Now Accepting Nominations For Middletown's 2024 Christmas Tree

If you're anything like me, maybe you've wondered what it might be like to have your own tree displayed in Rockefeller Center as part of the holiday festivities. Growing up in Fishkill, my parents had these two massive trees in the backyard near our pool, and we always joked that one day the team would come to take them down, transport them with all the pomp and circumstance into the city, and we'd be there to watch, front row, the iconic tree lighting to signify the start of the holiday season.

V.Turco - could be right out of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, right?

Sadly, this past summer, the remaining tree, featured above under the rainbow had to be removed because it was no longer thriving, and our dreams of one of our backyard trees being displayed in NYC were cut down with it.

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City of Middletown Seeking 2024 Christmas Tree

Although my dreams of having our backyard tree at Rockefeller Center are now gone, perhaps you've got the perfect tree for the City of Middletown for 2024? It's a start!

City of Middletown BID

The City of Middletown is now accepting submissions for a 40 foot or taller tree located near the city itself, and the tree must be accessible for equipment and trucks to get to it. If you know of the perfect match, you can contact the Middletown BID Office at (845) 343-8075, or BID@Middletown-ny.com.

Middletown Tree Lighting & Holiday Festivities

If selected, your tree would be on display in time for the Middletown Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony & Parade on Friday, November 29th, their 27th annual lighting.

City of Middletown BID

Along with the tree lighting itself, there will be a free showing of 'It's a Wonderful Life' at the Paramount at 2pm, entertainment at John F. Degnan Square beginning at 6pm, and the parade stepping off at 6:30pm. Following the parade and tree lighting, the Recreation & Parks Department will be hosting a free skate session at Erie Way Park.

You can learn more about the Middletown Business Information District, festivities, and more via their website, here.

Spirit Halloween Relaunches Spirit Christmas with 3 New York Locations

Spirit Christmas is a seasonal retail store operated by Spencer Spirit Holdings. A sister brand to Spirit Halloween, the store offers various decorations and costumes for the Christmas season, along with visits from Santa Claus. If you're expecting it to be a spooky kind of Christmas store, don't. It will be a tried and true Christmas store.

At some point, the 1990’s incarnation of the store was discontinued. Spencer Gifts tested the concept themselves after acquiring the Spirit Halloween brand in 1999, operating their own Spirit Christmas stores in 2005 and 2006. In 2024, the store was revived once more, with 10 locations set to open. Below, you can find the full list of locations

Gallery Credit: Conor M Walsh

LOOK! Abandoned Orange County Chopper HQs in Newburgh-TLC's 'American Chopper'

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

In 2003, a father-son business reality show hit the Discovery Channel. It was called American Chopper and it followed the custom motorcycle-building business of the Teutul family out of Newburgh, NY. Paul Sr. owned the shop with sons Paul Jr. and Mikey working in the business. There was a slew of cast and characters. The center of the show wasn't just the amazing custom motorcycles built for celebrities and others, it was the volatile relationship between Sr. and Jr. The show ran for 12 seasons before the two could no longer get along. It ended up in lawsuits and the two not talking for ten-plus years. In the past few years, the business moved to Florida. This left the 61,000-square-foot headquarters for sale and abandoned. Take a look at what remained of Orange County Choppers.