Monday, December 1, 2025

When is the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park this year?

The question we've been asked about now that Thanksgiving is over: the 34th annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 14, from 4-5 p.m. 

The event this year is once again sponsored by C&B Cafe and features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City, along with refreshments from Veselka ... an enduring staple of December in the neighborhood.

Why neighborhood staple Casa Adela will be closed this week

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

If you had plans for any meals at Casa Adela this week, the lively Puerto Rican restaurant will be closed today through Friday for "structural chimney repairs," per signage for patrons.
The decades-spanning business will reopen on Saturday at 66 Avenue C, between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

Top Secret Comedy Club makes its U.S. debut tonight on Avenue A

Photo by Stacie Joy 

The Top Secret Comedy Club is set to debut TONIGHT at 44 Avenue A and Third Street (the former Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's UCBeast space). 

Signage notes $1 admission (or "pay what you want") for the show starting at 8 p.m. You can visit the Top Secret website for more details and a list of comics. 

Owner Mark Rothman, who started the UK-based comedy business 13 years ago, talked with EVG's Stacie Joy about what to expect. You can find that post here.

Game over for 8-Bit Bites on 2nd Avenue

It's game over after two-plus years for 8-Bit Bites on Second Avenue.

An EVG reader shared this photo from the other day, showing that someone has closed up the quick-serve space that served smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and wings alongside retro video games at 77 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

Google also reports this location as "permanently closed." 

The chainlet's other NYC outposts remain open.