Christmas Lights and Chappy's

One of our smartest friends learned about a Christmas light display in St. Pete that was said to compete with the gaudiness of the house in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. So with Yahoo Map in hand, we planned a visit to a nearby outdoor hamburger joint to be followed by a drive-by at the Christmas house.

So last night, after burgers were consumed, everyone piled in our van and headed for the display. The streets were quiet and dark until we arrived at the "place with glowing sky" where we were greeted by someone in the road handing out religious flyers and taking a head count of visitors. We were advised to park on the street and walk through the display which we did. A half-acre lot was covered (except for the pond) with lights, inflatable Santas, a model railroad, talking Christmas trees, a large serpent right out of the Garden of Eden, a menorah, several mangers complete with plastic farm animals, and did I mention lights? There was a 60 foot TV antenna that supported strings of lights pointing heavenward and at least one 60 foot tree that was completely outlined in strings of lights. And finally, there was a blaring television featuring an evangelist reminding us what Christmas is really about - although I did not hear him mention lights or Santas.

So was it spectacular, huge, beautiful, tacky, cheap and nasty, a ploy to pass out religious messages, a way to raise money, a means of irritating the neighbors, an obsession, the hobby of a madman, something you would see in the Guinness Book of World Records? er...Yes. Does it eclipse the house in Christmas Vacation? Easily. Does it look nice in the daylight? I doubt it.

IN OTHER NEWS - The Blue Island Beer Club will play a short set at Chappy's Hurricane Alley tonight at 8 pm. A mixture of original songs and some classics you have forgotten. Be there. 247 Central Ave, St. Pete.