Postcard Perfect Christmas in Essex

Steven Kellogg reads A Christmas Memory, by Truman Capote at the Belden Noble Library. — Steven Kellogg reads at the Belden Noble Library.

After weeks of anticipation and mounting enthusiasm, the Magic of Christmas in Essex finally arrived on Saturday, December 1, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations.

The heavens dumped a fluffy blanket of snow on Essex, New York, in time for the annual holiday festivities, and — as if on cue — then the sun returned and the temperatures warmed enough to be comfortable. It felt like Christmas even though the husky white bearded fellow wouldn’t be crisscrossing the midnight skies for another three and a half weeks.

I had such a jolly afternoon and evening that I abandoned all hopes of documenting Christmas in Essex except for a few quick iPhone snapshots which you can view below. Next time I’ll try to do a better job, but this year I was so thoroughly swept up in the community excitement! So many new and old friends. Such delicious food and unique gifts. To borrow a recent buzzword, the Magic of Christmas in Essex was the ultimate “staycation”.

I would like to offer especial thanks and congratulations to Erin Hall whose vision, enthusiasm and months of hard work underpinned the success of this Essex holiday tradition. I hope that she’ll continue to organize Christmas in Essex for years to come.

Erin Hall announces cookie contest winners

Barbara Kunzi, award-winning cookie baker

Susie Drinkwine, award-winning cookie baker

Mary Wade's Essex miniatures — Mary Wade’s Essex miniatures

Local musicians including Essex resident Donna Sonnet perform at the Essex Inn.

About Geo Davis

Geo Davis (aka virtualDavis) is a writer, storyteller and unabashed flâneur. He taught and coached at Santa Fe Preparatory School and The American School of Paris, co-founded Maison Margaux: "Paris à la parisienne" in Faubourg Saint-Germain, and owns Adobe Oasis in Santa Fe, NM with his bride.

Geo chronicles adventures (and misadventures) of rehabilitating an historic Essex home at Rosslyn Redux: Reawakening a home, a dream and ourselves; blogs about doodling and other esoterica at virtualDavis.com; posts sometimes unnerving, occasionally euphoric, and always pollyanna "midlife mashups" at 40x41.com; waxes nautical at Sailing Errant; and delves into matters of parenting, babylandia, and childfreedom at Why No Kids? He meanders on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, YouTube and Flickr.