There's an interesting story in today's Tribune about 41-year-old Tamar (née Rosalie) Garibay and the personal ad she placed in the Chicago Jewish News seeking a family. The Mother McAuley and UIC grad isn't looking for a man. She's simply looking to combat loneliness by joining a family at their Shabbat table. more ›

It’s that most wonderful time of the year (groan) when we force ourselves to once again face some hard truths: we will not be gifted with a Lexus adorned with a giant bow or (thankfully) a generic piece of jewelry designed by Jane Seymour, nor will we slip while ice skating and fall right into the arms of a stranger who turns out to be our soul mate. And for a special 2009 bonus, President Obama’s speech preempted our favorite Christmas special of all time. We’re hopeful that one of the many holiday shows on stage this month will lift our spirits. more ›

Heading downtown for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival? You won't be alone: the Trib reports 800,000 are expected at the fest which has already kicked off and runs all day, climaxing with a parade this evening from 5:30 p.m. til 6:55 p.m. Of course, there are some reroutes and traffic issues to deal with if you're heading downtown for any reason. If you're taking the CTA, be sure to check in here for their bus reroutes and if you're driving, here's a list of road closures, courtesy of the Tribune. more ›

If you prefer to shop local during the holiday season, then save the date for Saturday, December 5 and the return of the annual Do Division blowout. Merchants, restaurants and bars located on Division St. between Milwaukee and Leavitt will offer deep discounts, original gift ideas, freebies and plenty of opportunities to gather and relax in like company. more ›

Whether we're ready for it or not, it's the holiday season and with Thanksgiving a week away, that means it's almost time for the deluge of mall Santas. But there's a twist this year: the spread of the dreaded H1N1 virus. And with mall Santas handling dozens (if not, in some cases, hundreds) of children every day for almost a month, there's some reason for concern. At a recent conference, the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas covered basics of swine flu prevention including hand sanitizers. And one group in Alabama, as the Associated Press explains, is asking for priority in terms of receiving the vaccine. more ›