Don't call this generation disengaged with the problems facing society: a serious-minded group of Community fans plan to protest the show's network-imposed, indefinite hiatus in front of NBC's Rockefeller Center headquarters tomorrow. “It really hit a chord with me, it struck me as being very unfair that 25,000 Nielsen boxes could keep or kill this beautiful show,” one of the "organizers" of the flash mob tells the Daily News. Isn't an "organized flash mob" an oxymoron? more ›

The holiday season is upon us, and with it brings all sorts of adorable things: festive sweaters, Yuletide logs, the occasional marriage proposal. Yes, indeed, tis the season for surprise proposals, like this one, at the touristy of all wintertime tourist destinations, Rockefeller Center's ice skating rink. more ›

Every year, decent, red-blooded Americans attempt to celebrate the humble holiday of the birth of their savior. And every year, more and more government bureaucrats paper over Baby Jesus because of some antiquated "separation of church and state" policy. At least the Rockefeller Christmas Tree-Corpse is still a Christmas tree. But the same can't be said of Rhode Island's "Holiday tree," which Governor Lincoln Chafee lit up last night. "He's trying to put our religion down, one man told the AP. "It's a Christmas tree. It always has been and it always will be, no matter what that buffoon says it is." more ›

Because our commander-in-chief is a Godless heathen who hates Christmas almost as much as he hates the free market, President Obama coordinated tonight's three-stop campaign visit with the Rockefeller Center tree lighting to cause maximum anguish to New Yorkers. According to "Gridlock" Sam Schwartz, this means the "FDR Drive, West Midtown, UES, [East] Village all subject to freezes" between 5-11 p.m. this evening. This excludes the "freezing" of 6-year-old Samantha Jenkins' heart when the President will tell her "Santa isn't real," before slipping an illustrated copy of Das Kapital in her Dora the Explorer backpack. more ›

[Updates below] After "about 100" Occupy Wall Street protesters marched to the Federal Reserve building last night, the Post reports that two of them began fighting each other near Liberty and Nassau Streets. According to the paper, "when police tried to intervene, one of the protesters suddenly punched the officer in the face," and was arrested at the scene. more ›

The body is cold, so the grieving period is over! Behold, the 74-foot Norway Spruce serving as this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, is now propped up in Manhattan, where it will remain through January 7th. The tree was donated by the Keller/Crawford family in rural Pennsylvania, and lived there for 75 years before the tree-barren city folk came and stole it for their own holiday amusement. more ›

A week ago, midtown was held captive when a man ascended to the top of Rockefeller Center and threatened to jump. Thankfully, after a tense hour, police were able to talk down 23-year-old tourist Jorge (George) Ruiz. It turned out that Ruiz, who told police that he suffers from schizophrenia and that he was distraught that a book he wrote wouldn't be published, had attempted suicide twice before, and in an eerily similar incident, had once climbed Las Vegas' 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower to do so. In the video below, you can see footage of Emergency Service Unit detectives leaping across the parapet to stop Ruiz before he jumped. more ›

Media outlets from across America and around the world looked on rapturously last night as tens of thousands LED lights were switched on the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. But despite all the journalists on the scene, it looks like only the Daily News noticed that there was another, less joyfully manufactured aspect to last night's festivities. Some 40 unemployed demonstrators were also at Rockefeller Center last night to protest the end of unemployment benefits, which will affect nearly millions Americans starting, oh, now. more ›

Tonight is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting (a 74-foot Norway spruce from Mahopac is center stage), which means it's a Gridlock Alert day in NYC, but, given the recent attempted bombing at a Portland, Oregon tree lighting event, there are concerns about safety. Well, Mayor Bloomberg wants worry warts to quit worrying, "I'm going to be at the tree lighting and I'm going to feel perfectly safe. I don't think you should worry about it." more ›

Seems like just yesterday that a giant tree in Easton, Connecticut was being chopped down and dragged to glory as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. That tree has since been broken down and become part of a Habitat for Humanity home, and a new tree is moving into the spotlight. According to the NY Post, that tree is 74-feet-tall (2 feet short of last year's) and belongs to a 12-year FDNY veteran Peter Acton, who works at Engine 79 in the Bronx. more ›

The LEGO Group has just announced their newest interpretation of a modern day marvel to their Architecture series: Rockefeller Center. The series of Midtown Manhattan buildings were landmarked in 1986, and now you can rebuild them in your living room. The LEGO folks tell us the set contains 240 pieces, is approximately 5.4 inches tall (seems small, but the Empire State building model is only 7.4 inches tall). What other New York City buildings should be LEGO-fied... or is it better to use LEGO pieces to fill the city's crack-filled buildings in real life? more ›

Click on the images for details on the new restaurants in town, which include tapas at Cadaqués in Williamsburg, the new Atlantic Grill at Lincoln Center, atavistic hobnobbing at The Lambs Club, and Bill's Bar and Burger Rockefeller Center. more ›

Terror suspect Faisal Shahzad may have failed with his attempt to set of a car bomb in Times Square, but it turns out that the "Crossroads of the World" may not have been his only target. According to MyFoxNY, a source says "he was taking aim at four other high-profile targets: Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal, the World Financial Center, and Connecticut-based defense contractor Sikorsky." more ›

Despite a steady rain, thousands of people amassed at Rockefeller Center last night for the annual tree lighting event. Besides the dramatic moment when the lights go from off to on, there were performances by Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, Jo Dee Messina, Barry Manilow, Shakira, The Muppets, and The Roots. Photographer Katie Sokoler got a bird's-eye view from Rockefeller Center's "620 Loft & Garden," where the Canadian Tourism Commission held an invite-only event intended to lure tourists to their country... by celebrating a classic New York tradition? more ›

PETA's latest anti-fur face is former (1979 gold medalist) Olympic figure skater Tai Babilonia, who just hit the ice at Rockefeller Center yesterday in support of the cause. She declared, "Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean we should be cold inside. There are many more warm things to wear nowadays than fur." more ›

Last week the new Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived at 30 Rock after being torn from its roots in Easton, Connecticut. It will now have until December 2nd to be adorned with lights (last year folks were not impressed by the energy-efficient LED lights), before being plugged in for holiday revelers to enjoy. Here's some history on the tree tradition, which started about 77 years ago — and a look back at trees of the past (in 1938 there were two!). more ›

Tis the season to chop down thriving trees! This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree hails from Easton, Connecticut and will be arriving at 30 Rock today. The Daily News reports that the 76-foot Norway spruce is 50 years old and was growing in the yard of teacher Maria Corti. Once the tree is set up in its new temporary home, it will take about two weeks to decorate, with the official lighting ceremony on December 2nd. more ›

Bia Garden: The latest addition to Michael "Bao" Huynh's empire is this Vietnamese beer garden, tucked away out of sight behind a nondescript take-out joint on the Lower East Side. After passing through what looks like a walk-in refrigerator, you'll find yourself in a 50-seat garden oasis, complimented by 10 seats of indoor dining. Huynh, the man behind BarBao, Pho Sure, and Baoguette, has put together a beverage list consisting of only Asian beers by the can or bottle, served in coolers and left for each table. A circulating pushcart dispenses $5 bites, and the Vietnamese street-food menu is divided into Small Dishes, Medium Dishes, Big Dishes and Side Dishes. These include Duck Nem Sausage with pine nut and anchovy sauce; BBQ Rib on Lamb Belly; and Crispy Whole Sole, which is prepared with king mushroom, lily bulb, and ginger sauces, and served wrapped in newspaper. (Though Bia Garden was expected to open this week, we're now told that next week is more likely.) 154 Orchard Street, (212) 780-0010 more ›

Last night, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree's lights were turn on for the holidays. With 30,000 lights on 5 miles of wire and a 750-pound star at top, it dazzled the crowd. A family of Hurricane Katrina survivors whose new home was partly built by lumber from an old Rock Center tree was on hand for the lighting; mother Tracey Davison told the AP, "It's been an awesome experience. I have a famous living room because of the tree from last year, and my girls and I have had a spectacular trip to New York for the first time." more ›

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). more ›

Rockefeller Center got its 2008 Christmas tree, as a 72-foot Norway spruce from Hamilton, NJ arrived this morning. You can see it come in--with Al Roker--in this video: more ›