There’s No Place Like State Street for the Holidays

For some unknown reason, it’s been a couple of years since I have gone into the city and visited State Street when it’s all dressed up for the holidays. I’ve visited the city itself in December, but I’m typically at the Christkindlmarket, on Michigan Avenue, or at some other area of town for a blogger event.

Over the weekend I was invited to see the group Straight No Chaser (they were amazing, by the way), Because the weather was supposed to be rather hellacious, I kept an eye on my weather app all morning and chose to head in much earlier than I needed to be in order to miss the blowing snow and icy roads, at least for the inbound leg of my commute.

I decided to hit State Street, because although it’s gorgeous year-round, it can be breathtaking during the holidays.

I made my way to Marshall Field’s to see the holiday windows and was not disappointed. They were simple and pretty for 2016, and the Cubs made an appearance in the one titled “Celebrate”. OH I HAVE BEEN. GO CUBS GO.

After spending a few minutes looking at the windows (and truly, only a few minutes: it was positively frigid outside), I entered the store and walked to the cosmetics department so I could gaze at one of my very favorite things in Chicago: The ceiling made of Tiffany Favrile glass. It was the first ceiling made like that and is the largest as well. I took the elevator up to the fifth floor, which is the ideal place to get up close and personal with the ceiling. It’s almost touchable! (Almost.) I wrote about it a few years ago.

After snapping a few pictures and some video of the ceiling, I went to the seventh floor to buy some Frango Mints. (YUM.) As luck would have it, they were more than half off for one day only, so I stocked up.

I noticed the line to get a table at the Walnut Room was insanely long, and that’s when I remembered the Great Tree. My friend Jen arrived and I took her to the eighth floor, which is where you can view the Great Tree (and everyone eating at the Walnut Room) from above. It was absolutely stunning.

I took a moment to remember how my Grandma took us to lunch at the Walnut Room when I was a little girl. That room brings back magical memories for me.

I’m so glad I made the decision to drive in early. An hour at Marshall Field’s on State, even with all the holiday crowds, is such a fun time. I need to visit more often.

Oh, and before you go, check out this bonus picture. It’s the Calder Flamingo outside the Federal Building. I love how the color basically flips the bird (ha, see what I did there?) at any typical dreary winter evening. That vermilion red will not be silenced.

Tomorrow? We’re talking holiday cookies.