Wednesday's parting shot

As seen on Avenue A this morning ...

When Santa Claus came to the Lower East Side — with an assist from the FDNY

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

The 7th Precinct and FDNY Engine 15/Ladder 18/Battalion 4 came together this past Saturday on Pitt Street to help brighten the holidays for some Lower East Side families.

Christopher Lee, co-owner of the Parkside Lounge on Houston and Attorney, filling in for the real Santa Claus who was busy prepping for Dec. 24, distributed toys to happy children and their grateful parents.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand for some of the quality Santa time...

At the 9th Precinct today

Photos by Derek Berg 

The 9th Precinct's annual holiday party took place this morning on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The event included a toy giveaway to every child 12 years old and younger in attendance...

Solving the Great Santa Claus Mystery of Tompkins Square Park

Late last night, the rando Santa Claus looked all aglow in an upright position under the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park, as these photos by EVG reader Jake Bowling show...

As we've been noting this week (here and here), someone brought this Santa figure to the tree in the park sometime Sunday night or Monday morning. 

At one point, Santa was standing proudly... other times, he was flat on his back, per hijinks. 

And through some detective work (our fee: $200 per day plus expenses) and some reader comments, we learned how Santa came to town to the park. (Early reports that Santa was nabbed from a lobby turned out to be incorrect.) 

This Santa had been holding forth outside East Village Social on St. Mark's Place this past holiday season. 

On Sunday night, someone from the bar transported SC to his new resting place... here's a video via Instagram showing Santa on the move (to the gentle strains of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord."

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A post shared by East Village Social aka EVS (@eastvillagesocial)

Sadly, the trail ends here. Steven, our secret Santa correspondent, reports that there's no sign of the Claus in the Park today...

Hopefully, he'll be back again some day (or is that Frosty?).

Meanwhile, in Tompkins Square Park ...

An update on the decorative Santa figure that found its way underneath the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park early yesterday — or overnight Sunday. (First post here.) 

As EVG decorative Santa correspondent Steven noted, there was a moment of joy yesterday afternoon when good samaritans propped up the Santa for a more traditional and dignified Santa stance...

Unfortunately, the story doesn't end on a happy note.

No, at some point, TBD, Santa ended up flat on his back once again... as seen this morning...

Oh, dear.

DOUBLE OH DEAR!

Thankfully, the dog did NOT weewee on Santa. 

And to be continued, probably...

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus...oh

As seen this morning under the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park... (thanks to Steven for the photos)...

At first glimpse, there were some SantaCon flashbacks. Then, concern for a possibly injured or inebriated individual dressed as Santa on this frigid Jan. 10. 

However, it is a life-size Santa figure. 

As we understand it, a resident left this in his lobby yesterday for the super to stow for the season. Someone ended up dragging Santa here instead. Update! This was the Santa out front at East Village Social on St. Mark's Place. They made a special delivery. God Bless us, everyone!

Mondays!

He'll be coming through the air conditioner...

AC Santa is coming to town ... as seen on Fifth Street...

Rite Aid's formerly headless Santa SINGS

The world-famous Santa Claus at the Rite Aid on First Avenue and Fifth Street continues to surprise.

Turns out this Santa is animatronic as EVG contributor Stacie Joy discovered today ...

 

Saturday's parting shot

A development to watch at the Rite Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street... where the (formerly headless) Santa has been moved from the greeting cards section to inside the front doors 

In addition, EVG contributor Stacie Joy, who took this photo, noted in a not-alarming way that Santa's head is super wobbly ... meaning a headless Santa is once again a possibility ...

Santa returns to Rite Aid this holiday season with head intact

After a year without a Santa Claus head at the Rite Aid on First Avenue and Fifth Street, jolly ol' St. Nick has all his body parts (as far as we can tell) this holiday season. 

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy noted Santa's masked presence in the greeting cards section...

Viewer discretion is now advised 

Last year, as EVG reader Daniel shared, Santa was on duty right near the depleted shelf of Entenmann's ... without a head. 

It was not immediately known what happened to it. (Stolen? Swallowed? Kicked?)

Headless Santa now free to terrorize Rite-Aid shoppers on 1st Avenue

Here comes Headless Santa Claus! 

EVG reader Daniel shares these photos from the Rite-Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street, where, according to employees, someone stole the head right off of this Santa last night. 

For now, the Santa remains in place, right near the depleted shelf of Entenmann's ... 

So hang your stockings and say your prayers 'cause Headless Santa Claus comes tonight...