In conjunction with Green is Universal Earth Week, WNBC joined its new parent company for the Comcast Cares celebration. WNBC president and general manager, Michael Jack was among the volunteers at the New York City Housing Authority’s Manhattanville Houses in Harlem.

At Friday’s half-day project, WNBC helped to revitalize and renovate the houses, led by George Oliphant, host of LX-produced George to the Rescue, seen on Channel 4 weekends.

Oliphant worked with his production team and more than 150 Comcast and NBCUniversal volunteers. City Year New York is leading the work that includes building wooden beds for organic vegetables and flowers, constructing benches, removing concrete, and painting murals.

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On Monday night, we headed west to Hudson Terrace to join the festivities celebrating the launch of WNBC‘s new afternoon live local lifestyle show, “LX New York.”

The show debuted live on channel 4 at 5pm on Monday, with senior vice president of LX.TV Morgan Hertzan and on-air talent Sara Gore, Siafa Lewis, Michael Flocker, George Oliphant and Maria Sansone heading over to the party afterward to celebrate and sip Absolut cocktails on the open air roof deck.

Hertzan told us that he thought the first show went on without a hitch, even though launching a live show is always nerve-wracking. “Live is the only way to go,” he said.

We also learned that Gore, who appeared on “Today” Monday morning to promote “LX New York,” was a chef before she became the bubbly host that we know her to be today. When we asked her where she got the recipe for the steak she cooked with Al Roker that morning, she boasted, “It’s mine!” (Check out the video below.)

So what did Gore, who now hosts three LX.TV lifestyle shows, think of the “LX New York” premiere episode?

“There were a few things I wish had gone more smoothly,” she said. “But it was the first show and it was live, and now we know what we can work on.”

Also spotted in the crowd, Olivia Metzger of talent agency CAA and two former TVNewser editors, The New York Times‘ Brian Stelter and Mediaite.com TV editor Steve Krakauer.

More pictures after the jump

Earlier: WNBC Launches Afternoon Live Local Lifestyle Show

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