(12-08-2025, 12:48 PM)Gone in 60 Wrote: So this is interesting. That big pine tree I mentioned? Looked a little too trimmed. They usually let it grow out quite a bit to hold the lights and decorations. Plus, I thought it was weird that they hadn’t done any decorating a day before the tree lighting ceremony.
Finally, they’ve never put a tree in the central plaza like that - the decorated tree my bike is pictured with.

I went to the lighting ceremony yesterday, and that new tree is the city’s new “official” Christmas tree. They’re not using the big pine anymore. So, that picture should qualify ?

The area under the big pine was still blocked off for setting up grandstands for a big choir that sings during the ceremony, and a big podium with a giant switch that the mayor uses to ceremonially turn on the lights.

They still did the choir and lighting, but it was weird seeing it light up a tree on the other side of the plaza, and not the big pine directly over the actual ceremony.

Seems like a smallish tree to be a city’s official Christmas tree, but the city is broke. They have cancelled most ceremonies and functions but ya can’t cancel Christmas!

The new tree is in a precarious place, however. There have been a recent rash of drivers crashing through the town’s central plaza, and someone barreling north on Glassell Street can probably take out the tree. 

If you have a minute Google “Orange CA Plaza Fountain Crash” for some of the most spectacular examples.

(12-08-2025, 04:26 PM)emptysea Wrote: I don't think I asked that it be some sort of official Christmas tree, just that it had to have ornaments (if it didn't, it would just be a tree).   As long as that first pic was taken after the challenge was offered, then it counts as the first response and, as of now, the only response.

(12-08-2025, 04:26 PM)emptysea Wrote: I don't think I asked that it be some sort of official Christmas tree, just that it had to have ornaments (if it didn't, it would just be a tree).   As long as that first pic was taken after the challenge was offered, then it counts as the first response and, as of now, the only response.

(12-08-2025, 06:23 PM)pdedse Wrote: Solid rain...rain...and more rain.  Hard to get the motivation to get out there.  I could wheel my bike out and place in front of our neighbor's display and call it good.

(12-08-2025, 04:26 PM)emptysea Wrote: I don't think I asked that it be some sort of official Christmas tree, just that it had to have ornaments (if it didn't, it would just be a tree).   As long as that first pic was taken after the challenge was offered, then it counts as the first response and, as of now, the only response.