Home for the holidays with Chicago Star

The spirit of the holidays seems stronger this year than in years past. There's an almost manic quality to it since I feel like we've lost so much joy due to the pandemic. I put up our tree a while ago and am more than ready to welcome this holiday season with open arms. 

I feel like there is so much to be grateful for, too. For one, I'm grateful to be a part of the Chicago Star team, who are working so hard to make a positive difference in this city that we all love. We are like the ducks you see on ponds — serene and calm on the top and paddling like crazy under the water. It's for this reason, and because the holidays are all about family, that I would like to introduce you to the people who make this paper possible, my Chicago Star Media family. They are diverse, kind, dedicated, driven and endlessly talented. Some weren't too keen on being profiled here, as they are usually the ones doing the profiling but, with a little arm twisting, I managed to convince them to share the spirit of the holidays with you through their eyes. I wanted to find out what their favorite holiday memories and traditions are, their best/worst gifts, favorite places to visit in Chicago during this festive season, if they're planning anything different this year to celebrate and so much more. In short, I wanted you to know who they are. I'll go first....

When I was younger, it was all about the gifts — the latest handbag, a piece of jewelry or a collectible book would make me scream with joy. Being the only child of divorced parents was not always a good thing, but during the holidays, it doubled my celebrations and, of course, the gifts. These days, my desires have become a lot more simple and, I think, in keeping with the true spirit of the season. One of my favorite memories was shopping at Marshall Field's with my Mom at Christmastime. I still have the 4-foot Santa we bought together on one of these happy excursions. 

Now that our tree is up, Chuck and I just love staring at our Christmas tree ornaments over a glass of Pinot Grigio and a light beer because each one holds a treasured memory. One of the first ornaments my mom gave me, when Chuck and I got married, was a miniature Barbie doll dressed exactly like the one she gave me when I was little. And then there are the ornaments that represent trips or important places in our lives. There's one from Notre Dame (Chuck's alma mater) and, of course, a Dupo High School ornament. I have intricate ones featuring the Rockettes from the Radio City Christmas Show and also one from a favorite NY spot, the "21" Club, now sadly defunct. But the ones that really mean the most are more personal like the hand-knitted ornament that my first grade teacher, Edna Faulkner, made for me. Christmas means making and keeping memories that will last a lifetime. And even though so many loved ones are missing physically this year, they are all with us in spirit, and we will remember them … probably over a nice cocktail, with Johnny Mathis crooning Christmas tunes in the background. Now, let's hear from my Chicago Star team mates.

Elaine Hyde is the publisher of Chicago Star. She loves flying airplanes, Tom Cruise and her family (she has five adorable kids). She shared some of her happy holiday memories growing up in the Land Down Under. "The weather was always very hot and everything would be closed on Christmas Day. My parents would take me to the only kind of restaurant that was open on Christmas and that was a Chinese restaurant. We would eat dim sum and the place would be packed. But we never had to wait in line as my dad was chummy with the owner. I loved that we got to skip that crazy line. That made me feel very special. My dad would always pay with a big $100 bill and then let me keep the change if I could calculate the change before he did. I got very good at math that way and saved all my money in a silver tin box that had a unicorn on it. What's the best/worst gift you've given/received?  "I wrote a beautiful heartfelt note that took three drafts. I heard later that the recipient had framed and hung it on her wall. That's a very big compliment for a writer. Another great gift, although I didn't realize it at the time, was a sous vide machine [a slow cooking process for proteins like meat, chicken or fish] that my brother gave me. I had no idea what it was at the time but now it's one of my most used kitchen appliances. My specialty is sous vide duck breasts French style with an orange apple cassoulet. What do you like/dislike about the holidays? "I like getting presents but I don't like the pressure to give presents on call and at certain times like Christmas. I prefer to give gifts when people have a need for an item and surprise them throughout the year when they least expect it." What are your favorite family traditions? "Chinese New Year is a big celebration at my house. We eat noodles and feast on home-cooked Chinese food. We gather all the musical instruments we can find — piano, drums, tambourines, sax, French horn, three guitars, shakers and more — and make a loud, raucous racket. The sounds are supposed to ward off evil spirits, but I don't think they would dare enter my house anyway — it's always noisy!" Name a favorite holiday attraction. "Freezing my you-know-what off at the Christkindlmarket, pigging out on potato cakes with sour cream. I love shoving through the mass of people. It's wonderful because everyone is in a good mood." Will you be doing anything different to celebrate this year? "You bet I will! First, I will dress differently and more loudly. My signature this season will be miniskirts in the dead of winter so that I can relive my youth. The pandemic gave me more grey hairs and so this will be sort of a mid-life crisis response to that. Second, and more seriously, I want to add more ceremony into our family celebrations. This year, I will procure some beautiful candles and light them for the dearly departed who now exist in places so close to our hearts and everywhere at once." Any New Year's Eve resolutions? "After almost two years of living like a hermit and sustaining relationships virtually, I can't wait to make some new friends. I plan to attend events that might be out of my comfort zone with said new friends. Burning Man anyone?!" 

Nuria Mathog is Chicago Star's Associate Editor. Before joining the team, she served as the editor of The Frankfort Station, a former weekly paper based out of Chicago's Southwest Suburbs, and previously worked as a reporter at the Laramie Boomerang in Laramie, Wyoming. Earliest holiday memory? "Watching my dad put up an artificial Christmas tree in our living room when I was around 4 or 5. I was too young to be of much help with the assembly, but I had the chance to place ornaments on the finished tree. Growing up, I was fortunate to have two holiday celebrations while visiting extended family — my mom's side of the family celebrated Christmas, while my dad's side celebrated Hanukkah. Some of my favorite memories include playing dreidel with my cousins, lighting the menorah, opening presents on Christmas morning and going out to a Chinese restaurant with my family and all my grandparents around Christmas." Best gift? "It was a backyard telescope from my grandparents. I spent a lot of evenings as a child peering through the lens and trying to identify planets and stars in the night sky.” Worst gift? "A card from a high school friend that said 'I didn't know what to get you. Sorry.'" What's your favorite part of the holidays? "Seeing all the decorations around the city and enjoying seasonal food and drinks like hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies, etc. The hardest part about this time of year is spending it apart from my family in California." Favorite family tradition? "Eating a traditional Hanukkah dinner with latkes and applesauce with my extended family. My grandma is a wonderful cook and would make a fantastic strudel for dessert." Favorite holiday attraction? "My husband and I have visited Christkindlmarket every year since we moved to Chicago, with the exception of last year, when the festival moved online. We love browsing the handcrafted ornaments, drinking hot spiced wine and sampling delicious German food. And, of course, we always make sure to collect the latest mug. This year, my husband and I will most likely spend the holidays with his mother, brother and sister-in-law. We spent last year's holidays at home. New Year's resolution? "To spend more time volunteering and giving back to the community."  

Jon "Coach" Cohn, is a Chicago Star Community Contributor, New Eastside resident and long time Chicagoan involved in all areas of athletics as a coach, official, announcer and administrator. He's also a family man, beloved coach and author of "Stuff People Might Want to Know From Someone Who Really Shouldn't Be Writing a Book" (a must-buy, would make a great Christmas gift). Share a couple of your favorite holiday memories. "My absolute favorite memory is coming down the staircase bright and early Christmas morning and seeing all the presents under the tree. That is a memory forever etched in my mind. The bell ringing at the end of the day to get out of school for the two-week holiday break was always pretty special too. Also, one thing that lasts in my memory is that my parents always invited a friend of theirs over who had no family at all. They had him come for all the morning present opening, and dinner that evening as well. That kindness, at the time of course, didn’t register that much, but I do look back on it as a small sign of my parents' generosity and compassion. What's the best/worst gift you've ever given/received? "The best? Definitely the bright shiny new, blue Schwinn bicycle! Santa scored major points with that one! My Ron Santo baseball mitt, and getting an entire box of baseball cards were also memorable gifts. The worst was also the funniest! My dad wrapped up a pair of my dirty socks and had me open that up as the very first present. I was maybe 8 at the time and was not pleased! I did get him back the next year with a specially gift wrapped old moldy orange." What do you like/dislike about the holidays? "I love the spirit and friendliness of everyone, seeing the kids so excited and watching my favorite movie, “Love Actually,” which is a holiday tradition that I thoroughly enjoy. I don’t like the cold weather, and I really don’t like shopping for gifts!" What are your favorite family traditions? "Going to Church on Christmas Eve with my wife and kids is always nice, and getting our extended families together for Christmas dinner is a rare treat. I especially enjoy seeing all the nieces and nephews bonding and playing together. Another favorite tradition is driving through different neighborhoods in Chicago and the suburbs and seeing all the holiday decorations. It seems like they get bigger, brighter and more elaborate every year. Also, when I was single in my twenties, I used to host a party and we would have a few cocktails and then go out Christmas caroling. We had a whole big group, none of us could sing very well and we didn’t practice. We had T-shirts made up and wore them and called ourselves “The Not Ready For Prime Time Cohn Christmas Carolers.” We just knocked on random doors and when the door opened we started singing. The reactions from people ranged from slight amusement to absolute horror." Will you be doing anything different to celebrate this year, following the pandemic? "I won’t be doing anything different but, I do think I will appreciate all the holiday festivities even more this year." Any New Year's Eve resolutions and, if not, why? "I make my “ New Years” resolutions  in mid-July, just to be different, because, I guess that’s the kind of guy I am, and hey! I am still writing for this paper — so I kept at least one resolution from last year!" 

Angela Gagnon is a Chicago Star Community Contributor and second-grade teacher. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys running and sailing. One of her favorite holiday memories? "Watching my kids faces light up on Christmas morning — that never gets old, seeing all the elegant decorated Christmas trees in Chicago (Macy’s Walnut Room, Millennium Park, the lights along Michigan Avenue); feeling the holiday energy and cheer around the city;  picking out a Christmas tree at an outdoor holiday tree lot, carrying it home and decorating it with family. My earliest memory was when I told my mom that Santa’s handwriting looked a lot like hers. I was maybe 3 or 4 years old. What's the best gift you've received? "An Apple Watch. It was unexpected and I didn't know I even wanted it but now I couldn’t live without it. Worst gift received? "I cherish all gifts, as gifts come from the heart." What do you like about the holidays? "I love the energy and excitement of the holidays - caroling at the Bean with a cup of hot chocolate, running a festive holiday race, decorating cookies with my kids, singing Christmas carols, throwing an annual holiday party for friends, spending time with family. I dislike the feeling of having to rush around and do all the holiday things. I sometimes miss the simpler times when more meant less." What are your favorite family traditions? "Our family tree trimming day. We buy a real tree from a nearby tree lot, lug it home, decorate our home and enjoy homemade fondue while listening to Christmas music. Also, on Christmas Eve we go all out with the cooking. Recently we’ve added a holiday punch party for friends (with a vintage punch bowl) and lots of singing, laughing and quality time. We also love watching Ballet Chicago’s “Nutcracker,” our annual shopping day where we mostly stroll along Michigan Avenue, collect gift ideas and pop into bars for a drink or two to warm up, and our school‘s holiday Sounds of the Season choir concert. What's a favorite holiday attraction? "Christkindlmarket, it’s close by and has lot of old-timey holiday treats (plus gluhwein in those cute little boots!)" Any New Year's Eve resolutions? "I've never really been a fan of the New Years resolution but remembering to live life to the fullest is always a great focus, and enjoying the simpler things in life that bring joy." 

Bridget McGuire is a Chicago Star Community Contributor, a stand-up comedian and storyteller based in Chicago. Her conversational and self-deprecating humor revolves around anxiety, dating, and being an aunt. In addition to being a co-producer of “ALL THAT GOOD STUFF,” a traveling comedy show, she writes about her poor life decisions for Chicago Star. Share a couple of your favorite holiday memories. "In kindergarten, I wanted the doll Cricket. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and seeing her under the tree and almost fainted. I woke up my parents, I was so excited." What's the best/worst gift you've ever given/received? "In 1984, when I was 2, my older sisters got Cabbage Patch Kids, which were extremely hard to find. My mom didn't get me one because she didn't think I'd care or notice, so she got me this small yellow doll. Apparently, I threw the yellow doll against the wall when I saw their Cabbage Patch Kids. I was so jealous. Youngest child problems! What do you like/dislike about the holidays? I love seeing family and friends, the decorations and singing holiday songs and I love giving a good gift! I love dressing up as SAUNTA for my family party.(See my article in this issue and picture attached!) What are your favorite family traditions? "Ever since I was 11, my dad, sisters and two of my sister's friends would go to the Salt & Pepper diner on Christmas Eve and then to Uncle Fun's and then on to the Water Tower for last minute shopping. Salt & Pepper and Uncle Fun's have since closed, but we still all get together with husbands, kids and dogs every Christmas Eve morning. This will be our 28th year!" Do you have a favorite Chicago holiday attraction? I get together with some of my college friends every year at the Christkindlmarket on a Friday after work." Will you be doing anything different to celebrate this year, following the pandemic? More, less? "More! Booster me up and let's go!" Any New Year's Eve resolutions? "I started a fall year's resolution and have kept it up, trying to be more mindful in all I do and practice gratitude." 

Bob Oswald is a Chicago-area journalist and graduate of Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He is also our Chicago Star page designer who makes every single issue a work of art. He writes a weekly Sunday column in the Daily Herald highlighting fake news, titled “Facts Matter.” Bob lives in Bartlett with his wife Karen and dog Bruce.They have three adult children. Favorite holiday memories? "My earliest memory is from the house I lived in, on Chicago's South Side in the Avalon Park neighborhood. I couldn't figure out how Santa Claus would make it in when we only had a fake fireplace." What's the best/worst gift you've ever given/received? "The best would be a bike when I was a kid. I don't think I've ever received a gift I didn't like." What do you like/dislike about the holidays? "I like everything about the holidays. I dislike people complaining about others listening to Christmas music too early." Do you have a favorite Chicago holiday attraction? "My favorite attraction would probably be the trees at the Museum of Science and Industry because I have been going there all my life." 

Troy Mairs is Chicago Star's Official Videographer and a cinematographer by trade. His days are spent making films and writing scripts and he wouldn’t have it any other way. His love for film is only surpassed by the love he has for his wife, Elizabeth, and his time spent at church. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies. Share a favorite holiday memory. "Grandpa had the secret recipe when it came to making sugar cookies come Christmastime. The whole family would descend upon Grandma's kitchen in the weeks leading up to Christmas to roll dough, cut out shapes, and frost hundreds (if not thousands!) of cookies to share during the holidays!" What's the best/worst gift you've ever given/received? "Experiences and memories will always be the best gifts I could ever receive. Taking time to step back from this whirlwind we call life and living in the moment is so important to me. Those are the things that will outlast any tangible gift unless it was a new camera or something ... lol!" What do you like/dislike about the holidays? "I catch a lot of flak for this, but I have a real problem with seasonal decor. I love looking at other people's trees and lights, don't get me wrong, but buying and storing all those things year round just doesn't appeal to me." What are your favorite family traditions? "Besides the Christmas Cookie bake I mentioned, I love the Christmas Eve candlelight service at Church each year. It's such a great opportunity to slow down, and appreciate the reason for the season." Do you have a favorite Chicago holiday attraction? "My wife and I always try to make it a point to go skating on the Maggie Daley Ribbon each year." Will you be doing anything different to celebrate this year, following the pandemic? "I'd like to think we all have a new appreciation for spending time with others, so I'll look forward to more time spent with family, friends and loved ones!" Any New Year's Eve resolutions? "I have a 2022 goal of reading two books a month, so if anyone has a "must-read" recommendation I'd love to hear it!"