 |
Home | Blog
| Advice | Books
| Features | Food
| Games & Quizzes | Holidays
| Media Morph | Movies
| Music | Poetry
|
 |
 |
|
Keeping up with the Clauses The Pressure of Christmas Decorating You ain't seen Christmas lights until you've been to Dyker Heights. Each year, the mostly Italian-American residents of this neighborhood compete to have the biggest, best, and brightest Christmas yard displays. Some even hire professional Christmas display designers (is that a trade you can learn at ITT Tech?). An estimated 100,000 pilgrims cruise the neighborhood each year, basking in the glow of the glorious excess.
With its painstakingly precise outline done in lights,
this house reminds me of something I would have dreamed of creating on
my old Lite Brite, but not knowing how to make it, I would have given
up and just copied that simple clown that was on the box.
Plastivity Plastic Mary and Plastic Joseph wonder who stole Plastic Baby Jesus. Plastic donkey and Plastic cow aren't too concerned.
It's because of houses like this one that the Wichita Lineman
is still on the line.
The view of the house above from across the street. Lest
you think too much money is being spent on these monstrosities, be advised
that someone dressed as a snowman stood in front of this house taking
donations for charity.
Thousands of lights affixed to trees and bushes make this
house resemble a coral reef.
Mickey's Christmas Nightmare
Mickey and Minnie Mouse scream for help from their window prison, as a giant inflatable snowman and giant inflatable santa move in for the kill.
Animatronic toys and a giant motorized Santa are showcased
in this Nutcracker-themed display. Nutcracker music is piped in to complete
the effect. Why pay $75 to go to Lincoln Center when you can just drive
by this house for free?
Lucky for Plastic Mary and Plastic Joseph, their stable
came equipped with a giant plastic candle to keep Plastic Baby Jesus warm.
But, wait...is that Herod's Plastic Army amassing on the far right, looking
to kill all male children who might someday become a threat to Herod's
throne?
On Venetian! On Ballys!
Viva Las Vegasian Reindeer!
The most impressive house in the 'hood presents an "It's a Small World" theme. The lyrics to "We are the World" are printed on a giant sign on the left and animatronic kids of all cultures ride a ferris wheel and twirl in the yard. As Dionne and Michael might sing, "It's true we make a better day, just you and me and 100,000 light bulbs."
If you'd like to make your own pilgrimage to Dyker Heights, you'll find most of these homes on 83rd and 84th streets between 10th and 13th avenues. Take the belt parkway to exit 4. Traffic can back up, so it's best to park and stroll around on foot.
For more Christmas kitsch in a neighborhood with less money and even less taste, check out our tour of Yonkers Christmas decorations. And check out a similar neighborhood project in Woodland Hills, CA. Read Profiling Santa: Growing up Jewish, Max Burbank learned everything he needed to know about Santa from those delightful Rankin/Bass specials.
Hate Christmas office parties? Dodging It's a Wonderful Life on TV 24/7? Tell us what Christmas blights really stick a Santa-butt up your chimney - in the Ape Culture forum!Add comment.
Ape Culture and all associated pages are |
 |
Check out the Ape Blog for the latest Ape Culture News and Reviews
|
