What Wasn't Lovely During the Vine Street Showcase this Year.

12th and Vine Streets, 12-12-2015 © B. Radisavljevic

As I took my preview walk on Vine Street Saturday afternoon, I couldn't help but notice that 12th Street is still under construction, being transformed into another 21st Street. It's not very pretty. I guess it's a good thing the darkness hid it a bit Saturday night. I rather doubt if anyone decorated the end of the street to cover it up,   but please correct me in the comments if I'm wrong. Maybe someone creative put a row of snowmen or Christmas trees in front of these signs and crime scene tape to hide this sight. I couldn't attend the event on Saturday night, so I don't know. This is the view of 12th and Vine looking south on Saturday afternoon. As you see, even the mail truck is having trouble getting where it needs to be.

Looking into the abyss at 12th and Vine © B. Radisavljevic 

This is the east side of 12th Street at Vine. You can get a great view of what is under the street surface, or what will be. This is a great place to bring your curious children so they can learn about how "green" streets are constructed.  If you need to know more about it to explain it to them and see for yourself what will happen to this street, the city explains its plan for 12th Street here. It appears that if you love 21st Street, you'll love the way 12th Street looks when it's finished. Perhaps you will think it's worth the over two million dollars it's costing taxpayers. The businesses probably won't love it as much, nor will the people trying to find a place to park to patronize them. It looks to me as though there won't be any more street parking. I hope I'm wrong.

Crime Scene or Beautification? © B. Radisavljevic

This is the west side of 112th Street at Vine. You'd think  they could have at least used red or green for those temporary barriers for road construction during the holiday season. (Of course my tongue is in my cheek.) This looks like a crime scene. Some folks think it is. Some folks think some simple resurfacing  would have  fixed the road and left the parking spaces.

What do you think?

If you want to know what's really happening behind the scenes that they are hoping you won't find out, get one or more of these books for the big picture. Today it's the streets. Find out what's coming after that.    

Last Vine Street Victorian Showcase Preview

The big event goes live on Vine Street between 6 and 9 pm  December 12, in Paso Robles between 8th and 21st Streets. This is probably the biggest family party Paso Robles has all year, with the possible exception of Pioneer Day in October.  I showed you Scrooge and the Grinch yesterday, and today I will show you  the Snow Queen's house and some other decorated Victorian homes on display for the evening. Here is the sign designating the Snow Queen's house.

Below is the house itself. I like the simplicity of the wreaths and red ribbons that show off the whiteness of the house so  fitting for an ice queen. Tonight  I expect there will be more lights. I was here just before dark.

Vine Street Showcase, Queen Elsa's house, © B. Radisavljevic

The next house is more festive with its bright lights, Christmas tree, and presents, along with its lighted wreaths. I'm  sure it will be glowing tonight as the guests pass on the dark street. Enlarge any  photo by clicking on it.

Lighted House on Vine Street, © B. Radisavljevic

This last Victorian home does not need a lot of adornment to be beautiful. It looks ready to welcome Christmas guests. I didn't see any sign announcing what will be happening here, but there is always something happening inside, in front of, or near every one of these homes. Musicians and dancers seem to be everywhere, but they are spread out enough so they don't drown each other out. There will be cotton candy, cookies, and hot chocolate, and probably more.

Decorated Victorian Home on Vine Street, © B. Radisavljevic

If you go, dress warmly. It may rain. The temperature will have a high of 57 and a low just above freezing. Bundle up and bring an umbrella and a flashlight. I've noticed that those with toddlers often bring wagons so the walk won't make the little ones too tired. If you are bringing an older person, expect that they may be tired before you are and want to leave early. I found that out the year I took my mother who was in her early eighties. You will probably have to park at least two blocks away, so make sure to leave while the young and the old still have the energy to get back to the car.

If you can't go, do the next best thing. Put on the Christmas music, make popcorn, and drink hot chocolate at home. A fire would be appropriate, too, if you have a fireplace. You can sit in  front of it with your hot beverage or a glass of wine and think of all the people shivering on Vine Street.

Related articles

• X is for Xmas in Paso Robles

What Happened to the Christmas Train?

Showcase Past

In the few years I've been able to attend the Vine Street Victorian Showcase, one of our loveliest Paso Robles December traditions, there are certain Christmas displays I like to photograph year after year. One of these is the house that displays this train. I will show you more photos of this house below.

Other popular attractions are Scrooge's house, of course, and another is the home of the Grinch. These usually draw large crowds.

This is a video of the Grinch's 2010 performance.

If you can bear with me as I walk through the crowd to finally get close enough to catch Scrooge's 2010 performance, you can get a feel for what the audience eats up and responds to as Scrooge dishes it out.

One other house has also drawn me to it year after year. It is the house with the Christmas train. I have put a close-up of it taken in 2011 beside the first paragraph at the top. I wish I could put the rest of these photos side by side in a row, but I can't. So I will put them as you would see them left to right if you were standing in front of this decorated house. You can click each photo to enlarge it to see the details.

Close-up of Penguin Slide from First Photo, ©B. Radisavljevic

Vine Street Decorated New Construction, 2015, ©B. Radisavljevic

Showcase Present

Since this is one of my favorite displays, I was trying to find it on my walk this week. I knew approximately where it normally is, but it wasn't anywhere near there.

Finally, I got back to 14th and Vine, Scrooge's former home for the Showcase, and I talked to the owner of the house who was in the front yard and told her I was trying to find it. She solved the mystery for me. I discovered I had seen its place at the beginning of my walk and even photographed the house where it had been. Except now it is this new construction. Even so, it is decorated. I hope maybe the more spectacular display will be back next year. This was not the only new construction on the route of the Vine Street Showcase, but it's the most festive.

What is your favorite holiday tradition in your town?

Related articles

• X is for Xmas in Paso Robles

Sky Light and Christmas Lights

Vine Street Just Before Sunset

Just as the light was being chased out of the sky tonight, I was driving along Vine Street looking for some of my favorite locations in the Vine Street Victorian Showcase. I won't be able to attend the actual event this year since walking is hard right now. I wanted to see the lights early so I wouldn't miss everything. I was actually a bit too early, since not everyone has gotten their home decorated yet. One house I  passed that was ready for Saturday night was this one Scrooge used to  rant from until a couple of years ago.

Decorated House on Vine Street, 2015, © B. Radisavljevic

The Sky Show

I had parked in front of this house,  but I decided to photograph some other houses before driving away. When I  returned to the car, the sun was almost down, and I noticed the ornamental bird on top of the house. I decided to photograph it in the setting sun.

© B. Radisavljevic

After taking many more photos, I headed home, where I noticed my neighbor across the street had his decorations lighted. The sun was gone, but the sky still showed enough color to make me want to take this last photo.

Sky Light and Christmas Lights © B. Radisavljevic

Which lights do you like best? The ones on the houses or the ones in the sky?

Related articles

• X is for Xmas in Paso Robles

Flying the Colors

It's hard to walk through a Paso Robles neighborhood without seeing a fly flying. This owners of this house showed their true colors by flying the colors of Old Glory on an ordinary day in March.







Show your colors.

KRW American Flag Fireworks Patriotic T Shirt

The Color Purple On Vine Street

Last month I was driving up Vine Street on the way to the dentist's office when I saw this car. There was no way I could pass it without stopping to take a photo. It had a "for sale" sign in the window, and I can't help wondering if it has sold by now. Whoever bought or buys this car will have to be someone who doesn't mind getting a lot of attention, since this vehicle will certainly attract it.

Would you like a custom car like this?

Related articles

• Old Farm Equipment Turns Ornamental