for the holidays instead of celebrating at home with family and friends. Elliott…
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Our Deck the House Contest ends tomorrow. Upload a photo of your home’s holiday decorations today for your chance to win $100,000 for your local school district.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Patch editors from across Chicagoland share some of their favorite Christmas recipes.
Patch.com editors from across the Chicago area dug into their cookbooks and came back with some of their favorite holiday recipes to share with readers. We hope you enjoy. Happy Holidays! Share your favorite holiday recipes with Patch! Send your recipe as well as any photos to Editor Amie Schaenzer at amie.schaenzer@patch.com and we will include your recipe in this article.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Patch put together a map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms for the northern Chicago suburbs.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Patch put together a map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms for the northern Chicago suburbs.
Are you one of the 21 percent of United States homes that have a real Christmas tree? That's the number of people that opt for the real deal, according to the University of Illinois Extension's Christmas Tree fact page, compared to 48 percent who chose to have an artificial tree. (The rest don't have a tree.) If so, then perhaps you're also part of the 21 percent of those with real trees who like to cut them down yourself at a tree farm. Patch has assembled this map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in the vicinity of the northern Chicago suburbs. Click on the pins for more information about the farm or move the map around and zoom in on an area near you. Happy chopping!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Finding the joy in the season even when facing a holiday with loss.
The holidays can be the hardest. You can be going along just fine, getting through the days with little problem, and then the holidays hit. That is when the loss comes home again. If you have ever lost someone very close to you, you know what I mean. If you never have, (1) count your blessings and (2) you can stop reading now. You won't get it. How could you? For those who have lived through the loss of someone so special, you know. You are a member of the club that no one wants to belong to. You know about loss, and about getting through it fairly well, until the holidays roll around again. That is when, no matter how well you think you are doing, your throat gets tight again. It hurts to breathe again. One carol on the radio can put you …
Thousands of local kids won’t get Christmas presents this year after a former volunteer with a Chicago “Toys For Tots” program allegedly embezzled at least $25,000 from the well-known charity, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
More than 400 people are participating in the annual Christmas pageant at the Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church in Lake Zurich on Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18.
For the past 10 years, Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church has entertained the community with its annual Christmas pageant. The church will present its program —Bethlehem's Cry Heard Around the World — during four performances to be held Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18. "It's a great way to celebrate Christmas," said Pastor Dave Rende. More than 400 people participate in the annual pageant, from preschool-age children to the adult choir. The play is under the direction of Linda Scudder, wife of the church's founder, James Scudder. Linda Scudder started the music program at Quentin Road Bible Baptist 40 years ago. "It's exciting," Scudder said of the pageant. "It's the people doing it out of love for the Lord and just wanting to do something for …
Uh oh
8:25 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Omg I feel bad for all of you... more ›