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Last Saturday, December 6, 2008, Mike and I braved the wind and the cold and went downtown to see what was going on. Below are some videos and photographs (ameteurish though they may be) and I hope I at least caught the spirit of the events happening downtown. I had hoped to get them up earlier this week but the business of the holiday as well as Tuesday's ice storm and a problem concerning sewer water and our basement took precedent over the website. Please try to find some time this Christmas to go walk around downtown and look at the windows and throw a little cash in the direction of the businesses struggling there to survive. We need them to stay...we need them to succeed. Anyway...enjoy!!! Below, the Larkin Avenue Baptist Church played out the nativity with live actors and live animals. They cheerfully passed out hot chocolate and really made us feel welcome. You can sense the bitter cold and wind these brave souls were out in all day. After the story of the nativity was told, we sang carols, the words provided to us by the members of the Larkin Avenue Baptist Church. We were entertained by this camel who didn't seem to mind the cold like his fellow critters in the pen next to him. I would have thought a desert animal like that would not be weathering the wind and cold so well. Conversely, the Llama in the pen next to him had a real shiver going on and they are bred to be in the cold, high frigid temps of the Andes, are they not? I can't leave off without mentioning that at one point this camel knocked over his red water bucket and he was none too pleased. He stomped around and snorted and kicked the bucket a couple times before picking it up by the handle and carrying it over to his handers who were deep in conversation. When the men ignored him, he shook it at the rather violently. When they continued to ignore him he pulled his head back the let that bucket fly right at them....he literally threw the bucket at the handlers. They threw it back in the pen and continued to ignore him until he just got tired of complaining. Now...where was my camera you might ask? In my purse. At one point someone stuck a cup of hot chocolate in my hand and a flyer with words to Christmas carols in the other....There I was while this perfect photographic opportunity took place, unable to get at my camera. Anyway...I got a little video of the camel and his critter pals anyway and hope my description gave an example of just how smart a camel is. Next, Mike and I went to do a bit of shopping at Lily Falls. I scored 4 really great Christmas gifts there. They have such cute things there and I'm sure a visit to Lily Falls will leave you with one less item on your list and a great gift for someone. We bought an ornament that looked like a festive stack of wine corks for a couple of cousins of ours who are wine enthusiasts and a couple little things for our neighbors. I cannot describe those because neighbor Jim reads this blog and I don't want to ruin the surprise. While we were there, a young lady with an angelic voice alternated between singing and playing Christmas tunes on her recorder. When asked if there were any requests, smart alec Mike blurted out "Click Clack By Dicky Do and the Don'ts". The young lady didn't know that song but she did know "What Child Is This", which she graciously performed for my camera.
Below is a genlteman from The Northeast Neighborhood Association and one of my neighbors. I wave to him every day as he walks to work, while I cruise by in comfort in my heated car. He was roasting chestnuts over an open fire in front of Keeny Sporting Goods and PJ's Antiques. We had a chestnut and went in to snoop around in the basement full of antiques. It's one of those marvelously cluttered antique stores where you are sure to find some forgotten treasure tucked somewhere here or there. Lots of milk glass and depression glass as well as old costume jewelry. Next door and up a flight of stairs, a few ladies from NENA were conducting a craft show....so we went up there to snoop around and say hi.
Finally, we went on over to Festival Park for the tree lighting ceremony. Below is Mayor Ed Schock introducing the Elgin Childrens Chorus.
Santa arrived by fire truck and the lights were flipped on.
The only dissappointment in the day was that we went over to Prairie Rock afterwards for a reading of The Polar Express. OK....we don't have kids or Grandkids but we make do and enjoy the joy radiating from other peoples children...that's why we also go to pumpkin farms. Anyway....after all that traipsing in the cold, we were hungry enough to eat a whole cow but figured a couple burgers at Prairie Rock while listening to a nice Christmas story would do nicely. Unfortunately, Prairie Rock was very unprepared for this event and no one seemed to know what was going on. Many hungry people arrived ready to spend money and they had no open dining room. Finally they stuck us in a dining room that was prepared for a party and told us not to touch anything and that we would not be able to get food or beverages. When the hour of the reading came and went....we decided to leave. I assume the reading did take place for those who were willing to wait but like I said....we had no children with us and the call of a good burger was just too demanding. Our evening ended up at our favorite downtown burger place....The Elgin Public House, where we knew we'd get fast friendly service and a great burger. You can't go wrong when you are greeted and seated by an elf. To any one who might comment about my dissing Prairie Rock...please...this is an honest blog and I don't want it to come off Polyannish. If a business deserves an honorable comment here they get one....conversely, if someone falls short, I'm going to say...that way you know that when I say something was worthwhile and a good thing....I mean it. To Prairie Rock's credit....I've had some great burgers there too....we had hoped to get one last Saturday. I have a few more photos and hope to get them up here sometime this weekend....check back in for more Elgin Holiday Magic.
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