Rockefeller Center spruces up a bit

NEW YORK -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday helped light the Rockefeller Center tree, an 80-foot Norway spruce that made it through superstorm Sandy.

Thousands of onlookers crowded behind barricades on the streets that surrounded Rockefeller Center. A video screen was provided for those who did not have a direct line of sight of the tree, which was illuminated with more than 30,000 lights and topped by a Swarovski star.

The lights were turned on just before 9 p.m. in the 80thannual celebration.

"It makes me want to sing and dance," said Zuri Young, who came hours early with her boyfriend to watch the lighting.

"I've heard a lot about it. I was kind of sick of staying home and watching it on television," said the 19-year-old nursing student from Queens.

The tree came from the Mount Olive, N.J., home of Joe Balku. Balku lost power and other trees during the storm at his residence about an hour outside Manhattan.

CeeLo Green performs at the 80th annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

The tree was taken from his home in November. It had been there for years, measuring about 22 feet tall in 1973 when Balku bought the house. It's now 50 feet in diameter and weighs 10 tons.

"It's an experience that I cannot get back home," said Freyja Shairp, a 22-year-old from Sidney, Australia, who is working in the U.S. temporarily.

Standing next to her was Donna D'Agostino, 48, and her 17-year-old daughter. She said she lived in New York City her entire life and decided this was the year she was going to see the lighting.

"It's a bucket-list item," said D'Agostino. "I think it starts the whole season."

The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes perform before the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is lit during the 80th annual tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Erik Pauze, the head gardener at Tishman Speyer, one of the owners of Rockefeller Center, picked out the tree. He said he found it by accident when he got lost while returning to the city on a tree-hunting expedition.

"It wasn't even on our list. It was a good find," he said.

Pauze said workers prepared for superstorm Sandy by bracing the tree with cables to secure and protect it.

Prior to that, the tree-lighting event included performances from Rod Stewart, Cee Lo Green, Scotty McCreery, Il Volo, Victoria Justice, Brooke White, Mariah Carey, Trace Adkins and Tony Bennett, along with appearances by Billy Crystal and Bette Midler.

Residents and tourists will be able to view the tree until Jan. 7. After its stint in the spotlight, the tree will be made into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.