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Early Addition
Tonight marks the 76th Christmas tree-lighting ceremony for the city's most famous holiday spruce in Rockefeller Center. This year's 72-footer will be lit up at exactly 8:58 p.m., shining 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights on what's sure to be a large crowd (though last year people complained it wasn't bright enough).
Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr., Jamie Foxx and Beyonce will all be on hand to croon holiday favorites (and probably that "Single Ladies" song); while rumors circulated that Britney would be making an appearance, she just pre-taped a segment for the ceremony. You can watch it live online, or fight the holiday masses (the Dept. of Transportation is offering up some tips to fight the seasonal gridlock).
Ever wonder what happens to the massive tree when it's out of the spotlight? 1010 Wins reports that last year's was used to make two-by-fours to help build a new home for a family who lost theirs during Hurricane Katrina.
Photo via WallyG's flickr.
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major gridlock-annoying-rubes-congestion alert
what happened to last year's energy inefficient bulbs? where does all this unwanted city stuff go?
'Tis the season to be trampled.
I'll pass by during the week when I can check out the tree without being squashed like a garlic clove in a crusher.
Count me among those who were sorely disappointed by last year's "green" lights that were really more blue than anything else and decidedly cold and un-Christmasy. Do we really have to ruin everything for the sake of "progress"? I am one of many NY residents currently hoarding incandescent bulbs in anticipation of the day when they try to pass some offensively ineffective regulation against them... some of us don't find "computer glow" all that romantic and still prefer some warmth in our lighting.
What a difference in the way the tree looked in 2007 compared to 2006. My photos last year were horrible.
Can't wait to see what it looks like this year.
Oh, and if you want to see a bigger, taller, brighter and less crowded tree (yeah, they have Santa and a Skating Rink) go to the RexCorp Plaza in Uniondale on LI.