2003 Gingerbread Houses

This year we decided to try for some coherence in the designs, and announced a theme. Every creation had to somehow fit into Santa's Village. It could be from the good side of the tracks, or the bad side of the tracks. There were lots of interesting interpretations, although surprisingly nobody decided to make Santa's Workshop.

Molly and Martin Stoufer used pretzel sticks as utility poles and uncooked spaghetti as high-tension power lines ("Best Use of Non-Gingerbread Stuff") to make Polar Gas and Electric ("Most Powerful Image"), the place that is "Most Indispensable to Life in the Village." A colored ice cream cone emits foul pollutants into the air, while in back a gingerbread worker uses his mouth to check a candycane sampling well ("Most Dangerous").

Gabe and Sarah Morgan thought of conflicts long ago and of those who made sacrifices to keep Santa free. In that spirit the EFW, Elves of Foreign Wars ("Most Supportive"), stands as testament to the American sense of world justice. Red, white, and blue frosting decorates the entire structure, while green frosting covers the base as inviting landscape ("Best Use of Color"). Veterans stand in back, some wearing M&M medals while others sport marshmallow wheelchairs or casts ("Softest"), as a cookie-and-pretzel canon honors their service.

When reindeer are too old to fly anymore, I've made a tasty home for them at Santa's Butcher Shop ("Most Likely to be Protested by PETA"). A counter full of marzipan meats awaits shoppers ("Best Place to Get a Piece of Meat"), while cheerful signs outside announce that they're open and that winter sausages are now available. Dried spaghetti divides the window, allowing view of the wonders within ("Most Liable to Give You Nightmares").

Eric Brooks was unable to make it at the last minute, but not before we had baked a large number of people for his creation. He therefore by acclamation won the "Ari Cohen Annual Honorary Award for Biggest Waste of Adam & Erica's Time Baking Gingerbread, only to have their Work Made a Mockery of."

Scott Pullman, Erin Peltzman, and Amy Trimmer made sure that the other animals had a place to relax, at Big Gay Al's Big Gay Animal Farm ("Throws the Best Parties"). Rows of Froot Loops ("Best Use of Breakfast Cereal") form a rainbow flag on the roof, while various animals ("Best Portrayal of Animals") relax ("Stickiest") in the yard. A dashing fox surveys the scene from his boat, while a frosting-colored rainbow welcomes all.

Santa's Toy Train ("Best Use of 19th Century Technology") by Erica Cleary is making the rounds, but the knocked-over sign in the second picture indicating Bridge Out ("Most Doomed") says these toys may not find a happy home. Cookies and mints form the wheels of the train, as it rides on red licorice tracks. The toy car, complete with marzipan teddy bear, doll, and drums ("The One You'd Want to Eat First"), ("Highest Caloric Content"), scream happiness as does the cheerful conductor unaware of his upcoming fate.

How could Santa deal with his volume of mail without the North Pole Post Office ("Best Interpretation of the Theme")? John Gardner used frosting to demarcate where the letters from Boys and Girls go. On the wall is the list used to indicate Nice vs. Naughty, as a colorful gingerbread worker ("Most Begging to be Unionized"), ("Most Likely to Contain a Disgruntled Employee") looks over the latest submissions.

C. C. Lee's Snow Spa and Salon, as envisioned by Deb Bouchard, beckons all humanoids who need to unwind ("Most Restful"). An inverted ice cream cone filled with blue Jell-O is a refreshing ice bath for its marshmallow ("Puffiest") snowwoman. Inside, a cracker massage table ("Most Stimulating") and marshmallow masseuse await those in search of stress relief