Tacky Lights III (December 15, 2012)

 Got out for a few hours, went back to a few of my favorite places, due to the forecast tomorrow (rain expected) this could be my last night to see the wonders that Richmond offers this time of year. I did get a couple of photos though on Monument Avenue, at left I was very glad to see "Santa's Cadillac" which is one of the very unique things that you can find here this time of year. I love this stuff, and was glad to see it again this year. I went by there a couple of weeks ago, but it was not out at that time. Thankfully, saw it on Richmond.com and headed out to check it out again.

Monument Avenue though is hardly "Tacky" as many, if not most of the houses look like this one. You really get to see some remarkable sights there, they really do a good job this time of year putting out lights (including a number of those "Richmond" trees that I am so fond of, and you can see some of those in the previous posts this month).
There is something really special about Christmas in Richmond, it is always a magical thing in my book. This one has been very good. All that said, sure would not mind seeing some more of it tomorrow, so will keep my fingers crossed.  Course, still a few days before Christmas, and will be bringing some sights from this area if possible, plus more from the Charlotte area, and hopefully even a surprise for the season.
  

During a Midlothian Turnpike Drive (December 15, 2012)

A short stop from "Tacky Lights" (which I will resume tonight) but made a visit to Midlothian Mines Park to see this structure which was put up like this last summer. It is a recreation of a device used to bring coal up (and men up and down) a mineshaft. Park has added a few items to the historic park - one of the first coal mines in the US. In the park the ruins of an old structure stand above the Grove Shaft. In February 1882, a methane gas explosion trapped 32 miners. Despite efforts to get them out, none were saved, and they are at the bottom of the shaft to this day.   

Speaking of rising from the ashes, this is the inside of the new Super Kroger which opened a few days ago at the site of the old Crossroads Mall. Always closed since I have been here, the old mall was demolished earlier this year and the new Kroger was built on the site. Certainly is the largest Kroger I have been in, and I believe it is the largest one in Virginia. Has food and many other items there. Good to see one of these old retail areas reused. Earlier posts have some photos of the old Crossroads Mall.
Looking forward to seeing some of the sights in the City of Richmond tonight!
 

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!