Octonovemcember!!!! It hasn't ended yet! What do you wanna do this weekend in Chicago?

So, right on Halloween night I saw Christmas commercials; Kohl's, Petsmart, Target to name a few....crikey! And...just heard Macy's on State Street is putting up the window displays and they should be open and ready to view this weekend.

Now, I know I didn't really post anything for Halloween because all we do for Halloween is go w/friends of mine and their kids and their friends and the whole gaggle of us "trick or treat." My kiddies are too young for the scariness of a good haunted house or ghost tour. But next year! Just you wait!

Anyway, hitting downtown Chicago to see the windows up? Now? That's something you can do for free...granted if you go into Macy's and end up shopping, but otherwise, that's something you can do as well as check out the other good eats on State Street. I do believe there are some Estee Lauder freebies if you're inclined to flash out the cash for your skincare items. Macy's will also light the Christmas tree in the legendary Walnut Room.

Ringling Brothers Circus opens this weekend at the old Rosemont Horizon/new AllState Arena (Still call it the Horizon)...take the kiddies to freak 'em out over clowns!

Navy Pier is having the SOFA Art Fair in their festival hall.

The Fine Art of Fiber will be the exhibit at the Chicago Botanical Gardens this weekend. From quilts, clothes and dolls there will also be some holiday items up for sale.

The GNOME hunt is up and hidden all over the Morton Arboretum! Kids can hunt for gnomes every daily from now til February.

When you're finished take a trek to the border of Bridgeport and Chinatown and get thee into Bertucci's Corner,300 West 24th Street phone #(312) 225-2848. I was inspired by "The Beat Cops' Guide to Chicago Eats" by Sgt. David Haynes and Chris Garlington which is the ultimate guide for anyone who lives here and wants to find great places to chow that won't bust your wallet but an essential guide for hotel concierge to have as a text book for his/her guests.

IMO, next to cops, teacher and firefighters know where to get the good and cheap eats in any city. Ask one! The link for the book and the good Sgt.'s blog is RIGHT HERE

And you may think the hotel people know? Nah...you need a 'hood person that works as a concierge in these hotels to give great food advice to tourists. They want to taste the amazing blend of ethnic flavors our fair city has. I know when I worked at a coffee shop (corporate name, no need to mention it as it was bad to me and doesn't deserve my praise) downtown I had loads of tourists asking for cheap eats in the neighborhoods; NOT downtown. Bertucci's gives you a "Goodfellas" or "Sopranos" groove. You almost feel like you're on the east coast w/out hurricane damage and high hair. The food is rustic and Italian/American, prices fair and you do get a lot for your buck. I had ordered gnocci and it was fantastic! My kids call gnocci "dragon's eggs." Well, I DO actually, to get them to eat them...lol!

Garden! Get your berry bushes buried, clear out the muck and guck, cut down your old plants and make it nice and purdy for the winter so everyone can have a nice nap.

Shampoo your rug! It's the holiday season! Ya want everyone visiting you w/your smelly old rug just stinkin' up the house?

Not I...

Your local Ace and Food4Less has them there to rent Rug Doctors). Hit the Rug Doctor website HERE to find your store (enter zip) and to obtain a couple of coupons that will make your day much better.

I may do all the above actually...and then seek out a new copy of Beat Cop's Guide as my sister stole mine! Grrrrr! I'm still waiting for a replacement of my "Chicago Haunts" by Ursula Bielski. Click on this link right HERE for more 411 on Ms. Bielski.

Let me know what you end up doing....