DeKalb has the ability to resemble a ghost town whenever the holidays roll around.

Professor John Beachy, a longtime DeKalb resident, will spend the holidays visiting relatives in Minnesota. Beachy recommends jetting out of DeKalb and into Chicago.

“I like the music scene in Chicago – blues, jazz, etc,” he said.

For holiday dining, Beachy recommends The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, and Rosita’s, 642 E. Lincoln Highway.

Graduate student Jocelyn Perry plans on spending her break researching for NIU’s College of Education. Like Beachy, she advises leaving DeKalb in search of grander pastures.

“I would recommend taking a trip to the city [Chicago],” she said. “If you’re not 21, there’s really not much to do.”

But for those of you who are 21, Perry recommends Otto’s Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, for the music and the pool tables.

“I like Mike and Joe, The Pimps,” she said.

Michael Fortner, an associate professor of physics, will spend part of his Christmas with science. Fortner, who also is the mayor of West Chicago, will research in the D-Zero area of Fermi Lab.

For the holidays, sophomore communication major Chaz Wilke will go home.

“I plan on getting a little temporary job, making some money, playing a lot of Genesis and Nintendo,” he said.

For those students spending the holidays in DeKalb, the Chamber of Commerce Web site, http://www.dekalb.org/calendarevents.asp, offers various alternatives to the boredom some residents might face.

The site lists several activities ranging from Huskie basketball games to various musical events.

For those of you uninterested in the Chamber of Commerce Web site, expect boredom. Either that, or pack your bags and head to the Windy City.