34th Street electrifies the season

Baltimoreans typically equate the neighborhood of Hampden with anything eccentric or unique. A small working-class neighborhood west of Wyman Park, Hampden exudes a style a la 1950s retro charm, affordability and Baltimore (pronounced "Bawl-mer") attitude. Needless to say, it should not come as a surprise that this neighborhood known for its boutiques, beehive hairdos and "Hon" bumper stickers has developed a quirky Christmas custom of its own.

Hampdenites dub it the "Miracle on 34th Street:" a vivid spectacle of shining lights, sculpture and holiday scenery that dazzle the senses and illuminate the fa??ades of 25 Hampden rowhouses. The traditional "decking of the halls" and ringing in of the Christmas season would not be complete without a Hampden twist. Anyone can set up a Christmas tree, but it takes a special type of person to display a full-size Christmas tree from his rooftop or set a towering eight-foot-tall tree composed of hubcaps on his front lawn. Other 34th Street treasures include a miniature Ferris wheel bearing Santa Claus, bicycle tire snowmen, giant snow globes and reindeer made entirely from woven branches. Residents string strands of colored lights across the street itself, arcing from the top of three story houses on one side of the street down to the second story roofs of the other side. They also display twinkling snowflakes from their porches, place sleighs and reindeer on their roofs and arrange nativity scenes and inflatable sculptures in their yards. One house even displays a two-story Christmas tree made up completely of green light strands. The myriad bright, blinking lights, decorations and lawn statues are cheerful and even slightly overwhelming, but definitely a sight worth visiting.

"Miracle on 34th Street" originated 18 years ago, when resident Bob Hosier began decorating his home, and has grown steadily larger and crazier year by year. Though the actual size of the display is relatively small (running just one block between Chestnut Road and Keswick Road), it is world-famous, drawing a police estimate of over 45,000 visitors per year. Residents welcome visitors and even invite them into their homes to view their Christmas decorations and artwork. On some nights, Santa and Mrs. Claus even make appearances in the neighborhood to greet visitors.

Businesses around 34th Street also put their best foot forward and go all out on Christmas displays. Café Hon, a 1950s-themed restaurant, displays hot pink tinsel and lights in its windows to match with the gigantic signature flamingo statue standing over the entrance, while various antique and vintage shops, bookstores and restaurants do their part to add color and light to the Avenue (a four-block strip along 36th Street filled with shops and eateries). The large number of boutiques located on this half-mile strip make for affordable and unique Christmas shopping; many of the wares ?- from crab-shell Christmas ornaments to framed artwork, vintage clothing to local beauty products - are one-of-a-kind.

34th Street is approximately a five-minute cab ride (one-mile walk) from the Hopkins campus, making it easily accessible by cab or by foot. Hampden's light display runs from dusk until about 11:00 p.m. every night from Nov. 24 to Jan. 1. On New Year's Eve, 34th Street will also host its own New Year's celebration with a special Hampden version of New York's Times Square Ball. Keep a lookout for Bob Hosier, the very same man who began the 34th Street tradition, dressed as Baby New Year - having a picture taken with him on New Year's has become a sort of Baltimore tradition.