by Timothy Rutt
It was light on the speeches (which was good) and heavy on the music (which was better) as Altadena gathered for the 92nd time to fire up the lights on Christmas Tree Lane.
Singer/songwriter T'Lark (pronounced "T-Lark") and indie folk/swing trio Smithfield Bargain performed old standards and originals to an appreciative group of Altadenans and Christmas light fans in the traditional opening of one of Los Angeles' largest lighting displays.
With the Winter Arts & Crafts festival now firmly in place as part of the event, Altadenans could linger for hours enjoying crafts, food trucks, and their neighbors before and after the actual lighting itself.
And when time came to light the lights -- it was glorious. Again. We have pictures after the jump.
- Vendors and food trucks set up at the Winter Arts & Crafts festival at the Altadena Library parking lot before the lighting.
- Altadena artist Susan Braig with her booth of jewelry made from expired medicines.
- Of course there was Christmas Tree Lane swag to be had.
- Costume? What costume? Dana Walker and Emile Juick think the Lord elfs those who elf themselves.
- It may be easy to needle Ron Baalke for wearing a tree costume -- but he pines for this day. Baalke is the webmaster for the Christmas Tree Lane Association website.
- Singer/songwriter T'Lark sang originals and Christmas classics.
- T'Lark invited a young fan to try out her dance moves.
- Smithfield Bargain (Daniel Landau, Sri Panchalam, and David Landau) played folk/swing tunes old and new
- T'Lark and Smithfield Bargain sing some unrehearsed Christmas songs together (and it sounded good!
- The Blair IB choir sang holiday music before the dignitary speeches.
- Altadena resident Tammy Trujillo of KPCC MC'd the event.
- Assemblyman Chris Holden made some remarks ...
- ... as did Congressman Adam Schiff, who presented a special congressional citation to Christmas Tree Lane president Maureen Ward.
- Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich counts down to the tree lighting
- The John Muir Alumni drum corps begins the march down the lane ...
- ... followed by the teeming mass of people, enjoying, for one night, the traffic-free experience of walking Christmas Tree Lane.
Addenda: T'Lark said that her original Christmas song, "A Little Peace, a Little Light" is available only for the next day or so as a free download, but you have to write to her at tlarksongbird@gmail.com
A "Smithfield bargain" is defined as "a marriage of convenience in which the size of the marriage settlement is the determining factor."
