Happy holidays...and some gift ideas

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While UChiBLOGo takes a break until January 2, we want to leave readers with some last-minute gift ideas that show Hyde Park's holiday spirit.

Since 1942 Hyde Park's Museum of Science and Industry has celebrated the holiday season with an exhibit of Christmas trees decorated by volunteers from Chicago's diverse ethnic communities. The show displays more than 50 firs reflecting holiday traditions ranging from Kenya to Croatia; museum-goers can take home their favorite international ornaments and tree decorations from the MSI's Holiday Shoppe.

For presents to put under the tree, Hyde Park has many sites for late gift-buying: the Oriental Institute's Suq offers such children's treats as a plush pyramid and the Egyptian board game Senet; the Robie House Museum Shop sells Wright-inspired home accents and accessories; and the Smart Museum's gift shop indulges creative types with its selection of art books, paper products, and imported textiles. For bookworms, the Seminary Co-op, 57th Street Books, Powell's Bookstore, and the U of C Bookstore hit all the literary bases.

R.E.K.

Photos: Top: the Museum of Science and Industry hosts more than 50 bedazzled firs in its annual Christmas Around the World exhibit; bottom: museum-goers visit the United States's tree, which was decorated by the Daughters of the Revolution.

December 21, 2007