Miracle on 34th Street

"Cars trickle down the 700 block of 34th Street in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood as Christmas lights stretch across the road Saturday night. Known as "Miracle on 34th Street" people can make the pilgrimage to the month-long spectacle of lit rowhouses that have been decorating for Christmas since 1989."

In case you're not keeping track, I passed a house with an electric sign in their front on my way to Hampden Saturday night reminding passerby only 2 shopping days remain until Christmas.

My shopping is done; pockets now empty. Now that I am avoiding all malls by a 30 mile radius and don't have much going on until Christmas Eve, I thought I'd take a trip to see some holiday lights.

Earlier this month I missed all the kick-off lighting festivities in Baltimore when in New York. It is raining now, so last night was my only night to check out the well known block of 34th Street in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood.

I am not much for Christmas music, but do enjoy a tasteful tacky spectacle of decorations on a home; just as long as it's not mine.

It was also a good excuse to test out my Christmas gift to myself: a Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens. I bought it mainly for my Japan trip later this month. I doubt I'll use it much for journalism work unless I can get this Fisheye-Hemi program to work. Ugh. Can't. Won't. Let the computer beat me.

When younger, I remember my parents driving down the street and then looking at a train garden somewhere nearby. We never actually got out to take a closer look and glad I did tonight.

Although this is an image I normally don't shoot, used a tripod which I don't normally use and gazed at Christmas lights which I don't normally do, I appreciate what these folks are doing.

I hope they continue the tradition for years to come.

WOW. It's late. I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas! I am sure I'll be back before the New Year.