Saturday's opening shot

Thanks to Cecil Scheib for this snowy view today of Tompkins Square Park. 

And that's pretty much it for the snowfall this morning. Sun is out by noon 9 a.m., per the weather app.

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

After yesterday's tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park, attendees were treated to a special guest appearance by Opie, aka Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop... 

Merry Christmas!

At the 33rd annual Tompkins Square Park Holiday tree lighting

Photos and text by Stacie Joy 

Neighborhood residents came together late yesterday afternoon for the 33rd edition of the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park... the ceremony brought the community together in a warm celebration of the season.

Sponsor C&B Cafe provided its famed chocolate chip cookies (with finishing salt), and Veselka brought hot chocolate and apple cider for all... and the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City provided the soundtrack.

Attendees included the original organizer, Albert Fabozzi...

... and in the crowd...

And the big moment...

... and later...

Postscript

Of course, it would only be an East Village tree lighting with some drama from the Parks Department. C&B owner Ali Sahin told me that up until yesterday, Parks officials said they wouldn't be able to get the tree lit in time and would need to postpone the event. 

However, Parks came through in the clutch and got the tree lights up. Still, the light pole they connected the tree to wasn't working, so they had to rewire it at the last minute.

C&B also paid for the lights, which are $30 per string. This tree has 19 strings. (The tree is adorned with all-white lights this year...  creating a vivid and striking display at night.)

Meanwhile, as people left the holiday ceremony, the NYPD was on the scene to hand out tickets for open containers. 

Merry Christmas!

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

The grand finale at today's ceremony for the 33rd edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting... we have a lot more photos to post later...

Reminders: The 33rd annual tree lighting is TODAY in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

This afternoon marks the 33rd edition of the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park from 4-5.

And the weather looks quite pleasant for the event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, which features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments via Veselka. 

Yesterday, workers were spotted with the lighting in the tree. Hopefully, all the lights will work this year. (And here.)

Tompkins Square Park loses an elm tree

A Parks Department crew was seen this morning tending to an elm tree inside the entrance of Tompkins Square Park at Seventh Street and Avenue B. 

While it initially appeared they were pruning branches, it became clear the workers were tasked with removing the entire tree.

Thanks to EVG reader Natalie for these photos...

When is the annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park?

Now that Thanksgiving 2024 is in the books... the 33rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park is set for this Sunday afternoon from 4-5.

The event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments via Veselka.

Saturday's parting shot

Thanks to Robert Miner for this variation of a favorite East Village view — the Empire State Building through the trees in Tompkins Square Park...

Thursday's opening shot

One of our favorite East Village views — the Empire State Building from Tompkins Square Park. 

This holiday season, we're grateful for our readers. Your support, curiosity and engagement inspire us every day. 

And now, we're announcing our new paywall. (KIDDING!)

Good knight

Photo by Derek Berg 

Along Avenue B at Tompkins Square Park...

Tompkins Square Park today between the rain showers

Early this afternoon, during a break from the showers. 

Per the National Weather Service: "Much-needed rain has arrived. An area of low pressure will remain near the region through Friday night, resulting in periods of rain. Some of the higher elevations west of NY, could see some of the rain mix with or change over to snow [ed note: !!!!]."

Sunday's opening shot

A morning view of Temperance Fountain in Tompkins Square Park. 

Read some history of the fountain, which dates to 1888, here.

Saturday's opening shot

Early morning walk through Tompkins Square Park on this 11/9/24...

Fall classic

Late afternoon in Tompkins Square Park...

Noted

Photos by Steven 

The chess tables inside the Seventh and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park remain behind barricades since the fatal double shooting on July 12. 

And we couldn't help but notice a new barricade on the scene...

And likely not where Gov. Hochul is planning the new pool project for Tompkins.

Feeling fenced in at the 9th and B entrance to Tompkins Square Park

Photo by Stacie Joy 

H/T Steven 

Questions abound over the new temp fencing that arrived yesterday at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park on Avenue B and Ninth Street. 

We are waiting for the official word, but the unofficial word is that in the days ahead, the Parks Department will be paving the walkway from Avenue B to the under-construction field house. 

We are about 17 months into the renovations. The Parks website says work is 90% complete.

Noted

Photo by Jackflashnyc 

Seeing this warning sign in Tompkins Square Park — "Lisa Cheats at Cornhole" — reminds us just how safe this neighborhood used to be, when things like this (and pickleball players taking more than 10 seconds to serve) didn't happen.😔

Endless summer in Tompkins Square Park on the brink of fall

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy 

It's skating as usual on the recenly painted multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park ... now with a discarded couch...

As the Times noted: "It's still summer today, but fall arrives tomorrow. Take a minute to pause on the threshold."

Reader report: Trash bags are starting to pile up in Tompkins Square Park

Updated 5 p.m.: Someone removed the bags... 

EVG regular Salim notes that bags of trash have accumulated at several locations in Tompkins Square Park since Sunday. 

He reported the garbage to the city via 311 on Monday and again today. 

Meanwhile, the piles are growing...