Now that pesky Thanksgiving Day is nearly over, we can merrily move on to the true focus of the holiday season: Christmas. And what better way to kick off the march to December 25th than to visit the world's largest gingerbread village.
To find this miracle of modern gingerbread architecture, Corey Kilgannon ventures to the New York Hall of Science in Queens, where he finds Jon Lovitch's Guinness-recognized creation: a gingerbread village made up of 164 structures. "All of the pieces — from the brownstones, to the two-foot-high nutcrackers made of many layers of royal icing — were made by Mr. Lovitch, usually late at night after returning from work as the executive sous chef at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge."
"It will be disassembled after the holiday season, and Mr. Lovitch will give pieces away to visitors," notes Kilgannon. "The village, which includes an ice rink, a firehouse and the 'Cinnamon and Nutmeg' railroad station, is next to learning kiosks devoted to molecular chemistry."
“Hey, baking is Chemistry 101,” Mr. Lovitch said. “You have to mix your egg whites and sugar and cream of tartar. If you can’t understand that, you don’t have icing.”
FULL STORY: From a Bronx Apartment’s Oven, a Gingerbread Colossus Rises in Queens
Holiday Travel Rebounds, Changes Shape
The number of Americans traveling for the winter holidays is expected to come close to pre-pandemic levels, while remote work is leading to more diverse travel schedules.
Christmas Eye Candy: The American Tradition of Christmas Decorations
Decorating for winter celebrations is an ancient tradition. The contemporary American version of the tradition comes in many forms.
The Anti-Urban Streak of Hallmark's Christmas Movies
The culture war episode sparked by a recent commercial aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel shouldn't surprise anyone who has noticed the anti-urban themes consistent in the channel's Christmas movies.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
Bringing Community Voices Into Renewable Energy Planning
The MIT Renewable Energy Clinic helps coastal communities navigate the complexities of offshore wind development through neutral, inclusive engagement that surfaces local concerns and supports fair decision-making.
Creating Ocean-Safe Plastic from Seashells
USC researchers have created a biodegradable, marine-safe plastic alternative using calcium carbonate from seashells, offering a promising solution to ocean pollution.
Rethinking Computing: Researchers Tackle AI’s Energy Demands
USC researchers are reimagining how AI systems are trained and powered — through smarter algorithms, innovative hardware, and brain-inspired designs — to dramatically reduce computing’s energy footprint.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions