2012 Jingle Awards

Long Beach, California

Recognizing outdoor holiday decorating

December 26, 2012

I created the "Jingle Awards" in 2011, to give some recognition to the folks in my local neighborhood who take the time to decorate for the holidays.  In my "hood", this sometimes includes apartments, businesses, as well as individual residences.  And the type of decorations can range from the simple and bright, to somewhere "over the rainbow", as the following photos depict.

This year's awards have been especially important for our community, since we are now finally "feeling" the leveling off of the economy.  More people this year have seen that the backwards slide has stopped, and were willing to let some of the joy of the season show, which they couldn't do last year.

Here are some highlights from this year's award winners:

This "wonderland is located at 3rd. St. & Cherry Ave., LB, CA

 On my daughter's ride to work everyday, she passes this apartment building. During the month of December, she says something new is added almost every day. The photo doesn't begin to show the amount of blinking, flashing & motion of the display.

This apartment balcony has its own forest!

 This apartment penthouse balcony had several of these "spring up" trees last year.  Everyone must have liked the effect, since this year, there are an even dozen.  The display creator?  We call this the "Nottingham Forest".  Located near 3rd St. & Molino Ave., LB, CA.

Appian Way in Belmont Shore, LB, CA

 In a neighborhood which prides itself on the artful use of white lights and tasteful  arrangements of garland & poinsettias, this house is a real standout.  Appian Way in Belmont Shore has many decorated homes, but none quite like this.

Belagio Assisted Living Home, 4th St. & Cerritos Ave., LB, CA

This very elaborate display is in front of an assisted living home.  The display includes a manger scene with camels, and all of the principle characters, including three wise men and a three wise animals: a cow, a donkey & a sheep.  It also includes a red, white & blue patriotic snowman, and a "helicopter".  As you can tell, they are all commercial size decorations. 

The "whirligig" helicopter at the Bellagio Assisted Living Home

Special helicopter included with the angel heralds at the Bellagio Assisted Living Home.  This is located on the West side of the main entrance, while the traditional manger scene is on the East side.

E. Colorado St. & Trimble

This home also won a coveted "2011 Jingle Award".  With that encouragement, it seems the decorations have become even more elaborate this year.  I noted they had added their official 2011 jingle bell ornament to the porch decorations when I delivered their "2012 Jingle".

Vail Manor, Obispo Ave. & Broadway Ave., LB, CA

This extravaganza is at "Vail Manor", decorated by one of my former colleagues.  Decorating began this year on November 11th.  He decorates the inside of his home, too, with Dept. 56 villages.

Ocean Blvd. & Kennebec across the street from the LBMA

This home is decorated with an accumulation of many years of lights and outdoor decorations.  The carefully hung lights around the windows continues on the West side of the house.  The guard lions at the front are wearing their holiday best!