Flying Gingerbread House Jumps To Its Death Near Downey, Leaves Balloons Soaring

KPCC reporter Charles Phoenix recently got into the holiday spirit by engaging in the sugary Christmas tradition of making a gingerbread house. Straying from the usual proud post-creation display, Phoenix released his candy/cracker abode into the sky.

Oscar Streit - Christmas confectioner, baker and owner of Downey's Streit German Bakery - "is the gingerbread go-to man," according to Phoenix as reported by KPCC. Streit schooled the reporter on the art of the gingerbread house, helping Phoenix build a lightweight dwelling for his pastry master plan.

Securing the house to roughly 180-200 balloons, Phoenix and Ballusionist Brian Potvin launched the house into the air. Phoenix describes the aftermath of today's video lunch below.

"The gingerbread house killed itself. It jumped. About 650 feet in the air, the gingerbread house jumped, and the balloons kept going."