The Holidays are Merry and Bright at Woodfield!
Released: 10/29/03
Contact: Andy Perez or Bonni Pear,
Miller-Pear Public Relations, (312) 649-0466 or info@millerpear.com
Editor's Note: high resolution color jpegs are available
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE HOLIDAYS ARE MERRY AND BRIGHT
AT WOODFIELD
JOFFREY BALLET OF CHICAGO PREVIEWS THE NUTCRACKER FOR SANTA'S ARRIVAL
Schaumburg, Ill. (October 21, 2003) A holly jolly holiday season kicks off on Saturday, November 8, at Woodfield, Illinois' largest shopping center, with the arrival of Santa Claus to the one of the most lavish indoor holiday displays, anywhere. Centered around the Chicago area's tallest indoor Holiday tree, the half-million-plus-dollar Illinois Collection decor features an awe-inspiring array of 20-foot-tall, tree-side replicas of famous Land of Lincoln landmarks such as Wrigley Field, the State Capitol and the Sears Tower. The seasonal festivities will begin as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago performs selections of its beloved production of The Nutcracker in the center's Grand Court. Customer conveniences from valet parking to gift wrapping, and online sale and new product information will surely make the shopping season merry and bright.
Beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, thousands of children of all ages will
anxiously await Santa's Arrival. The world-renowned Joffrey Ballet of Chicago will showcase selections from its annual production of Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker, including such crowd-favorites as "Tea From China", "Nougats From Russia" and The Sugar Plum Fairies "Grand Pas De Deux" as a narrator enchants the audience with the fable. The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago will perform The Nutcracker at the Auditorium Theatre December 5-28, 2003.
"The Nutcracker is a wonderful introduction to children who aren't familiar with dance," says Lisa Stricker, Woodfield marketing director. "Uniting The Joffrey's holiday classic and Woodfield's unique winter wonderland decor will undoubtedly make memories that families will share for years to come."
More than 850,000 lights, 12,000 ornaments and 6,750 feet of ribbon and garland will sparkle from the 54-foot fir tree and surrounding decor. Radko-inspired ornaments featuring the likenesses of Abraham Lincoln, Chicago's famed Water Tower, the Art Institute Lion, and Illinois' state bird, the Cardinal, trim the colossal Holiday tree. At the base of the nearly 6,000-pound tree, a seasonal Chicago street scene unfolds, complete with brightly decorated storefronts whose windows disclose an advance peak at a live Santa visiting with children inside, as topiary reindeer frolic in the snow. Above, four trains wander throughout a skyline marked by two-story-high models of famous Illinois landmarks such as the John Hancock, Chicago Tribune and Stone Container buildings. Limited-edition Radko-inspired ornaments, as seen on the giant tree, are available for purchase for $5 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Chicago Tribune Charities. The Illinois
Collection series includes the Art Institute Lion, the State Capitol and Tribune Tower and can be
purchased in the Chicago Tribune Holiday Service Center and at the Customer Service Center in Grand Court.
From November 8 through December 24, Santa Claus will welcome the center's youngest shoppers to his enchanted Grand Court parlor, nestled in the trunk of the spectacular tree. Digital Imaging photo packages are available for purchase from $10.99 to $29.99 with an option of preserving images on a Photo Disc for an additional $4.99. There is no obligation to purchase a photo as parents are welcome to bring their own cameras.
Breakfasts with Santa at center restaurants are planned for December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21. Reservations are required and can be made with the host restaurant directly. This schedule is subject to change, so please call to confirm dates, restaurants and times.
Making holiday shopping easy and stress-free is top priority at Woodfield. Visit www.shopwoodfield.com to plan productive shopping trips to the center, learn about new merchandise, current sales and holiday happenings, browse the interactive mall directory, print special savings coupons and sign up for a weekly e-mail round-up of favorite stores and center news.
Woodfield patrons can also create their own holiday wish lists and instantly e-mail their requests to family and friends. Information on holiday services will be updated on the web site throughout the season.
The Chicago Tribune Holiday Service Center located in the Upper Level of the Sears wing
helps customers make their holiday shopping experience as hassle-free as possible. The center offers gift-wrapping services, coat and package check, copy and fax service, package shipping and
complimentary strollers and wheelchairs.
A Woodfield Gift Certificate is treated the same as cash at all of the center's nearly 300 stores and restaurants making it an ideal holiday gift for a loved one. Available at the Gift Certificate Booth located in the Grand Court, Woodfield gift certificates can be purchased in increments of $5 and come in a special holiday envelope.
Holiday Valet Parking is available at five convenient locations from November 17 to January 1 for a day-long fee of $6 (free for the physically challenged).
Woodfield is the premiere one-stop shopping experience in the Chicago area with nearly 300 of the world's favorite retailers including dozens that can't be found anywhere else in the Midwest. Merchants range from the unique -- fine art and jewelry dealers, Italian sunglass salons, sports merchandise emporia, and Belgium chocolate purveyors -- to renowned department stores Nordstrom, Marshall Field's, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney and Sears, along with 30 restaurants and food specialty shops. Notable newcomers since last holiday season include family clothing retailer H&M, toy merchant LEGO, Hawaiian jeweler Na Hoku, young women's retailer Rampage, athletic wear retailer Puma, sunglass and apparel retailer Oakley, sunglass emporiums Solstice and Occhiali da Sole and children's clothier Janie & Jack.
From burgers and fries to the freshest seafood, steaks and salads, dining at Woodfield is a gastronomic delight. Many restaurants offer sit-down service including Todai Seafood Buffet, a Japanese all-you-can-eat seafood house, The Cheesecake Factory, home to 30-plus cheesecake varieties each day, Asian noodle shop Stir Crazy Cafi, hamburger champions John's Garage and Red Robin, kid favorite Rainforest Cafe and the salad-lover paradise of Ruby Tuesday.
Located at Route 53 and Golf Road in Schaumburg, 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Woodfield welcomes more than 27 million visitors annually and is the top tourist destination in Illinois. For information on Woodfield's extended holiday shopping hours, seasonal programs and services, call (847) 330-1537 or visit www.shopwoodfield.com.