From Cattelan to Santacon, Why I Love New York

It's my final weekend in New York City for the year and I had no intention of wasting it. Friday was sort of shot for me as the night before was the JWT holiday party... you know how that goes... but I had promised my friend Jason I'd attend Art After Dark at the Guggenheim for the Maurizio Cattelan "All" exhibit. The massive scale of the exhibit hanging from the center of the Gugg was a sight in itself. Can't really explain, so you'll just need to go see the exhibit before January 22 when it closes.

Not a surprise but I really liked the floating "Z"s

Then my weekend went from high-brow to low-brow pretty quickly with SANTACON on Saturday! Last year was pretty awesome so I was definitely participating again this year; however, I think my old age is catching up to me and this year will probably be my last. We met up at South Street Seaport and head uptown to Bryan Park. Like Cattelan, I can't really explain it so you'll just have to look at the photos:

My favorite moment of Santacon, Tyler being spanked by Santa:

This weekend pretty much sums up everything I love about living in New York.

NYC SantaCon 2010

There may just be another day that rivals Marathon Monday--NYC SANTACON.  According to the official NYC SantaCon website, "Santacon is a non-denominational, non-commercial, non-political, non-sensical Santa Claus convention that occurs once a year for absolutely no reason."  That's a good enough reason for me to participate!  Full Santa suits were apparently sold out at Ricky's and the Union Square costume shop so I settled with just a Santa hat and some festive red jeans.  The weather was perfect, 40s and sunny, and we started off in the East Village at The 13th Step.  I knew from last year, that Santacon would be crazy but I didn't realize how absolutely bizarre drinking at 11 in the morning with a bunch of drunk Santas, slutty elves, Grinches, reindeers, walking presents and Christmas trees would be.

The best part of Santacon is when the final location is revealed and everyone in all the different Santacon starting points meet up for a giant, public Santa party.  This year the insanity happened at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, so uptown on the 6 train we go!  Santacon is more than just a day of drunken camaraderie for the big man of Christmas but a day of giving (can food donations are encouraged), spreading holiday spirit and just simple good-humored fun.

The after party, which started at 3pm, was in the West Village but by then I had to head home for a nap and prepare for the 10 course Chinese wedding banquet meal for Amber & PJ.  I had an awesome time roaming the city yesterday, and will definitely be doing it again next year!  In the words of my Jewish friend Noah, "Ho Ho Ho, Bitches."

 

 

Celebrate Santacon with FREE Coke Minis!

SO MUCH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT in New York today, as it was the annual NYC SantaCon! From my observation, SantaCon is a worldwide celebration where people of all ages, races and sexual preferences dress in Santa outfits and convene to spread the holiday spirit with one to many spirits! I have never seen so much red and white and cheering in one place outside of a BU hockey game. Below are pics taken at Washington Square Park.
Coca-Cola also introduced its new product the COKE MINI today! 90 calories of Coca-cola in a 7.5 oz can. Street teams around Union Square gave out massive amounts of Coke Minis. A move to build awareness of the product during a time where people are calorie-conscious from all the holiday feasting. Coke Minis are currently only being introduced to New York City and Washington D.C., while the rest of the country will be able to purchase the drink in March 2010. The best part is Coke Minis make great chasers to Santa's whiskey flask.