Photo inside Advertising.com by Ayako Bingham

I don't know if it's the economy, the housing market or the cost of electricity, but there don't seem to be as many lit-up, decorated places this year. That might explain why only one reader -- the excellent Ayako Bingham of Advertising.com -- came through when I put out a call for photos of local holiday lights.

But between her photos, my snaps in Baltimore and Columbia and real estate editor Justine Maki's pictures in Ellicott City, we do have a cross-section of decorative efforts indoors and out, at both businesses and residences. It's no 34th Street in Hampden, but even a chilly construction site had a little tree.

The results are in this photo gallery of holiday decorations in the Baltimore area. Enjoy -- and it's not too late to supply your own photos, if you'd like. Instructions are on the gallery.