LITH-2019

Lights in the Heights 2019 Winning Homes /  by Lori Bigler

The LITH judging committee toured the route the evening of Thursday, Dec 12 with the help of Jeff Trevino and his open-air art-mobile. The following are this year’s award winning homes:

  1. Most Colorful - 1020 East 7th

  2. Most Festive - 412 Highland

  3. Most Creative - 402 Omar

  4. Most Wattage - 946 Highland

  5. Most Religious - 616 Highland

  6. Best Theme - 803 Omar

  7. Best Single Color - 937 Omar

  8. Most Traditional - 714 Merrill

  9. Most Historical - 949 Omar

  10. Pick of the Night - 903 Highland

  11. Ho-Ho-Ho - 405 Highland

  12. Most Crafty* - 917 Omar

  13. Best Porch - 823 Omar

  14. Best Inflatables - 909 Highland

  15. Best Block - 400 block of Highland

  16. Kids Choice* - 904 Omar

  17. Most Edible* - 501 Euclid

  18. Most Patriotic Christmas* - 602 Highland

  19. Best Not Quite A Block* - 3000 block of Beauchamp

  20. Most Mystical* - 1021 Omar

  21. Most Existential* - 910 Omar

  22. Rookie of the Year* - 710 Redan

  23. Best Use of The Force* - 304 Bayland

400 Block of Highland: Best Block Panaramic Photo (click to see larger.)

Houses are either on the official route or nominated by neighbors for consideration. The judges start out with a list of categories that have been used for years, but have the ability to name ad hoc categories* based upon what they find on their tour.

Last year marked the first time the judges saw neighbors loft light strings that spanned the roadway for an entire block. It was part of what made everyone Feel The Byrne, winning them Best Block. This year the neighbors on the 400 block of Highland took the lesson, and to good effect. Does this mean that this is the new normal?

Best Not-Quite-A-Block: 3300 Beauchamp (click to see larger.)

Also, this editor would like to add one more. While not officially recognized by the judges, 406 Byrne with its “Santa 2020” theme deserves special recognition. In fact, the judges generally agreed that the 400 block of Byrne, while quite distant from the official route, still brought their A-game.

All photos by Michael Graves. Most taken using Google Pixel using “Night Sight.”

LITH Merchandise Pickup /  by Lori Bigler

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Did you miss picking up your LITH merchandise last Friday? If you were unable to pick-up your pre-ordered Lights in the Heights merchandise last Friday, additional pick-up dates are December 16, 18 and 19, from 2:30 until 6:30, at 529 Omar Street, or by appointment —call Beth Brock at 713-569-9277 to schedule.

Reminder: Guests who need a ride to WH for LITH can get a Lyft discount /  by Lori Bigler

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For the second year in a row, we are proud to partner with Lyft to help you get to and from Lights in the Heights safely. Share the promo code LIGHTSRIDE with your friends and party guests, and they will receive 50% off two (2) rides (up to $4 per ride) during Lights in the Heights. Otherwise, very limited parking is available in the neighborhood, including at Vineyard Church, Zion Church (fee applies), Woodland Park, and Stude Park.

Lyft Party Host Program /  by Lori Bigler

** Note that the deadline for this program has now passed **

Lyft is also generously offering a Woodland Heights Resident / Party Host Program for those hosting parties or residing in the neighborhood. Lyft will provide up to 50 households a set of exclusive promo codes to be shared with their friends, family and party guests.

Residents must opt-in to the program, at which point they will be contacted by Lyft with instructions and codes. Lyft will be donating a portion of the proceeds from every ride to the WHCA in support of the neighborhood!

This promotion includes the following:

  • Each WH resident will receive 10 promo codes

  • Each promo code is valid for $15 in ride credit (up to $7.50 on 2 rides)

  • Valid Friday, December 13 at 12:00pm until Sunday, December 15 at 12:00pm

If you wish to participate, please visit the link below and enter code lyftlights.

https://woodlandheightspartyprogram.splashthat.com/

Lights in the Heights Judging /  by Lori Bigler

The team of judges tour the neighborhood on Jeff Trevino’s unmistakable art car.

The team of judges tour the neighborhood on Jeff Trevino’s unmistakable art car.

Each year, the LITH committee hands out awards for a range of decorating categories, from most wattage to most traditional. This year judges will be rolling down the route the evening of Thursday, December 12th. Make sure to have your decorations lit!

If you’re ON the route, you’re automatically in the running. If you’re OFF the route, nominate your home (or a neighbor’s) by emailing robyn.klepper@nadel.com so the judges know to include you in the competition.

Good luck to you all!

Get your LITH merchandise before it's gone! /  by Lori Bigler

Hello friends and neighbors,

The cool weather is here, reminding us that the holidays, and thus Lights in the Heights®, are just around the corner!

NOW is time to purchase your official 2019 Lights in the Heights merchandise, before online sales close on December 8 at midnight!

We have a brand new hand-crafted cloisonné ORNAMENT for 2019. (Did you know this year's logo was designed by Oli Bayse, a middle school student in Hogg's graphic design program?)

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We have T-SHIRTS this year! They come in a 50/50 cotton/poly blend in both men's and ladies' sizes. 

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And back by popular demand is the Woodland Heights ceramic COOKIE JAR. (It would make such a great gift!)

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We also have party ESSENTIALS like cocktail napkins, aprons, private party signs, and MORE. 

Quantities are LIMITED, so go online now to reserve yours!

https://www.woodland-heights.org/store

ALL merchandise will be available for pickup at Friday Night Lights on the Norhill Esplanade on December 13, from 5-9pm.

Thanks for supporting LITH and WH!

Melissa and Beth, merchandise co-chairs

Need Holiday Decorating Help? /  by Lori Bigler

Live along the Lights in the Heights route and would love to light up the night with your home, but untangling light strings gives you nightmares? Or, more seriously, age, injury or illness makes decorating a challenge? Santa’s elves, otherwise known as the LITH committee, may be able to help.

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Volunteers will again be providing assistance to those who can’t do the decorating themselves. Send an email to lightsintheheights@gmail.com to be considered. Please indicate if you have lights or need them supplied. Also send us a message if you have extra lights or other decorations you’d like to donate, or if you’re willing to help with the decorating.

Calling all Bakers! /  by Lori Bigler

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LITH committee needs volunteers to help with cookie baking! This long-standing tradition provides cookies to the houses that volunteer their porches for the night’s live entertainment along the route.

Whether you can provide one dozen, five dozen, or more: be a part of the tradition. Cookies will need to be delivered between Dec. 12th and 13th. Please email robyn.klepper@nadel.com to volunteer or for more details.

Friday Night Lights 2019 /  by Lori Bigler

Kick off your Lights in the Heights weekend at Friday Night Lights on Friday, December 13 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm on Norhill Esplanade. At this festive event, neighbors can gather around the campfire and toast marshmallows or enjoy dinner from a local food truck under the glow of Jurassic Christmas displays.

Lights in the Heights merchandise will be on sale all night, so be sure to grab your private party signs and keepsakes. Some of our generous sponsors will also be at the event to spread the holiday cheer.

Enjoy the lights around the neighborhood by hopping on the famed hayride, starting at 5:30. Children can take part in a 30-year old neighborhood tradition at the craft tent and decorate a luminaria. And while you are enjoying all the fun, keep your ear out for sleigh bells because Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 6:30.

To give back as a neighborhood, Woodland Heights will host a toy drive in coordination with the Lights in the Heights festivities. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Norhill Esplanade on Friday, December 13 from 5-9 pm. There will be large donation boxes with the Operation: Stocking Stuffer logo for your gift.

To volunteer to help with FNL please contact katie.m.mccafferty@gmail.com.

Do your friends need a Lyft to Lights in the Heights? /  by Lori Bigler

For the second year in a row, we are proud to partner with Lyft to help you get to and from Lights in the Heights safely. Share the promo code LIGHTSRIDE with your friends and party guests, and they will receive 50% off two (2) rides (up to $4 per ride) during Lights in the Heights. Otherwise, very limited parking is available in the neighborhood, including at Vineyard Church, Zion Church (fee applies), Hogg Middle School (fee applies), Woodland Park, and Stude Park.

Party Host Program

*** Note that the deadline for this program has now passed ***

Lyft is also generously offering a Woodland Heights Resident / Party Host Program for those hosting parties or residing in the neighborhood. Lyft will provide up to 50 households a set of exclusive promo codes to be shared with their friends, family and party guests.

Residents must opt-in to the program, at which point they will be contacted by Lyft with instructions and codes. Lyft will be donating a portion of the proceeds from every ride to the WHCA in support of the neighborhood!

This promotion includes the following:

  • Each WH resident will receive 10 promo codes

  • Each promo code is valid for $15 in ride credit (up to $7.50 on 2 rides)

  • Valid Friday, December 13 at 12:00pm until Sunday, December 15 at 12:00pm

If you wish to participate, please visit the link below and enter code lyftlights.

https://woodlandheightspartyprogram.splashthat.com/

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Lyft Hot Chocolate Station

A Lyft hot chocolate truck will be on the Norhill Esplanade during the event from approximately 5:00-9:00 pm (or while supplies last). Visitors who show a Lyft receipt reflecting a ride to Lights in the Heights will receive one (1) free hot chocolate. For those without a Lyft receipt, hot chocolate can be purchased with a $2 cash donation, which will go directly to WHCA.

Lights in the Heights Bike Parking, A.K.A. Bike Valet /  by Lori Bigler

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To get around traffic, encourage your friends and guests to leave their cars at home and arrive by bicycle to enjoy Lights in the Heights. BikeHouston will be providing free monitored bike parking on the Norhill esplanade at Bayland Street starting at 6:00 pm and ending at 9:00 pm Saturday December 14, 2019.

Bike valet is for visitors on bikes who want to experience Lights in the Heights on foot. It’s simple. Your friends and guests can ride their bikes to the Norhill esplanade at Bayland Street. Volunteers will check their bike in and provide a claim check.

Make sure your guests pick up their bikes before 9:00 pm when BikeHouston packs up and goes home.

Remembering the 2019 Holiday Masquerade Bash /  by Lori Bigler

We had a fantastic turnout for this year’s Lights in the Heights Holiday Masquerade Bash on Friday, October 25. From ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships, the Bash brought in over $43,000! About $13,000 alone were from the silent and live auction. What a wonderful turnout and a wonderful fundraising event!

It was a beautiful, cool evening at 1111 Studewood where we enjoyed the amazing Houston cityscape from the rooftop balcony. Friends and neighbors enjoyed food and drinks graciously donated by our favorite neighborhood establishments. Helen in the Heights and BCK donated food. Sonoma Wine Bar, Eureka Heights Brewery, and Christian’s Tailgate donated wine, beer, and bottled water. This event would not have been possible without these tremendous donors.

Several individuals and local businesses donated silent auction items, and the evening concluded with a live auction hosted by Johnny Holloway.

Special thank you to the Bash Co-chairs: Karen Stowers, Ashley Allison, Lynette Crocker, Shoshana Jackofsky, and Lauren Snead. Their hard work and organization of the event and the auction made this a successful event. An additional thank you to Ward & Susan Pennebaker, Beth Allen-Brock, Melissa McKee, Greg Stowers, Michael Graves & Estella Espinosa for your expertise and assistance in making this event possible.

Lastly, thank you to all of our neighbors and friends who came out to support Lights in the Heights!
- Lauren Snead, Auction Co-Chair

LITH Merchandise: An all-time favorite is back! /  by Lori Bigler

An all-time favorite is back!  This year’s Tree Ornament is hand-made of cloisonné and has golden bells surrounded by holiday lights.  Order one for your collection today—they usually sell out before Lights in the Heights!

Back by popular demand is the Woodland Heights cookie jar!  The 10” ceramic jar is glazed white, with the Woodland Heights Blue Tile Logo and the words “Since 1907”. This popular jar will be a great year-round addition to your kitchen.

Pre-order these LITH items and more: https://www.woodland-heights.org/store  

Questions? LITHmerchandise@gmail.com.

LITH Merchandise On Sale Now! /  by Lori Bigler

Finally!  Mother Nature has started teasing us with sporadic days of cooler weather, and our thoughts turn to the holidays, which are right around the corner.  Our beloved neighborhood holiday tradition, Lights in the Heights®, is coming on December 14th!

 Lights in the Heights Merchandise is now on sale on the Woodland Heights  Civic Association website:  https://www.woodland-heights.org/store. We are excited to offer new merchandise, as well as some of the favorites you’ve grown to love.  LITH T-shirts have a new style this year, and come in both a men’s and ladies’ cut!  Made of 50/50 cotton and polyester, the shirts feature the 2019 LITH Bell Logo on the front.  This year’s festive logo was designed by Hogg Middle School student, Oli Bayse, in Hogg’s graphic design program.

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Orders for LITH merchandise can also be placed at the WHCA General Meeting on Tuesday, November 12th, at 7:00 pm, at Travis Elementary School. 

All merchandise can be picked up at Friday Night Lights on December 13th,  on the Norhill Esplanade. Remaining in-stock merchandise will also be for sale (cash, check or charge accepted). 

Additional pick-up dates for pre-ordered items will be during the week of December 16th.  More information will be announced soon.  Questions about LITH Merchandise can be submitted to LITHmerchandise@gmail.com.

Seeking Silent Auction Items /  by Lori Bigler

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Every year the Woodland Heights comes together to throw an amazing Lights in the Heights and that would not be possible without YOU! The annual party, this year the LITH Holiday Masquerade Bash (Formerly Lights in the Height Gala) hosts a Silent Auction that helps fund Lights in the Heights. We are currently seeking silent auction items. No contribution is too small.

Do you have Texan tickets you can't use? Astros Tickets? Ballet Tickets? Can’t get a babysitter? Already have plans that night? Instead of having those tickets go to waste, consider donating them to our Silent Auction in October. Do you own a local business? This is a great opportunity to not only support Lights in the Heights, but to advertise.

Thank you to everyone that has already graciously made donations in support of Lights in the Heights. It's because of you that we can have an amazing event.

If you have any questions, please contact Silent Auction Co-chairs Lauren (lauren.o.snead@gmail.com) and Shani (archiesparents@hotmail.com).

Lights in the Heights 2019 Logo Unveiled /  by Lori Bigler

As the end of August approaches, all of us are wilted. We are dreaming of cool breezes, color in the trees and the spicy aromas of Fall. The holidays are just around the corner, and the Lights in the Heights Committee is already hard at work.

Before summer vacation, the LITH Committee began working on the 2019 Lights in the Heights logo with Hogg Middle School art teacher Connie Sulewski and students in the Graphic Design Program. The Graphic Design Program at Hogg offers students comprehensive graphic design from conceptual-development through production, using digital technologies. Graphic design students address a variety of design problems while gaining confidence and proficiency working with digital media.

Ms. Sulewski brought over 100 student designs to the LITH Committee and they were all fantastic! The Committee was greatly impressed with the student submissions, and choosing just one logo design was really hard. After much deliberation, the Committee chose a beautiful logo of Holiday Bells wrapped in lights designed by Oli Bayse, who was in 6th grade when she designed the logo.

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Congratulations Oli Bayse!
Olivia’s 2019 LITH logo design will be on signs, posters, letters, T-shirts and tree ornaments. The Merchandise sub-committee is organizing pre-sale dates and online orders for all Lights in the Heights merchandise. Melissa McKee and Beth Allen-Brock will be at the WHCA September General Meeting and the November General Meeting to take pre-sale orders for LITH merchandise.

Online orders will be through the WHCA website at www.woodland-heights.org, and plan to start September 10th, closing at midnight, Sunday December 8th. All merchandise will be delivered at Friday Night Lights on Friday, December 13th at the Norhill Esplanade, to take advantage of tax-free savings. Alternate pick-up dates will be the week of December 16th.

Now, add an entry to your calendars to order 2019 Lights in the Heights merchandise!

Happy Fall, Y’all!!