Results tagged “christmastree”

      

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.)

       

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!).

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.

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."

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.

          

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."

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).

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:

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...

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.

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...

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...

Sleet, by Callalillie.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

On Saturday, Gothamist ventured to buy a Christmas tree on Greenwich Street in Tribeca (thanks, Super Fun Christmas Tree Map). Perhaps that was our first problem - shopping in Tribeca. Anyway, we noticed a very lovely tree, perhaps about 7-8 feet tall, and inquired about the price. The seller said in a friendly manner, "I don't want to stick shock you, but it's $200." Baby Jesus, we were shocked! It was a noble fir which the National Christmas Tree Association says has "beautifully symmetrical" branches. It was beautifully symmetrical, but not for $200. We saw another very nice tree - but guess what, it was $160 dollars (a Fraser fir). We settled on a Douglas fir, about 7 feet tall, for $80 which is still a little too pricey, but we thought, "At least we're not paying $200 - and we'll have the tree up until April." However, next year we're going to a NJ Christmas tree farm to cut down our own tree - if we're not going towards the fake option.

Another day, another nifty Google Maps mashup. Today's pick: Manhattan All Night. It's only got Manhattan stuff, hence the name, but it still manages to list 100 restaurants, 102 Deli/bodegas, 57 drug stores and 21 other stores that just don't close. That 280 24-hour spots for you to hit up those times when you're just too wired to get to sleep.

Tonight is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, which is why today is a gridlock alert day. The WNBC Channel 4 Christmas Tree page and tree cam now has music, as they count down till 7PM. We're sure crowds are already at Rockefeller Center, breathlessly awaiting Al Roker, Sheryl Crow, Il Divo, Carrie Underwood, Il Divo and the Goo Goo Dolls, but the other way to watch is to tune in at 7PM and watch Channel 4 for two hours, and TiVo America's Next Top Model. And if you go, we'll be looking for your pictures on Flickr!

Yesterday we asked you to submit Christmas Tree Retail locations to help people new to the city find a tree. You responded with more than thirty locations-- and we've plotted these on the Gothamist Christmas Tree Holiday Map. Please help us continue this important work by adding your own spot to the map, or leaving a comment on this post with a new location and we'll add it for you.

Of course, this leaves New Yorkers with a two options - go see the tree or avoid the area around Rockefeller Center like the plague. Those who work there are out of luck. For those that want to check out the tree, it will remain lit until January 6th from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM, all day Christmas, and 5:30 AM to 9 PM on New Year's Eve. For those visiting, it's on 5th Ave, in the 40s...and a big well lit tree. Can't miss it.

If Thanksgiving is over, then Christmas trees all around the city must be lit. Here are three events the Daily News notes:

All your Christmas Tree detail at WNBC's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree page. And there is a Tree Cam. And whatisee sent a link to his photos (one of which we've reduced at left).

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was lit yesterday. Dedicated to U.S. troops, the tree will remain in its 30,000 light strong capacity till January 6. The tree lighting is in its 73rd year of being lit on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving.