MadParkNews.com, covering New York City's Madison Square Park & Flatiron

The annual Madison Square Park Holiday event and tree lighting will happen again this year on December 6th in Madison Square Park. It’s free for all.

Currently hosted by the Madison Square Park Conservancy, a tree lighting ceremony in Madison Square Park started in 1912 and was one of the first public tree lightings in the United States.

The evening starts at 4:30pm and features The New York Life Singers, Audra Rox, and free treats from Hill Country.

It’s pretty late in the year, but the leaves are finally both changing colors and falling in Madison Square Park. It’s a nice time to walk through or hang out in the park before the winter comes. Enjoy it! Recommend on Facebook Tweet about it Tell a friend Related Posts:First real snow of 2012 hits [...]

The 2011 Veteran’s Day Parade will be Friday November 11th and starts right here next to Madison Square Park at the Eternal Light Monument, running up 5th Avenue to 56th Street. It all begins at around 11:30am and ends around 3:30pm.

The parade is preceded by an opening ceremony at 10am at the monument next to Madison Square Park.

Being the 10th year since 9/11, this year’s parade will pay special tribute to the that day, and has the theme ‘Never Forget’.

Get more info at http://www.vetsday.org/parade-components-schedule.

Aspiring criminals, as a promo for Showtime’s new Homeland show, you can try to beat a polygraph test right here in the Flatiron today until 4pm. Look for the van on the Southeast corner of E 23rd Street & 5th Avenue.

More at http://www.sho.com/site/homeland/polygraph.sho

It’s time again for the New York City Village Halloween Parade tonight (Monday Oct 31st), which runs just parallel to the Flatiron up 6th Avenue usually ending around 18th Street.

It runs from about 7:30-10pm and starts down in the Village on 6th Avenue from Spring Street to just past 16th-18th Street.

The Parade typically draws more than 60,000 costumed participants and millions of viewers live and on tv (NY1 and KPIX).

If you want to participate, you can if you are in costume. Here is how: www.halloween-nyc.com/participate.php.

Here is a video of past parades:

We compiled almost EVERY MENU from the Madison Square Eats fall 2011 food stands, so you can check out what’s available from your desk before heading to the market. (More reviews soon!). It’s hosted by the Madison Square Park Conservancy and serves food daily from 11am-9pm until October 21st in the Worth Square area just west of Madison Square Park (@ 24th and 5th Avenue). Here are the Menus!

Almond: Pastrami sandwich ($8), Moroccan Meatball Hero ($8), JB’s Jalepeno & Cheddar Brat ($8), Marinated Octopus ($8), House smoked almonds to go.
Asiadog: (Beef/chicken/veggie hot dogs with Asian toppings such as bahn mi style, sweet&spicy ketchup, Chines bbq pork belly, kimchi, Thai Mango and more). SEE Asia Dog review at Madison Square Eats.
Bar Suzette: Savory crepes including Ham & Cheese ($8), Truffled Mozzarella ($7), Thai Satay Chicken ($10), and sweet crepes including Nutella ($5), Nutella-Banana ($6), Chocolate ($5), Chocolate & Coconut ($6), Lemon & Butter & Sugar ($6), Butter & Sugar ($5), Nutella-Coconut ($6), plus a Cheeseburger ($10). It seems the crepes can be made gluten-free too.

Calexico carne asada tacos

Calexico: California/Mexico style tacos and burritos with carne asada steak, pork, chicken, veggie. Get the crack sauce.
The Cannibal: Pig’s head Cuban ($10), Curried Egg Salad ($10), Sloppy Lamb ($10), Herr’s Chips ($2), and beer (Six Point Crisp, Hennepin, Nebraska Brunette, Allagash Black)
Cuzin’s Dozen: homemade hot and fresh mini donuts at 6 for $2, or 28 for $6 (hello office hero)
Fatty Snack: BBQ Pork Buns ($3/$5), Veggie Bun ($3/$5), Potato Salad ($3), Black Eyed Peas Salad ($3)
Graffiti /Mehtaphor: Graffiti Kebab Burger with Garlic Fries ($9), Graffiti Veggie Burger with Garlic Fries ($9), Pork Chili Tomato Dumplings ($8), Vegetable Chili Tomato Dumplings ($8), Garlic Fries ($3), Prosecco and wine ($7)

ilili pressed chicken sandwich

Hong Kong Street Cart: Beijing Ya Bun (Roast duck, minced shrimp, scallion, and cucumber in a steamed bun), Green Mango & Soba Salad (with Lemongrass chicken OR soymeat), Ginger & Chicken Soup, Chili Salted Shrimp, Spicy Edamame, Vegetarian Peking Bun, Ginger & Vegetable Dumpling Soup, and a Vegetarian ‘chicken’ Skewer.
Hot Blondies Bakery: An assortment of Blondies and ‘Brunettes’ ($4 – Peanut Butter Chocolate, Butterscotch White Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Espresso White Chocolate, S’mores, Classic). Also in ‘Babe’ size for $2.
ilili: (pressed chicken sandwich, sumac fries, roasted lamb shawarma, chicken shawarma, falafel Beiruti, kafta arayess, manushe, beer, wine, green lemonade, baklava). SEE Ilili review at Madison Square Eats.
Junoon / Kulinary Kraft: Chicken Tikka Masala ($8), Samosas ($1.50), Saag Paneer ($7), and Chana Masala ($7). You can also get a veggie combo for $8.50 or a full combo (Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Chana Masala, rice) for $9.50. SEE Junoon review at Madison Square Eats.
Lavazza Coffee: Hot or iced coffee, hot chocolate, hot or iced chai and more ($2-5)

Macaron Parlour

Macaron Parlour: 12 kinds of macarons (2.50 each) including Candied Bacon with Maple Cream Cheese, Red Velvet, Nutella, Tiramisu, Lemon, S’mores, Strawberry, Peanut Butter Cup, Caramel Fleur du sel, Cinnamon Pistacio, Passion Fruit and Milk Chocolate, Earl Grey, plus Chocolate Chip Fleur du sel Cookies, and homemade peach poptarts,
The Milk Truck: 5 kinds of gourmet grilled cheese including the Milk Truck Classic (aged grand cru gruyere, cultured butter on a Balthazar Levain Pullman with tomatoes), the Classic with a Twist (aged grand cru gruyere, champagne vinegar pickled onions, whole grain mustard on Blue Ribbon Jewish Rye), the Three Cheese (aged gruyere, NY State Cheddar, domestic bleu), The Ham & Cheese (apple wood smoked ham and coleman’s mustard), plus Milk Shakes
Momofuku Milk Bar: compost cookie, corn flake cookies, crack pie, corn cookie, etc. SEE Momofuku review at Madison Square Eats.

momofuku compost cookie

Nunu Chocolates: Truffle assortments of Ganache and Caramels. Flavors include a selection of Earl Grey, Raspberry, Prosecco, Espresso, Salt Caramel, Soft Golden Caramel, Peanut Caramel Crush, Double Dark, Hazelnut, and Salt Roasted Cashew Caramels.
Perfect Picnic: Two options for $6 including 1) Petit Baguette with Westfield Farm Goat Cheese, & Beth’s Farm Apricot Jam or 2) Petit Baguette with Bacon Horseradish and Spinach Artichoke Dip
Piccolo Cafe: 6 kinds of paninis ($9 or $5 half – Roasted Chicken Tomatoes Arugula / Pesto, Bufala Mozzarella, Semidried tomato, Arugula, Evoo / Gaeta olives, Bufala, Evoo, Basil / Meatballs, Tomato, Mozzarella, Parmagiano, Basil / Prosciutto de Parma, Arugula, Bufala Mozzarella, Evoo), soup of the day ($5) and 5 kinds of pasta ($9 – Lasagna Bolognese / Vegetable Lasagne / Gnocchi with Pesto, Parmagiano, Basil, Evoo / Gnocchi with Truffle Mushroom Sauce, Parmagiano, Thyme / Gnocchi Sorrentina Tomato sauce, Basil, Mozzarella. Soup and half panino for $9.
Red Hook Lobster Pound: Lobster Rolls ($16) in either Maine style (cold lobster) or Connecticut style (warm lobster), Shrimp Roll (sweet Maine shrimp and homemade tarragon mayo for $9), New England Clam Chowder ($7), Shrimp & Corn Chowder ($6) and Lobster Mac & Cheese ($9)

Robertas Bee Sting

Roberta’s Pizza: Margherita, speckenwolf and bee sting wood-fired pizzas, plus a seasonal pizza. SEE Roberta’s Pizza review at Madison Square Eats.
Sigmund’s: Pretzels including Salted, Feta-Olive, Truffle-Cheddar, Cinnamon Raison, Garlic Parsley, Seeded, plus Hot Dog on a pretzel Bun, the Uber, and Wancko Cookies
Spices & Tease: Dozens of loose leaf teas and fresh spices (gift box with 1 for $7, 6 for $35), 3 kinds of quiche (tomato spinach goat cheese, ricotta mushroom, walnut blue cheese for $5 each), Chocolate croissants, regular croissants and hot or iced tea.
Stuffed Artisan Cannolis: 9 kinds of cannolis daily
Wafels & Dinges: Waffels including the Brussels Waffle (light and crispy), the Liege Waffle (soft and chewy), de Throwdown Waffle (with spekuloos sauce and whipped cream) and the de Verdekke (ice cream sandich), with all of the dinges (sauces) of course.

Saturday from 11:30am-4:30pm in the Southern area of Madison Square Park, you can make your own Marimekko-inspired key chain with designers Erja Hirvi and Mika Piirainennd. It’s brought to you by the Madison Square Park Conservancy.

The Marimekko flagship store is now open at 200 5th Avenue just west of New York’s Madison Square Park (adjacent to Eataly). Marimekko features clothing, accessories and home products, including tons of fabric so you can make your own stuff. Marimekko was founded in Finland.