This December Fulton Manor combined its independent living resident holiday dessert gala with the beginning of our journey down Route 66. We are going to visit different towns and cities along the way and, of course, we started in Chicago. Our recreation therapy department decorated the coffee shop with memorabilia and changed the coffee mug centerpieces from a Veteran's day theme to a holiday one. During the month we featured Chicago hot dogs for our diner days special, and they were very popular, but the main event was the dessert gala. This was our best attended holiday event, with 150 taking part, including many family members.
There was a wide variety of finger desserts (a large share of them opportunity buy products), as well as cheese and crackers, fresh fruit and a vegetable tray. The star of the show was a served, individual, Peach Melba Flambé. We used peaches that were peeled and frozen this past September. A huge Chicago Union Station gingerbread house was also part of the display. A surprising number of residents expressed fond memories about visiting the station at one point in their lives. Next stop: Springfield, Illinois.