City Spins Like Dreidel on Christkindlmarket Display

By Scott Smith in News on Nov 29, 2006 7:00PM

Perhaps realizing that yesterday’s official explanation for its objection to the ads for the movie The Nativity Story at the Christkindlmarket made about as much sense as tits on a bull, the city of Chicago now says it objects to the ads because it would be too commercial.

Too commercial for an event that is also sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel, Mercedes-Benz and Lufthansa.

Proving once again that there’s no hole that can’t be made deeper with a few more shovels, a spokeswoman for the Mayor's Office of Special Events said that the “aggressive” marketing was the issue here, and not that the ad would be “insensitive to the many people of different faiths,” which was the explanation given yesterday by the city's executive director of special events.

Never mind that the city doesn’t actually run the Christkindlmarket; it’s organized by German American Chamber of Commerce. As John Kass points out, even if you buy the city’s current explanation, it doesn’t stop them from selling ad space for the film on the “City Information” kiosks.

Tomorrow, we expect another city official to clarify that their real problem with the ad is its portrayal of immaculate conception outside of the bonds of holy matrimony. This announcement will be followed by a press conference on Friday from the Board of Health, reminding all Chicagoans that they should avoid giving birth in mangers with cows and sheep, as they provide for unsanitary birthing conditions.