To the sweet strains of the Carolers of Olde New York from the Theater for the New City and the Mandel & Lydon Trio, the 19th Annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting was held Sunday. The event was presented by the Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition, the East Village Parks Conservancy and the Third Street Music School Settlement. The carolers sported Victorian costumes provided by the New York Shakespeare Festival at the Public Theater. Favorite East Village eateries Veselka restaurant and Life Cafe served up free hot chocolate, cider and refreshments to all who attended. The event also marked the installation of a sign designating the tree as an East Village AIDS memorial. The Parks Department donated the spruce in 1992, at the request of former Community Board 3 Chairperson Albert Fabozzi, in remembrance of Glenn Barnett — an advocate of the park’s restoration — also in observance of neighbors’ continuing efforts to maintain the park, and in commemoration of community members lost to AIDS. At right, from left, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh and Councilmember Rosie Mendez joined other tree-lighters at the big event.
