Yer Helping Fight Diabetes, Harry! - My Visit to Sheraton's Gingerbread Village 2016

Yesterday I went to the Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton.  This year's theme was Harry Potter!  There were six large gingerbread sculptures all about the series, and one, cool Harry Potter themed Christmas Tree.  I was a little surprised how many people were there to see the exhibit already, but it was great!

If you haven't gone to the exhibit, you may not want to look at all my photos quite yet.  Wait till you have the chance to see these things first, because they are obviously so much better in person!  If you have seen the exhibit, or have no way of getting there, I hope you enjoy these photos!  After visiting, you may notice a few details in my photos that you did not notice at the exhibit before.  I sure did.

The first part of every gingerbread exhibit starts with a themed Christmas tree.  This tree was particularly fun, with a burgundy and yellow scarf instead of tinsel, large round spectacles, and other ornaments all associated with the Harry Potter series.

The first two sculptures in the Harry Potter exhibit were of Hogwarts, both cool, but interpreted a little differently.

 I really liked this detail of Hagrid:

I also noticed on the side, they had Fluffy, the 3-headed dog:

The next Hogwarts was very tall and had the dining hall (shown through the window on the bottom left): 

The next sculpture had the Knight Bus, it was cut so you could see all the detail inside (I really liked this detail): 

This next sculpture was from the Goblet of Fire.  It looked even better in person.  I thought it was awesome.

I was really impressed on the next sculpture, which had a very detailed Dumbledore holding a phoenix:

The last sculpture had Ron and Harry, with a Patronus in the background, that also looked much better in person.  You can also see Hedwig in a Christmas Tree.

All the sculptures were pretty great.  I love all the thought and details that went into every one of them.

Here appears to be Dobby and another House Elf:

Dolores Umbridge, in her pink outfit, though I have to say she looks a little more thin and prettier than she is probably meant to be:

Harry Potter on his Nimbus 2000:

I also just noticed while reviewing my photos, there are several Harry's here (above) in separate parts of the story!

The car that Ron crashed into the Whomping Willow:

The chess game, with Nearly Headless Nick and other ghosts watching (also a large Hedwig below):

Here is Ron, Hermione, and Harry with Buckbeak in the pumpkin patch:

My absolute favorite detail was the moving staircase in this Hogwart's sculpture.  It actually moves!  It is so amazing!  If you look closely, you can also see Harry, Hermione, and Draco on the steps.  Very well done!

To the bottom right of the moving staircase, the sink area in girl's bathroom can be seen, and Moaning Myrtle is looming above it!  I just noticed Myrtle after I got home!

The Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy.  The exhibit is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, from November 22, 2016 - January 1, 2017.  The exhibition is free, but donations of $5 per person are encouraged in efforts to find a cure for diabetes 1, and it's complications.  For more information on the Gingerbread Village exhibit, go to http://gingerbreadvillage.org.

Christmas Lights and Gingerbread

Earlier this year given a couple of free tickets to go see a holiday light display in Stanwood, WA.  The large display of over one million lights is called "The Lights of Christmas," and runs during select days in December.

I decided to invite my friend, Melissa.  She lives in Marysville, which is on the way to Stanford, so she was the perfect choice.  I also hadn't seen her in a long time, so it was nice to be able to see her again.  We originally planned to go to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, to see their holiday lights, but changed our plans, as my friend was unable to travel my direction.

My parents were in town for the holiday weekend, so they came as well.  The weather was nice for the display, but it was very cold.  I am really glad I brought gloves and a warm coat.  There were places to sit and beverages and cookies available for purchase indoors, and various places outdoors. I got some steamed hot cocoa and a cute polar bear cookie (shown above), it was very tasty. 

Fire pits were also available outdoors for people who want to remain outside. 

Hey Diddle Diddle: Created by Weber Thompson. Chef David Mestl.

After seeing all the holiday lights, my family and I went to dinner.  On the way home, we stopped by the Shereton in Seattle.  I heard for years about a large display of gingerbread houses they do every year, and I really wanted to see it this year.

I Saw A Ship A-Sailing: Created by 4D Architects, Inc. Chef Jay Sardeson. 

The gingerbread display was quite spectacular.  There were six gingerbread entries total.  All of them impressive.  One display had a large tree, made with sugar, that looked like turquoise shards of glass.  It had lights and spun in the center of it's village.

Detail of:  London Bridge is Falling Down: 

Created by MulvannyG2 Architecture. Chef Joleen Anderson.

Another, was inspired by the nursery rhyme, "Hickory, Dickory Dock."  It had what appeared to be Swiss Cheese with mice peeping in and out the holes.  A Krazy Kat figure was spinning at the top of that display.

Detail of Hickory Dickory Dock: Created by Master Builders Association of King and 

Snohomish Counties & Gelotte Hommas Architecture. Chef Jay Sardeson. 

I was in awe when I saw the gingerbread boat, rocking back and forth.  It was very impressive, and may have been my favorite.

Detail of:  I Saw A Ship A-Sailing: Created by 4D Architects, Inc. Chef Jay Sardeson. 

There was a large, upside-down shoe, that various creatures lived in - that was really fun.

Detail of:  There Was an Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe: Created by DLR Group. Chef Armstrong.

Another favorite of mine, had a cow jumping over the moon of the village.  There was also a dish and spoon running off together, a cat playing fiddle, a dog laughing, and lots of other details.  It was totally beautiful.

Detail of:  Hey Diddle Diddle: Created by Weber Thompson. Chef David Mestl.

There was so much detail put into every display, they were obviously a ton of work to get together.  I looked over and over at each display, trying to take it all in.  I did not even notice, until I got home, that one of the displays had a Loch Ness Monster as part of it!  So, that was an unexpected delight.

Detail of:  Jack and the Beanstalk: Created by Callison. Chef Lee Baldyga

Overall, it was a very fun evening.  I was happy to share it with my friend and my family.

 Today is the last day for "The Lights of Christmas," but you can go see the gingerbread houses another displays at the Sheraton until January 5, 2014.  Wishing you again happy holiday season! 

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Merry Christmas to all my readers, friends, and family!  May you have a happy and peaceful holiday season.

Waiting for Santa by jackie-s-eyeslikeacat