The Gurino House in Jamaica Estates (Credit: Danielle Finkelstein)
If the Dyker Heights location is too far for you, here are other locations that you might not have heard of that are all decked out in more than just lights. Some have free refreshments, interactions, and even a blimp!
REPOST of AMNY article,"Decking Holiday Houses": (Click for more photos)
These New York homes are going all-out with cheer
By Andrea Tuccillo
The light-bright houses of Dyker Heights may get the tour buses during the holiday season, but there are some other shining standouts worth a trip this year. We visited three mesmerizing houses in Queens and Brooklyn that deck the halls and then some. Each has a unique tradition and backstory, but all have presumably one thing in common -- very large electric bills for the month of December.
Enraptured drivers slow down as they pass, excited kids squeal with delight and adults snap pictures on their smartphones. Santa certainly won't be able to miss these houses, and neither should you!
The Gurino Family
This house doesn't just encourage ogling, it also prides itself on visitor participation. The most interactive house we visited, it includes a hot chocolate and coffee station and free cookies for all while holiday music plays on a loop.
The spectacle is the passion project of Anthony Gurino, a 71-year-old grandfather who's in the construction business. His 22-year-old grandson, also named Anthony Gurino, acts as the unofficial family spokesman. "My grandfather is really carrying on the tradition of my grandmother. She passed away." Gurino, a student at nearby St. John's University, explained. "And he likes to give to the community too." This year the family enlisted Christmas carolers to come and sing for visitors. They've set up a Toys for Tots donation box; and on Sunday they will throw a holiday bash for the entire neighborhood. Lights are on from 4PM to midnight until "Little Christmas" January 6th.
The Lynch Family
Kevin Lynch's home in Whitestone is a candy-colored Christmas confection. With about half a million LED lights and 100 animatronics, it takes about seven weeks to complete.
Lynch does all the decorating himself and when's it's finished, it illuminates the entire block. There's a tree on the lawn decked with 4,000 lights. The newest decoration addition? Santa riding atop a JetBlue airplane - a festive tribute to Lynch's part-time employer.
According to Lynch, little kids especially love the virtual Santa in the window. "They think Santa Claus really lives here," said Lynch, a 56-year-old retired FDNY firefighter and father of three.
If Lynch's house already looks familiar to you, that's because it was featured on ABC's "The Great Christmas LIght Fight" last year and won the $50,000 top prize. Lights are on every evening until January 6th.
The Seddio Family
Brooklyn's Democratic chairman Frank Seddio has Christmas spirit to spare.
His Canarsie home-turned-law-office is adorned with a holiday display so massive it can be seen by planes flying overhead. The Seddio family carries on a tradition started in 1963 by the home's previous owner, Frank Guarino. Seddio, who bought the house in 1986, used to help Guarino decorate when he was a teen.
The house, which is decorated each year by a team of about 20 family volunteers, boastes Disney-inspired animatronics, a talking Christmas tree that recites a comedy routine, and a new feature this year: a mechanical blimp that runs across the top of the house.
According to Seddio, decorations have been designed and commissioned from 10 different states and at least two other countries.
Opening night on December 7th was complete with live animals for the Nativity scene, a choir and a 2,500-person turnout.
"I love coming up with new ideas," Seddio said. "The animals this year were a new creation." Lights are on from 5PM to 10:30PM until January 6th.
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