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Saturday, November 9, 2024

Guide to Christmas in Chicago: 2024 Edition

Christmas in Chicago:  2024 Guide

This is the ultimate Christmas in Chicago Guide for 2024.  We bring it back for the 2024 Christmas Holiday season.

The Christmas Holiday in Chicago is magical.  Bringing with it great excitement and seasonal celebrations.  Christmas is truly special in the Chicago area as the city comes to life.  The Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park are vibrant during this magical time of year with folks ice skating in Millennium Park or viewing the majestic Chicago Christmas Tree.

Chicago celebrates Christmas like no other with special exhibits, pub crawls, dazzling Holiday light displays, live theatre productions, magical holiday transportation, and many shops and Christmas markets during the Christmas Holiday season in Chicago.  Christmas in Chicago is so magical that we have put this ultimate Christmas Guide to Christmas in Chicago for your convenience.

Included is a special Christmas Gift - see video of Christmas in Chicago below.

Released:  November 9, 2024


Table Of Contents


Christmas in Chicago Video




Merry Christmas!!

Looking for Christmas gifts?

  • We offer a selection of Merchandise, Journals, and "Create Your Own Recipe" books on the Available Products and  Available Books page
  • Order by December 15, 2024 for delivery before Christmas

Dazzling Holiday Lights

ZooLights at Lincoln Park zoo - The Lincoln Park zoo is decked out and lit up by more than 2.5 million colorful lights.  Includes moving displays set to music, wonderful ice sculptures, and much more.  Lincoln Park zoo also usually offers special events like an adult night out and pop-up bar.

  • Dates:  November 15, 2024–January 5, 2025
  • Cost:  $7–$10, Free Admission Select Mondays
  • Adults Night Out:  Thursday December 12th – Catch Zoo lights while while you enjoy festive music, warm food and drinks, games, holiday characters, and a variety of photo ops.  

Brookfield Zoo hosts a Holiday Magic Display - Christmas in Chicago means Brookfield Zoo is decked out with Christmas decorations and over 2 million twinkling LED lights.  It includes a Tunnel of Lights with thousands of colored lights synchronized to music.

Meet Santa this holiday season at the Zoo! Visit him from November 22 to December 22, between 5-8 p.m.

  • Dates:  November 22-24, 29-30 and December 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-31, 2024
  • Tickets strongly advised to be purchased in advance:  $29.95 - $34.95 for adults, $24.95 - $28.95 for seniors, and $20.95 - $24.95 for children aged between 3 and 11.  Parking is an extra charge

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo - Holiday Magic


Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape - This illuminated and immersive experience has visitors explore the botanic garden after dark.  The glow of twinkling lights is mesmerizing with different installations around every corner of the walking path.  

  • Dates:   November 15, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape
Chicago Botanic Lightscape



Illumination:  Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle -  This is a dazzling illuminated outdoor experience set to music.  The mile long path winds through the arboretum and offers magical and captivating lighting displays.  Along the trek cozy up by the fires, grab some hot chocolate, or make some s’mores.

  • Dates:  Saturday, November 16, 2024, through Saturday, January 4, 2025, open daily 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.


Christmas at Cantigny -  Explore a dazzling array of experiences as you stroll through a ½-mile, fully ADA- and stroller-accessible path. Along the way, music-orchestrated light shows, festive decorations, larger-than-life flower sculptures, and a towering 28-foot Christmas tree will enchant you.  You can also step inside the beautifully adorned McCormick House, a unique opportunity to explore this historically preserved home, blending history with holiday charm for a special addition to your visit.

  • Dates:  November 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025 (select dates)
  • Address:  1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
  • Cost:  Depends on day of week,  Adult Advance tickets range from $15 - $25


See the Chicago Christmas Tree - The massive tree lights up the heart of iconic Millennium Park.  It is adorned in twinkling lights and makes the perfect holiday photo opp. The tree shines brightly near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street.

  • Dates:  November 22, 2024—January 8, 2025
  • Tree Lighting Ceremony: Friday, November 22, 2024 @ 6pm, pre-show at 5pm

Chicago Christmas Tree
Chicago Christmas Tree


Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade -  A thrilling holiday celebration: A day-through-night, mile-long extravaganza drawing more than one million celebrants.

  • Date:  November 23, 2024


Magical Christmas Drive Thru at Santa's Village Dundee - Enjoy over 3 million lights synchronized to holiday music, dazzling displays,  and Santa himself.  At the end of the route you are able to park and enjoy the new 300 foot tube slide and entertainment.

  • Dates:  Select nights November 29th – December 29th, 2024
  • Cost:  $35 per vehicle
  • Note:  Santa Visits will run thru December 23rd, 2024




Low Cost Holiday Walking Tour

Chicago Holiday Tour - The tour takes you through parts of downtown Chicago and get to visit some of Chicago's favorite holiday spots, visit the traditional Chicago Christmas tree, scope out good places for ice skating, and discover places to grab an indulgent dessert.  This walking tour is guided by Free Tours by Foot.  Reservations are required ahead of time at Chicago Holiday Tour.

  • Dates:  November 22-23, 29-30 and December 6-7, 13-14, 20-21
  • Duration:  Approx. 1.5 hours. Total walking a bit over one mile (1.6km)
  • Start Location:  The Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 by the cow statue



Winter Wonderlands

Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier - A massive indoor holiday experience includes an authentic beer garden, a gift market, activities for kids, and a light garden made of large-scale sculptures. Also the indoor Alpine ice rink means skating thrills without any of the chills.

  • Dates:  November 29, 2024 – January 5, 2025
  • Cost:  Admission is free.  Activities ice rink, slide, axe throwing are $5 - $47

Winterland at Gallagher Way – This includes family-friendly activities, new interactive experiences, along with returning favorites, including Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville and the Gallagher Ice Rink, with the rink now located inside the iconic ballpark.  

  • Tree Lighting Ceremony:  Friday, December 06, 2024 @ 6 PM – 7 PM   |   Free
  • Winter Market Dates:  
    • Friday, December 6: 4 to 9 p.m.
    • Saturday, December 7: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Sunday, December 8: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Winterland Dates:  December 6-22, 2024
  • Winterland Days and Hours:
    • Thursdays | 4 to 9 p.m.
    • Fridays | 4 to 9 p.m.
    • Saturdays | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Sundays | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Christmas Movie Nights:  Elf:  December 12,  Home Alone:  December 19
  • Tickets: Admission to Gallagher Way is FREE and requires no tickets. Ride tickets will be available on site for purchase.


Magical Holiday Transportation

CTA Holiday Train – This is a beloved Chicago tradition.  A CTA holiday train makes its way through the city usually in December.   The six-car train is decorated with holiday scenes and thousands of sparkling lights. Hop on board to meet the elves handing out candy. Don’t forget to wave to Santa, whose sled replaces the head car. 

  • Dates:  2024 dates have not been announced, check back in mid November - select dates and CTA Lines


CTA Holiday Bus – The CTA Holiday bus will traverse the city streets. 

  • Dates:  2024 dates are yet to be announced - select dates and routes


Metra Holiday Train - Experience holiday magic on select Metra lines during the Saturdays in November/December.  The special holiday train with Santa and Mrs. Claus brings you to the North Pole winter wonderland at Millennium Station.

  • Dates:   ** tickets go on sale November 11th
    • Nov. 30 – Metra Electric Line
    • Dec. 7 – BNSF Line
    • Dec. 14 – Rock Island, Milwaukee District North, and Union Pacific Northwest lines
    • Dec. 21 – Metra Electric (two trains, one in the morning and one in the evening) and Union Pacific North lines.


Polar Express Train Ride – at Fox River Trolley Museum.  The train will transport you to the “North Pole” where Santa will be waiting. Experience the joy of watching the children’s faces when the train arrives at the North Pole.

At the North Pole, Santa will board the train. There will be caroling, sing-alongs with professional musicians making this what will surely become an annual holiday tradition for the whole family.

  • Dates:  Select Dates November 30th - December 22nd, 2024.




Christmas Restaurant Traditions

Walnut Room - inside Macy’s on State Street.  The historic restaurant is an essential holiday destination. The Walnut Room is adorned with elegant décor and sparkling chandeliers, with the towering Great Tree in the center of it all.

  • Dates:  Select Dates November 2, 2024 - January 12, 2025

Christmas Tree at Walnut Room
Macy's Walnut Room




Holiday Pub Crawls


SOUTHPORT HOLIDAY STROLL & COCKTAIL CRAWL - Sample different holiday-themed cocktails at this event

  • Date:  December 6, 2024 

TBOX: Twelve Bars of Christmas – Chicago’s most popular bar crawl returns to Wrigleyville.  

  • Date:  Saturday December 14, 2024

Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl – Put on your ugliest Christmas attire and join this bar crawl. 

  • Date:  Saturday December 21, 2024  




Magical Christmas Shopping and Markets

Chicago is a great place for Holiday shopping as it offers many shopping districts and options.  


Merry Christmas
Christmas in Chicago


Here is a run down of some of the shopping options:

  • The Magnificent Mile – this is one of the world’s most iconic retail destinations including Water Tower Place.  Many famous department stores and favorite chains exist along the Magnificent Mile, as well, as tons of twinkling lights to dazzle shoppers throughout the Christmas season
  • State Street – just a few blocks from the Magnificent Mile is another wonderful shopping option where the iconic Macy’s on State Street is located.  Macy’s offers their annual Holiday Windows and the Great Tree inside the historic Walnut Room.
  • Christkindlmarket - Authentic German Christmas market  This is a free-admission event featuring local vendors.  On sale are traditional German crafts and treats, hot mulled wine, hand-knit gloves, beautiful glass ornaments, wooden cuckoo clocks, and other special holiday items and treats.
    • Available at 2 locations: 

    1. Aurora:  November 22  – December 24, 2024
    2. Chicago - Daley Plaza:  November 22 – December 24, 2024


  • Woodfield Mall – Schaumburg, IL  - One of the most iconic retail destinations in the suburbs of Chicago is Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL.  Lots of good department stores and favorite chains are available at Woodfield mall for your Holiday shopping needs.  
    • Address:  5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173

  • Randolph Street Market - Find the unusual and stylishly crafted mix of vintage and modern decorative objects, housewares, fashion for men/women/children, art, hostess gifts and more from 125 vendors! Enjoy the market bar for a bloody mary, beer, wine or champagne and local eateries while browsing vendors on three floors in the Plumbers Hall building!

  • Other Chicago Holiday markets:



    Museum Holiday Magic

    A few Chicago museums love to take part in the holiday fun as well:

    Museum of Science and Industry - hosts the annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Lights, with 50 elaborately decorated trees that represent holiday traditions from across the globe. In Holiday of Lights, the museum honors the traditions of Chinese New Year, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Visakha Puja Day, and St. Lucia Day.

    • Dates:  Nov. 16, 2024 - Jan. 6, 2025


    Art Institute of Chicago - The museum’s beloved lions will welcome you wearing holiday wreaths, while inside, a world of treasures await — the soaring new Tiffany Window, the ever-popular 18th-century Neapolitan crèche, a thought-provoking and expansive exhibition by Barbara Kruger, and visitor favorites from Rembrandt and Van Gogh to O’Keeffe and Warhol.

    Art Institute Wreathed Lion
    Art Institute Lion


    Happy Holiday Railway at the Illinois Railway Museum - Enjoy a 40-minute train ride for the whole family and visit with Santa Claus on the train.  Treats and hot chocolate will be served.

    • Dates:  November 29 - Dec. 23, 2024 (Select Dates)
    • Cost:  $25 per ticket



    Theatre – Holiday productions

    The magic of Christmas is foretold in Chicago’s live theatre holiday productions.  Check out one of these performances:




    Chicago Theatre
    Chicago Theatre


    • The Athenaeum Theatre – 2 Christmas productions:
      • It’s A Wonderful Life
        • Date:  December 13 - 29, 2024


      • Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol 
        • Dates:  November 29 – December 28, 2024




    Ice Skating

    Chicago offers several places to put on the ice skates and skate indoors or outdoors

    Millennium Park Ice skating rink - Admission to the ice rink is free but online tickets will be required

    • Dates:  November 15, 2024—February 2, 2025 (weather permitting)


    Maggie Daley Park ice skating ribbon — online reservation is needed

    • Dates:  Nov. 15, 2024 - Mar. 9, 2025 (weather permitting)

    Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park
    Maggie Daley Park - Ice Skating Ribbon


    Midway Plaisance in Hyde Park -  1130 Midway Plaisance North, Chicago, IL 60637


    Gallagher Way rink in Wrigleyville - 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613


    For a list of additional Ice skating locations in the Chicago area view Chicago Ice Skating.


    For other places to see in Chicago visit the Travel page.



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    Sunday, November 3, 2024

    Tales from a Project Manager – The Project Manager, Project Management Office, and Planning

    Tales from a Project Manager – The Project Manager, Project Management Office, and Planning

    Project Management is only as good as the individuals and leaders who mange the key functions.  With that, project management requires a group of people dedicated to the achievement of specific goals.

    We will explore the role of the project manager, understand the responsibilities of the Project Management Office, and explore the critical stage of all projects which is planning.

    The source artifact for this post is Harold Kerzner's, "Project Management:  A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling" 

     

    Project Manager

    Honesty and integrity or required to foster an atmosphere of trust and thus a project manager must exhibit honesty and integrity to build a culture of trust. 

    Selecting a project manager is not an easy effort.  Harold Kerzner in the book, “Project Management:  A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (SAPSC), 11th Edition,” indicates there are five (5) basic questions to consider:

    • What are the internal an external sources?
    • How do we select?
    • How do we provide career development in project management?
    • How can we develop project management skills?
    • How do we evaluate project management performance?

    Harold Kerzner goes further in the book, “Project Management:  A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (SAPSC), 11th Edition” and defines the major responsibilities of a project manager to include:

    • Producing the end item with available resources and within the constraints of time, cost, and performance / technology
    • Meet Contractual profit objectives
    • Make all required decisions whether they be for alternatives or termination
    • Act as the customer (external) and upper-level and functional management (internal) communications focal point
    • “Negotiate” with all functional disciplines for accomplishment of the necessary work packages within the constraints of time, cost, and performance / technology
    • Resolve all conflicts

    Besides the major responsibilities listed above, Kerzner indicates project managers are constantly required to demonstrate their skills in interface, resource, and planning/control management.

     

    Project Management Office

    The project management office is a support organization for project managers to carry out their duties.  Integration of work across the functional lines of the organization is a major responsibility of the project managers and the project management office. 

    The most common cause of project failure is the lack of integration of functional units.  So the project management office plays a critical role in horizontal integration across the organization.  Thus the PMO is looking to get the functional units working toward the same designs, specifications, and objectives.  This is important across R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and subcontractors.

    Harold Kerzner’s, “Project Management, SAPSC 11th edition,” states the responsibilities of the project office also include:

    • Focal point of information for both in-house control and customer reporting
    • Controlling time, cost, and performance to adhere to contractual requirements
    • Ensuring all work required is documented and distributed to all key personnel
    • Ensuring all work performed is both authorized and funded by contractual documentation.

    Four major activities of the project office are:

    1. Integration of activities
    2. In-house and out-of-house communication
    3. Scheduling with risk and uncertainty
    4. Effective Control

     

    Planning

    This is the critical stage of any project and includes more than just planning the activities that need to be accomplished.  Harold Kerzner’s, “Project Management: SAPSC, 11th edition,” suggests that this critical stage also includes, “the planning and establishment of the authority relationships that must exist for the . . . . project.” 

    In planning, “the project team develops a responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) that contains such elements as:

    ·        General management responsibility

    ·        Operations management responsibility

    ·        Specialized responsibility

    ·        Who must and may be consulted

    ·        Who must be notified

    ·        Who must approve. 


    Final Thoughts

    Kerzner’s book, “Project Management: SAPC, 11th edition,” clearly lays out the challenge the project management office can help solve which is the horizontal integration of the functional teams. 

    Selecting a project manager is important but not an easy task.  There are several questions that should be answered when selecting the project manager.  The project manager has several explicit responsibilities in addition to the implicit responsibilities of interface, resource, and planning / control management.

    Planning is a critical stage of all projects and includes more than just planning what activities are needed.  It is necessary during planning to define the authority relationships that are necessary for the project and to have the project team develop a responsibility assignment matrix (RAM). 

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    Tuesday, September 24, 2024

    S&P 500: 2024 Additions and Removals

     S & P 500:  2024 Additions and Removals

    The S&P 500 index is a barometer for the US Economy and one of the most followed indexes in the world.  At times the S&P 500 goes through a rebalancing of the companies that are included in the index.  

    Because the index is weighted based on the market value of the companies, the most valuable companies account for the largest percentage of the index.  Microsoft, Apple and Nvidia accounted for about 20 percent of the S&P 500 as of September 2024.

    But before we take a look at the companies added and removed from the S&P 500 Index, first lets review some of the key criteria for inclusion in the S&P 500 as of August 2024:

    • Must be a U.S.-based company.
    • The company satisfies the periodic reporting obligations set forth in the U.S. Securities Exchange Act.
    • Must be listed on a major U.S. stock exchange such as the NYSE, Nasdaq or Cboe.
    • Must have a market capitalization of $18 billion or more.
    • Stock should trade a minimum of 250,000 shares in each of the six months prior to being evaluated for index inclusion.
    • The most recent quarter’s GAAP earnings as well as the sum of the previous four quarters’ GAAP earnings should be positive.


    So what are the companies that have been recently added and removed from the S&P 500 in 2024?

    S&P 500 Additions in 2024

     

    Effective date

    Company

    Ticker

    Sector

    Sept. 23, 2024

    Palantir Technologies

    PLTR

    Information Technology

    Sept. 23, 2024

    Dell Technologies

    DELL

    Information Technology

    Sept. 23, 2024

    Erie Indemnity

    ERIE

    Financials

    June 24, 2024

    KKR & Co.

    KKR

    Financials

    June 24, 2024

    CrowdStrike Holdings

    CRWD

    Information Technology

    June 24, 2024

    GoDaddy

    GDDY

    Information Technology

    May 8, 2024

    Vistra

    VST

    Utilities

    April 2, 2024

    GE Vernova

    GEV

    Industrials

    April 1, 2024

    Solventum

    SOLV

    Health Care

    March 18, 2024

    Super Micro Computer

    SMCI

    Information Technology

    March 18, 2024

    Deckers Outdoor

    DECK

    Consumer Discretionary

     

    S&P 500 Removals in 2024

     

    Effective date

    Company

    Ticker

    Sector

    Sept. 23, 2024

    American Airlines Group

    AAL

    Industrials

    Sept. 23, 2024

    Etsy

    ETSY

    Consumer Discretionary

    Sept. 23, 2024

    Bio-Rad Laboratories

    BIO

    Health Care

    June 24, 2024

    Robert Half

    RHI

    Industrials

    June 24, 2024

    Comerica

    CMD

    Financials

    June 24, 2024

    Illumina

    ILMN

    Health Care

    May 8, 2024

    Pioneer Natural Resources

    PXD

    Energy

    April 3, 2024

    V.F. Corp

    VFC

    Consumer Discretionary

    April 3, 2024

    Dentsply Sirona

    XRAY

    Health Care

    March 18, 2024

    Whirlpool

    WHR

    Consumer Discretionary

    March 18, 2024

    Zion Bancorporation

    ZION

    Financials


    Final Thoughts

    For a complete listing of the companies included in the S&P 500 Index go to:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_S%26P_500_companies

    Investing in the S&P 500 is a great way to build wealth over time and understanding the company make up of the index is good to know.  We explore the S&P 500 Index further in this blog post:  S&P 500 Index Blog Post


    Source Article:  S&P 500 stocks: List of additions and removals in 2024 by Brian Baker, CFA

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