By Aaron Ginsburg, Mon, November 28, 2022 Photo of the 2021 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer
New York City’s annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been a favorite holiday tradition for New Yorkers and visitors alike since its inception in the early 1930s. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the festive tradition that draws hundreds of thousands of people daily to the area around Fifth Avenue. From the tree’s humble beginnings as a place to gather during the Great Depression to its 50,000 sparkling lights and 900-pound Swarovski crystal-covered star topper, here are 10 things you might not know about the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
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By Devin Gannon, Wed, November 23, 2022 Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash
Some streets in Midtown Manhattan will be closed to cars during the holiday season to provide New Yorkers and visitors a safe way to enjoy the festivities, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday. Under the plan, the city will open 11 blocks to pedestrians, including a strip of Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street, the first time in 50 years the iconic thoroughfare will close to traffic. Starting next week, certain streets around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall will only be open to pedestrians during the busiest hours.
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By Aaron Ginsburg, Mon, November 21, 2022 The decorated holiday window at Saks Fifth Avenue in 2016; Photo by Phil Roeder on Flickr
Fifth Avenue will be closed to cars in celebration of the holiday season next month. As first reported by Time Out, the “Fifth Avenue for All” initiative will take place on three Sundays next month, December 4, 11, and 18, from noon to 6 p.m., allowing pedestrians to safely stroll along Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street.
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By Aaron Ginsburg, Mon, November 14, 2022 All photos courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in Midtown, marking the start of the holiday season in New York City. Donated by a family in Glens Falls, New York, the 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce tree is 50 feet wide and weighs around 14 tons. After its arrival at Rockefeller Center this weekend, the hefty tree was hoisted into position by a crane and set in place, where it will stand throughout the holiday season. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
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By Devin Gannon, Tue, November 1, 2022 Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer
The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has officially been announced, marking the start of New York City’s holiday season. The 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce hails from Queensbury, an upstate New York town near Lake George. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree will arrive in Manhattan on Saturday, November 12, and then will be decorated with thousands of lights. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
It’s that time of year again
By Aaron Ginsburg, Wed, October 26, 2022 Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer
Rockefeller Center is hosting its second annual Mexico Week, a celebration of Mexican heritage and Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Over the course of the weeklong event, New Yorkers can experience Mexican art, food, music, and culture across the campus. Mexico Week kicks off this Thursday and runs through November 2.
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By Devin Gannon, Wed, August 24, 2022 McNally Jackson’s South Street Seaport location; Photo by Yvonne Brooks
Bookworms will soon have a new reason to visit Rockefeller Center. This December, beloved independent bookstore McNally Jackson will open a new flagship location at the iconic commercial complex in Midtown, Tishman Speyer announced this month. The new bookstore will measure 7,000 square feet and include McNally Jackson’s stationary store, Goods For The Study.
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By Michelle Cohen, Mon, June 20, 2022 Radio Park above Radio City Music Hall. Photo credit: Rockefeller Center
With the start of summer comes summer dining, and this July will mark the debut of an event that combines the excitement of Rockefeller Center with the experience of dining in a garden oasis high above New York City. Radio Park, the 24,000-square-foot landscaped rooftop that opened last year above Radio City Music Hall, will host “Dine at Radio Park,” a new weekend dining series led by two celebrated local chefs.
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By Aaron Ginsburg, Fri, April 15, 2022 Credit: © Albert Vecerka/Esto
Rockefeller Center’s ice rink has been transformed just in time for the warm weather. Starting Friday, The Rink at Rockefeller Center will instead be Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace, a retro-themed outdoor roller skating rink that will include a food program, viewing deck, and a retail store. Opened by Liberty Ross, the rink will include weekly and seasonal programming, DJ sets, and live music.
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By Devin Gannon, Fri, February 25, 2022 Interior photos courtesy of Nicole Franzen, unless otherwise noted
A 19th-century townhouse once home to a beloved Irish saloon that refused to move during the construction of Rockefeller Center is getting a new life as a glamorous multi-level bar. Set to open on February 28, Pebble Bar will stretch across three floors at 67 West 49th Street, where the pub named Hurley’s served New Yorkers for over 100 years. Designed by Gachot Studios, Pebble Bar features a bar overlooking Sixth Avenue, a moody 35-seat dining room with a marble-lined oyster bar, and fourth-floor flexible event space and “secret” entrance.
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