When the Lights Go Up in the City

Merry Everything, Rochester.  Merry Everything!  Can you believe 2012 is almost here?  Me either.  It seems like just yesterday people were ringing in the new year wearing those gaudy “2000’s” glasses (for 10 years!) and now, all of the sudden, they’ve been off the menu for two years.

But let’s not get too focused on January.  After all, December has been putting in a real solid run here these past three weeks.  In case you hadn’t noticed, the weather has been great and people all over have been basking in the holiday spirit.  Some are listening to holiday music, and some, like the unpaid intern (read: wife), pick up some egg nog and bake shortbread.

This blogger, however, prefers to fill up on holiday cheer through holiday lights.  Not putting them up, mind you (our outdoor holiday decoration aesthetic is what you’d call “minimal”), but by sitting in my heated car and gazing in admiration as I slowly roll by.

So, when the RCVB asked me to go on one of Star Transportation’s, Holiday Light Tours, you’d have thought I was a football player for Ohio University who had just found out we’d be wearing black jerseys this season.

The unpaid intern and I were picked up by Marshall, our tour guide for the evening (Marshall also helps scout locations and determine the route for the tour), and as soon as we opened the doors of the Cadillac DTS, we were greeted by the sounds of holiday music and the most comfortable back seat ever.  Seriously, the thing was like a leather couch you never wanted to get off of. 

Tangent Alert! I had a couch like that in college… an old, leather, battle tested beast of a sofa that you just sunk into.  If you ever fell asleep on it, you’d wake up in the middle of the night halfway inside of the thing like it was trying to eat you.  Man, I loved that couch.

The tour got out of the gates quickly, with the first stop being one of the best on the whole tour.  The house was decked to the halls with lights, and if that weren’t enough, it also had a fire burning and a bench where Santa hangs out for a few hours each night.  How they are able to pry him away from the North Pole during his busiest time of the year, I have no idea. 

We continued on our journey through Rochester and the tour ran the whole gamut of holiday decorations.  From traditional lights, to animated icicles, to inflatables, to projectors, to giant statues, we left no sleigh unturned.

Plus, getting to relax in the back of the car eating candy canes and enjoying beverages while Marshall did the heavy lifting put a huge bow on the tour for us.  And, the fact that Marshall has lived in Rochester since the late 1960’s and can add historical perspective and city information to the tour puts a huge cherry on top of that huge bow (warning to kids: don’t piggyback metaphors at home!  It can be dangerous and should only be done by a professional).

Eventually, our time with Marshall came to an end.  He pulled the Caddy back up to our house, we shook hands, captured a photo-op, and still riding a Holiday high, the intern and I went back inside put on “Christmas with Dino”.  Until next time, be sure to drink your Ovaltine!

To learn more about the holiday light tours, which are offered until December 30^th, visit Star Transportation’s website or call 281-0969.

Coming Up in My Next Post:

It’s a mystery!  We’re still pinning down our January 2012 adventures.  We’ve got a few possibilities and are meeting soon to finalize.  If you have any suggestions for January, or any other month for that matter, please feel free to leave them in the comment section.



Takin’ It to the Strasse (Takin’ It, Takin’ It)

Wie geht’s, Rochester?  Enjoying yourselves some winter?  I’m getting there… I’m currently finding myself in the “bargaining” stage, where I’d do just about anything for a day in the 40’s.  Not to worry, though, I’ll be well grooved into “acceptance” by our next decent snowfall.  Plus, not to rub it in or anything (totally rubbing it in), but I “have” to go to Hawaii in January for work, so I got that going for me, which is nice.

For my latest adventure, I dropped by the Peace Plaza for Market Strasse, which is put on by the Rochester Downtown Alliance and continues through December 17th.  The plaza’s transformation is quite festive and there are shops, a performance stage for live entertainment, and also a winter chalet for children’s activities set up for everyone to enjoy.  Plus, you needn’t worry about getting cold, as the tables have heated centerpieces that you can huddle around to keep warm.

Now, as you are able to tell by my pictures, I was at Market Strasse before this fair city became a winter wonderland.  So, now that we’ve gotten some precipitation, your experience there should be even better. 

You may also notice that my photos aren’t as crisp and Pulitzer worthy as they normally are.  That’s because the unpaid intern (read: wife) had to sit this one out due to work obligations and I was left shouldering the camera duty.  I tried telling her that “the talent” (and I mean that in the most liberal sense of the word) needs to focus on the event and can’t be burdened with such tasks.  However, it was to no avail.

As I arrived to Market Strasse, I was greeted by sounds from the Rochester Carillon, which is housed atop the Plummer Building and was being piped down to speakers on the plaza.  The Rochester Carillon consists of 56 bronze cup-shaped bells, and hearing holiday music being played on it did wonders for the atmosphere and feel of Market Strasse (For more information on the Rochester Carillon, check out this MPR story).

Market Strasse’s vendors also have neat items to sell.   Whether you’re looking for winter attire, winter floral arrangements, toys, artwork, or just some food or drink to warm you up from with-in, they’ve got something for you.  I even left with some flame painted copper artwork for my house.

Visitors to Market Strasse should also take a moment to stop into the lobby of the Kahler Grand Hotel, where they’ve built an enormous “real” gingerbread house that is 8.5 feet wide, 12 feet long, and 16 feet tall at the peak of the chimney.  Other than the studs and plywood that make up the substructure, everything on there is edible!  For a brief moment, I considered pulling a Homer Simpson / Land of Chocolate move, but I quickly came to my senses and decided against it.

Market Strasse continues through December 17th, so be sure to make it down to the Peace Plaza this Friday or Saturday.  All the activities, as well as the fresh air (or Fresh Aire) as my dad prefers around this time of year), will infuse your whole body with holiday cheer.    

Coming Up in My Next Post
I’ll be checking in on all the Clark Griswolds in Rochester as I take Star Transportation’s Holiday Light Tour.  We’ll be traversing this fine city in search of the best and brightest holiday light displays.  The website says that we may even get a visit from Santa along the way!  This is especially awesome since I’ve still got some beef with him from Christmas ’87 that needs to be to sorted out.  Hopefully I get the chance.