Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

This evening in Tompkins Square Park ... where another strand of lights on the tree seemed to have gone out (since Dec. 26) ...

Now that it's Dec. 26...

Photo by Steven 

The city can cut back on the electric bill by only lighting two-thirds or so of the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park...

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

After some mixed messages about whether today's tree lighting would actually take place in Tompkins Square Park with the rainy forecast... the show did go on, though in a stripped-down version ... still with some caroling and hot chocolate via Veselka.

The annual tree lighting IS STILL ON in Tompkins Square Park

Top photo via EVG reader Eddie; photo below by Steven

Updated 12/10: There have been some mixed messages related to updates on today's tree lighting. Some of the organizers told us the event was canceled given the rain and wind, which surprised some of the other people involved. Albert Fabozzi, the founder of the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree-lighting ceremony, told EVG's Stacie Joy that there will be a small event  ... no musicians or microphones, but a small chorale group will perform. 

Reminder: the 32nd edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting will take place tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 10) from 4 to 5 p.m.

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

You can revisit photos from last year's tree lighting here.

Scrooged

Photos by Steven 

During this past weekend, someone destroyed the plaque about the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree on the fence around the main lawn...

This tree dedication and memorial plaque was new as of the past Christmas season. In early 2020, someone stole the previous version that had been in place for almost 20 years. 

Here's a December 2022 photo of the plaque (via Stacie Joy)...

Albert Fabozzi first planted the Christmas tree in 1992 to honor and memorialize his partner, Glenn Barnett, as well as others who died of AIDS.

Monday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Tompkins Square Park views tonight (March 6!)...

Seeing the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree in a whole new light

The Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is officially lit for the season. Again!

After last Sunday's festive ceremony, the tree was dark on Monday night, and it stayed that way until last night. 

Leadership at the Parks Department told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that there were "ongoing circuit issues" that required several requests for repairs. 

So all good for now. "We are pleased the lights are on," per the official.

Noted

On Monday night, an EVG reader told us that the lights were off on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree — 24 hours after the official and festive lighting ceremony. 

They remain off this evening for unknown reasons...

At the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is officially lit for the season... the grand finale of the annual lighting ceremony late yesterday afternoon. 

Albert Fabozzi (below) planted the much-loved Christmas tree in Tompkins Square Park in 1992 to honor and memorialize his partner, Glenn Barnett, and others who died of AIDS. The tree was 8 feet tall when he planted it. Today, the tree is well over 50 feet.

There's now a new sign noting the tree's significance for the community. (Someone stole the previous plaque.)

Despite the cold, windswept weather, a festive neighborhood crowd turned out for the event that included the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments courtesy of Veselka and C&B Cafe.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos of some of the attendees ...

Sunday's parting shots

The grand finale later this rainy afternoon at the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park... and a little later...

Thanks to Steven for the photos... we'll have more from EVG contribuor Stacie Joy in an upcoming post...

One shining moment (hopefully)

Photos by Steven

We've noted that the lights need to be fixed on the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park. 

But! 

Full illumination is on the way ahead of Sunday's lighting ceremony. Parks employees were on hand this morning working on the lights...

And as a reminder, the holiday tree lighting is this Sunday (Dec. 11) from 4-5 p.m. The 31st edition features familiar names: the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... with refreshments via Veselka and C&B.

As you may recall, the Parks Department forgot to wire the tree last year.

Sunday's parting shot

The annual Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting is NEXT Sunday, Dec. 11, from 4-5 p.m. (Details here.) 

This is a photo of how the tree looks tonight (Dec. 4)... hopefully the Parks Department will have the wiring/lighting figured out by then...

The tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park takes place on Dec. 11

In case you are calendaring your upcoming holiday events... the holiday tree lighting is on tap for Tompkins Square Park on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 4-5 p.m. 

The 31st edition features familiar names: the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... with refreshments via Veselka and C&B. 

You can revisit photos from last year's event right here.

Friday's parting shot

Happy April 1 from Tompkins Square Park...

Sunday's parting shot

We've lost the lights on the bottom half of the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree ... kinda back where we started last month. 

Photo by Steven...

Sunday's parting shot

Thanks to Goggla for this pic tonight from Tompkins Square Park...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (finally) in Tompkins Square Park

After a few attempts... the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is now LIT! ALL OF IT. Not just the top part.

Still, we had a nice time at the tree (half) lighting this past Sunday. xo

Photo by Steven

The holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park is now completely dark

Workers were seen yesterday in Tompkins Square Park working on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree. (Top photo by Steven!) 

As noted on Sunday, the Parks Department allegedly forgot to wire the tree before the tree lighting ceremony... and so organizers had to scramble to hire an electrician at the last minute. That work helped light two-thirds of the tree.

Now, the tree is completely dark... Merry Christmas from NYC!

At the annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

The annual (no. 30!) holiday tree lighting took place late yesterday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park. 

Albert Fabozzi, the founder of the lighting ceremony, was on hand for the ceremonies...

Entertainment included the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... (with refreshments via Veselka and C&B)...

There was a nice turnout. EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos of some of the attendees...

And as noted last night, the Parks Department apparently forgot to wire the tree... and so organizers had to scramble to hire an electrician at the last minute. In the rush, the bottom portion of the tree was not lit, so to speak... but a good time was had by all [of the people we talked with]...