Just thought that I'd toss out the idea of maybe having a casual Xmarks Chicago/N. Illinois/N. Indiana meet up at the Kristkindle Market thing at the Daley Center Plaza some time over the Holiday period.

http://www.christkindlmarket.com/

Might be a nice thing to do...how often do you have a chance to eat bratwurst and sip hot mulled wine in the presence of a large Picasso sculpture all while wearing a kilt? Also might be nice to show some support for this year's Big Christmas Tree which has been dissed for being somewhat austere relative to Big Trees Past but is a very honest and sincere tree and very appropriate in these tight economic times...just think a Charlie Brown Christmas with Mayor Daley as Charlie Brown and Governor Quinn as Linus.

Just tossing out the possibility maybe a Saturday afternoon...that would allow any of the members who want to drag the kiddies along the flexibility to "do the Loop" and look at the windows in the ONE DEPARTMENT STORE THAT STILL DOES CHRISTMAS WINDOWS....I mean, when I was a kid it was like Disneyland down there...what happened? You might even get to check out the infamous Block 37 development that just opened before the banks that took it over foreclose on it and shut it down...that'd be something to tell the grandchildren.

Possibility?

Best

AA

(I had a laugh as I walked past the market during the set-up period. They had a booth with two windows side by side...the first window had a sign over it that said, "PANCAKES ONLY LINE", and the window next door had a sign, "BRATWURST ONLY LINE". So I'm waiting till they open and asking, "what if I want a pancake and a bratwurst? How about you get me a bratwurst and wrap it in a pancake...what then, huh?". Cheeky devils!)