Lights, cameras: Rolf's unleashes its annual holiday extravaganza

So the holiday lights at Rolf's on Third Avenue at 22nd Street seem to be up a little bit earlier than usual...





Not sure what else to say on the matter. As EV Grieve wrote in November 2008:

It gets horribly crowded at Rolf's during the holidays, of course...Just grab a seat at the bar (if you can during off-peak hours)...the food is too heavy for my tastes (hmmm, suckling pig), unless I'm trying to spike the LDL level in my bloodstream. In any event, if Rolf's is mobbed, Paddy Macguire's down the street — between 19th and 20th — is a decent alternative for drinks during the holidays. They have some lights as well — and a much smaller carbon footprint.

Good advice!

Previously on EV Grieve):
'Tis the season for keeping ConEd in business: The holiday lights are up at Rolf's

'Tis the season for keeping ConEd in business: The holiday lights are up at Rolf's

One of my favorite NYC holiday traditions. The over-the-top holiday lights -- some 70,000 light bulbs in total -- and Victorian-era tchochkes went up at Rolf's last week. For the last month, a few members of the staff at the French-Bavarian eatery at 231 Third Ave. at 22nd Street have been putting up the decorations after hours...they'll be on display until the middle of January. The restaurant opened in 1958, and the lights apparently started going up a few years after that...(at times, it still feels like 1958 in here...). Anyway! The lights!









It gets horribly crowded at Rolf's during the holidays, of course...Just grab a seat at the bar (if you can during off-peak hours)...the food is too heavy for my tastes (hmmm, suckling pig), unless I'm trying to spike the LDL level in my bloodstream. In any event, if Rolf's is mobbed, Paddy Macguire's down the street -- between 19th and 20th -- is a decent alternative for drinks during the holidays. They have some lights as well -- and a much smaller carbon footprint.

Rolf's annual Con Ed winter wonderland

Hey, it's that time of year when the holiday lights go up at Rolf's ... and we make some jokey Con Ed reference.

Anyway! Here are a few photos of the 2012 lights and Victorian-era tchochkes from last night at the German eatery on Third Avenue at 22nd Street...

And they have the doll with the Brian Jones haircut...

Previously on EV Grieve:
'Tis the season for keeping ConEd in business: The holiday lights are up at Rolf's

That special time of year when Rolf's ConEd bill quadruples

The holiday lights are up again at Rolf's, the German eatery on Third Avenue at 22nd Street. You'll find the usual: Some 70,000 light bulbs and Victorian-era tchochkes. Despite what the photos below show, it seemed a little less over the top than in previous years.

And please do not stare at any of the photos for too long: You may suffer a seizure. Or turn into a toddler.













Anyway, definitely worth seeing once. It gets awfully crowded with the office party crowd. So pick your time...

Previously on EV Grieve (who likes to use that same ConEd joke):
'Tis the season for keeping ConEd in business: The holiday lights are up at Rolf's

EV Grieve Etc.: Union Square theater panic; the holiday season at Rolf's

[Photo by Derek Berg]

The Subway Therapy Post-It walls coming in book form (Gothamist)

A look at the new Chrystie Street protected bike lane (Streetsblog)

The sad state of Lanza's on First Avenue (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Swift Hibernian Lounge tops this list of the city's best pubs (Grub Street)

Man causes panic at the Union Square theater during a screening of "La La Land" (DNAinfo)

The last bookbinder on the LES (Literary Hub)

A video interview with Ray of Ray's Candy Store (Gothamist)

Speaking of Ray, he unveiled an fish-and-chips ($9) this week...


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

Will anyone listen to the concerns of residents about the Two Bridges mega projects? (The Lo-Down)

Revisiting the 1898 Bowery Burlesquers (Ephemeral New York)

Pearl & Ash closes after three years on the Bowery (Eater)

Celebrating the life and legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat, who was born on Dec. 22, 1960 (Off the Grid)

A December day with Christo (Laura Goggin Photography)

The holiday season at Rolf's (Town & Village)

Classic Misfits pics (Dangerous Minds)

...and the tree vendors are wrapping up another season in the neighborhood... here's a photo of Jonathan Papillon Blanc, who has been selling here the past six years. This time around, he was on Second Avenue at Seventh Street, away from his usual spot in front of the Rite Aid on First Avenue and Fifth Street (construction next door prompted the move)...


[Photo by Rainer Turim]

Gramercy Park preps for Slurpees

And on the way home after visiting Rolf's...at Third Avenue and 20th Street...

Week in Grieview

[Today in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Bobby Williams]

A new bike for Jacqueline (Tuesday)

A 'fearless' break-in attempt (Saturday)

A note about the 'college frat behavior' in an Avenue C apartment building (Tuesday, 55 comments)

Meet Cosmo Yannis (Wednesday)

East 11th Street lot will be home to the Mark Spink Apartments (Monday)

First Christmas tree for Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Friday)

Incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A not so popular (Friday)

Remembering the turkey of El Jardín del Paraíso (Thursday)

Rolf's annual holiday wonderland (Wednesday)

The bells of St. Brigid's (Monday ... Friday)

Children of the damned

If you do go to Rolf's for a drink or some pig fat this holiday, then please do not play with the dolls. They are evil.