Saturday's opening shot

Hey, there's an inflatable Santa after all this year here on the glorious NW corner of 14th Street and First Avenue (outside the now-closed Papaya Dog) ...

P.S. Bonus (accidental) photo from the very moment a FedEx truck passed by the corner...

Trailer Park Santa Stand bucks tradition on 14th Street with mini camper

The Christmas tree vendor is setting up as usual on the northwest corner of 14th Street at First Avenue.

EVG regular Pinch notes something new this year — a mini camper. This takes the place of the Cousin Eddie-style camper that had been parked on 14th Street in recent years, though not last year because of, we heard, the new SBS lane.

No word yet on what inflatables to expect this year. A Santa? A reindeer? A bear? A reindeer with a bear and Santa?

Meanwhile, a look back to 2014...


[On loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• The Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus

• Grubby ol' St. Nick inflatable makes triumphant return to 14th Street after 2 (long) years

• Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?

• New, improved inflatable Santa arrives on East 14th Street tree lot

Another Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus on 14th Street, though there is a bear

EVG regular Pinch shares this top photo from the Christmas tree vendors on the northwest corner of 14th Street and First Avenue.

In what may be a first for this spot, there's an inflatable bear on the scene this year. (We need to check the EVG microfiche to be sure.)

And unlike previous years, the tree vendor does not have the Cousin Eddie-style camper parked on 14th Street (because of the new SBS lane?).



Also, the Santa inflatable is new and clean, unlike the grubby ol' St. Nick — Trailer Park Santa Claus to some — that had been greeting the corner in recent years...


[On loan from the EVG Permanent Collection]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus

Grubby ol' St. Nick inflatable makes triumphant return to 14th Street after 2 (long) years

Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?

New, improved inflatable Santa arrives on East 14th Street tree lot

Santa Claus is back on 14th and 1st

The Christmas-tree-selling crew on 14th Street near First Avenue broke out the inflatable Santa this morning, as EVG regular Pinch notes ... and just in time for some picturesque snowfall photo opps, like this one...

This inflatable is a little more cheery than the previous models — Grubby ol' St. Nick, Trailer Park Santa Claus, Half-in-the-Bag Santa, etc. — on this corner.


[Who wore it better? Santa or Hercule Poirot?]

Trailer Park Santa trailer has arrived on 14th Street

If you weren't already in the Christmas mood in September, then you will be now.

EVG reader KT noted the arrival yesterday of the trailer that will house the Christmas-tree-selling crew on 14th Street near First Avenue.

Can we expect to see grubby ol' St. Nick (Trailer Park Santa Claus to a few) soon?


[EVG photo from 2012]

Grubby ol' St. Nick inflatable makes triumphant return to 14th Street after 2 (long) years

[Lame perky inflatables photo from December 2014]

After two years of lame perky inflatables at the tree stand on 14th Street at First Avenue ... a familiar figure has returned atop the RV...



Why yes, it is grubby ol' St. Nick! (Trailer Park Santa Claus to a few) ... and it looks like the genuine original (unlike the fake cube that returned to Astor Place)...



Compare this to a photo from several years ago ... (image slightly faded as it's been in a frame on my desk)...



Meanwhile, in other less-triumphant returns, the one-seat bubble room is back outside Whole Foods Market® Bowery ... providing shelter to the brave men and women (one at a time) who sell the holiday trees here...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus

Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?

New, improved inflatable Santa arrives on East 14th Street tree lot

New, improved inflatable Santa arrives on East 14th Street tree lot

[Happier days in 2013]

JUST when we though that the tree stand on East 14th Street and First Avenue would go another holiday season without a Santa Claus...


[Saturday morning]

... an EVG reader let us know that a new, [maybe] improved Santa inflatable now adorns the trailer...





Maybe by Dec. 25 this st. Nick will look as grubby as the previous one... maybe we will witness a Christmas miracle...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?

Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?

[Happier days in 2013]

For the second year running, it appears that the beloved grubby Santa that has adorned the top of the xmas RV on East 14th Street and First Avenue in years past remains AWOL

The Sidewalk Holiday Tree Stand is now apparently fully operational... and, like last year, some rather generic inflatables (stupid nutcracker) grace this place...





As for what to tell the children. Well, I'd change the subject and try to distract them at Papaya Dog. Look, Twix bars for breakfast!...

-----


[2012]

The Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus

[Another holiday season]

Well, as you may have noticed, grubby ol' St. Nick never arrived this year at the tree stand on East 14th Street and First Avenue…

Instead, we were treated to some lame perky inflatables …



Waited until later to pass this along so as not to ruin the holiday.

Anyway, time to toss the tree and pick up your Easter Candy at Kmart…

East 14th Street Santa watch is on

The RV arrived Sunday evening here at First Avenue… the trees on Wednesday.

Santa likely won't be here until after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Seeing as there is only one Santa.

RV arrives ahead of Christmas trees and inflatable Santa on East 14th Street

EVG reader Pinch is on the breaking news this evening… the RV is now in place at First Avenue for the annual tree sales… the children are all hopeful that inflatable Santa Claus will be coming to this part of town soon…

2012 flashback!

Guess who's back in town?!

Yes! Finally! The iconic Trailer Park Santa is back on his familiar RV on East 14th Street and First Avenue… much to the delight of area children (and maybe one website blog person)…



Let the photos begin!



And what do you think he does in the off-season?

PS
The trees have arrived outside the St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery as well…

Trees arrive ahead of Trailer Park Santa on East 14th Street

The trees have arrived at the stand on East 14th Street at First Avenue. But no sign yet of the familiar inflatable Santa, dubbed by no one in particular, Trailer Park Santa.

2012 flashback!

Meanwhile! As for other holiday tree options... you can actually find trees that will fit inside a normal apartment here at East Village Farm & Grocery on Second Avenue at East Fourth Street...



And expect trees soon on East Houston at Essex...



...and First Avenue and East 13th Street...



And the tree stand will arrive next week at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
In case you are looking to buy the ol' [insert your name here!] family holiday tree on Thanksgiving

[Updated] Trailer Park Santa — deflated! (he's back!)

Oh no! Don't let the children see this over on First Avenue and East 14th Street...

...apparently the high winds caused the tree sellers to deflate the Santa... (and there are a lot of trees left for sale...)

Flashback to sort of better days:

Updated! Tonight! Via THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N.

NOW it feels like the holidays with the arrival of Trailer Park Santa

Oh, we knew something was missing from the holiday tree stand on East 14th Street at East First Street... the trailer just seemed so... bare.

Yes. Of course! Trailer Park Santa! He arrived this past week

Suitably grubby for this intersection.

So hang your stockings and say your prayers,
'Cause Trailer Park Santa Claus comes tonight.