HO-HO-HOuston.. You're on stage

PANAMA. They know how to celebrate Christmas in Houston. A few years ago when I was killing time waiting for a connecting flight, an airport employee suggested I take a cab to a nearby shopping mall to see the Christmas tree display. Christmas trees? I had seen enough decorated trees in a lifetime to replant a large part of Canada’s devastated clear-cut forests, or cover parts of the thousands of hectares of land being burned in the Amazon basin to grow sugar cane for ethanol ? a tiny contribution to saving the environment and a massive one to destroying it.

Anyhow, I finally took his advice and went to see the display. It turned out to be a wonderful climax that had involved thousands of school kids from across the city ? A Christmas tree decorating contest, with every competing school a winner. One school had decorated its tree with hundreds of individually designed cards, another with ornaments made by students, yet another with beautifully made artificial flowers. Now there’s an idea for a Panama mall next year. Take the idea. It’s free.

And here’s another for Tocumen also out of Houston, an airport terminal with carols being sung by local choirs, plus a Karaoke machine. Ho-ho-ho, hold that flight. There's a holiday surprise for travelers — and aspiring performers — passing through Houston's Intercontinental Airport this month.

There it is, just past the security checkpoint, set atop a small stage: a karaoke machine adorned with Christmas lights and stockings shaped like cowboy boots. There's even a team of Christmas elves — airport employees the rest of the year.

"A little holiday karaoke while you wait? It's fun and it's free," cooed Ashley Thompson. "You could be a star."

This is the first year the airport has included holiday-themed karaoke among its array of seasonal musical entertainment, which includes school choirs and local bands. The karaoke booth is being set up five times around the airport this month.

One morning last week after a rare snowfall had frosted Houston, the holiday spirit — or perhaps, the thrill of performing in front of strangers — was strong among airport employees and travelers with time to kill. One after another, crooners stepped up to the microphone and belted out holiday classics — each putting their own mark on the melodies.

A tiny boy in a Goofy T-shirt squeaked out a rendition of "Feliz Navidad," with his mother kneeling by his side singing harmony. A dark-haired songstress vamped her way through a coquettish

"Santa Baby." A pair of blonde-haired gymnasts opened their version of "Jingle Bells" with synchronized handstands.

"I would do that but I haven't stretched yet," joked Jeff Zimbelman, 26, as he took the stage to perform "O Holy Night."

As Zimbelman's pitch-perfect voice lilted through the terminal, harried travelers rushing through metal detectors stopped, stared and smiled, and a crowd gathered around the stage.

Zimbelman, an insurance adjuster from Sacramento, Calif., said he loves karaoke, but usually performs at a bar, and only after a few drinks.

"Doing this in the middle of an airport is kinda.. different," said Zimbelman, returning home after four months in Houston working with victims of Hurricane Ike. "But this is kind of neat. Every airport should do something like this." Airport employee Rob Mason came up with the idea and offered the use of a karaoke machine he takes to his mother's nursing home. The silver-haired, velvet-voiced Mason also serves as emcee for the festivities, which he attends outfitted in a tuxedo and bow tie.

"It's so cool we can sing snow songs in Houston," Mason intoned as he introduced a trio of blue-suited businessman, Mike Allen, Brian Evetts and Jeff Steel.

"Welcome aboard, gentleman. Welcome to the stage."

The three Dallas-area T-Mobile employees, on a day trip to Houston for business, lined up sheepishly behind the microphones and launched into "Frosty the Snowman."

For Nancy Flood, a flight attendant for Republic Air, the karaoke was welcome entertain ment as her flight was more than four hours late. She settled down to watch the karaoke and signed up to sing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer."

"There's no better thing I've seen in any airport, and I've been everywhere," said Flood, 48. "In this economy, there is nothing better than seeing smiles like this. It shouldn't just be for Christmas."

Are you listening Tocumen?