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Printed From Acorn-Online.com Greenwich Post
The chairwoman of the Window Wonderland Decorating Contest Committee, Betsy Galindo and a broker with Prudential Connecticut Realty said, “We went from a very long autumn this year to a sudden temperature drop and winter, but the merchants throughout Greenwich were ready. Lots of windows have been decorated and each year it becomes harder to pick out the 25 that we are acknowledging.” Competitions were in a number of categories such as most original, traditional, festive and commercial buildings creating community spirit. There were first, second and third place winners in each category. Ten businesses will receive either a special recognition or an honorable mention. “It sounds like a lot, but when you consider the number of store fronts in Greenwich and how many of them have joined in the festivities, 25 is hardly enough,” Ms. Galindo said. “So, thank you everyone who has worked to make this season merry and bright.” The winners and judges’ comments are below:
Most Traditional First Prize: Greenwich Orchids, Mason Street — Greenwich Orchids has two windows, one with an outdoor snow scene of a tree in the forest and the other a cozy and inviting inside scene of a fireplace. Second Prize: Graham’s, Greenwich Avenue — This is the window for kids. The geese are on a toboggan and all the animals seem to be enjoying the first days of winter Third Place: S Wyler Inc, West Putnam Avenue — This displace is pure elegance; tall polished silver candle sticks, each with a red candle make you feel like you have been invited to a formal holiday dinner party.
Most Festive First Place: Hoaglands, Greenwich Avenue — This year’s windows take you to the Paris, France, to the blue-lit Eiffel Tower and on to Venice, Italy, and the gondoliers and back to Rockefeller Center in New York City, New York. Second Place: Michael Kors, Greenwich Avenue — The primary colors here are gold and silver, with purses and ornaments which seem almost suspended in air as they are set on clear Lucite shelves. Third Place: Old Greenwich Flowers, Old Greenwich — Two windows, both quite different, one is an old fashioned cast iron stove with poinsettia and the other is a contemporary display of white orchids on snow with only the green stems adding contrasting color.
Most Original First Place: Peacock & Beale, West Putnam Avenue — Peacock and Beale has decorated all 5 of its windows. There are cone shaped trees done in red lights and different scenes in each of the windows including teddy bear Red Baron. In the center of the store is a glass tree lit in white which can be seen from all windows and is a delight to the cars waiting at the stop lights at East Putnam, Maher or Milbank Avenues. Second Place: Kate Spade, Geenwich Avenue — Kate Spade’s originality is the hanging red, white and silver snowflakes above the red, white and silver handbags; simply chic without being stark. Third Place: Marietta C, Cos Cob — Marietta C’s is a new store specializing in wedding gowns and custom women’s attire. The windows have the bride in traditional white and the attendees in reds and plaids, against a background of satiny green. The trees are made of red cones and ornamental balls so the whole effect is very bright and cheery.
Commercial buildings First Place: Rugby; Greenwich Avenue — Rugby’s whole building is decorated — the two trains running in the snow covered village in one window, HAPPY HOLIDAYS spelled out in stacked boxes in the other. Across the top of the building is a huge wreath and giant swag of gold lights stretching almost the full width of the building. You almost need to cross over to the other side of the street to take it all in. Second Place: Le Figaro; Greenwich Avenue — Here again the whole building forms the scene, of a little French bistro. There is a lovely long red bow in the alcove by the outdoor table and the gold Eiffel Tower in the adjoining window makes the diners feel like they should be sitting in Paris, France, with this famous landmark as their backdrop. Third Place: Home Design Center, West Putnam Avenue — This is a free-standing building whose decorating includes not only all of the windows, but the trees outside which are lit up and hung with oversized ornaments. The windows are wintery and elegant. If you step in to the store, by the way, you can admire the decorated upside down Christmas tree.
Community spirit First Place: Cos Cob Fire Department, Cos Cob — The huge fir tree outside of the fire department has been decorated in colored lights. It brightens us the whole corner. Second Place: Best And Co. Greenwich Avenue — Best and Co. windows are always fun, with wonderful use of their children’s clothes and toys. Each season and holiday, the scene is adjusted and colors, decorations, materials and plants are added, making Best and Co.’s corner a spot where everyone in the community wants to stop and see how the new season is being presented. Third Place: The Nantucket, Steamboat Road — Take a drive down Greenwich Avenue onto to Steamboat Road and past the Delamar Hotel to see the Nantucket, the boat which is in harbor as a temporary part of the Delamar. The two masts are lit up and the bow lights are in red and green. Even if you are not renting a room on the boat, (they are quite expensive), you can enjoy the lights from across the harbor from the ferry docks or Roger Baldwin Sherman Park. Honorable Mention goes to: Madison Wine And Liquor, Byram — Madison’s occupies an important corner in Byram and his windows are filled with the traditional little houses (including Scrooge and Marley’s), ice skaters, reindeer and a bridge. And let’s not forget the giant bottle of Johnny Walker, the literal definition of “Holiday Spirit.” Vanity Fur, Byram — The little dog grooming shop has applied the doggie theme to their tree, which offers dog bones, doggie stockings and several little stuffed dogs admiring the scene. It’s cozy and sweet. Estate Treasures, Riverside — The bushes, little fir trees around the door and the wreaths in the windows are all lit in white lights, giving a feel of woodsy winter as you drive up to the store. The Haircut Place, Old Greenwich — The window is framed in swags of white cotton batting and offset by a beautiful and colorful floral arrangement. Betteridge, Greenwich Avenue — Our traditional jewelry store is decorated for the season with lovely traditional wreaths and bows. Special recognition goes to: The Rummage Room, Old Greenwich — One of the windows is done with penguins on a hill and the other in old fashioned items, a table setting and old cushions and a big old statue of a dog. Dave’s Cycle, Valley Road, Cos Cob — Dave’s has made a festive display out of hanging bicycles, big ornaments, small bikes in the snow by the Christmas tree, and lights around which go on at night. Dave’s is a little bit away from the center of Cos Cob, so do take a drive up Valley Road to see it. Simon Pearce, Greenwich Avenue — Simon Pierce has paid homage to its roots with a glass display reminiscent of a Vermont forest. Greenwich Aquaria, East Putnam Avenue, Riverside — The Aquaria store at the corner of Riverside Avenue is always an eye-catcher because of the bluish lights coming from the fish tanks in the store, the colors are interestingly off set this holiday season by the reds and greens of the poinsettias and wreaths which have been placed in the windows. Lynnens, Greenwich Avenue — Two traditional windows: a dining room and a bedroom.
Judges Judges for this annual event were Betsy Galindo of Prudential Connecticut Realty; Barclay Fryery, interior designer; Mary Field Barrett, Contemporary Art Advisors; Barbara Fenton, formerly of Greenwich Magazine; and Mary Ann DeFelice of The Mary Ann Show on WGCH radio.© Copyright 2007 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers |
