It's been another eventful year in Chicago, and one in which all eyes were fixed on our big town on more than one occasion. From the summer's heavily covered NATO meeting to the polarizing standoff that was the Chicago Teachers Union strike, it seems as though Chicago’s dream of being recognized as a global city has finally come true.

If you’re looking for some holiday magic, bundle up and head over to the Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights, running through Jan. 6. It’s an enchanting winter wonderland that can be enjoyed by young and old.

A SPANKING NEW YEAR, 2013, inspires us all to make uplifting resolutions, be they trivial or major, because we all aspire to be better people, hoping to live healthier, smarter, more rewarding lives. So we vow to lose weight, be nicer to in-laws, save more money, stop smoking, cut down on fatty foods, sugary treats, beer-drinking — whatever bad habits we want to discard must be eliminated from our new year lifestyle. Lots of luck.

Expectations are high for the children in The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker. And Willy Shives, ballet master of the Joffrey's children's cast, says these very diligent young dancers rise to the challenge. They have been in rehearsals since October for this 25th anniversary Nutcracker season.