The Chicago Traveler

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen,
Comet, and Cupid, and Donder, and Blitzen
But do you recall
the most famous reindeer of all?
The beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer may reside at the North Pole now, but he was originally a Chicagoan!
The Chicago-based Montgomery Ward company (the very first office was at the corner of Clark and Kinzie Streets) had been buying and giving away coloring books for Christmas every year, and it was decided that creating their own book would save money. So in 1939, Robert L. May was assigned to come up with a Christmas story they could give …read more

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The eight-day Jewish holiday Hanukkah began last night, celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple at the time of the Maccabee rebellion. To all our Jewish friends and readers, Happy Hanukkah!
In honor of the season, I present a little restaurant that is quite unimpressive from the outside. The sign is worn and faded, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d probably think it was out of business. But trust me, there’s plenty going on inside Tel Aviv Kosher Pizza. The dinner rushes are fast and furious, yet the restaurant never gets overly thunderous or noisy.
This hidden hot spot …read more

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Celebrate the reopening of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in its new facility at the Grand Opening Gala Benefit, including cocktails, dinner, and entertainment. (Nov 29)
The annual World of Chocolate benefit for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is held in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Guests will sample scrumptious chocolate creations from many of Chicago’s finest restaurants, caterers, and chocolatiers. (Nov 29)
Bayside, an alternative rock band from Queens, New York, performs at the House of Blues, while Clay Aiken, the American pop singer of American Idol fame, sings at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. (Nov 29)
Sample some of the …read more

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To all our Jewish friends and readers, Happy New Year! Shana Tova.
Photo credit: aadroma

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