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THE THIRD ANNUAL PHOENIX HOLIDA Y WINDOW A WARDS: Photography By Kathryn KirkJ ____C l_______ I____D _____________ %u00ab._____ O ____ 1 _ 1 _ _ vv u iu u w ju u p p u w in u r u w n siu n c o r u u iu v uG R A N D PRIZE: Top honors go to the beautifully laid outNativity scene in the windows of Anthony Scicchitano ItalianPork Stores at 267 Fifth Avenue. Shepherds approach thestable with lambs in their arms. Angels float gracefullyoverhead. Sprays of whitewashed branches twined with lightsarch over the scene. This sincere religious expression of themeaning of the season for the store%u2019s proprietors is moving inits simplicity.SECOND PRIZE: The Christm as Room %u2019s display of Victorianabundance seems to becom e more colorful and abundanteach year. This year, lace curtains fram e the several scenes ofThe Christm as Room, including som e life-size dolls seated atan antique, Victorian dining table. For opulence in the serviceof the season, The Christm as Room is a winner.BY ELIZABETH FOSTERThe colorful art of window decorating reaches its zenith at holiday time when merchants seek to outdo themselves to create an inviting, celebratory display of lights and objects, all in the traditional themes of the season.Red and green. Silver and gold. Frostie the Snowman and Santa%u2019s Elves. Stars and candy canes. They are all to be found in one or another window along the commercial streets of Brownstone Brooklyn.Now, for the third year, the Phoenix staff has traveled the by-ways of the Downtown Brownstone neighborhoods seeking the most creative, the most interesting and those we believe represent the best reflection of the spirit of the season.Following are our observations and on this page are represented the four which we liked the best.Best Of Atlantic A venueThe Rambling Rose at 376 Atlantic Ave. has a woodsy, mysterious window with its greenery and red poinsettias. The Melting Pot at 324 Atlantic has beautifully tie-dyed red and green T-shirts and underwear hanging in the windows for a cheerful, irreverent look. The Palm Gallery at 408 Atlantic has beautiful a rt objects hanging ornament-style at different lengths before a screen of Venetian blinds, not to mention the %u201ctree%u201d of white lights stretched above the gallery.The windows of The Sahadi Importing Company, one of last year%u2019s winners, at 187 Atlantic are jam-packed with Santa Claus, dolls, snowmen, tinsel, ornaments, strings of lights and the biggest bottle of olive oil in the world. The Scuba Exchange features Santa making a list and checking it twice as well as mechanical elves industriously filling stockings.The Christmas Room, as always, is resplendent with its several Christmas trees, large dolls seated at an antique table, lace hangings and scores of Victorian ornaments in lace, crystal, porcelain and satin.Several other notable windows in the Atlantic Avenue area include Hundred Acre Wood and By Hand Etcetera, at 306 and 304 Henry Street respectively. Hundred Acre Wood%u2019s tasteful display of handmade ornaments and pottery shines in the windows. The cozy wooden walls of By Hand are graced with ornaments and the rich natural fabrics of the clothing sold there.Next door is Atlantic Avenue%u2019s best display, Saturday Night lingerie at 117 Atlantic, with a fanciful display of jewel-tone silk robes, negligees and pajamas, each more luxurious than the last.One more small, attractive boutique, Alicia and Daughters, is just off Atlantic, at 70 Nevins St. The theme of the shop%u2019s windows is silver and gold. Rhinestone shoes, a gold silk dress and a black net scarf shot with gold are hung up against a backdrop of wreaths.Best Of Brooklyn HeightsOne strong contender in the Heights was not on busy Montague Street, but in the NorthHeights at 62 Henry Street, the Cadman Plaza Restaurant, another one of those warm and inviting restaurants that make good use of white lights reaching from the windows inward.Another inviting display is around the corner at 216 Hicks St. A backdrop of wrapping paper in the windows of Overtures sets off the display of stuffed animals, a gum ball machine, children%u2019s toys and a profusion of other small items.At 132 Montague, The Cabin%u2019s continually changing display of colorful winter clothing in a well-lit, prominent window, is worthy of mention.But the window that is Best of the Heights this year is that of the Summa Gallery, a spacious, shining display complete with floating angels and unusual ornaments.Best O f Court StreetThe Chic Unisex Haircutters at 306 Court lined the panes of its windows with white lights, frosted them with spray-on %u201csnow%u201dand hung ornaments in each pane, creating a holiday delight. Casale Jewelers, right next door, looks like it was opening a Broadway show with its marquee-style window of large flashing bulbs.At 308 Court, the Gloria Flower Shoppe is literally knee-deep in poinsettias and beautiful artificial flower arrangements. The Carroll Gardens Florist, 373 Court, provides a floral counterpoint to the Gloria with its giant elves surrounded by flowers and lights. Yet another florist, Albert%u2019s Floral Design at 161 Court, features Santa Claus, poinsettias and a little Christmas tree.Those Brooklyn Surfers decorated their windows with miniature winter surfing scenes, including raucous reindeer quaffing beer, decidedly voluptuous %u201celves%u201d in red bathing suits, two lobsters holding a %u201cHappy Holiday%u201d banner, and some more elves riding a big blue wave.But the Best of Court Street goes to the romantic white lights against the black winodws of Cousin%u2019s Lounge Restaurant at160 Court St. The lights of the restaurant seem to repeat themselves into infinity in the reflections. The effect is mysterious, romantic and completely inviting.Best Of Fifth A venueThe windows of Anthony Scicchitano Pork Stores at 267 Fifth Avenue are framed with sprays of white branches entwined with sparkling white lights in an inviting holiday display as angels hover over a large, beautifully-detailed nativity scene.Last year%u2019s Best of Fifth Avenue is the Best of Fifth again for 1986. Flowers by A1 Lenzo, 284 Fifth Avenue, wins again for its tree with pink bows, a child hanging beads on the tree while a little dog sleeps next to the fireplace where hang the stockings.Best Of Flat bushCara%u2019s Critters at 256 Flatbush sparkles with light and holiday decorations. There%u2019s something quintessentially American about Continued on Page 14HONORABLE M ENTION: The Brooklyn Surfers, 262 Court St., make their presencek n o w n m/nry v o a r in ela b o ra te w in d o w Hi^nlax/Q that a re an n h lin n o rn m m o n la n / nntheir organization and life as a surfer. One window, dated December 23, is titled%u201cWhy you might not get that surfboard ...%u201d Mechanical elves and reindeer frolic ona snowy slope. The other, dated December 26, is titled %u201cSomewhere in the SouthPacific ...%u201d Lobsters on the beach have a \and elves on surfboards ride a big blue one while Santa, in trunks, drinks beer withthe reindeer.THIRD PRIZE: The third prize goes to the Shell Gas station at Flatbush and Tillaryfor its All-American charm and appeal. Gas stations across the country aredecorated exactly the same, although this one features a Star of David in addition toits Christmas trees. Motorists can't help but feel welcome at this one of Brooklyn%u2019sbest.December 25, 1986, THE PHOENIX, Page 13