1st tree arrives in Tompkins Square Park mulch pens

As noted yesterday, MulchFest (sold out, but tix remain on StubHub) is Jan. 7-8.

Ahead of that, workers in Tompkins Square Park erected the holding area for anyone to toss their tree in... and as of this morning, we have our first tree-tossing taker, per this photo by EVG correspondent Steven...



As a reminder from mulch officials, remove all lights, ornaments, stands, plastic bags and gifts from the tree.

Updated 5:57 p.m.

A SECOND TREE HAS ARRIVED!


[Photo by Steven]

Because it's never too early to talk about MulchFest

[Photo on 2nd Avenue from yesterday]

Although your holiday/Christmas tree should remain fresh until it's time to take it to the curb next December, some people may want to discard of it sooner.

Soooo ... the annual MulchFest takes place on Jan. 7 and 8 (2017!) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park. Details are here.

And if you can't drag the thing to the Park? You can leave by the curb... but with some rules. Per the NY Department of Sanitation ...

Weather permitting, DSNY will collect and compost clean Christmas trees left at the curb from Tuesday, January 3, 2017 through Saturday, January 14, 2017. The trees are chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into rich compost for NYC's parks, institutions, and community gardens. Remove all lights, ornaments, stands, and plastic bags from your tree; trees that still have these items attached will be collected as garbage.

[Updated] The ides of Mulch are upon us

MulchFest 2016 is getting underway (or it's over, depending when you're reading this)... today and tomorrow (Sunday!) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park.

We stopped by early, around 8 this morning, to get a good seat.

Unfortunately, the seats were just arriving.


So me and my +1 went to another MulchFest, but they were "closed for a private event."

Updated 1/10

If you missed the mulching action... here's a clip via EVG regular Greg Masters...



Be sure to watch the awesome tree toss at the 29-second mark...

Reminders (1st of 17): MulchFest — or TreeCycle! — is this weekend in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo Monday by Bobby Williams]

MulchFest 2016, TWO action-packed holy days of obligation in the blogosphere, is happening tomorrow (Saturday!) and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park.

Per the Park Depo on what to do: Please remember to remove all lights, ornaments and netting before bringing the tree to the Park. Bags will be provided if you wish to take some free mulch home or, as we like to do, place between our cheek and gum like Skoal.

Also, this is important: Please remember to remove all children from the trees as well.

As you can see, several trees were discarded yesterday in Tompkins Square Park with the children intact, as these photos by EV MulchFest Associate Editor Steven show...





Oh, we're joking. The kids actually took cover here from some Post reporters.

Also, if you can't make MulchFest (lazy!), then the NYC Department of Sanitation is continuing special curbside collections for mulching and recycling of Christmas/holiday trees through next Friday.

And finally (finally), a reminder on East Fifth Street that may be a clever imitation of the East Fifth St. Tree Committee...



Previously on EV Grieve:
This year's TreeCycle event left mulch to be desired, at least before it started

Free the trees! Also, MulchFest is coming

Oh, just noting that the tree penitentiary/corral has arrived in the middle of Tompkins Square Park. Where you can deposit your tree ahead of MulchFest 2016, scheduled for TWO action-packed days: Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No word if anyone will be on guard duty here.

This year's TreeCycle event left mulch to be desired, at least before it started

Despite having VIP All-Access Backstage Passes, we thought we'd still sit with everyone else to watch MulchFest 2015 in Tompkins Square Park.

To avoid the lines, we arrived 90 minutes (or so) before the 10 a.m. start time.

And no one was there yet to watch, lining up early for the best angles. The only people on the scene were some bored-looking Parks employees sitting in their vehicles, refusing to sign autographs even to those holding VIP All-Access Backstage Passes.

The whole thing was pretty shoddy.

The MulchFest banners had already come undone before the mulching commenced.





Worse, there were already mounds of mulch lying around the Park...



When did this mulching happen?



It's like releasing the Super Bowl commercials on YouTube weeks before the actual Super Bowl.

Back in the VIP section, the in-MulchFest buffet almost made up for it.

Reminders: Pun-friendly MulchFest is this weekend

[2nd Avenue this morning via Vinny and O]

As if you need any reminders about the best event that takes place in NYC every January. (We hear that organizers are combining MulchFest with Restaurant Week and the No Pants Subway Ride next January. No Pants Mulch Week is the working title.)

MulchFest 2015 takes place tomorrow and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park. Just follow the soothing sounds of the wood chipper toward the middle of the Park...

When it comes time to toss the tree

Now that it is nearly Valentine's Day, people are making the difficult decision to discard their holiday/Christmas trees despite the fact that they're still green and will last through September.

So it might be tempting to discard the trees along a seemingly quiet stretch of a street…



…or help create a green space/sustainable community…



…or send it crosstown…



…or you could get a good cardio-strength training combo workout and drag the tree to the center of Tompkins Square Park ahead of MulchFest 2015 next weekend…



It will be mulch appreciated! (God, sorry for that.)

We used up the last of our mulch puns last year

Sure, you have about 18 to 24 weeks of life left in your Christmas/holiday tree, but if you just have to dump the damn thing so early, then head over to Tompkins Square Park … where there is a tree depository in the middle of the Park ahead of MulchFest.

MulchFest 2015 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And we'll be selling VIP wristbands for $500 that get you:
• Commemorative VIP party laminate
• MulchFest gift bag with exclusive merchandise
• Specially designed MulchFest tour apparel item
• Early entry into the venue before general doors
• Crowd free merchandise shopping
• Designated VIP check-in

MulchFest is underway!

Until 2 p.m. today… and back at it tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park. And if you don't have a tree, well, drag over that damn loveseat you never liked.

Earlier, we spotted the crew on Second Avenue… parked in front of Little Poland… perhaps a pre-mulch breakfast?



Hope that they got some stuffed cabbage!

Reminders: MulchFest is this weekend!

[Photo Wednesday by Bobby Williams]

Exciting times this weekend — it's the annual MulchFest tomorrow and Sunday ... our eighth or ninth favorite days of the year in Tompkins Square Park!

As a special treat this year, chef Wylie Dufresne will be on-hand to show you how to make instant pea parmesan noodles in saffron consomme with morel dust entirely from mulch.

Treecycle hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. So, as the parks website says, bring your holiday tree "to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city." If not you, then maybe give your neighbor's annoying teen a few bucks to drag it there for you.

Lone tiny tree marks beginning of MulchFest season

The annual MulchFest happens Jan. 11-12 in Tompkins Square Park.

And we have our first customer!

Can we at least enjoy the damn trees first before thinking about mulching them?

Finally just bought the damn tree and now you have to think about mulching it.

Signs are up around Tompkins Square Park for the annual MulchFest … happening Jan. 11-12.

Maybe just drag the fucker over to the Park Christmas morning. Why wait!

-----

Also!

The lonley-looking tree left by itself outside St. Mark's Market has apparently been sold!

Yesterday!



Today!



Finally, in other holiday miracles… the Second Avenue Snowman has found a second wind…

Bring your dead Christmas trees to Tompkins Square Park, or we're mulching the police car

It is Day 2 of the MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park ... until 2 p.m. today ... And we didn't see many many trees piled up left to mulch. So. There may not be much mulching.

Meanwhile, the gardeners have spread the mulch on parts of the Park...

..while others have spread their unwanted pizza...

The ides of mulch

And here's the scene after Day 1 of the MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park...

Will there be enough to mulch tomorrow, or will we have to dig into our tax records....?

Photos by Bobby Williams.

To get you into the spirit of MulchFest, and maybe possibly depress you!

Farewell Noel by AE Kessel from 2007... scenes from the East Village and the MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park ... h/t EVG reader l.e.s.ter

And remember, MulchFest is this weekend!