Oops typo! ;) I couldn't take a picture because it was dark but I'm thinking there aren't many trees like this. About 20 ft tall, red berries running along each limb, no leaves in January.

"That is different, I've never had horticultural excitement result in a desire to buy pants before."

Embo, Is that really what you really meant to say, or were you kidding?

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Kitchenlady, any chance of a picture (up-close so we can see leaf and branching habit, preferably)?

A few possibilities:

Ilex decidua (possumhaw holly)

Ilex serrata (Japanese winterberry holly)

Ilex verticillata (winterberry holly)

Ilex spp. (other deciduous hollies)

Malus spp. (crabapple)

Sorbus spp. (mountainash)

Hawthorns are seen occasionally downtown. Google (images) Crataegus phaenopyrum, Washington hawthorn, and C. 'Winter King'. They would have lots of bright red berries at this time of year, and grow as small trees.

Kitchenlady, did you happen to notice if there were thorns?

Thanks for the replies! The hawthorn does look like a possibility. I didn't get a picture because it was nighttime but I'm going to try to go by the during the day to get a better look.

I don't think they had thorns. If they did, they aren't plentiful because I checked out the branching and didn't get poked. At first I thought they weren't real they were so beautiful. I've never seen anything so covered in red berries!