By Eric Shapiro and the Flatiron Hot! News Editorial Staff

The Flatiron District’s holiday festivities are well underway. On Tuesday December 9th, the annual Madison Square Park Tree Lighting Ceremony illuminated the evening, with New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds bathing in its communal glow. Even the day’s ugly weather was not enough to detract from the event, which ran from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. This year’s event was only the latest iteration of a long neighborhood tradition stretching back over 100 years. Thanks to the the Madison Square Park Conservancy for selecting and adorning the mighty pine.

Following the ceremony, the Flatiron BID held an Ugly Sweater Happy Hour at Cafe El Presidente, a Mexican restaurant and bar located at 30 West 24th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. The affair consisted of a wheel of fortune and an ugly sweater raffle. Winners of both events got to take home gift certificates for a variety of Flatiron District establishments including Tekserve, Raymi, David’s Tea, Hill Country Chicken, Bounce Sporting Club and more. All of that, and some serious bragging rights.

Ugly sweater competitions have traditionally taken place at Flatiron North Public Plaza, but stormy weather resulted in a different but still worthwhile experience. Smaller in scale yet far more intimate, attendees had a chance to mingle and discuss a range of topics from sweaters, to neighborhood happenings, to this year’s Oscar contenders. The Flatiron BID’s dedicated staff, responsible for putting together this year’s 23 Days of Holiday Cheer program in conjunction with local businesses, were on hand to chat and answer questions.