Last night was East Passyunk Avenue’s annual tree-lighting ceremony,  and over two dozen South Philadelphia neighbors,  shop owners and dogs smiled down from our windows in what has become our annual holiday salute to the neighborhood.

So,  if you’re dining or playing near the restaurant-packed  “Singing Fountain”  between now and New Year’s Day,  check out our well-decked windows at East Passyunk Avenue and Tasker Street….

We’ll keep the lights on for you ’til 2 a.m. each night.

DECK  THE  WALLS

As you may know,  it all started when we sat at our third-floor kitchen window,  waving to neighbors who couldn’t see us.

“Maybe we should put life-sized photos of ourselves in the windows to let people know we’re here,”  Kate joked.   “Then we wouldn’t feel like we’re spying on them.”

Within seconds,  it morphed into something better.

“Wow – what if we took photos of the neighbors and  put them in the windows, too?   We could do it for the holidays!”

Greetings from East Passyunk Avenue

And so,  15 months after moving to South Philadelphia,  we found ourselves explaining to people we barely knew why we wanted to take their photos.

Fortunately,  South Philadelphians have a sense of humor – even if they did roll their eyes after we left.

That first year,  we signed up 26 neighbors,  4 dogs and a baby.  The baby has moved on, but – this being Passyunk Avenue – our dog population has grown.

Lucia,  Barney (twice),  Maizy,  Milli,  Bella and Amelie show off some favorite humans.

It was only then that we realized we’d have to wash our 27 windows….and light them at night….and put timers on the lights….and find an affordable way to print the photos.  (Tip:  The large plastic lawn signs at Staples are perfect,  but wait for a sale.)

Dave shows off his best side while lifting Fernando and Barney into a window.

And after worrying that it’d be a total bust,  we wound up on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Christmas eve and a family tradition was born.

THE  HOLIDAY  TOUR  STARTS  HERE!

So,  if you’re anywhere near South Philadelphia this season,  give us a visit – and don’t miss these three truly fabulous displays:

• 1600 block of South 13th Street,  between Tasker & Morris (2 blocks from us)

Click here to read our 2015 blog post about the annual  “Miracle on 13th Street”.   (And,  yes,  they add many new delights each year!)

• 2700 block of Smedley Street,  between 16th & 17 and Moyamensing & Oregon

The 2700 block of Smedley Street is always a traffic-stopper.   Click here to read our 2015 blog post about it and Colorado Street.

• 2700 block of Colorado Street,  between 17th & 18 and Moyamensing & Oregon

Santa beckons from the 2700 block of Colorado Street.

And leave time to explore the whole area between Oregon,  Moyamensing,  16th & 18th Streets,  where you’ll literally find hundreds of homes and front windows festooned for the holidays,  each grander than the last.

Happy holidays and we’ll see you in February,  with a great new Dumpster Diver house and studio tour!

Kate & Dave