If You Don't Get Snow, Go Faux

Once a frosty feature of civic tree lightings and big school parties, the fake snow business is blowing into people's yards. We're not talking about the gently falling almost-snow generated by spots like The Grove and Disneyland; we're talking actual ice that's been chipped down into fine flurries that are cold and can be fashioned into snowballs with ease.

A weekend airing of "Hollywood Does Christmas" on WeTV showed actress Kirstie Alley calling upon a snow-making service to create a backyard wonderland for her kids and their friends. We also loved the set from "Look Who's Talking" she had up to create the festive village scene; now that is outrageously awesome, being able to keep part of a set after a film wraps. We thought movie types only wanted to keep the gorgeous clothes? (We get that, believe it.) Bravo, Kirstie. We would have asked for the set, too.

Another power player on the program held a more adult-flavored party (translation? Bikini-ed girls shimmying on platforms), but still felt the man-made snow would lend that Christmas-y touch. So it's official, we say: Fake snow, whether created by small, rented machines or a local ice company, has left the major, venue-sponsored events and has now entered the private sector here in Tinseltown. Ho ho Hollywood? You are too much, and we love you.

And we were hoping our ice machine could do the job for us the season... That and a chisel. How long does chipping at 30 tons of fake snow take, anyways?

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