Sunday, December 9, 2018

Tompkins Square Park holiday tree now lit for the holiday (and maybe through March)



A nice-sized crowd turned out late this afternoon for the 27th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was onhand for the festivities. We'll post (many) more photos tomorrow (updated: find more photos here).



Meanwhile, EVG contributor Susan Schiffman shared these videos... showing the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City ...



... and the countdown to the lighting...



And Lola Sáenz passed along this photo of freedom fighter Patricia Okoumou, who was in attendance...



Albert Fabozzi started the event in 1992. He planted the tree in memory of Park advocate Glenn Barnett, "and each of our neighbors whom we have lost to AIDS.”

2 comments:

John Penley said...

Planting this tree , after the eviction of Tompkins Square Park's tent city , turned out to be one of the best things Antonio Pagan and Howard Hemsley did while Pagan was council person. Loved the funky rendition of Jingle Bells by TNC. I just want to remind people that conditions in NYCHA housing in the neighborhood are terrible and homeless rates . especially school age kids in city shelters are at an all time high. Christmas should be a time of giving and it would be really great if organizers of this in the future started asking people to bring art and school supplies and toya for poor kids to it every year.

Anonymous said...

Pagan-ugh! but great idea to pair this with a clothes/food/toys drive/ Sure other larger groups would set up in one of three sections and receive them