Showing posts with label decorated houses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorated houses. Show all posts

Saturday, December 12, 2015

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
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
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
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.




Friday, December 11, 2015

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.

Vine Street Victorian Showcase 2011, ©B. Radisavljevic

Vine Street Victorian Showcase 2011, ©B. Radisavljevic

Vine Street Victorian Showcase 2011, ©B. Radisavljevic

Vine Street Victorian Showcase 2011, ©B. Radisavljevic

Vine Street Victorian Showcase 2011, ©B. Radisavljevic
Close-up of Penguin Slide from First Photo, ©B. Radisavljevic
















Vine Street Decorated New Construction, 2015, ©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?



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