
The Market runs from right before Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve and there are about 60 booths offering many different types of German food, drinks, beer steins, Christmas ornaments, etc. Admission is free and it attracts more than a million visitors each year. Unfortunately, I think all of them were there on the day we went. I suppose we should have known better since it was the last Saturday that the market was open, and the place was PACKED.



Instead, we both got hot chocolates from Dinkel’s, but were sadly less-than-impressed with them. Still, it was freezing cold outside, so we found a small clearing near the exit and tried to warm up with our drinks.

Alas, what Macy’s does with the windows now is cheap and laughable compared to the way they used to be. Anyway, we would spend what seemed like hours looking at the windows, then head to Garrett’s. I swear, you could smell the fresh caramel and cheese popcorn blocks away. And even though the Macy’s windows don’t measure up to the ones from my childhood, as soon as we got close to Randolph Street (where Garrett’s is located), Katie looked at me and said “Can you smell it??? I can smell it!!” Thankfully, some traditions live on, and I could, indeed, smell it.


There are quite a few locations around the city, as well as two locations in O’Hare Airport. So if you sadly can’t make it to Chicago for a visit (you should!), but have a connection in O’Hare, you still have a chance to try it.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year! May 2015 be a wonderful, adventure-filled year for everyone!
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