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You have quite a few options open even staying indoors, you can go to the Garfield Park Conservatory which is celebrating its centennial year and the Christmas season with its centennial show, which will use traditional poinsettias (mainly reds) that were popular at the turn of the Century, flowering plant material in reds, oranges, and whites.

http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/shows.htm

There is always shopping along the Magnificent Mile, a lot of the larger retailers offer a discount to out of town folks if they show an out of town Drivers License. You can find information on the stores and directories at: http://www.themagnificentmile.com/

The Drake Hotels Palm Court, at the start of the Magnicicent Mile has afternoon tea, which is a great place to sit and chat with friends and family and enjoy something you don't get to do too often. Hours and more info are posted at: http://www.thedrakehotel.com/dining_palm.aspx

There is always great theater in Chicago, but if your in the mood for the traditional holiday stuff then I would check out Dickens A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater: http://www.goodmantheatre.org/season/Production.as...

if you want something different then I suggest Wicked, it will only be running in Chicago through the begining of 2009 so now would be the time to see it, you can get information it at: http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/

There is the Winter Wonder Fest at Navy Pier that is all indoors, it is free to get into unless you want to take any of the rides, then its $12 if you want to ice skate too then its $16. The ice skating is on an indoor rink to keep you warmer. You can find more information on rides and attractions at: http://www.winterwonderfest.com/index.html

A great way to see the city is from the inside of a warm yatch on the river. You can go by day to see all the buildings or take an night cruise to see all the city lights. The Odyssey, Mystic Blue & Spirit of Chicago all have holiday cruises, you can view their schedules at: http://www.odysseycruises.com/chicago/special_offe...

The Adler Planetarium is always fun and they are doing some fun holiday programs. The Shedd Aquarium is also and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, you can find them at: http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/home.shtml and http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

There is also a fun place called Medieval Times that does a dinner theater like no other, I would take up too much space here to describe the event! If you do decide to do this then I would get there early to make sure you get good seats. Check out the web site at: http://www.medievaltimes.com/Locations/Schaumburg-...

Hope all this gives you some help, enjoy your time in Chicago!!

There is plenty to do in Chicago that is indoors and out of the cold. I went there in January and it was snowing (although that didn't keep us from walking around town). Some of the indoor places I hit that would recommend are the Field Museum, Navy Pier (which as an indoor area), Art Institute and Sears Tower (if visibility is clear -- not snowing)

You could play "spank the camel" or "sunny side up" with a partner.