All ye faithful early Christmas adopters -- the ones who have been playing holiday songs for the past 30 days -- can now open the seasonal floodgates. It's officially December, so feel free to hark the heralds to your heart's content. With economy ailing and all, 'tis might be a season where you choose to spend silent (cheaper) nights with that special someone away in a manger. But I suggest you jingle bell rock your way out the door and partake in some of the many festive holiday events going on this week. Otherwise, it might not begin to feel like Christmas.
- OK, so let's be honest. Lighting the Christmas tree at Daley Plaza isn't quite the spectacular experience as lighting the tree at Rockefeller Center in NY. And, because of budgetary problems, Chicago's tree will be lit on Tuesday, instead of the day after Thanksgiving. At noon. During the day. In the daylight. But it's all good, we still know how to have a good time here, and quite frankly, I'd rather take my kids on the el to Daley Plaza than brave the NY subway any day. I saw Warriors.
- We're pretty sure the dates and times remain the same this year for ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo. This is hands down one of the best family-friendly holiday events in the city. And it's free -- at least when you don't factor in the parking in that neighborhood.
- Can't forget about Christmas shopping. Are you looking for that one-of-a-kind item for that impossible-to-buy-for person? You might find it at the 10th annual Bucktown Holiday Art Show. It's this coming weekend at the Holstein Art Fieldhouse. Check out bucktownpromotions.com for more info.
Watch the "Word on the Street segment every Saturday night on "24/7 Chicago," 12:30 a.m. on NBC5.
