The holiday spirit has officially descended on Chicago.
The Millennium Parks skating rink officially opened Friday morning, beckoning one and all to enjoy their beloved outdoor winter pastime amid some frightfully cold weather on this day.
The rink will be open through March 5, 2023 (weather permitting). Skating is free, but you must obtain tickets online ahead of your arrival, and free lessons are available from 9 to 10 a.m. weekends and select other dates (online reservations are required). Limited walk-up reservations may be available based on overall rink capacity. Hours, fees ($10-$20 for on-site skate rentals) and more info can be found at chicago.gov.
And Friday night, the city’s official Christmas tree (the 109th) was lit not too many steps away from the ice rink.
The tree, a 55-foot Colorado spruce, was donated by the Glisovic family of Morton Grove. The fully decorated and illuminated tree will be on display through Jan. 9, 2023, near Michigan Avenue at Washington.
Playing time has dwindled for Tinordi, a physical defensive defenseman who was a pleasant surprise for the Hawks last season but hasn’t found nearly as much success without Connor Murphy.
Ald. Jeanette Taylor, chair of the City Council’s Education Committee chair, said she’s disappointed that Johnson and his allies in the Chicago Teachers Union backed away from the fully elected, 21-member board he once supported. “This is not going to be as easy a transition as people think,” she said. “We’re used to a top-down system.”