December 14, 2006 12:46 PM

Jay Dedrick on holiday light displays

Mark_Wolf(Q) Give us an idea of the scope of the Holiday Lights project. When do you start soliciting suggestions and how many did you get this year?
Jay_Dedrick(A) In terms of our in-house planning, we start thinking about this in September and early October. We've managed to build up a pretty impressive database of address of homes where the decorations are outstanding, and we've been right around 300 in recent years. It's a lot of information, and the trick is always getting it updated within a tight time frame. For instance, one of the homes in our Top 10 picks wasn't even decorated until this past weekend.

Mark_Wolf(Q) How do you decide which homes to select for the top 10?
Jay_Dedrick(A) It's far from a scientific process. We look at which homes receive high marks from our readers who go online and vote to rank their favorites. We look at homes that we here on staff happen to notice or recall from past years. Then we try to come up with a nice mix of locations throughout the area, as well as some variety in the size of the homes and displays.

Mark_Wolf(Q) You've talked to a lot of these people. What seems to motivate them to put up these big elaborate displays?
Jay_Dedrick(A) The common theme always has something to do with entertaining neighbors and strangers. Most specifically, it's about inspiring smiles from the kids who come to look. Occasionally there's good-natured neighborhood competition, but mostly it's about giving something fun to the community.

Mel_(Q) What areas of town seem to have the most light displays?
Jay_Dedrick(A) I'm not sure why, but it always has seemed to be more concentrated on the West side of town. Arvada and Lakewood tend to be the most dense areas in terms of big, bold displays. There's less going on in downtown Denver, generally. But you'll find highlights all over the place.

Mark_Wolf(P) Alek and Mel, Jay has your questions/comments and will be responding next. Thanks
alek(Q) No question - just a comment that Karen (and Norm) Vaught's display totally ROCKS - not just in terms of quantity of lights, but quality. While I just toss stuff up there, they line everything up exactly and attention to detail is amazing - you truly have to see it to believe it. I've seen a LOT of Christmas Displays, but jus tthought I'd chime in about one I've enjoyed seeing over the years and glad they got some well-deserved press.
Jay_Dedrick(A) You're right -- Karen's home at 13941 Tin Cup Circle in Broomfield is amazing. She actually built the home with holiday lights in mind. So she has huge, picture-frame windows out front that house holiday displays. I just spoke with a colleague who noticed that she had clips to hold the light strings built into the mortar of the home. Very efficient, and very eye-popping.

Mark_Wolf(Q) I notice the Kloewer house on South Elati Street in Englewood isn't on the top 10 list this year. It's been an iconic stop on the tour for years. Have they been eclipsed by more lavish displays?
Jay_Dedrick(A) I don't know that the Kloewers will ever be eclipsed. They truly do have an amazing display; you may remember it was featured as one of the best in the country on the Today show on NBC a few years back. If we had a Holiday Lights Hall of Fame here at the Rocky, they'd be in it. Each year, the trick is to come up with a featured list of addresses that includes familiar stops but also lesser-known but still deserving spots. The Kloewers always are in the mix when we put this together, though.

Mark_Wolf(Q) You've been doing this for a few years. What have you noticed in terms of bigger and better?
Jay_Dedrick(A) I've noticed that the folks who put together the biggest displays year in, year out, aren't resting on their laurels. They're always adding something new. Kevin Hart and Kim Weibert in Broomfield, for instance, added a home-built Ferris wheel this year. It's 10 feet tall. So in many ways, these displays are hobbies/pursuits that homeowners work at throughout the year. We're also seeing some homeowners take on more of a "less is more" approach. Jon Johnson's place in Highlands Ranch and Chuck and Theresa Fedor's in Centennial are good examples of elegant yet bright displays.

Mark_Wolf(Q) How has the internet changed what we do with our lights story? Not so long ago, staffers drove selected routes to identify and verify the best displays.
Jay_Dedrick(A) We've had some growing pains with this, but the Web is really making the route-driving incredibly personalized for readers. Years ago, we did put together routes and listed driving instructions in the paper. This process had inherent problems, as you might imagine. Then we developed the idea of an in-paper atlas, where readers could get an overview of the area and plot their own routes. Now, we're at the point where Web-based applications can tailor the driving routes based on what each reader wants. If you want to stay within 5 miles of your home and see the best houses, you can enter your information at our Web site and be given specific driving directions, starting and ending at your home. Or, if you want to head across town to a specific neighborhood and see everything they've got, you can get directions for doing that, too. It's completely personalized now via the Internet.
Mark_Wolf(P) God bless MapQuest.

alek(Q) Actually, arent you guys using Yahoo Maps instead of Mapquest? Probably too detailed of a question for this forum, but is this part of your relationship with them ... and why did you select that mapping service?
Jay_Dedrick(A) I believe you're right, that it's Yahoo! Maps. And honestly, I don't know the answer to that. Our experts on the Web side would have to handle that one. I can tell you, though, that I tried out several route requests using it, and it works like a charm. A couple of years ago, we wished we had this capability; now it's really here, and really working effectively.

Mel_(Q) What about the latest craze, the snow globes and other air-filled items. Are these folks embracing these or sticking with traditional lights?
Jay_Dedrick(A) Those have definitely been embraced by the homeowners we talk with. the newer LED lights definitely have homeowners upgrading as well. Still, you'll hear the most pride when you talk to people who build many, if not all, of their decorations. I don't think that'll ever go away. It's not just about presenting a display, but about creating something and putting it out there for everyone to appreciate.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Here's the Scrooge qestion? Don't these displays burn a lot of electricity at a time when we're supposed to be conserving energy?
Jay_Dedrick(A) Can't argue with that. And I'm sure our featured homeowners would be happy to show their electricity bills. I don't think that'll discourage them from lighting things up year after year, though.
alek(C) Bah Humbug Mark and right on Jay!!!! ;-)
Mel_(C) ::laugh

Mark_Wolf(Q) Finally, for those what fabulous display awaits those who drive past the Dedrick estate during the holiday season?
Jay_Dedrick(A) My wife was inspired this year to hang some lights and garland around our porch, and a pair of lighted deer are on their way to the lawn as we chat. I don't think we're putting up too much competition for others in the neighborhood, though.

Jay_Dedrick(P) Thanks for taking part in the chat, and thanks for lighting up your houses every holiday season.