A walk among the trees on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Tree Riders have the most picturesque seasonal workspace in the neighborhood ... on Second Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street outside the historic St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery.

The vendors recently started their 12th year here... EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently walked through the 24/7 tree stand for a little holiday spirit ...

The list of other local tree sellers includes vendors on Astor Place (at Lafayette), Essex and Houston, and 14th Street at First Avenue.

Enjoy the Tree Ride!

The Tree Riders are now offically open for their 12th season on Second Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street outside St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery. (Thanks to William Klayer for the photo!) 

Revisit our feature on them here.

[UPDATED, whoa] It's beginning to look a lot like ...

Lime Tree Market on the SE corner of Ninth Street and First Avenue is now on the clock for some of the neighborhood's first Christmas trees.

Updated 5 p.m. 

The trees have arrived! Awww...

Aww, WTF!? $99.99??

Thanks to Steven for the photos

Why is the SE corner of 2nd Avenue and 5th Street a dumping ground for artificial Christmas trees?

Photo by Derek Berg 

An important question! And one that we don't have the answer to at the moment. 

For starters, this pile, now slightly less organized, appears to be the same batch of artificial Christmas trees that Carol from East 5th Street spotted back on Friday. 

This is on the curb (bike lane) outside the new location of Nai Tapas Bar at 84 Second Ave. and Sushi by M at 500 E. Fifth St. 

Why did someone have 10 or so fake trees in their possession? Why not simply put them in storage until it's time to decorate for Christmas this coming July 4 weekend?

[Updated] June 5

Good Sunday morning from 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...getting the house cleaning done early so you can enjoy this fine-looking day. 

Thanks to Jaderade for the photo!

Updated 6/6 

 

The photo made the morning news today on NY1 with comments by Pat Kiernan ... (thanks Corinne for the pic!)...

Sunday's opening shots

Good morning from East Houston (above) and Fourth Street (courtesy of Derek Berg) ...

March 1

The first day of spring is coming up on March 20!

Photo today on Second Avenue and 12th Street by Lola Sáenz...

Thursday's parting shot

Last Christmas, I gave you my beer 

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears 

I'll give it to someone special 

As seen today in Tompkins Square Park... thanks to Eden for the pic!

Monday's parting shots

MulchFest rehearsal starts earlier every year... photos in Tompkins Square today by Derek Berg...

Hot chip: Scenes from MulchFest Day 1

Day 1 of Chipping Weekend, the grand finale of the MulchFest season, is in the books here in Tompkins Square Park. 

Steven braved the low double-digit wind chill for these shots...

Back at it tomorrow (Sunday) for Day 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

So if you have a Christmas tree to dispose of, you still have time to take it to the park. Better, save it for discarding until, say, August, so we will have a Christmas in August post to look forward to... 

#Mulchfest

MulchFest '22: Everything you need to know about Chipping Weekend, happening THIS weekend

Photo earlier this week by Steven 

When: The two-day chipping event, the grand finale of the MulchFest season, takes place today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Where: Tompkins Square Park 

Where Exactly: Follow the sound of the wood chipper to the middle of the park. 

What Else?: Tompkins is also a chipping site, which means residents can take home a nourishing bag of fresh mulch to put down on gardens and tree beds and to spice up boring omelets. 

Why Should I Care?: It's eco-friendly and more than 29,000 trees were treecycled last year. Per the Parks Department website: "Help us top this number!" 

How Is It Possible That the Parks Department Can Get Such a Precise Number (29,000) Over Dozens of Chipping Sites in the Five Boroughs and We Can't Get Toilet Paper in the Restrooms in Tompkins?: Yes. 

What If I'm a Social Media Influencer?: Use #Mulchfest to share your mulching memories with friends, family and clingy exes.

Saturday's parting shot

A moment of levity today at the MulchFest site in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Derek Berg... 

And MulchFest is Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Early arrivals

It's Dec. 26, and time to get on with Easter preparations.

Here's the first post-Christmas Day drop-off at the MulchFest drop-off location on Avenue A at Ninth Street, as EVG Drop-off correspondent Steven notes this morning.

As a reminder: The two-day MulchFest extravaganza in Tompkins Square Park is set for Jan. 8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

First! (aka Saturday's opening shot)

We have an early participant here on Avenue A at Ninth Street for MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park ... the two-day event is set for Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

And not to be scoldylocks, but you're supposed to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands before dropping off your tree.

2022 Mulchfest signs arrive before some people have even bought trees

It's never too early to think about tossing your Christmas tree — possibly even before you buy (or find) one. 

Signage is up now outside Tompkins Square Park for the two-day event set for Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always, Tompkins is also a chipping site, which means residents can take home a bag of fresh mulch for gardens, tree beds and stir fries.

Before dropping off your tree, please remember to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands. Perhaps to save time, don't bother putting anything on the tree this year.

Saturday's opening shot

Hey, there's an inflatable Santa after all this year here on the glorious NW corner of 14th Street and First Avenue (outside the now-closed Papaya Dog) ...

P.S. Bonus (accidental) photo from the very moment a FedEx truck passed by the corner...

Tree Riders returning for 11th season outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery

Photo from 2020 by Stacie Joy 

On Friday, the Tree Riders will return for their 11th season selling Christmas trees outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery here on Second Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

EVG reader Doug noted that the stands are in place as if yesterday ...

Once again, they are offering delivery, setup and removal — via bicycle.

Here's more info via the EVG inbox...

All of the Tree Riders NYC employees are artists and performers, which inspires their goal to aid in the restoration of NYC's post-pandemic theatrical community. This season, Tree Riders NYC will partner with several nonprofit performing arts organizations, encouraging the arts as a way to heal, build community and create meaningful change in the world. Customers can donate directly to the nonprofits or in person at the tree stand.

Fraser, Balsam and Canaan firs range from 2 to 22 feet in height and are harvested from small farms in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont. Hand-crafted wreaths, garland, mistletoe, Christmas tree stands and lights are also available ...

This year, their nonprofit partners are Hear Your Song ... What Will the Neighbors Say? ... and New York Theatre Barn.  

For more information, visit www.treeridersnyc.com or call 646-470-6326. You can also follow them on Instagram. 

Other neighborhood tree stands can usually be found along Houston at Essex/Norfolk (aka Greg's) and First Avenue at 14th Street ... as well as various corner markets and Key Food. Given the reported shortage of trees last year (expected again for 2021), most tree vendors were sold out by Dec. 20. One more reason to keep the tree until May or so. 

Tuesday's parting shot

Today, the Christmas tree vendors began setting up on the NW corner of 14th Street and First Avenue (outside the now-closed Papaya Dog). And where there be an inflatable here this year?

We'll have more about tree vending this season in a post tomorrow. 

Thanks to KT for this pic!

March 26

Given yesterday's record-breaking temperatures for the date... perhaps someone thought it was time to discard their Christmas tree a mere three months from the big day. 

EVG reader 8E shared the above pic from last night on Astor Place and Broadway. 

In this era of disinformation, deep fakes and alternate trees, 8E did attempt to verify the date of the find, though could only secure a paper from March 25.

Blue Christmas

EVG reader SB spotted this discarded Christmas tree today on Third Street... colorful enough to make for a nice Easter decoration if you can hold on to it until early April...