News

Downtown Elgin comes alive with holiday happenings

Posted December 03, 2009 10:00 pm

Harry Hitzeman

A civil engineering firm isn't one of your usual suspects when it comes to a downtown window decorating contest.

But the staff at the Elgin-based Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. put their skills to work and created a holiday-themed display entirely out of nonperishable food.

"We just thought 'How can we utilize our talents?'" said Michelle Bemis, an executive assistant at the firm who coordinated the project. "No one wanted to be the person painting (the window) outside. That's not what we're good at. We're good at building things."

The window, "Everyone CAN come Home for Holidays," contains a fireplace, tree and chair erected out of some 500-plus canned vegetables and fruits and a wreath composed of hygiene items.

It is part of Elgin's 11th annual Winter Wonderland display, the voting for which begins Saturday and runs through Dec. 12.

And the contest is just part of a larger effort of Elgin businesses and not-for-profit groups called "Elgin: Home for the Holidays" to pool their resources to promote an array of holiday happenings all around town.

The calendar is chock full of events for this weekend and next in Elgin as well as throught the end of the month.

For a complete list, visit elginhomefortheholidays.com or downtownelgin.com.

"This is what it's all about, to make it more of an experience rather than a one stop, just going to a show (at the Hemmens Cultural Center) or just the tree lighting," said Tonya Hudson, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. "The whole 'Home for the Holidays' story is a great story for the city of Elgin. I would love to see this type of collaboration for other different things in the city."

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock said some of the activities - ranging from ice skating and a visit from Santa to the city tree lighting, an ornament contest and a downtown house walk - span across several age groups.

"There's something for everybody," he said. "There's a lot of things for people to do."

If the window display at Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick didn't involve the entire staff, it seemed like it.

Bemis said she and seven others worked to hatch an idea and later went to the grocery store to measure the actual sizes of cans and boxes so that information could be entered into the firm's computer-aided drafting program.

Then, after the design was finished, a structural engineer reviewed the plans and employees donated the food. The project was assembled in the office basement, but curious employees dropped in to look - and offer suggestions.

"It was a great team building experience," Bemis said. "We wanted to give back."

Elgin's Home for the Holidays Elgin businesses, not-for-profit groups and the city have coordinated their winter holiday events in the downtown area. A full list is available at <a href="http://elginhomefortheholidays.com" target="new">elginhomefortheholidays.com</a> and <a href="http://downtownelgin.com" target="new">downtownelgin.com</a> Saturday, Dec. 5 • Noon to 9 p.m. Free skating at City Skate, an ice rink behind city hall. • 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. A holiday tea, featuring the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Brass Choir, held at the Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St., Elgin. After the performance, visitors can make holiday decorations, play games, tour exhibits. Light refreshments will be served. • 5 p.m. Festival Park‚ downtown Elgin, the city's annual tree lighting ceremony and Santa's arrival. Bring a "green" ornament for the city's tree and get a $2 off admission to "It's A Wonderful Life - A Radio Play" at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 100 Symphony Way, at 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. • Voting begins for the Downtown Neighborhood Association's annual window contest, "Window Wonderland" in which more than 30 groups entered this year. Sunday, Dec. 6 • 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. "Christmastide Carols" at the Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theater, 1700 Spartan Drive. Cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students. For more info or tickets, call (847) 622-0300 or visit elgin.edu/arts. Saturday, Dec. 12 • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Window Wonderland in downtown Elgin. Attractions will line the streets and parking lots in downtown, such as real reindeer, dog sledding demos, a live nativity by Larkin Baptist Church, free pictures with Santa, chestnuts roasting, free trolley rides. Voting concludes for the Downtown Neighborhood Association's annual window contest in which more than 30 groups entered this year. • Noon to 5 p.m. is the North East Neighborhood Association's "Homes for the Holidays" home tour. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 the same day and registration is held at 164 Division St. Call (847) 814-3345 or visit nenaofelgin.org. • 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Elgin Children's Chorus and the Elgin Choral Union will perform at the Hemmens Cultural Center. The ESO is resuming a longtime tradition spanning 20 years of celebrating the holidays at home at the Hemmens. Numbers include "We Need a Little Christmas," "Hang Up Your Stockin'" and "Sleighride" featuring baritone soloist Nathaniel Stampley and the voices of the Elgin Children's Chorus and Elgin Choral Union. Stampley is taking time off from "The Lion King" in New York City, in which he sings the role of Mufasa. Tickets range from $19 to $62. Visit elginsymphony.org or call (847) 888-0404. Sunday, Dec. 13 3:30 p.m. a third performance by the Children's Chorus and Elgin Choral Union of "Home for the Holidays" at the Hemmens.

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