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| N.Y. Today: Selling Christmas Trees Beneath the Train Tracks | N.Y. Today: Selling Christmas Trees Beneath the Train Tracks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| [Want to get New York Today by email? Here's the sign-up.] | [Want to get New York Today by email? Here's the sign-up.] |
| It’s Friday. | It’s Friday. |
| Weather: The sun will come out –- on Monday. Till then, three warmish gray days of drizzle and showers. High of 51 today. | Weather: The sun will come out –- on Monday. Till then, three warmish gray days of drizzle and showers. High of 51 today. |
| Alternate-side parking: in effect until Christmas. | Alternate-side parking: in effect until Christmas. |
| Evergreen: Every year there is hullabaloo about the rarity of quality Christmas trees, and the inevitable rise in price — more green for that green, as it goes. | Evergreen: Every year there is hullabaloo about the rarity of quality Christmas trees, and the inevitable rise in price — more green for that green, as it goes. |
| Research: For some perspective, I headed underneath the train tracks on Park Avenue in East Harlem to talk to a third-generation tree seller, Dimitri Gatanas, at his family’s store, Urban Garden Center. | Research: For some perspective, I headed underneath the train tracks on Park Avenue in East Harlem to talk to a third-generation tree seller, Dimitri Gatanas, at his family’s store, Urban Garden Center. |
| Sales are solid this year, Mr. Gatanas said. He had sold 1,200 trees by the start of the week, and had just 250 left (though more were on the way, he promised). | Sales are solid this year, Mr. Gatanas said. He had sold 1,200 trees by the start of the week, and had just 250 left (though more were on the way, he promised). |
| Finding trees to sell is a bit of a scramble, though, and has been for years. | Finding trees to sell is a bit of a scramble, though, and has been for years. |
| History: The shortage has its roots in the 2008 economic crash. | History: The shortage has its roots in the 2008 economic crash. |
| Because so many people lost their jobs, Mr. Gatanas said, he figured he’d have fewer customers. He bought fewer trees, and tree sellers nationwide did likewise. Growers responded by planting fewer trees. | Because so many people lost their jobs, Mr. Gatanas said, he figured he’d have fewer customers. He bought fewer trees, and tree sellers nationwide did likewise. Growers responded by planting fewer trees. |
| Rinse and repeat a few times, and here we are. | Rinse and repeat a few times, and here we are. |
| “It wasn’t an environmental disaster,” he said. “It was man-made.” | “It wasn’t an environmental disaster,” he said. “It was man-made.” |
| Economics: Mr. Gatanas has been keeping prices steady, though. | Economics: Mr. Gatanas has been keeping prices steady, though. |
| As he has for years, he sells a three-foot “Charlie Brown” tree for $39.99. Complain about the price if you want, but at the Chelsea Garden Center in Williamsburg, a tabletop tree of that size is $50, an employee there said. | As he has for years, he sells a three-foot “Charlie Brown” tree for $39.99. Complain about the price if you want, but at the Chelsea Garden Center in Williamsburg, a tabletop tree of that size is $50, an employee there said. |
| Mr. Gatanas is also holding his own against the sidewalk tree sellers that pop up every December. | Mr. Gatanas is also holding his own against the sidewalk tree sellers that pop up every December. |
| “They’re either gouging you or undercutting you,” he complained. Such is the season. | “They’re either gouging you or undercutting you,” he complained. Such is the season. |
| Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey are trying to gerrymander Republicans into a sort of permanent minority status, a controversial maneuver that some national Democrats say is unfair, The Times’s Nick Corasaniti reports. | Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey are trying to gerrymander Republicans into a sort of permanent minority status, a controversial maneuver that some national Democrats say is unfair, The Times’s Nick Corasaniti reports. |
| Opponents of the plan include an attorney general under President Barack Obama, Eric H. Holder Jr., and New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat. | Opponents of the plan include an attorney general under President Barack Obama, Eric H. Holder Jr., and New Jersey’s governor, Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat. |
| One of the main criticisms of New Jersey’s plan centers on a mechanism that requires districts to be drawn based on the results of the statewide votes for president, senator and governor in the last decade. | One of the main criticisms of New Jersey’s plan centers on a mechanism that requires districts to be drawn based on the results of the statewide votes for president, senator and governor in the last decade. |
| The state has voted about 55 percent Democratic in those elections. | The state has voted about 55 percent Democratic in those elections. |
| Mr. Holder told The Times: | Mr. Holder told The Times: |
| “The American people want redistricting reforms that help level the playing field so that elections are decided on who has the best ideas, not which party was in charge of drawing the lines. As currently constructed, the proposal in New Jersey fails to live up to those standards.” | “The American people want redistricting reforms that help level the playing field so that elections are decided on who has the best ideas, not which party was in charge of drawing the lines. As currently constructed, the proposal in New Jersey fails to live up to those standards.” |
| My colleague Michael Gold reports: | My colleague Michael Gold reports: |
| Facebook, a company you may be familiar with, held a one-day pop-up in a kiosk at Bryant Park on Thursday to teach its users how to manage their privacy settings and control the site’s personalized advertising experience. | Facebook, a company you may be familiar with, held a one-day pop-up in a kiosk at Bryant Park on Thursday to teach its users how to manage their privacy settings and control the site’s personalized advertising experience. |
| Also, there was hot chocolate. With f-shaped marshmallows, of course. | Also, there was hot chocolate. With f-shaped marshmallows, of course. |
| The company has been facing scrutiny this year over how it handles user information, and both the cocoa and the privacy tutorials were intended as good-will gestures. | The company has been facing scrutiny this year over how it handles user information, and both the cocoa and the privacy tutorials were intended as good-will gestures. |
| The people who showed up mostly seemed to be enjoying themselves as they chatted with Facebook employees wielding iPads and swiping through the company’s privacy pages. | The people who showed up mostly seemed to be enjoying themselves as they chatted with Facebook employees wielding iPads and swiping through the company’s privacy pages. |
| “This is such a smart move,” a young woman said outside the kiosk. | “This is such a smart move,” a young woman said outside the kiosk. |
| “Yeah,” her friend agreed. “I think they really needed to do this.” | “Yeah,” her friend agreed. “I think they really needed to do this.” |
| Both women asked not to be identified. When asked why, they cited privacy concerns. | Both women asked not to be identified. When asked why, they cited privacy concerns. |
| Draped in smoke: Dramatic video from a fire that destroyed several businesses in Sunnyside. | Draped in smoke: Dramatic video from a fire that destroyed several businesses in Sunnyside. |
| The president’s funds: Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn are said to be investigating illegal donations to President Trump’s inaugural committee. | The president’s funds: Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn are said to be investigating illegal donations to President Trump’s inaugural committee. |
| Blame taxes or trains?: Maybe businesses leave New York because of the failing subways. | Blame taxes or trains?: Maybe businesses leave New York because of the failing subways. |
| Data dump: A look at the information New York gave to Amazon, including the price of an avocado. | Data dump: A look at the information New York gave to Amazon, including the price of an avocado. |
| Addiction shared: A New Jersey woman describes her challenges after video of her overdose became viral. | Addiction shared: A New Jersey woman describes her challenges after video of her overdose became viral. |
| Chris Hayes’s schedule: The MSNBC host and native New Yorker said his weeknight show is “more like an improv than a three-act play.” | Chris Hayes’s schedule: The MSNBC host and native New Yorker said his weeknight show is “more like an improv than a three-act play.” |
| Chill: New York State might not reap as much in tax revenue as expected if it legalizes marijuana. [Daily News] | |
| Midnight train: Governor Cuomo personally disrupted L train service overnight so that he could personally inspect a tunnel that will be shut down in April for repair. [Daily News] | Midnight train: Governor Cuomo personally disrupted L train service overnight so that he could personally inspect a tunnel that will be shut down in April for repair. [Daily News] |
| Pushed to the tracks: A woman was shoved onto the subway tracks at Union Square but rescued by bystanders. [NY Post] | Pushed to the tracks: A woman was shoved onto the subway tracks at Union Square but rescued by bystanders. [NY Post] |
| The price that Frank Sinatra’s hand-crocheted yarmulke fetched at an auction. [Mental Floss] | The price that Frank Sinatra’s hand-crocheted yarmulke fetched at an auction. [Mental Floss] |
| Opening day for the rooftop Winterland skating rink near South Street Seaport. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. [$25 includes skates] | Opening day for the rooftop Winterland skating rink near South Street Seaport. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. [$25 includes skates] |
| “Bang Bang Gun Amok II,” a 24-hour performance marathon about guns in American history, at Abrons Arts Center. 6 p.m. [Donation suggestion: $5 to $20] | “Bang Bang Gun Amok II,” a 24-hour performance marathon about guns in American history, at Abrons Arts Center. 6 p.m. [Donation suggestion: $5 to $20] |
| A “Springsteen on Broadway” pop-up shop at the Crowne Plaza hotel marks the Boss’s final Broadway shows. 4 to 11 p.m. | A “Springsteen on Broadway” pop-up shop at the Crowne Plaza hotel marks the Boss’s final Broadway shows. 4 to 11 p.m. |
| DMXXestivus, a holiday performance by the city’s first all female-identifying hip-hop improv group, at the Pit. 9 p.m. [$10] | DMXXestivus, a holiday performance by the city’s first all female-identifying hip-hop improv group, at the Pit. 9 p.m. [$10] |
| Saturday | Saturday |
| See the Latin-jazz-gospel “Too Hot to Handel: The Gospel Messiah” at United Palace. 3 p.m. [$15 and up] | See the Latin-jazz-gospel “Too Hot to Handel: The Gospel Messiah” at United Palace. 3 p.m. [$15 and up] |
| Head to Bell House in Brooklyn for a Prince-themed party. 10 p.m. [$5] | Head to Bell House in Brooklyn for a Prince-themed party. 10 p.m. [$5] |
| Sunday | Sunday |
| Dive into the history and artifacts of Dutch New Amsterdam at the Museum of the City of New York. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. [Free with RSVP] | Dive into the history and artifacts of Dutch New Amsterdam at the Museum of the City of New York. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. [Free with RSVP] |
| Listen to stories of recently incarcerated men and women at Caveat in Brooklyn. 3:30 p.m. [$10] | Listen to stories of recently incarcerated men and women at Caveat in Brooklyn. 3:30 p.m. [$10] |
| — Derek Norman | — Derek Norman |
| Events are subject to change, so double-check before heading out. For more events, see the going-out guides from The Times’s culture pages. | Events are subject to change, so double-check before heading out. For more events, see the going-out guides from The Times’s culture pages. |
| The guy who made “Hamilton” ran around with the comedian Billy Eichner to ask New Yorkers if they’re happy. | The guy who made “Hamilton” ran around with the comedian Billy Eichner to ask New Yorkers if they’re happy. |
| Many people seemed happy to meet Mr. Miranda. | Many people seemed happy to meet Mr. Miranda. |
| One woman didn’t immediately recognize him. When told who he was, she replied: | One woman didn’t immediately recognize him. When told who he was, she replied: |
| “Yeah, I know. I apply like every day on the stupid app to win tickets and I never do, so you’re out of sight and out of mind because I’ll never ever, ever see that show.” | “Yeah, I know. I apply like every day on the stupid app to win tickets and I never do, so you’re out of sight and out of mind because I’ll never ever, ever see that show.” |
| It’s Friday — keep playing the “Hamilton” lottery. | It’s Friday — keep playing the “Hamilton” lottery. |
| Dear Diary: | Dear Diary: |
| I was walking down East 86th Street on a Saturday afternoon. A middle-age man was strolling along ahead of me. | I was walking down East 86th Street on a Saturday afternoon. A middle-age man was strolling along ahead of me. |
| As I got closer to him, I could hear that he was singing “Baby Love” by the Supremes. I stayed behind him for a few paces, chuckling to myself. His voice wasn’t bad, I thought. | As I got closer to him, I could hear that he was singing “Baby Love” by the Supremes. I stayed behind him for a few paces, chuckling to myself. His voice wasn’t bad, I thought. |
| I quickened my pace. He turned toward me as I began to pass him. | I quickened my pace. He turned toward me as I began to pass him. |
| “I need some backup here,” he said. | “I need some backup here,” he said. |
| Without missing a beat I sang right on cue: “Baby, baby, baby, baby love, my baby love.” | Without missing a beat I sang right on cue: “Baby, baby, baby, baby love, my baby love.” |
| We smiled at each other. | We smiled at each other. |
| “You have a nice day now,” he said. | “You have a nice day now,” he said. |
| — Cara Schirrmeister | — Cara Schirrmeister |
| New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com. | New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com. |
| We’re experimenting with the format of New York Today. What would you like to see more (or less) of? Post a comment or email us: nytoday@nytimes.com. | We’re experimenting with the format of New York Today. What would you like to see more (or less) of? Post a comment or email us: nytoday@nytimes.com. |