Meanwhile....back in NC (December 8, 2012)

Patty and I did one of our favorite things, got out in the car, turned on some Christmas music, got some coffee, and drove around the area a bit to check out some of the houses during Christmas time. This is one of my favorites back home...one of the very old houses on Union Street in downtown Concord. There are some fine places there, and most of them are decorated for Christmas. Unlike Richmond, not really a lot of wild houses, it is a fine but different sort of thing there. Though, as I have noted, there are a few places that really pump out the wattage (and run up electric bills) in the area.  

Lots of nice houses, such as this one at left) in the neighborhood. Of course, it has not felt much like Christmas yet, being as it was last year, warm for this time of year (in fact on Sunday it got up to 70 degrees, which also is what is happening in Richmond, VA as I write this on Sunday December 9). The Charlotte area gets some snow (I read the average for a year is a bit over four inches) but normally the winters are pretty moderate (get a lot more winter upstate, especially in the mountains). This though has been pretty unusual. Nonetheless, it was a very good time, and a nice way to spend a Saturday night in NC.    

Tacky Lights - Day 2 (December 2, 2012)

 Another fine day in the RVA, warmer even than yesterday, and sunny again. Enjoyed a nice walk earlier, and watched some football on tv, and then once again got in the car and took a drive. This time, it was shorter, and basically in the N. Chesterfield area. Loved this tree which is to be found on Janhke Road. You don't see trees like this in North Carolina or in Kentucky/Indiana for that matter, I happen to think that they are amazing. This was not part of the Tacky Light Tour guide, but I remembered it from past years and I was hoping that they still did it. I am happy to say....they do.

 Another place that is not listed in the Tacky Light Guide at Richmond.com (which is a great place to see some of the houses and get directions) is this house off of Walmsley Road  which is just off of Hull Street, or via Turner Road. You can't miss it - the tall tree seen at right of the house and below in a better photo, can be seen from the road. I love this house, the detail that goes into it, and of course the hours and hours of work. Something like this has to be an on-going project lasting many weeks. I just thought it was a hell of a thing to see, and enjoyed wandering around and looking at all of the items in the yard.   

This is the tree, and some of the blowups and other items in the yard. There are a lot of things to see there, and the owner of the house was out and about handing out candy canes. I was there for quite a while, took quite a few photos and just kind of looked it over. It was also fun to watch the other people and the kids - I can see why people like to do this. It was a grand thing indeed!
So, saw these and actually saw a few more places. Though not "Tacky" there are a lot of lights around the Midlothian Turnpike area, many nice looking houses. As I noted in a neighborhood walk, many houses have been tastefully done, and those are also very nice too.
So, a nice weekend in Richmond, very colorful and just fun as so many are - but this has been something special because this tends to be a magical time of year. I appreciate all the the work, and the designing, and the sure to be very impressive electric bills that are generated during this period of the year. Be watching, more to come soon!

Tacky Lights - Day 1 (December 1, 2012)

On a beautiful Saturday night, Day One of December 2012, got a cup of coffee at "Micky D's" and rolled out to see some of the sights of Tacky Lights. Since I have been in Richmond, I have been doing this, and have to say it is one of my favorite things about being here. I went to a number of places, and this is just a few of my favorite sights from the evening. The houses at right are an amazing pair, owned by two family members. Address of one is 9606 Asbury Court in Richmond. It is one remarkable light show, and one of the most amazing things you can see over the holidays. 

I made a stop at the Jefferson Hotel. I always like to see the big tree at the bottom of the Grand Staircase (and it always seems there is a private party going on down there) but still got a great photo (and a few others during the night) while I was there. Thought this was really cool though, also at the Jefferson. It is a gingerbread train, and it is massive. Last year they had a rather large gingerbread house, but this to me pulled out all of the stops. Just a beautiful and remarkable piece of work, and made for a very nice photo. Not to mention, that it also put a rather huge smile on my face.  

Not really "Tacky Lights" at all, these are some of the light sat the James Center downtown. Before this I took a short ride down Monument Avenue, which like this is also not "Tacky", but really a nice display. Also of note, all the buildings downtown (well, many of them anyhow) are outlined with white lights as well. There was a horn band playing some Christmas tunes, and it was fun to see all the people enjoying the sights and the sounds. There is also a train (model train set, but a nice one) in a nearby building, be sure to check that out. It made for a really nice visit, and I enjoy this yearly as well.

 Finally there was 9716 Wendhurst Drive, in Glen Allen, VA. Oh wow sums this one up just as well as anything else could. Just an amazing sight, and another smile crossed my face seeing this. This is among the many "Tacky Light Houses" that have been featured on national tv shows over the years. I have quite a few photos from tonight on my Photo Page, and there will be more to come, because I will be heading out again tomorrow night to see some more, and again before the lights go out shortly after Christmas. I have said it before, and will say it again...no one does Christmas quite like Richmond.        

A Ride in the Neighborhood (November 26, 2012)

 Some of the most interesting things to see in this area, can be found in my "Backyard." Concord, NC is a most interesting town with a lot to offer. I have a few more photos at my "Racing with the Wind" page where I visited Charlotte Motor Speedway. Being the Christmas season, I also made a stop at Pat Rogers Speedway Harley-Davidson, and being the Christmas season got a photo of both of the tree and the bikes there. I love to ride, and this was a fine day in North Carolina to do so with sunny skies and some warmer temperatures (around 60, but I will take that in late November) to roll around the area. I did not get in a lot of miles, but I did enjoy some remarkable weather. On this Monday I also enjoyed some light traffic having gotten out before the rush hour traffic rolled in. It made for a very good day on the motorcycle and it is nice to see some of the sights in the area of which this is one of the better areas to explore. Spending so much of my life in Richmond....explore is the right term.     

 Took this photo in the Bass Pro Shop at the massive Concord Mills Mall. Concord Mills is a huge (and still growing with a lot of construction going on nearby) mall in Concord...and is said to be the #1 tourist attraction in the state. This time of year it's good for that label - though was not bad on a Monday a few weeks before Christmas. You can see it is decked out for the holiday. Way off in the background of this photo is the big fish tank, and there are some impressive fish in there. Quite a place for the outdoorsman (or outdoorswoman) on your Christmas list, I liked visiting this store.  

 Made a stop at Roush-Fenway Racing, many of the race shops in Concord have a museum, and this one is no exception (most but not all are free admission - this one was free). Car in front is the prototype  GT-40 Ford, there is a cut away car in the background, and a crashed car way off in the photo as well. Has a nice gift shop, and a number of drivers cars for the team are also on display there. Roush-Fenway is located on the grounds of Concord Regional Airport, the airport is a big deal for the teams, who travel both via the roads, but also by air to the major races around the US.
There are a number of race teams located in Concord, and also in nearby Huntersville, NC in fact of the teams in NASCAR most of them are located right in this area. Charlotte Motor Speedway is considered to be the "home" track for the series, and it is one impressive place, hosting two races during the season and the NASCAR All-Star Race in the year as well.   

Mentioned the importance of the airport to the teams, this is one of the team planes of Joe Gibbs racing at the airport. I was told they are going to be flying to Las Vegas for the big award ceremony coming up soon, as the season is now over. However, they only get a short break, Daytona happens in February. Racing is a big deal in this part of the country, and it is not unusual to see a number of drivers and owners out and about in the area.
As I noted, this was a very good day, had a good time checking out some of the sights in what is one of the most fun times of the year. For my next post, will have some neat photos from Richmond, VA

Preview of Christmas, Concord, NC (November 24, 2012)

 Back in Carolina, and an early look at the season. Patty and I took a post Thanksgiving Day drive on Saturday November 24 to see some of the lights in the city. Spent the day decorating the outside of the house, and then went out to see the lights in the area. At left is the Concord Christmas tree, which is downtown and was lit quite a few days ago in what is shaping up to be an early Christmas season both here and in Richmond. A few houses have already been decorated, and in fact we plan to get back out tonight to see some. Patty and I get some coffee, and ride around a bit in the car to see the lights. Certainly, Concord and the Charlotte area as well have some interesting things to see (such as the lights at the Speedway, and of course McAdenville is remarkable) but as I have noted (and as will be shown here) few places do as much as does Richmond with the remarkable Tacky Lights Tour, and of course downtown Richmond is something to see as well.  

Still, something familiar here with the city light displays, such as seen here at left. Having spent so many years here now, many of them are like "old friends" and remind me both of Christmas past, and of those to come. Of course over the years in my journeys I have lived in three places and this year will bring some sights from Louisville, KY, Charlotte, NC and also Richmond, VA. It does tend to make Christmas time both very interesting and fun. I will be bringing more photos from all of those cities in the days and weeks to come, in what is always one of my favorite times of the year!

Preview of Christmas, RVA (November 17, 2012)

 Let it be known, I love the Christmas holiday (I am also a huge fan of Thanksgiving, just a few days from now) and the fact that the stores are having an early start is fine with me. After all I have Christmas in two states to check out, and there will be a lot of great sounds and sights to experience both in North Carolina and in Virginia. Started with Virginia, at the Short Pump Town Center this tree was lit up just the day before, and I went out to see it, as in this case...I never had. West Broad Street is a very busy road, and very retail with a number of strip malls, and of course the massive complex that is Short Pump Town Center. A big mall should have a big tree and this was the largest one that I got out to see today. Wandered around for a little bit there, but for me at least it is too early to do any real shopping. Nonetheless, got a feeling that just about anything you could want, need, or think you need could be found at Short Pump Town Center. As malls go, it was pretty impressive. 

From West Broad Street, drove back to the Midlothian area. Checked out the tree at Westchester Commons, and also one at Chesterfield Towne Center (the latter has the tree inside). Also at Chesterfield I got to talk to Santa for a little bit (which was kind of cool), and wandered around for a short while at Garden Ridge. In between those two places is this dentist office at left. It seems to be one of the first places to light up in the area, and is usually one of the last to turn the lights off after Christmas. This, to me, is not a bad thing at all. I tend to go by there quite a bit. Also worth a lot, are the bears in the dentist chairs in the three lower front windows. I always enjoy seeing this.       

Ended my night at Stony Point Fashion Park, which is certainly a cool mall. For one thing its outdoor, and for another it is the most (hands down) dog friendly mall in Richmond (and Richmond is a very dog friendly town). As for the tree, it was lit up November 10, and this tree is really cool. Had a really good sound system, and the lights dance to the music (which happens in regular intervals) during the course of the night. I also enjoyed some Christmas music by a solo electric guitarist. It was a good day for that, also two other good guitarists performed (but not Christmas music) at the South of the James Market today in Forest Hill Park.
The holiday season is off to a really good start, and there is a lot more to come! Of course have to give a word to the "less than a week away" Thanksgiving holiday - while not as colorful as Christmas, it is certainly the most tasty holiday, and I am looking very forward to that.    

Driving to Short Pump (November 17, 2012)

 Amazingly, got out to see some of the Christmas sights in Richmond (yeah, its rapidly getting to be that time of year) which will be the subject of my next post. Along the way, got some interesting sights. Got a photo of Monroe Park, which is Richmond's oldest park (established in 1851). The park was also used as a training center and campground for Confederate troops during the Civil War. As can be seen in the center, still a good place to catch some rest. There is always a lot going on there, and there are a number of historic markers at the park, which is located on Main Street. 

The Science Museum of Virginia resides in the former Broad Street Station which was built in 1919 according to Wikipedia. I have been in there a couple of times, nice museum with some interesting exhibits. I like the Aluminaut, which is the world's first aluminum submarine. It was also a very deep diving submarine. There is an IMAX theater in there, and a number of interesting exhibits. It is a really kid friendly museum, in fact it is mostly geared for kids. Has a nice train exhibit there, and the tracks and the boarding areas from the station still remain in the back of the museum.  

 I have passed this quite a few times, and have wanted to get a photo of it, now I have and know that it is called the "Enterprise Center". Wonder if that is due to it's purpose, or that it looks somewhat like the saucer section of the starship USS Enterprise from Star Trek. At any case, quite a different sort of building, and I enjoyed seeing it at last. Wanted to get a good photo of it, well pleased with this one. Richmond has a lot of old and historic buildings, but in all sorts of neighborhoods you often come across some more modern and different ones such as this one. They have been, and will be, some neat neighborhoods to explore here.

I took this photo on West Broad Street, thought it was a scenic sunset. I went out close to night, wanting to check out some of the Christmas trees at the local malls. I rode to Short Pump,Westchester Commons, Chesterfield Towne Center, and Stony Point Fashion Park to see some of the sights and sounds of the season. Being Richmond, I was not disappointed  at all, even saw some extra sights along the way. Few cities do Christmas with as much color as Richmond does, and it creates some magical sights and memories. Looking forward to the upcoming year, and will bring the first of those sights with my next post!