It is December so it is time for our annual endorsement for Steve Zaske’s Christmas light show. 4220 1st Ave NE. The show runs from 5pm – 9pm through New Year’s Eve. For those who have not gone, you should go. Tonight. It is amazing. It is a light show that broadcasts on 91.1 FM and has a newly installed volume adjustment on his fence. My daughters ask to go almost every night.
If you are like every other Wallingford resident I see walking by his house, you will do so with your face lit by the glow of a cell phone while walking your dog. If you happen to live on his block, you will park on the small street and, with great purpose, walk directly to your door without even glancing at the show.
Mr. Zaske’s light show is my litmus test for people thinking of living in Wallingford. First avenue is more like an alley than a residential street between 42nd and 43rd. It is simply a house on a small street in Wallingford. Inside the house, some guy must have spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to create and refine this light show over many years. And no one in the neighborhood outwardly pays it any attention. The same way no one really pays any outward attention to melting babies. I have never met Mr Zaske, but I would not be surprised to learn that he wanted to install it just in his living room but they lights simply could not fit. He was therefore begrudgingly obligated to put it on the outside of his house.
Compare that response to Ravenna, where every year cars line up for Candy Cane Lane, a small cluster of homes that simultaneously put up a large number of conventional Christmas decorations. It is nice, but it strikes me more as a testament to the ability to force neighbors to coordinate activities than a celebration of Christmas. Where in Wallingford, we celebrate Christmas by paying no mind to the virtuosic performance of a lone genius down on 1st and 42nd.
So I and my family will proudly celebrate our Wallingford pride this holiday season, by very quickly walking past Mr. Zaske’s house on the totally empty sidewalk. Lit by the glow of one man’s genius playing to any empty street.
Happy Holidays Wallingford. Now back to our individual pursuits of quiet genius.
I’ll have to check it out! And, Candy Cane Lane is awesome, too. Let’s enjoy the gift they give us rather than speculate on their neighborliness.
I agree. They both can be lovely in their own way. I just went to Candy Cane Lane yesterday with my daughter’s family and the little grandchildren loved it. The Peace signs in different languages were inspiring. However, my husband and I live so close to Mr. Zaske’s house and for sure we will go and take our family to see the display. Thank you to Mr. Zaske and to you for letting us know!!
I discovered Amazon Echo can’t tune into 93.1
93.1 is “Ruth’s House of Hope”, in Oroville. It’s probably too far to get a strong signal, but … at a glance, it isn’t obvious to me that this product comes with a radio receiver, anyway? 91.1 is used by various public radio and Christian broadcasters, I guess the present case falling into the latter category.
Here’s Jordan’s video from last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56GsAG_s–A
My house is inspired by those that came before me and entertained my own children; Flip Wells my neighbor who creates the pirate ship each Halloween, Sharon Ehrig, who dressed as Santa and had her own excellent Christmas display for many years on Woodlawn, and Patty and Joe, who’s house on Latona was crazy in the best kind of way…and is in the process of being rebuilt. I’m happy to do my part to keep Wallingford a fun and walkable neighborhood during the Christmas season.
Thiis is to Ben Robinson, the current editor. Christmas is coming. It is a holiday. When Thanksgiving was upon us I sent an email to the ubiquitous email “[email protected]” with ideas for an article of thanks to our community. I got nothing. Thinking the editors are very busy I sent a follow up one more expanded with thanks for our merchants, community…etc. It was not published. Instead an in-depth article about car locks. Another holiday is on our heels- today is kids’ last day of school of 216.. Many news sources, communities magazines, ezines.. take time to thank their supporters, contributors, advertisers, commenters etc etc.. It can be done. Go back; find my emails.. Thank all of us for reading, supporting, commenting. Make particluar plugs for your advertisers, long time writers, some commenters,,, add ideas for last minute presents.. then add info re when drugstores and food stores will be open and closed. let us know how the food bank is doing. Let us know holiday gratitude and hopes. Thank you
My thanks for setting up a great christmas light display in wallingford. I strolled over this evening with my daughters and their friends and found it fabulous. You don’t need a FM radio to enjoy, the sound at the house is great 🙂