Like almost everything, sales of party items are falling. The celebration kits for 50 people are still full on the shelves of Doolin’s Party Supply.
“Typically, these days are the busiest days of the year and we usually make more than 6,000 balloons. We are going crazy, we don’t know which way is up,” said owner Nicholas Doolin. “This is a much darker time. We are looking forward to ending 2020.”
And with colder temperatures and no indoor meals, people rely on restaurants to heat things up in their patios.
At the Greek-inspired restaurant Avli, reservations are arriving fast, as are orders for travel, with 60 already being taken care of for Thursday night.
Many restaurants are promoting their New Year’s Eve specials to help bring in some additional support during an already challenging fiscal year.
“Everyone is trying, everyone is trying to be safe, follow the rules and have our jobs as much as we can,” said executive chef Dimitris Dib of Avli.
RELATED: Chicago Area Restaurants Find a New Way to Celebrate the New Year, Leave 2020 Behind
And the Chicago authorities are reminding people to celebrate safely.
The Department of Business and Consumer Protection is even warning that they have plans to enforce city rules on New Year’s Eve and at the weekend, not just with quotes, but with closing deals if necessary.
In fact, a party with more than 150 people just ended on Saturday at block 5400 on Avenida Norte, so the police will be on guard on Thursday.
At Avli, they are making the most of the large courtyard that seats 80 people. With some places still available for the New Year, the chef is ready to serve as many people as he can safely.
“The owner spent a lot of money on buying heaters to make the patio look like an interior,” said Dib.
Typically on New Year’s Eve, the city offers free CTA tours, but Chicago officials say that is not the case this year.
RELATED: Internationally Inspired Ways to Call Your Kitchen in 2021
In a note, a CTA spokesman said: “As we continue to struggle with the effects of an unprecedented global health crisis, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is encouraging Chicagoans to follow the health guidelines established by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Department of Health. Illinois Health (IDPH), and celebrate the New Year with responsibility for the comfort and safety of the home this year, so there will be no free rides on CTA buses or trains on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s morning.
“This decision was made with the best interest of our passengers and employees in mind and is in line with what other peer transit agencies are doing this year in response to the pandemic, including those in the cities of Dallas, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Toronto and Vancouver. ”
Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.