Christmas Extravaganza!

Last year I took Mike to see his favorite Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life, at the Music Box's Christmas Extravaganza. They play it in rotation with my favorite, White Christmas. But alas, we were too tired to stay for the double feature, so went home. But I made Mike promise that next year we would go see White Christmas. Which just happens to also be my mom's favorite Christmas movie (well that and a Christmas Carol). AND her birthday is in December. SO, I insisted that she come into Chicago to see White Christmas as our present to her.

That was this weekend. Which just happened to be our coldest, frostiest weekend yet. Bright and early Saturday morning we met her at the train station downtown. Browsing at Macy's and did a little shopping around.
BOY was it cold when we braved the outside. But even though the cold made us rush through the places on our list, and hurry through Daley Plaza, we still enjoyed the atmosphere. And got some sugar and cinnamon almonds. mmmmmm.
We sure were happy to get home and inside for the rest of the day. It was mom's first time at our new apartment. It was nice to show it off at it's best.

Sunday morning was even colder. Sure was glad when mom sprung for a cab to church. This pic above is the INSIDE of the stained glass windows.

I was sad to go to work, but didn't envy Mike and mom their shopping lists.

Lucky me I got to meet them for dinner at this great place right across the street from the Music Box.
The place is done up New Orleans/Louisiana style. A GREAT atmosphere and the food aint bad either. Apparantly they had been there for a bit and had had quite a bit to drink.

They were both happy to see me.

I was happy to eat and have a bailey's and coffee. Too bad they were packed, we had to give up our table eventually, or be in danger of our server heaving us out.

And especially bad that I didn't realize that the 7pm time is a door opening time not a show starting time! oops. We had to find another place to hang for a bit.

Thank goodness for a little dessert cafe down the street. IT WAS DELISH!!! Much better than the dessert at Blue Bayou, I must say.

And then we waited in the cold. And waited. in the cold. cold. cold.

If they hadn't let us in when they did, I'm afraid they may have had a riot on their hands.

But let us in they did. Caroling quartet in the lobby, lovely. decorations, lovely. Old beautiful theatre, lovely.

And our seats were GREAT! CC 108-110, I think. Right on the ailse.

And then Santa came out for the sing-a-long. It's magic every year. He sits on the organ and the organist plays and it's SO MUCH FUN.

Every year Santa writes a special song just for the shows. I loved it last year, 12 day of Chicago Christmas. VERY FUNNY. This year not as funny, but fun. My Favorite Things all about the Music Box Christmas Extravaganza, this being their 25th year and all.

In case you are wondering just how fun, I took a short video...

BEWARE!!! This video clip contains VERY BAD audience singing, especially that of yours truly. But I hope it is fun too.

And then the movie started. I tried to take pics of my favorite parts, no flash so as not to bother others, but it was hard.

Who doesn't love the sisters routine?!?

Well I must say I was a little put off by a very small amount of heckling from the audience. I do love this movie so. But it was good hearted I think and most people were their to enjoy the movie, like us.

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

This is arguable my favorite song in the movie. I am always trying to sing all the parts myself. I never seem to quite get it right, maybe it has something to do with only seeing it once a year.

And of course the pinnacle of the film. I want this to be my Christmas card.

This movie always makes me smile. Maybe it's the singing or the actors or the clothes. Or maybe it's because it takes place in an inn, like where I grew up. I have to say that snowy background and the big rooms, sometimes empty and sometimes full but always with warm fireplaces does feel like home.

The very special home my mom made for us. So thanks mom, for a great time, both growing up and this weekend. I hope it was a good birthday present.