Candy Cane Lane ?

Many years ago my husband took me to a neighborhood that had the most beautiful Christmas decorations. Cars were lined up to drive down the few blocks . He thinks it was called Candy Cane Lane or something like that, but can't remember where it was. I thought it was near Skokie , could that be? Anyway, does anyone know what i'm talking about ? I would love to go back there with my Niece and Mom if it still exist. Someone told me there was something like this in Rosell or Streamwood. I just don't remember. Thanks

Hi,

These are very rough directions:

From the Edens Expressway, exit on Touhy going west. At the very first traffic light, turn left and continue south for maybe a mile or more. You will bump into this neighborhood of highly competitive Christmas decorations, which I believe is in Lincolnwood.

While you are in this area, stop by this ice cream store, which should be changing decorations soon. A reliable rumor the new theme will be the Wizard of Oz.

Cathy2's suggestion is a great one, but as I recall, Candy Cane Lane is somewhere in the Rosemont area. I wish I could be more specific, but that's about all I remember. When my office was in Schiller Park, I used to drive by it all the time, I just can't remember specifics. As I said though, don't miss Cathy2's suggestion of Lincolnwood. It's amazing! Of course, my own neighborhood of Forest Glen, just south of Lincolnwood but actually in Chicago is no slouch, either. In recent years, Lincolnwood has gotten much more serious about decorating, though.

My best recollection is that the neighborhood's epicenter is on Devon just a few blocks east of Central, which put it in the Edgebrook neighborhood of Chicago.

Had a very pleasant evening a Saturday or two ago, Katsu for dinner with friends, drive through "Candy Cane Lane" and last, but certainly not least, ice cream at The Chocolate Shoppe on Devon.

Easiest way to find CCL is go West on Devon Ave, from Cicero Ave, 2-blocks, then turn North. CCL goes from, approximately, 1-block West of the Edens expressway, North of Devon, for about 5-blocks square.

Devon is 6400 N, Cicero 4800 W

Enjoy,
Gary

Hi,

Around this time of year, the television weather reports also seem to be the time they check out neighborhood Christmas lights. On a hunch I went over to Channel 5, yes I use an antenna, where they have a virtual tour of Christmas lights. I'm sure you can check other broadcast television websites for something similar.

I don't doubt that there is more than such 'hood and that, just as Chicago has multiple "Six Corners," they all get named Candy Cane Lane. The Sauganash one is the one I've heard about, but then it's the one closest to me, so it would be.

Mike G wrote:I don't doubt that there is more than such 'hood and that, just as Chicago has multiple "Six Corners," they all get named Candy Cane Lane. The Sauganash one is the one I've heard about, but then it's the one closest to me, so it would be.

Mr. G is, of course, correct. I was simply describing the location of the CCL I was familiar with.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Had a very pleasant evening a Saturday or two ago, Katsu for dinner with friends, drive through "Candy Cane Lane" and last, but certainly not least, ice cream at The Chocolate Shoppe on Devon.

Easiest way to find CCL is go West on Devon Ave, from Cicero Ave, 2-blocks, then turn North. CCL goes from, approximately, 1-block West of the Edens expressway, North of Devon, for about 5-blocks square.

Devon is 6400 N, Cicero 6800 W

Enjoy,
Gary

Just to clarify, Cicero is 4800 W.

midas wrote:Just to clarify, Cicero is 4800 W.

Midas,

Holy Cow, what was I thinking? Absolutely, yes, Cicero is 4800 W. I will change [edit] my post accordingly.

Thank you for catching my mistake.

Enjoy,
Gary

Cathy2 wrote:While you are in this area, stop by this ice cream store, which should be changing decorations soon. A reliable rumor the new theme will be the Wizard of Oz.

Cathy,

Rumor no more. We had dinner at Elephant Thai tonight, which is just across the street, and Chocolate Shoppe is just about done with the transformation to OZ.

From my quick glance into the window it's apparent the new theme is up to Chocolate Shoppe standards, which are impossibly high.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary wrote:new theme is up to Chocolate Shoppe standards, which are impossibly high.

I am certain they must have a theater background due to the elaborate affects with relatively inexpensive materials. I sure hope Myles is not as put off by the new set.

Thanks for the update!

for what its worth , when I was a young child in the early 60's my dad would take us out to get a christmas tree from a lot and then to Candy Cane Lane to see the lights and usually for hot dogs at Rays Red Hots.

This was a huge adventure for me and my brother and any other kid that happened to be around when the chance came up. Our Candy Cane Lane back then was near Addison/Naragansett in the schorsch village section of montclare. That was the general area as I remember it, but after starting our own famly some 21 years ago my wife and I tried to find it again to no avail. What I remember about the c.1960's is that Each house had a candy cane in front and they would spell Merry Christmas, etc.

So we settled on the area NE of devon/central like many of the other posters. Which is really nice and has been the candy cane lane our kids have come to know. I must say that it has not changed much in the last 20 years, it is surely a must see for any out of town visitors.

Our Candy Cane Lane back then was near Addison/Naragansett in the schorsch village section of montclare. That was the general area as I remember it, but after starting our own famly some 21 years ago my wife and I tried to find it again to no avail. What I remember about the c.1960's is that Each house had a candy cane in front and they would spell Merry Christmas, etc.

My grandparents lived in this area [the real Giovanna a.k.a. Grandma Jenny comes up twice in one day!], and your memories of decorations match with my memories of endless lines of cars driving up and down Neva Ave. Their block was the one with the Santa Clauses doing some odd Watusi-type dance down a chimney. My mother, sometimes too practical a person, wondered why anyone would ever want to drive around slowly and look at Christmas decorations. Each block had a different theme; or probably more accurately, each block had someone talking them into going to Polk Bros. to buy the same gaudy decoration. My guess is that the custom died out over the years as the population did [the subdivision went up immediately after WW2, and many in the neighborhood were contemporaries of my grandparents]. I'll also guess that if you went rooting around in attics, basements, and garages you'd find a lot of these decorations stll there. I wonder where the dancing Santa went?

Giovanna

Giovanna wrote:

Each block had a different theme; or probably more accurately, each block had someone talking them into going to Polk Bros. to buy the same gaudy decoration. My guess is that the custom died out over the years as the population did
Giovanna

Yes, that is the place,i guess my kid recollection had me a little east of it. The wiggling santa's and polk brothers snowmen hit the nail right ont he head. My dad got inspired 1 year and actually rigged up our polk bros santa and frosty with blinking eyes. If I remember correctly the giant decorations where either free or cheap with a purchase from Sol Polk
Thanks very much for clarifying this
bob