If you haven't already discarded your tree or ceremoniously set it on fire or whatever, you might want to consider hauling it over to Mulchfest this weekend, where its death can finally have some real meaning. This Saturday and Sunday you can drop off your tree at one of these locations, where it will be recycled into mulch that will be used to nourish trees you didn't murder this holiday season. You're also invited to take home your own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or for one of your neighborhood's street trees. more ›

Trevor Mann, the 26-year-old who reportedly held his 2-month-old son hostage while waving a burning Christmas tree branch over his head, insists that the cops got it all wrong. Cops said he threatened to hurt his son if the police didn't leave, but Mann said from the psychiatric ward at Bellevue Hospital that he told the cops he wasn't going to hurt his son. Mann's girlfriend also blames the infant's injuries on the police. Mann's son suffered a broken arm, and his girlfriend told the Daily News, "[Cops] pulled him out of his arms and broke his arm." 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 ›

New Yorkers have set a record by bringing in 23,600 Christmas trees to Mulchfest! The Department of Parks & Recreation says that's a 38% increase from last year's final tally. Meanwhile, the Department of Sanitation is still picking up curbside trees people have discarded (through the 15th). While the trees are chipped and used as mulch in city parks... should we really be patting ourselves on the back for killing the perfectly healthy trees in the first place? more ›

There's a lot of Christmas tree carnage out there on the sidewalks — but before you add yours to the piles, think about bringing it to MulchFest this coming weekend. On January 9th and 10th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Parks Department will be hosting the treecycling event at several sites in all five boroughs. So be green in 2010 and get your tree recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings around the city — just take off all the ornaments and tinsel first (though sparkly mulch sounds much prettier!). more ›

A Windsor Terrace grocery store manager came under fire from customers for installing and promptly removing a menorah and a Christmas tree he had placed in front of his store. For the second year in a row, Key Food manager Mike Jordings allowed Rabbi Moshe Hecht to put a 10-foot tall menorah in front of his Prospect Avenue store during Hanukkah. But by the third night of the Festival of Lights, complaints about the Jewish icon were getting intense. "I was trying to be festive, but my everyday customers didn't feel that way," he told the Daily News. "They felt uncomfortable." more ›

It it's December, it must be time to visit Dyker Heights, that Brooklyn neighborhood famous for its transcendent Christmas light displays. The spectacle draws onlookers from around the world, and was immortalized in a truly hilarious documentary called Dyker Lights, which takes a priceless "behind-the-scenes" look at the predominantly Italian-American families during preparations for the annual festivities. (PBS will be broadcasting Dyker Lights again this year on Christmas Eve and Christmas day—it's not to be missed.) 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 ›

According to the Daily News, Habitat for Humanity volunteers are putting the finishing touches on their Atlantic Avenue Condominiums today (in this heat!); the 41-unit apartment complex in Brownsville will give those in a need a chance to own their own home. Over 10,000 people came together to pitch in, and the Habitat NYC director says, "It's been fueled by Brooklyn pride," and that most moving in are "renters in Brooklyn who are taking a big step into home ownership." Over 8,000 applied to own a unit (there are 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms which range from $100-200K). And as for the finer details, "the front doors to each apartment at the complex are made from lumber milled from last year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree" (which always goes to good use). One woman moving in with her two children told the paper, "My kids keep saying that every day will be like Christmas." more ›

Don't just toss your tannenbaum out onto the sidewalk; this weekend there are two events designed for the ultimate holiday arboricidal massacre. First up is the city's annual MulchFest, which invites you to bring your tree in to a designated city park (they'll open up shop in all five boroughs), where it will be turned into nourishing mulch. "You are encouraged to bring bags to take advantage of the free mulch" that will be provided at certain sites. More details here. 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 ›

TREE LIGHTING: Earlier this year, New Yorkers Fountains of Wayne transformed Demetri Martin into a lonely suit living in Brooklyn in this video. Tonight the band will be rockin' around the Stuy Town Christmas tree. A reader writes in:I just happened to see this flyer hanging up for the annual christmas tree lighting. And what the hell is this...7:30-8:00pm, FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE. Seems like it's top secret, but there are flyers everywhere.Random! But if you're... more ›

With street-side Christmas trees going for more each year and the average apartment size decreasing, we propose the adoption of a new holiday standard: Enjoy your Christmas Tree in a highball glass. To wit: Clear Creek Distillery’s Eau de Vie of Douglas Fir, 375 milliliters of pine flavored brandy, found at Red Hook booze and esoteric spirits emporium LeNell’s. This small, $45 bottle is cheaper and has a lesser environmental impact than deforestation, and will definitely last longer than most trees (at least if used sparingly). Made in Oregon from the actual buds of Douglas Fir trees, the Eau de Vie has a faint green color that’s not surprisingly “all natural.” Sample cocktail: Substitute some Douglas Fir brandy for half the amount of rum called for in a traditional mojito recipe. Keep the mint and the lime, and call it a Tannenbaum. Start a new household tradition today, but enjoy responsibly – this tree could burn your liver down. more ›

Last week the Origami Tree went up in all its folded glory, and pretty soon all eyes will be on the "most famous tree in the world" when the Rockefeller Center's spruce gets lit up (with LEDs!). amNewYork spoke to David Murbach, the gardens manager at Rockefeller Center, who drives the back roads of the Northeast looking for trees each year prior to doing an aerial survey in the winter months to see which evergreens... more ›

1) Features about the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, in anticipation of this year's Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The NY Times looks how performances from the 1930s and 1940s inspired this year's show while Newsday notes on the technology being used. Both focus on the amazing synchronized dancing. 2) Starbucks has decorated its stores with Christmas decorations and has started to use Christmas/holiday themed cups. Cajun Boy in the City also counts Josh Grobin... more ›

Sleet, by Callalillie. more ›

The Rink at Rockefeller Center is 70 years old today. The rink, in the heart of Midtown and unrivaled for many years (until the Bryant Park's Pond opened), first opened on Christmas Day in 1936. Being located right by the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and the Today Show studios has helped its popularity. It seems to be open today - here are more details. more ›

It's crazy holiday congestion time when the NYPD starting hauling out mesh netting to control crowds. But, really, when there's a teeming mass of insane people in Midtown who want to see the Rockettes or attempt to buy a Wii or see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, is mesh enough? We know the police is under scrutiny over brutality, but cattle prods anyone? more ›

While they mark the holiday shopping season, does anyone even notice department store window displays anymore? In front of both Lord & Taylor and Saks, there were velvet ropes positioned for lines, and security present for 'crowd control'...but it seemed as if very few had even a passing interest in the windows. more ›

Even before Thanksgiving, stands full of beautiful Christmas trees started springing up on streets, beckoning even the Scroogiest of Grinches to bring a Douglas fir home. more ›

Expect a lot of hubbub around Rockefeller Center this morning - an 88 foot Norway spruce is arriving from Ridgefield, Connecticut to be the official Christmas Tree. Owner Rob Kinnaird told reporters how he grew up with the 9-ton tree ("My sandbox and glide ride [jungle gym] used to be next to the tree.") and that he was excited for the tree to will be in New York. more ›

1. The Democrats officially have control of the Senate - Virginia Senator George Allen conceded
2. Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a watermain break in the Bronx, an overturned ambulance in Brooklyn, and a shooting in Harlem.
3. James Madison H.S. in Brooklyn has produced three current U.S. Senators. Now if they could only do something about all the metal-detectors.
4. Adrienne Shelly's killer is at Bellevue, undergoing psychiatric evaluations
5. City officials are saying the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Glenwood Road isn't dangerous, even after the SUV crash that killed a 5 year old -- but Streetsblog checked, and "the intersection within the 99th percentile for most dangerous signalized intersections in New York City."
6. Why is the Empire State Building red tonight? To support #15 Rutgers' football which is playing #3 Louisville tonight (ESPN, 7:30PM)
7. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree will be arriving from Connecticut tomorrow!
8. It was a record night at Christie's for the Impressionist and modern art auction - but they ended up pulling the disputed Picasso!
9. How many construction sites in Greenpoint does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
10. And set your Tivos! Tomorrow night is Celebrity Jeopardy with Law & Order's Sam Waterston, Law & Order: Criminal Intent's Kathryn Erbe, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's Christopher Meloni! CHUNG CHUNG!