Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
A great event, but one event you might seriously consider watching at home
with a cup of hot cocoa
Tuesday November 28 2006 at about
8:50P
Rockefeller Center Channel Gardens
5th Avenue btw 49th & 50th Streets | Manhattan
to 50th Street
to 47th-50th Streets
to 5th Avenue
to 49th Street
Broadcast WNBC Ch 4 7:00P to 9:00P
The tree is alight daily from 7:00A to 12:00M
thru Jan 6th
Hosts Al Roker and Megan Mullally
welcome an all-star lineup to this year's tree-lighting ceremony.
The highlight of the show to us is always the fab Radio City
Rockettes and this year the show includes appearances and
performances by Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood,
Brian Wilson, Earth Wind and Fire, the Goo Goo Dolls, Il Divo,
the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Regis Philbin
Get there early! The tree
isn't lighted until just before 9:00P but people start arriving
very early, around 3:00P. There is actually very limited space in
the area with a view of the tree: directly in front along 5th
Avenue and wedges of space along 49th & 50th Streets.
Everybody wants to be there so it is very crowded, streets are
closed and traffic is heavy. Best bet to get there is by subway,
especially the B, D, F or Q which stop right underneath Rock
Center
2005 Tree Info
At first look, we thought this
year's tree was a bit smaller than usual. Turn's out, that at 74
feet it's slightly taller than last year's 71-footer, but still
a few hands shy of 2003's 79-foot beauty. The Norway Spruce still
weighs in at 9 tons and its branches reach 42 feet wide, a bit
fuller than last year's
 David Murbach, responsible for the Rockefeller Center
gardens, found the tree during one of his jaunts around
the region. It was cut freed from its Wayne, New Jersey home Wednesday November 9th, trucked to its holiday home above Rockefeller Center's
ice rink, and enveloped by 8 stories of wood scaffolding so
workers can string the 30,000 lights
This year the tree is topped by
the Swarovski Star. At 9 1/2 feet in diameter, this ultimate
tree topper consists of 25,000 crystals with a total of 1
million gleaming facets
Viewing the Tree
The day after Thanksgiving starts
the beginning of the busiest season in Midtown Manhattan. For the
weeks leading up to Christmas streets are thronged with shoppers.
Buses from Massachusetts, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio and the
Carolinas idle on the side streets waiting for their returning
day-trippers. Midtown workers sneak out a few minutes early to get
in a bit of shopping before heading out to Brooklyn and Queens.
It's a madhouse. And it's the worst on the evening of the tree
lighting. The only way to get a good spot to watch the lights fill
the night is to arrive before 4:00P -- that's more than a 5-hour
wait. Crowded. No restrooms. A chill in the air. Only a very few
vantage points to actually see the tree. The best bet is to catch
the initial lighting on the tube. Make some hot cocoa or eggnog,
open a jug of cider, sit back and watch in comfort
We like to visit the tree in the
late afternoon, just as the sun goes down. It's stunning. Make a
point to stop by when doing that last minute shopping or taking in
the Christmas windows display in Saks
5th Avenue or enjoying the Radio City
Christmas Spectacular |
