The Annual Gingerbread House Contest - Part 2

I was touring the 2018 gingerbread house contest at the TAUNY Center in Canton, New York (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). I came to this entry, titled "The Candy Cottage," a reference to the story of Hansel and Gretel. It won third place in the youth category, ages 12-17. I thought this deserved more than third place so it got my vote for the "People's Choice" award:

A side view of The Candy Cottage. The judges remarked on the candy rocks lining the driveway, the details on the roof tiles, the candy cane archway and the Tootsie Roll log pile:

This entry took me aback because it was not a traditional gingerbread house. It was a sea-green, translucent dome, with a futuristic city inside, a creative imagining of the Lost City Of Atlantis. I knew from watching baking contests on the Food Channel that the seawater dome was constructed of what is called "sugar work," and the sign said it had been created with five pounds of sugar and two bottles of corn syrup. This entry won first place in the adult category:

I moved my camera close for a shot of the futuristic city of Atlantis inside the seawater dome. It was intricately detailed and wildly creative. Are you wondering where the gingerbread is? Look at the base in the above photo, and don't miss the rocks, starfish and seaweed. This entry really deserved first place:

"The Princess And The Pea" won first place in the Family/Group category. The judges remarked on the stained glass windows, the use of mixed materials in the layers of mattresses, the tiled floor and the woven rug:

This entry was also unique, and won second place in the youth category, ages 12-17. It was called "Miremel, The Gingerbread Dragon." The scales of the dragon were individually cut out of gingerbread and the wings, eyes and egg were made of poured sugar glass. The judges were rightly impressed:

This was titled, "Anti-Santa D & D Convention." I had to read the maker's comments to understand that she was referencing three myths: The Yule Cat, Krampus and Belsnikle. This was awarded third place in the youth category, ages 12-17:

This entry was titled "Lookin' For Her Prince" and referenced the story of Rapunzel. It won a third place in the youth category, ages 12-17. The judges remarked on Rapunzel's pasta braid hair and the tower garland:

This "Princess And The Pea" entry, unlike the other one, was with the pea still in place - and you can see the pea down at the bottom of the pile. This won a second place in the family/group category and the judges remarked on the cat and the detail on the top blanket. I know a little girl in the family who made this, so I'll have to remember to compliment her the next time I see her:

"The Jolly Roger," referencing the final battle between Captain Hook and Peter Pan. The many details included a clock in the jaws of the crocodile. The judges remarked on the water, the drape of the sails and the pitch of the boat on the waves. It won first place in the youth category, ages 12-17:

"The Trojan Horse," with the city of Troy and warring red gummy bears as Greeks and green gummy bears as Trojans. The judges remarked on the fruit-slice ships and the soldiers (gummy bears) coming out of the horse. This entry won a second place in the youth category, ages 12-17:

"The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe" won second place in the children's category, up to age 11. The judges liked the lamp post and the wardrobe:

This entry was not entered in the contest, but was just for show. It was a clever representation of "The Myth Of Fall In The North Country," a tongue-in-cheek reminder that it was still fall when the contest began even though we had frigid temperatures and plenty of snow: