December 23, 2019
A weekend trip to Chicago during the Christmas season proved to be just what I expected – Chicago is COLD and the WIND chills to the core, no matter how many layers you don. But I discovered Macy’s on State Street, with its 9 floors, is a wonderfully warm place to spend the greater part of the day. And, other than paying for my wonderful lunch, I did not spend a dime.
My 1st stop was, of course, the food floor. What more can I say? Looking at yummy food is always fun!
But before I go on, first a bit of history. The building opened in 1893 as Marshall Field’s Department store. Macy’s acquired the building and renamed it Macy’s in 2006. My next stop was to assess just how enormous this store was ( looking up from the main floor ) and to see what makes this building so grand.
Looking up from the 1st-floor cosmetics department is the distant view of a shimmering mosaic dome ceiling covering 6,000 square feet and made up of 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass. The ceiling was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and is the largest Tiffany mosaic in existence. It took 18 months and 50 artisans atop scaffolds to complete the project.
A Tiffany lamp hangs from the mosaic ceiling.
Due to many non-working elevators and escalators, I soon realized it would be easier to start at the top of this department store and walk my way down, as I could more easily walk down non-functioning escalators rather that walk up. Yes – at least half of the transportation modes between floors were in a state of closure and repair that day. But I guess that is to be expected in a building this old. I waited 20 minutes for an elevator to take me to the top floor. The elevator, as the store, was packed with people. 
The joyful greetings at the top floor were all about Christmas! Lots of gorgeous, festive Christmas trees! Millions of Christmas ornaments! Thousands of Christmas decorations! Most with a price tag. Enjoy for free but if you fall in love with it, 99% of it could be bought.
The Walnut Room restaurant was also on this floor with it’s beautiful 45 ft Christmas tree with 15,000 lights and 1200 ornaments. The restaurant opened in 1907 and was the very first restaurant in a department store. It is also the longest continuously-operating restaurant in the nation. The walnut paneling is over 100 years old, Austrian chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and there is a 17 ft fountain. Not a seat was empty.
Now back to shopping – if you need a near-life-sized stuffed deer or fawn for your holiday decorating, one was readily available at the cost of $800. (That was the price for the fawn).
My favorite was this nutcracker with his polar bear friends. But, alas, I had to leave him behind as I was taking the Amtrak back home and couldn’t fathom how I would manage.
Having warmed back to a survivable body temperature now, I was prepared to go outside and see the 2 identical massive Great Clocks on the outside of the Macy’s building. Each clock is made of 7¾ tons of cast bronze and hangs from ornamental ironwork.
Macy’s delightful holiday window displays were next …
each one…
as cute as the next !! ” Believe in Wonder” was the theme.
On the way to lunch, I discovered the 22 “American Victorian Stained Glass” pieces that are on permanent display in the the Chicago Pedway next to Macys. The artworks were created between 1880 and 1910 for homes and public buildings. This piece was designed and fabricated by John Mallon in 1881. The photo comes nowhere near to the beauty of it in person.
Then, after an absolutely wonderful lunch ( at a reasonable price) in Macy’s lower level food court of delicious, hot and generous portions of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and green beans, I waddled back to the hotel enjoying some of the high-rise sights of Chicago and still, freezing cold all the way.
Merry Christmas!!
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed!!
“Once the travel bug bites, there is no known antidote and I know I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” Michael Palin
Jeannie's Travel Addiction 