(Apologies for this post, I’m not sure when I decided to become a tourist in my own city!)
When Bright Nights in Hawrelak Park was cancelled this year, my across-the-street neighbours and I decided to go to Candy Cane Lane instead (mainly because I was whining about wanting to see something shiny and finding out about the cancellation was very last-minute). (And also because it was a perfect night for a winter stroll – very still, fluffily snowing, only about -12, and not too crowded.)
Tourist shot in front of the sign!
Magi’s camel slightly too obviously trying to buck VM off. ”Ow! Ow! You call this the spirit of Christmas?”
General agreement that this was our favourite house, with the white and the blue and the matching paint.
Loved decorations partly buried in fresh snow.
After seeing this cute little beast, we all kinda wanted one for Christmas too. (Till I reminded everyone that hippos can bite people in half. Then not so much.)
Me, being The Grinch.
JEL, being… well, we weren’t sure. ”What are you doing there, kid?” ”YOU know! From that song! COME ON!” (crickets)
There are some really big-normous trees in this neighbourhood (pretty, hey?). Am hoping those are LED lights, or else that homeowner is going to be looking at several trillion dollars on their Epcor bill.
Another favourite display – the traditional ‘shark munching an unfortunate snowman’ motif.
Anyway, good times had by all – there were sleigh rides and hot chocolate, which we were too late for, but we went back to the house and drank hot apple cider and watched the Shaw holiday fireplace for a little while. A very Edmontony Christmas!
I remember Candy Cane Lane! And Bright Nights! (Why did they cancel the latter, anyway? I remember it being very popular)
Actually, I might take Mark out to see CCL when we’re out there next week. I’m not even sure how many years it has been now.
I know, right? I was telling JEL that I hadn’t been to Candycane Lane for probably two decades. (Then I felt really, really old.) Re: Bright Nights, the City said it would have cost too much to do all the repairs needed to the lights, and it wouldn’t be economical to put on. (Which made me sad, because they did raise quite a lot of donations for the food bank, and I somehow think the maintenance money they’re saving by not having it this year is not going to go to that noble charity.)
Definitely take Mark to CCL! You guys will love it. And I’ll come with unless it’s supposed to be a date night.
We took Ada out to CCL last night and while it was too cold to walk we drove through. I was actually a little disappointed. As a kid I remember all the really large, creative displays that people put effort into. There were just too many houses with a basic string of lights and a costco blow-up of either the penguins on the polar bear or the two snowmen. I think you essentially captured each unique house on film in the post.
Yeah, I remember it being more impressive when I was a kid, but I chalked that up to exaggerated childhood memories. But I thought there were some fantastic houses on CCL when we went – especially the ‘seizure’ houses with so many blinkers on their light strings it looked like the house was jumping back and forth. And the movie house, and the Disney house! I think the problem is that most of the residents are getting kinda old – I read an article about CCL saying there probably wouldn’t have been many houses lit up this year if not for the City of Edmonton donating cherrypickers and labourers to get the lights up.
Also, I think my real favourite house (sadly not photographed) was the one with no lights on… and a FOR SALE sign up front. We were like, “Really, at this time of year? Hahaha noooooooo.”
I love being a tourist in my own city sometimes. Nothing wrong with that! : )
Word!
Honestly, the Edmonton tourist thing was practically my favourite keep-Premee-out-of-trouble activity this year. I think one of my things for 2011 is going to be either attending or volunteering at as many city things as I can.
My mom and I took Ada to the house on 97th street tonight. Oh my was that a fantastic experience – soooo much better than CCL. I highly recommend it if you are out and about – you have to get out and walk through as not only is there about $100K worth of decorations on the exterior but each of the windows facing out to the display contains either lights or a Christmas vignette and each one is different.