We’ve always considered ourselves fireworks aficionados here at rancho indebto. Alas, we’re stuck, not just in the swamps of Joisey, but in a state where personal fireworks displays are verboten. When summer rolls around, we roll to every public fireworks display we can catch (fireworks-mavens that we are). Imagine my surprise when an enticing flyer from Phantom Fireworks (a.k.a.: Fireworks.com) arrived in today’s snail mail …

The flyer certainly piqued my interest. Phantom is clearly marketing to New Jersey residents — knowing full well that fireworks are illegal in this state — with specific directions to their stores in Pennsylvania with proximity to the NJ border. But what’s even crazier is that fireworks are highly regulated in the state of Pennsylvania.

The mailer clearly states:

NO ADMISSION: to PA residents without proper permits.

and

PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS: Fireworks are illegal within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Anyone who transports into, possesses, uses or sells fireworks within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without permission from the appropriate authorities, is subject to criminal and civil penalties.

The lure of outlawed pyrotechnical devices, like the dark side of the Force, is strong.

While I’m not keen on driving over the border to drop serious coinage on half an hour’s entertainment (that could ultimately land my rear end in the slammer), I couldn’t wait to check out Fireworks.com. I didn’t spend any money, but I did spend plenty of time checking out the video previews of many of Phantom’s pyrotechnic offerings. (The company kindly provides both Windows Media and QuickTime formats in both broadband and modem flavors.)

Ah, but we can dream …

In the 500 Gram Maximum Load Repeaters & Fountains sections you’ll find “Bada Bing Bada Boom,” a 19 shot box ‘o fun, chock full of silver comet tails and red and green chrysanthemum breaks. (Sure sounds like a Joisey favorite to me.) When you fire up the brocade mines and giant weeping willow bursts in the Crown Brocade Classic, you can be assured that all that glitters is indeed gold. Other marvelously named monsters include Pyrotechnic Motherload, Cometary Chaos, and Crack the Sky.

There’s nothing better then a good air show. The Aerials section includes reloadable shells and mortars, repeaters and cakes, and Roman candles, as well as tubes, mines, and shells.
Wanna display with a New York flavah? Phantom Fireworks is the home of the Grucci Collection, with offerings including the Grucci Mindshell Mayhem.

The site’s listing of individual state fireworks laws? Indispensible.