Eventually, we make our way to 85th Street and 11th Avenue where we will reconvene in 45 minutes for the ride home. It's not all that much time, given the area we have to cover - which is why I can only be grateful once again, that I came with a group - and by bike. If you walk, you’ll never see everything. If you take a car, you’re stuck in traffic.
Santa on a Harley
I remember last year coming to the conclusion that most of these displays were a product of companies who came and did all of it.
But then recently, I saw an interview with the owner of this house:
How disappointing then, that the house right across the street totally skunks him. It not only has 2 carousels (as it did last year)
45 minutes after arriving, we gather again for our return trip, fortifying ourselves with “Boozy Berries” (gummy bears soaked overnight in vodka). The warmth comes just in time (I turn my battery-warmed socks on).
As one of the parties heading back to Manhattan, I’m looking for others taking the route back via the N Train. But our tour isn’t over yet. Promising a subway stop that will take me home, Bill very quietly leads the group forward to the final Wow of our trip, a house owned by Sammy The Greek in Bensonhurst. We are encouraged to get off our bikes and go in for the close up, and that turns out to be a good idea.
Times Square-like zippers over windows and doors with everything from moving snowmen to Christmas Greetings to “Have A Nice Day” scrolling across them.
And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, concludes the Christmas Lights portion of our 5BBC rides for the year. Once again, Bill has outdone himself. Our over-the-top appetites sated, we head for home basking in the glow of celebration, knowing Bay Ridge, Dyker (and Bensonhurst) residents are already planning even more outrageous displays for next year.
We’ll be there.