In addition to the high achievers lauded on Play’s cover, other Peeps dioramas deserve a turn in the spotlight (a cool spotlight, of course; don’t want any unfortunate melting).
On this page we’re featuring but a few of the scores of entries that were posted to the Tribune’s online site; many dioramas drew inspiration from current pop culture, from “Angry Birds” to this year’s Grammy Awards (key players: Peep-Lo Green and Gwyneth Peeptrow).
We even got a nod to those days in 2010 when recently ousted Tribune bosses were making unfortunate headlines, including an infamous poker game in a certain colonel’s former office. Play suspected an inside job, but the Tower replica was done by non-Tribune employees Amy Brierly and Susanna Kalnes of Extra Mile Public Relations; Brierly used to work for a company that leased space in the Tower — hence the diorama’s I-feel-your-pain vibe.
In a note that accompanied the faux Tribune Tower, Brierly wrote: “After the year you’ve all been through, we thought you could use a couple of laughs at the Tower.”
So, to Brierly and everyone else who joined in on the fun, we say “Thanks!”
Check out chicagotribune.com/features/peeps/ for another look at current and past Peeps dioramas.
‘Peeple in Peril: A major miner miracle’
Created by: Jill DuBois and Shelley Lurie, both of Highland Park. The topical diorama includes one of the hapless miners whose wife and mistress showed up for the big rescue (check out the upper level, right-hand side). DuBois and Lurie say the two Peeps women are actually self-portraits, but we declined to ask who had which role. We’re just glad everyone — including the canary — survived.
Judges liked: “Loved the theme and players — very creative.” “Incredibly original theme, terrific character details.”
‘Harry Peeper and the Sorcerer’s Stone’
Created by: the Nash family (Claudia, Kevin, Aubrey, Sabrina and Griffin) of Park Ridge. The family team crafted an ode to Harry Potter by re-creating eight scenes from the boy wizard’s life. The finished product, approximately 36 by 40 inches, dwarfed all other entries and is full of fun details. When the family cat ate the ears off one of the characters shortly before the diorama was to be delivered, a hasty repair job put things right.
Judges liked: The “stunning amount of detail”; “incredible Quidditch match.”
‘Chicago Peephawks’
Created by: the students of the Wesglen Tutoring Club in Romeoville. Several dioramas paid tribute to the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup victory last year, but only one perched the trophy between the ears of clutch player Patrick Kane, No. 88. After all, when your Peeps doesn’t have arms, what are you going to do?
Judges liked: “The way it captures the spirit of a sport event, complete with the ads around the stadium.” “The hockey jerseys are just too cute, and that’s saying a lot since I don’t even like hockey. Great job, kids!”
The people’s Peeps choice
While judges were scrutinizing the dozen dioramas that had been dropped off at the Tribune, online fans were casting their votes at chicagotribune.com/peepsfinalists. Here are the top five finishers, starting with the top vote-getter:
1. “Alice in Peepland” (Submitted by Laura Gilligan of Chicago)
2. “Peeple in Peril: A major miner miracle”
3. “Harry Peeper and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
4. “Larry Peep Live”
5. “Chicago Peephawks”
