Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

In 1931, Rockefeller Center construction workers put up a 20 foot balsam fir tree, decorated it with cranberries, tin cans, and garlands of paper, and sang Christmas carols around it in their husky construction worker voices.  Two Christmases later, the tree was erected again and has became a beloved New York tradition repeated every year since. 

The trees have grown in size considerably since 1931.  Today, they range from 65-100 feet in height and are usually Norwegian Spruce.   Choosing the tree is a full-time, year -round job for the head gardener/manager of the gardens division at Rockefeller Center.  The job is currently held by Erik Pauze.  He has held the role since his predecessor, David Murbach, passed away in 2010.  The job involves scouting trees all over the United States. Sometimes Pauze will get a tip about a tree from a family who is contemplating cutting down their spruce because it is taking up too much space in their yard or they are afraid it will fall on their house. Pauze will come out and evaluate the tree to see if it meets Rockefeller’s “casting notice.”   They seek a tree with personality, height, density, and width.  If the tips don’t lead Pauze to the perfect tree, he will rent out a helicopter to scout trees. While Pauze knows he is seeking a tree that is at least 70 feet in height and at least 9 tons in weight, picking the right tree ultimately comes down to gut instinct.  When he sees the perfect tree, he just knows it.

This year's tree in its original home

This year, Pauze found the crown jewel of Rockefeller’s Christmas display in Shelton, Connecticut.  It stands at 76 feet tall, weighs 12 tons, and is roughly 75 years old.  It belonged to Louise and John Vargoshe, who say watching the tree be chopped down was bittersweet.  Like most people, seeing their beloved spruce tree that has watched over their home for years be cut down was a sad experience, but also a moment filled with pride.  Sharing your tree with the world is always a special experience.  .  The trees 30,000 LED lights will be lit in grand fashion on December 4^th, between 7 and 9 p.m.  Headliners in the celebration will be Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blidge, and the Goo Goo Dolls. 

On January 7^th, the tree will be taken down and donated to a charitable organization.  In the past it has been donated to habitat for humanities where it was milled into lumber and used to help build a house for a needy family. 

You can see this year’s tree by visiting Rockefeller Center.  It is located on Rockefeller Plaza between 50^th and 49^th Streets.  For more information, please visit the officialy Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting website here.  http://www.rockefellercenter.com/events/2013/11/01/2013-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/

Fun fact.  In 2007, I actually skated in the Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Here I am with my fellow skating friend Phil Chang "backstage."

UNICEF Snowflake

Visitors come from all over the globe to gawk at the fabulous Fifth Avenue holiday window displays.  Each store tries to outdo the next by dripping their facades with holiday lights, laser shows, extravagantly dressed mannequins, and art installations.  Above it all hangs a giant 23 foot tall snowflake known at the UNICEF Snowflake.

The lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake heralds in the holiday season for most.  It hangs above the intersection of 57^th and Fifth, illuminating the night sky with lights and baccarat crystal.  The snowflake was donated to UNICEF.  The original snowflake was owned by the Stonbely family and first shown above the city in 1984.  It was donated to UNICEF in 2002.  In 2005, a new snowflake designed by Ingo Maurer, comprised of 16,000 crystal prisms making it the largest outdoor chandelier in the world, was donated to UNICEF.  Since the new snowflake was donated, UNICEF has hosted a Snowflake Ball celebrating the lighting of the snowflake.  This ball has raised over $18,000 for UNICEF over the past eight years.  This years Snowflake Ball will take place on December 3 at Cirpriani on Wall Street.  Tickets start at $2,500.  Special guests this year will include Danny Glover and Katy Perry. 

You can be a part of the Snowflake even if you don’t have a ticket to the ball.  UNICEF sells off individual crystals of the Snowflake for a gift of $500 or more.  This will get your one crystal on the snowflake with a name of your choice engraved on it as well as a replica crystal that will be sent to your home or the home of your snowflake honoree. 

UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund.  It’s goal is to work towards a world where zero children die of preventable causes and assure every child has a safe and healthy childhood.  The Snowflake is meant to shine above New York City as a beacon of hope towards achieving this goal.  http://www.unicefusa.org

MACY'S Balloons

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the most beloved of all New York’s holiday events.  If there excitement is more than you can bear, worry not!  The great news is you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to get a sneak peak at the parade balloons!  You can see them being inflated on Thanksgiving Eve.

On Wednesday November 27, 3-10 p.m. on Columbus Avenue and 79^th Street, “Balloon Inflation” will take place.  Thousands of New Yorkers will crowd around Columbus Avenue watching their favorite animated characters come to helium-inflated life.  There will be age old favorites like Spider-Man and Buzz Lightyear, in addition to four brand new additions for 2013: Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon,”  Finn and Jake from “Adventure Time,” “SpongeBob SquarePants, and a brand-new edition my personal favorite parade balloon – Snoopy. 

As you watch these giant balloons inflate, you can reflect on how much the balloons have evolved over the years.  The very first balloon to ever march in the parade was Felix the Cat.  Felix made his debut in 1927 (three years after the parade began) and popped the following year.  In 1958, there was a helium shortage, and the balloons had to be brought down the parade route using cranes.  You might wonder how a helium shortage could have such a large effect on the parade.  Fun fact: Marcy’s is the second-largest consumer of helium world, led only by the United States Government. 

The balloons also take a lot of prep work.  Designers begin working on new balloons about a year in advance, studying the designs aerodynamics, flight patterns, and inflation and deflation.  After the balloons are built, over 1,500 volunteers (all Macy’s employees and select family and friends) take over the handling of the creations.  Those who volunteer to handle the balloons undergo extensive training in the classroom and on the job.  They even carried out a balloon test run this year at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  Handling a large heavy helium balloon, and working in tandem with a team of co-handlers is a lot of work and responsibility.  Out of control balloons can hurt people and be destructive to property.  The pull of a balloon lift can be the equivalent of 300-500 pounds.  Maintaining control of these helium giants over two and half miles can be grueling, so the volunteers must be over 18 years of age and in good physical condition.  You can also expect to see zero “selfie photographs” from these balloon handlers as cellphones are not allowed.  Both hands must remain on the rope.

This year’s parade will feature 16 balloons in all, the tallest of which will be the height of a 5 story building.  Most will have 90 handlers, the exception being Pikachu, which will have 106.  Watching the balloons come to life on Thanksgiving Eve is truly a unique New York event.  It’s a great way to get a head start on the holiday season and share Thanksgiving with other New Yorkers and tourists before you bunker down for a day filled with cooking and family. 

You can learn more about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and balloon inflation at their official website.