The creating and observing of gingerbread homes is nearly universal this time of year, from the quaint covers of home journals in supermarkets to the chic candy homes built for charity auctions by architecture firms. LEED-certified gingerbread homes have popped up recently, as have prefab versions. The ambitious gingerbread manse sometimes replaces the idealized cottage in the woods, as do homes speaking to regions—New England splendors, Texas ranch homes, etc. So with the city of Henderson accepting gingerbread house submissions for its WinterFest Celebration, the question remains whether artists will burst beyond the fantasy of the warmly lit gumdrop-and-peppermint-decked gingerbread home or reflect on the idea of “home” in Southern Nevada, where a reported 80 percent of homeowners are underwater and neighborhoods are haunted by abandoned homes. Either option—welcomed holiday idealism or expressions of discontent—is understandable. The contest, open to anyone, calls for the gingerbread homes to reflect the WinterFest 2010 theme—Henderson or “comic strip favorites.” The deadline for entries is November 24. For more information, call 267-2171.