Walnut Room 2011

Over the past few years, we've been forced into a later and later visit to the Walnut Room, with frustrating results.  Not only have the lines been crazy long, but the supply of mugs and buttons has been depleted, leaving gaps in the much-treasured collections.  In spite of these disappointments, I have been reluctant to move up the date of this event on our calendar.  It is something we've always done much closer to Christmas than Thanksgiving.

Last year as I was chatting with a friend about the short supply of mugs, she mentioned, "You know, the tree's up by the middle of November.  We always go early and it's so much less stressful.  There are no lines when you go early."  Her words have haunted me for almost an entire year.

As we started mapping out our holiday schedule, it became clear that if we were going to get in a trip to The Walnut Room this year, we would need to go Thanksgiving weekend.  I couldn't believe how easy it all was!  We walked right up to the Walnut Room - no waiting.  We scored a table by a window.  The updated menu still promises more than it delivers, but for the first time in years, it feels like the kitchen is trying.  And there was less than a 20-minute wait to see Santa.

Welcome to the Christmas season!