The city went back to work yesterday, but it's technically still Christmas (through January 5th!), and our post-holiday season stupor is not going anywhere—it's never a good sign when you find yourself thinking, 'if only we could turn back time to two weeks ago, when it was blissful and holiday music was in the air and it was 50 degrees outside.' But while work on the flux capacitor is still ongoing, a little bit of Elf goes a long way for us. The area man in the video below made this homage to Will Ferrell's effortlessly sweet NYC Christmas movie, Elf: "Decided it would be a great idea to dress up like Buddy Elf and wander around NYC. It was a great idea." Watch it below, watch the montage from the original film below that, and ask yourself what Buddy would say next time you're outside and realize you can't feel your face. more ›

Welcome back to work, everyone. Our own Tien Mao spotted Santa on the subway this morning, all suited up in solidarity with fellow 9-to-5ers returning to the office after the holiday season. This was taken on the A train, and Santa got off in DUMBO at High Street... so he probably works at Etsy, or Jane's Carousel. more ›

The annual Santa Streak is back again for a second year, and it's happening tomorrow—one week before SantaCon, where at least people leave their holiday outfits on until bedding Mrs. Claus at the end of the bar crawl. If you have any desire to streak (it is for charity, after all), then you'll want to head to RSVP here, to find out the exact Astoria starting point. more ›

It's December 1st, which means you can finally break into that advent calendar and start the countdown to Christmas. Today Google and NORAD have kicked off their official countdown, which allows one and all to follow Santa online as he embarks on his annual trip from the North Pole to your chimney (an annual tradition). more ›

Improv Everywhere's public musicals are generally crowd-pleasers, so it's not surprising the troupe revamped their grocery store bit and put a yuletide spin on it for the holiday season. This month they're offering up a Mall Santa Musical, filmed, naturally, in New Jersey. more ›

There will be a Santa Claus in Suffolk County after all. Earlier this week folks got in quite the huff when the grinches at Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy's budget office decided not to approve a new contract for Dave McKell, the 83-year-old man who has donned St. Nick's gear at the county-owned St. James General Store for the past nine years. Luckily for McKell, today the Democratic candidate going for the executive seat, Steve Bellone, decided to throw a press conference at which he pledged to pay the $660 needed to keep the McKell's ho-ho-hos coming [reg. req'd]. And Bellone swears the move wasn't political! more ›

Besides the NORAD's Santa tracking, there are many resources for parents to perpetuate the legend that is Mr. Claus. The Wall Street Journal looks at the tricks of the trade that go beyond eating the cookies and drinking the milk left out at night. For instance, did you realize there's a "Santa's Official Evidence Kit," which includes "Santa's Authentic Sleigh License—dropped accidentally by Santa on his way out of the house" and "Santa's Glove and Glasses—removed and accidentally left behind on the table while Santa was enjoying his milk and cookies." And, yes, there are even Santa boot print kits (sold separately). more ›

For the past few years, right around Christmastime, West 22nd Street residents Jim and Dylan have received a trickle of letters from children written to Santa Claus, but mistakenly addressed to their apartment. They shrugged off the letters as a peculiar mystery, but that all changed this year when their mailbox was flooded with 400 letters to Santa. more ›

City Santas have been around forever, and now one of them needs a Christmas miracle. FoxNY reports that a retired NYPD cop is in need of a new kidney; for ten years the cop, Angelo Grande, has been Santa Claus to the children of police officers who were killed in the line of duty. President of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association says, “He is truly beloved by the children and widows alike. Angelo’s life has been one dedicated to caring for others." Can you donate a kidney to Officer Santa? Contact transplant coordinator Pat Delforio at Northshore Hospital, but only if you're an “O” blood type. more ›

As mentioned in our newsletter, today is the last day to see the Seaport Santa Claus (he'll be at Pier 17 until around 4 p.m.). The NY Times just did a profile piece on the man in red, who has been playing the role of Kris Kringle for 21 years. They say this makes Roger Franklin one of the city’s longest-running Santas at any one location — the other has been at Macy's for 25 years. more ›

Some of the Santas in the costumed Santacon bar crawl yesterday were naughty, according to police sources. An NYPD spokeswoman tells Gothamist that officers cracked down on holiday-clad revelers who were boozing in public in Washington Square Park. "There were 33 criminal court summonses issued for open containers," she said. "All of these were in the confines of the 6th Precinct." more ›

Yesterday, the Santacon Santas braved the chilly temperatures to bring their usual holiday cheer to various points in the city. Here are a few more great photographs of the action. And according to a late night tweet from Santacon, "Santa got kicked our of a strip club. What did YOU do?" more ›

Everyone's favorite holiday-themed charity drive/drink-a-thon hit the streets today when Santacon came to town. Hundreds of costumed revelers donned their gayest apparel for the annual Christmas-time costume romp, which also doubles as a canned food drive. Starting at 10 am at five different rallying points in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and New Jersey (sorry Manattan and the Bronx), Santas toured the city before converging on Washington Square Park this afternoon — perhaps prompting NYPD to send this out over the police scanner: "MANHATTAN *DISORDERLY GROUP* WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK / THOMPSON ST (6-PCT) PD CALLING A LEVEL-1 MOBILIZATION TO THE SCENE IN REGARDS TO A LARGE DISORDERLY GROUP AT THE LOCATION." more ›

It's been 112 years since 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon of West 95th Street asked if there was a Santa Claus. An open letter back to the girl ended with: "No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood." more ›

Remember back when (almost) everyone was in the holiday spirit and poor 'ol Saint Nick got a ticket for double parking? And then he fought that ticket because everyone knows there really is no Santa Claus? Well, he lost the fight. Santa, real-life retired school teacher Chip Cafiero, says he got word of the crushing defeat on Friday. Last November the 60-year-old had double parked to hand out gifts from a horse-drawn carriage (uh oh) at a Marty Markowitz-sponsored event. He says the city can take his $115, but they'll never take his Christmas spirit (and they're totally going on the Naughty List). more ›

The double-parking Santa who got a big 'ol ticket as an early Christmas present is speaking out! The Daily News reports that "he appreciates the outpouring of support, but he won't accept any charity to pay the $115 fine." He doesn't, however, want to pay it himself either. Commonly known as Chip Cafiero, he says he is "very appreciative to hear that so many people want to help him out, but as a matter of principle, we have to fight this ticket." Allegedly he'd like to prove a point about parking in the area; "These meter maids are harassing our small businesses in Bay Ridge, and it is time that we make a stand and fight for what's right. All those people who wanted to help Santa may be getting something a little extra special under the tree this year." Cafiero was dressed as Claus to hand out gifts to children when he was ticketed—so many, including Marty Markowitz, have rallied to support him. more ›

Santa may be able to fly fast through the sky, but when it comes to parking he's got to follow the law like the rest of us civilians. The Daily News reports that one Santa (The Santa?) double-parked his sleigh SUV on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, and "neighbors and politicians demanded the summons be quashed." But James Huntley, "who heads Local 1182, defended the agent who slapped a ticket on Chip Cafiero's SUV." He also added that seeing the driver in a Santa suit wouldn't have changed the law, and notes that calling the agent a Grinch or Scrooge isn't going to make matters better (is that a threat?). Marty Markowitz, whose office sponsored the event that Santa was at, said "It's the holidays. In these situations, there should be a combination of common sense and holiday spirit instead of humbug." Free double-parking at Brooklyn Borough Hall for everyone in a Santa hat! more ›

Come celebrate the holiday season with us, a bunch of musicians and some Egg Nog n' Maker's Mark—it'll be just like grandma's house...in Gowanus. This Sunday, December 21st, we'll be throwing a seasonal soiree at the big, gorgeous Bell House, in partnership with the After the Jump folk. more ›

Once a year a large troupe of handmade Saint Nicks flood the city with red, white and green. SantaCon is taking place right this second, after being kicked off at 10 a.m. at 33rd Street and 6th Avenue. Expect for these marathon Santas to pop up on the subway, in the bar and of course the city sidewalks. As the site notes: "They will shrivel at the end of a frantic 15 to 48 hour life cycle, gorging on booze, fornicating, and spreading an overwhelming stench of cheer." Here are some photos from the scene so far today... more ›

• SFist saw Christmas Day turn tragic after a Siberian tiger escaped from her pen at the San Francisco Zoo, killing a visitor and mauling two others.
• Phillyist counted down the top ten items on Philadelphia's New Year's wish list.
• Gothamist looked at the wooden bikes being offered for NYC's first bike share program on Governors Island.

Courtney Love wished us all a belated Merry Christmas today via her MySpace blog (which we don't normally check in on, but thankfully Curbed was on the ball). What did Santa bring her? An apartment in the West Village! So really, it's like a present for us all. She stated, in perfectly readable English:

i think/hope we foundteh PERFECT plaCE, its a w village 4 floor house 2 floors are being rented by the owners, itllcost ...alot...to returjn it to a house biut fbc doesnt need to have all that space til she moves here at 18 and its a great invesment.

One of the most famous editorials of all time appeared in September 21, 1897 issue of the The NY Sun. Ten-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's letter asking, "Is there a Santa Claus" was published with a response by editor Francis Pharcellus Church that now appears reprinted in newspapers year after year (though many times with one paragraph - the third to last - deleted). more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an explosion at Linden Blvd. and 220th St. in Queens, a homicide on Sedgewick Ave. in the Bronx, and a water main break on Prospect Place in Brooklyn
• Santa may have to bypass coalition troops stationed around the world today, but holiday presents will be appreciated even if they do arrive a few weeks into 2008. Newsday has a nice piece on gift-giving to troops and how to do it.
• U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner is in permanent campaign mode to become Mayor of NYC, as the office now seems to be a viable stepping stone for higher national office. Interesting fact: Weiner was a post-college roommate of comedian/news man Jon Stewart.

Santa came early and dumped some carnivorous coal down the throats of vegetarians in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood this weekend. The NY Press has reported that the beloved Veggie Castle – so named because it was converted from an old White Castle fast food restaurant – has abruptly closed. The Veggie Castle was as famous for repurposing the White Castle as it was for its vegetarian twist on Caribbean classics, offering such delicacies as jerk tofu, curried tofu and a steaming vegan soul food buffet. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an abduction on 117th St. and Madison Ave. in Manhattan, someone robbed the Commerce Bank on 5th Ave. in Brooklyn, and serious trauma at The Marina Restaurant on Jerome Ave. and Clifford Pl. in the Bronx.
• Tommy Monahan, the 9-year-old boy who died in a fire last week attempting to rescue his pets, wrote a book about his dog Sophy.
• If you're wondering where your fare hike dollars will wind up, a good portion will be in the pockets of lawyers who work at some of the most profitable and expensive legal firms in the country.

We can't believe it's been two years since we became acquainted with the Christmas home decoration stylings of Gramercy Park resident Joel Krupnik. Back in 2005, a Christmas display with a bloody knife-wielding Santa, severed doll head and more outside his East 18th townhouse caused much commotion after the Post dubbed Krupnik "Bad Santa" and put a photograph on its cover. more ›

Have some extra cash to spend around the holiday season? Even the littlest bit can go a long way in the over 80 year old Operation Santa program. Every year letters pile up at the James A. Farley Post Office from (mostly needy) kids writing to Santa Claus (read one of them here). Their wish lists don't make it to the North Pole, but with New Yorkers pitching in every year, it's as if they did. There's still time to pick up a letter so you can help make someone's Christmas a little more merry this year. Head to the Farley Post Office (bring an ID) located at 421 Eighth Ave today through 4pm or Monday (from 9 to 4:30pm). Note: they are currently in desperate need of people who can read Spanish. more ›