Miracle on 34th Street

The Miracle on 34th Street in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. A Photoshop photomerge of three images.

After having Chinese food (sadly no Chinese Turkey) for Christmas dinner at the Panda Buffet, Jenne and I took our friends, Steve and Debbie to this annual Baltimore holiday event. They had never seen it. I don't know how long this annual event has been going on - many years - but it is a holiday sight not to be missed.

Hampden is the place to be in Baltimore during the holidays. This one entire city block is alive with activity and Christmas music fills the cold December air as people of all ages, all creeds, all races and all social ranks walk around looking at and enjoying the decorations. Oohs and ahhs are repeatedly heard as folks point in all directions at the lights and Christmas scenes. 34th Street truly is a Christmas miracle and brings smiles to the faces of everyone who sees it. The eyes of children and adults are filled with awe, wobder and happiness. It's not uncommon to stop and talk to total strangers about the joys of the season and to wish each other a Merry Christmas. The grinch known as Political Correctness does not rear its ugly head in this happy place!

You will find traditional Christmas displays with Nativity scenes, Santa and elves, model trains, the Grinch and lots of blinking lights. You'll find a house with a rainbow flag display and a pink flamingo motif. The block's lone Jewish home is adorned in blue and white. There is even a Christmas tree made entirely of chrome hub caps! People and cars pour up and down the street and the holiday spirirt is so alive and so thick in the air that you would swear that you could reach out and hold its hand.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. See you all back on-line on January 1st, 2005! Jenne and I are off to Dayton, Ohio and 17" of snow!

Note: If this photo appears really dark on your monitor you will need to adjust your brightness level, or just admit to yourself that your monitor is really old and go and get a new one with that Christmas money you received.