Tag: christmas tree

T.G.I.F.

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A humble Christmas tree in a New South Wales town has gone viral for being lauded as the worst display of festive spirit ever.

The dishevelled tree – which looks like it arrived home after a 24-hour bender, slapped on some makeup and covered itself in tinsel – was erected in the main square of Port Macquarie to cries of dismay and horror.

Port Macquarie’s council initially took it all in their stride, with mayor Peta Pinson declaring “any publicity is good publicity”. But that was before the lights had to be removed when they were deemed a safety risk due to slowly slipping from the tree.

“I have a great sense of humour, just like our wonderful community has,” Pinson said. “All you can do is laugh.”

The council has now reportedly replaced the tree with a more traditional option – a smaller, artificial tree that was decorated by council staff…

—  Caitlin Cassidy, from “Tinsel travesties: the worst Christmas tree displays across Australia.” A safety risk in Port Macquarie, an inappropriately spiky star and a literal coat rack are among the nation’s least-accomplished examples of festive spirit. (The Guardian, December 7, 2022)

Walking Cross Town. With No Next.

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It’s Wednesday.  I take a late morning train to attend a late morning meeting. There are no meetings that follow. There is no Next, and Next and Next.

I sit in the train. The train clears. I’m immersed in the final chapter of the last book in Rachel Cusk‘s trilogy. I take the time to finish up, I grab my bag, and exit the train. There’s no rushing to the exits, the platform is empty. I walk alone in Kaminsky’s quiet: “What is silence? Something of the sky in us.”

Security at Grand Central is tight. Each entrance is heavily armed. Yet, I don’t flinch – the gunmetal black, semi-automatic weapon looks like a prop in a scene in Toy Story – I’m among the extras, commuters rushing to their Next, and tourists snapping photos.

Broadway teems with tourists mingling on sidewalks, trying to decide What’s Next. I smile, step around them, not interrupting their chat as they stand three abreast. Tis’ the season.

Full body sized neon letters hum and flash overhead: Mueller probe. Cohen. Trump. Russia. This nasty, viscous, mucus is non-stick, and glances off. You won’t touch me, not today. 

My meeting ends. A luncheon thanking colleagues for exceptional work on a project with a highly successful outcome.  I learn at lunch that today is the 86th Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Aha! This accounts for the heavy security and unusually large crowds. Continue reading “Walking Cross Town. With No Next.” →

The Not New Yorker (Christmas 2017)

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Source: “The Not Yorker” is a collection of declined or late cover submissions to The New Yorker, curated by illustrators who love and admire traditional cover illustration. This site is for celebrating cover art, and great ideas that didn’t make it.  Illustrators are encouraged to submit their rejected covers , so that they might have the opportunity to be rejected by this group as well. The site is not officially affiliated with The New Yorker

This declined cover is was created by John Tomac and titled “Christmas 2017”.

 

T.G.I.F.: It’s been a long week (Out with the X-Mas tree)

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Berlin,christmas tree, zoo

Elephants feast on discarded Christmas trees at Berlin’s zoo.

Recycling. Au Naturel. Who knew?

(Source: wsj.com by Sean Gallup, Getty Images)

NYC: Ho! Ho! Ho!

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christmas-tree-manhattan

Christmas tree prices in New York City have reached a staggering high of $1,000, amid hiked up tree prices this year due to drought-caused tree shortages. Heather Neville, who sells Christmas trees in New York’s Greenwich Village, told the New York Post on Sunday that her tallest tree costs about $77 per foot. Neville said the particular tree is priced so high because they are “harder to get.” “This 13-foot-tree—a beautiful fir—is $750, and with delivery, installation with a stand and tip would be $1,000,” she said. She said tree prices could top $1,000, pointing out a 15-foot one that could go for $1,200, including the delivery and set up.

~ Mahita Gajanan, You Can Buy a $1,000 Christmas Tree in New York City

Photo: CNBC – Manhattan Upper West Side