How drunk and loud do you have to be to get banned from Hell's Kitchen?
December 13, 2013 9:02 AM Subscribe
Last year, over 35,000 people amassed in NYC to participate in SantaCon, a New York City tradition since 1994, SantaCon is a pub-crawl where people dress up like Santa. In the past few years, it has been associated, however, with public drunkenness, homophobia, mob like behavior, and even sexual assault.
NYT: Ban SantaCon
Eater: NYPD Urges Bar Owners to Ban Drunk Santas
NYT: Ban SantaCon
Eater: NYPD Urges Bar Owners to Ban Drunk Santas
Yet another fun concept ruined by overgrown frat kids who can't handle their booze (see also: most music festivals)
posted by windbox at 9:08 AM on December 13, 2013 [19 favorites]
posted by windbox at 9:08 AM on December 13, 2013 [19 favorites]
My local bar has a love/hate relationship with SantaCon. On one hand they're usually in a good mood and drink a lot, on the other hand by the time they get there they're already sheets to the wind and hard to manage.
posted by The Whelk at 9:09 AM on December 13, 2013
posted by The Whelk at 9:09 AM on December 13, 2013
Some friends of mine did SantaCon last year or the year before, and it was evidently enough of a shitshow that they'll probably never go again. Evidently the visit to Rick's Cabaret for lap dances was a little too surreal.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:11 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by uncleozzy at 9:11 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
SantaCon is always one of the worst things to happen to those of us trying to study for finals in the village.
posted by likeatoaster at 9:12 AM on December 13, 2013
posted by likeatoaster at 9:12 AM on December 13, 2013
Yet another fun concept ruined by overgrown frat kids who can't handle their booze (see also: most music festivals)
And Mardi Gras.
posted by Gelatin at 9:12 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
And Mardi Gras.
posted by Gelatin at 9:12 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
My friends have invited me to meet them at a bar during this. I really like them, but... the horror. The horror.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh dear God, they're meant to come to Brooklyn...
Hey, Williamsburg. YOU keep them.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Hey, Williamsburg. YOU keep them.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
SantaCon in San Francisco, as I understand it, is second only to Bay To Breakers for amateur hour out of towner drinking. It is not a popular event.
posted by c'mon sea legs at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by c'mon sea legs at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Philly did this last weekend. A kid wound up wandering onto I-95, which is not easy, and getting hit and killed in traffic.
Also, I'm surprised that people are surprised that a PUB CRAWL might get overrun by drunken idiots.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2013
Also, I'm surprised that people are surprised that a PUB CRAWL might get overrun by drunken idiots.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:17 AM on December 13, 2013
I think there's a process at all of these festivals where certain behavioral norms are modified or eliminated. At first, it's fun, whimsical, silly, mind-expanding maybe. Then, once they reach a certain critical mass they start to attract the sort of person who is looking for a lawless, consequence free environment. Sucks we can't stop it at the earlier stages.
posted by skewed at 9:18 AM on December 13, 2013 [16 favorites]
posted by skewed at 9:18 AM on December 13, 2013 [16 favorites]
Hell, last year I walked into and right out of my favorite bar in my little LI village when the local "Santa Crawl" came through. There were Santas swinging from support beams and the noise was unreal. I knew they'd be gone in 20 minutes, but I couldn't bear it in the meantime.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by uncleozzy at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
There's a Press release on the Santacon site addressing these stories.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
The police scanner must be worth listening to during this time. Must be the same APB on a jolly elf in a red suit over and over.
posted by dr_dank at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
New York doesn't need silly gimmicks like this to be interesting.
posted by Ghost Mode at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Ghost Mode at 9:19 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Also, I'm surprised that people are surprised that a PUB CRAWL might get overrun by drunken idiots.
It was not originally meant to be a pub crawl at all.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:20 AM on December 13, 2013 [9 favorites]
It was not originally meant to be a pub crawl at all.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:20 AM on December 13, 2013 [9 favorites]
uncleozzy, would that be the Nutty Irishman, by chance?
posted by dr_dank at 9:21 AM on December 13, 2013
posted by dr_dank at 9:21 AM on December 13, 2013
A kid wound up wandering onto I-95, which is not easy, and getting hit and killed in traffic.
Jesus christ.
These things need to be banned, or at least serious resistance needs to happen
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 9:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Jesus christ.
These things need to be banned, or at least serious resistance needs to happen
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 9:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't know. I actually LIKE it when the assholes are that easy to identify.
posted by monospace at 9:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by monospace at 9:22 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I live in the east village. Halloween, I have absolutedly no issue with. Santacon? I've got plans to hide out at the AMNH this year. Last year I attempted to drop off laundry at around 11 am, and I already had to step over a bunch of drunk santas consoling a very drunk/vomiting elf.
Mostly I'm excited that it's ending in brooklyn this year- I'm just hoping they're not too drunk to parade over there.
posted by larthegreat at 9:23 AM on December 13, 2013
Mostly I'm excited that it's ending in brooklyn this year- I'm just hoping they're not too drunk to parade over there.
posted by larthegreat at 9:23 AM on December 13, 2013
Yet another fun concept ruined by overgrown frat kids who can't handle their booze (see also: most music festivals)And kick ball.
And Mardi Gras.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:24 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
uncleozzy, would that be the Nutty Irishman
Lord no, the Nutty is not my favorite anything.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:24 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Lord no, the Nutty is not my favorite anything.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:24 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
These things need to be banned, or at least serious resistance needs to happen
What, exactly, does one ban? Wearing the costume? Going on pub crawls?
Bars aren't supposed to serve you if you appear to be visibly intoxicated, public drinking is already banned (or is in Pittsburgh and Vancouver at least), and I'd be surprised if a liquor store was allowed to sell booze and beer to visibly intoxicated patrons.
posted by Slackermagee at 9:28 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
What, exactly, does one ban? Wearing the costume? Going on pub crawls?
Bars aren't supposed to serve you if you appear to be visibly intoxicated, public drinking is already banned (or is in Pittsburgh and Vancouver at least), and I'd be surprised if a liquor store was allowed to sell booze and beer to visibly intoxicated patrons.
posted by Slackermagee at 9:28 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Philly did this last weekend. A kid wound up wandering onto I-95, which is not easy, and getting hit and killed in traffic.
Santa got run over by a RAV 4.
posted by Ghost Mode at 9:31 AM on December 13, 2013 [13 favorites]
Santa got run over by a RAV 4.
posted by Ghost Mode at 9:31 AM on December 13, 2013 [13 favorites]
Didn't a guy get kicked out of The Replacements because of his drinking? Now that is a wake-up call that you may have a problem with alcohol.
posted by thelonius at 9:33 AM on December 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 9:33 AM on December 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
Bars aren't supposed to serve you if you appear to be visibly intoxicated, public drinking is already banned (or is in Pittsburgh and Vancouver at least), and I'd be surprised if a liquor store was allowed to sell booze and beer to visibly intoxicated patrons.
Yes, and if cops were as interested in stopping and frisking belligerent white frat boys as they were poor black kids, there could be ten thousand arrests in Manhattan tomorrow. But, on the other hand, lol.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:35 AM on December 13, 2013 [24 favorites]
Yes, and if cops were as interested in stopping and frisking belligerent white frat boys as they were poor black kids, there could be ten thousand arrests in Manhattan tomorrow. But, on the other hand, lol.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:35 AM on December 13, 2013 [24 favorites]
Last year I saw a startling number of people who had literally soiled themselves from overindulgence. Most were pee-stainers but there was at least one pants-pooper. Although in retrospect I suppose it is just as likely that he sat in dog doo.
posted by elizardbits at 9:38 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 9:38 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have a hard time imagining myself having "fun" at any event that draws 35,000 people!
I came across the Charleston SC SantaCon while I was visiting last weekend. It was a smallish, manageable group which seems like it would be a thousand times more fun than hanging out with thousands of Santas.
posted by vespabelle at 9:42 AM on December 13, 2013
I came across the Charleston SC SantaCon while I was visiting last weekend. It was a smallish, manageable group which seems like it would be a thousand times more fun than hanging out with thousands of Santas.
posted by vespabelle at 9:42 AM on December 13, 2013
"This year, the Santas will converge at 10 a.m. near Tompkins Square Park in the East Village and eventually make their way to Brooklyn, ending near Bedford-Stuyvesant."
Oh fuck no. What's wrong with Williamsburg? (besides the obvious, I mean)
posted by Hactar at 9:43 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh fuck no. What's wrong with Williamsburg? (besides the obvious, I mean)
posted by Hactar at 9:43 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not saying that the best time for a kaiju attack on NYC would be when the Williamsburg bridge is teeming with drunk santas on parade but maybe I am thinking it a little bit.
posted by elizardbits at 9:46 AM on December 13, 2013 [26 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 9:46 AM on December 13, 2013 [26 favorites]
We heard all the Santae into one bar in Brooklyn and then we unleash the hungry pigs
posted by The Whelk at 9:51 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:51 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
See? This is why I do all my drinking the old-fashioned way:
At home, alone, wearing an Easter Bunny suit.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:59 AM on December 13, 2013 [17 favorites]
At home, alone, wearing an Easter Bunny suit.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:59 AM on December 13, 2013 [17 favorites]
35,000 inebriated people is always going to result in some problem. Make them wear numbers like racebibs and figure out how to eject the problem cases?
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:00 AM on December 13, 2013
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:00 AM on December 13, 2013
MetaFilter: Yet another fun concept ruined by overgrown frat kids who can't handle their booze
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:14 AM on December 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:14 AM on December 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
BrotherCaine: "...and figure out how to eject the problem cases?"
Great idea, but eject them where?
I mean, I'd be all for a Santa Drop off the Brooklyn Bridge, but there are ethical issues.
Some kid might see dozens of Santas committing suicide and be traumatized for life.
posted by zarq at 10:15 AM on December 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
Great idea, but eject them where?
I mean, I'd be all for a Santa Drop off the Brooklyn Bridge, but there are ethical issues.
Some kid might see dozens of Santas committing suicide and be traumatized for life.
posted by zarq at 10:15 AM on December 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
music festivals)
And Mardi Gras.
And kick ball.
And snowball fights
And childhood. Well mine at least.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:15 AM on December 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
And Mardi Gras.
And kick ball.
And snowball fights
And childhood. Well mine at least.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:15 AM on December 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
These are all reasons why every city needs an "escalator to nowhere" that terminates 60ft above a handy little device we call The Grinder. Everyone has fun, some people get a bit too macho-rowdy and are unable to run back down the escalator as fast as they thought, hey presto no problem for the rest of us.
posted by aramaic at 10:16 AM on December 13, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by aramaic at 10:16 AM on December 13, 2013 [8 favorites]
"Is Santa Dead?" *sniffle*
"Well you know, Bobby, some kids are just so naughty that Santa... well... yes, Santa's gone to his reward in the great beyond. But eat up all your brussell sprouts and maybe he'll come back to life by Christmas."
posted by zarq at 10:18 AM on December 13, 2013
"Well you know, Bobby, some kids are just so naughty that Santa... well... yes, Santa's gone to his reward in the great beyond. But eat up all your brussell sprouts and maybe he'll come back to life by Christmas."
posted by zarq at 10:18 AM on December 13, 2013
It's worth unpacking the link that showbiz_liz posted a bit earlier: Santacon's founder is urging people to "go do something else." Santacon was originally Santarchy, which arose out of the Cacophony Society (that is a great book, imo), which also spawned Burning Man and Chuck Pahlaniuk's Fight Club. Cacophony engaged in mostly-smallish events aimed at disrupting people's comfortable daily patterns and ideas.
I would wish that our alternative histories not be lost.
posted by gusandrews at 10:18 AM on December 13, 2013 [27 favorites]
I would wish that our alternative histories not be lost.
posted by gusandrews at 10:18 AM on December 13, 2013 [27 favorites]
Interesting to see the history of santacon.
Still, I guess my experiences don't match others' feedback. I've participated in the SF version in the past, as a holly-jolly Mrs Claus, an elf, and an idle spectator. I find it to be really fun and satisfying to drink amongst costumed folks during the day, and a good excuse to avoid the bars at night because that's not really my scene anyway. Drunk people can make dumb decisions, sure, but that can and does happen many weekend nights throughout the year-- this is just held during the daytime, making it safer to participate, and with a theme. I've always enjoyed the costumes and the revelry (in particular, I have fond memories of watching two gift-wrapped girls mock-battle on Polk street-- hilarious!) and had a really positive experience relative to any other drinking event. It sucks to see so many folks are so negative about it... I've always had so much (non-destructive!) fun!
posted by samthemander at 10:29 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Still, I guess my experiences don't match others' feedback. I've participated in the SF version in the past, as a holly-jolly Mrs Claus, an elf, and an idle spectator. I find it to be really fun and satisfying to drink amongst costumed folks during the day, and a good excuse to avoid the bars at night because that's not really my scene anyway. Drunk people can make dumb decisions, sure, but that can and does happen many weekend nights throughout the year-- this is just held during the daytime, making it safer to participate, and with a theme. I've always enjoyed the costumes and the revelry (in particular, I have fond memories of watching two gift-wrapped girls mock-battle on Polk street-- hilarious!) and had a really positive experience relative to any other drinking event. It sucks to see so many folks are so negative about it... I've always had so much (non-destructive!) fun!
posted by samthemander at 10:29 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
It sucks to see so many folks are so negative about it... I've always had so much (non-destructive!) fun!
The problem is if you DON'T want to participate. Metaphorically, parades are fun, a parade tramping through your backyard barbecue is a goddamned nuisance, regardless of whether the parade members are having fun. Only, this isn't so well organized as a parade- it's a flash mob bigger than the population of Sheboygan.
I first learned of Santacon last year. A friend had a train layover at Penn Station, and I met her for lunch there. Attempting to walk through Penn Station during SantaCon ranks among the worst experiences of my life not involving physical pain.
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:35 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
The problem is if you DON'T want to participate. Metaphorically, parades are fun, a parade tramping through your backyard barbecue is a goddamned nuisance, regardless of whether the parade members are having fun. Only, this isn't so well organized as a parade- it's a flash mob bigger than the population of Sheboygan.
I first learned of Santacon last year. A friend had a train layover at Penn Station, and I met her for lunch there. Attempting to walk through Penn Station during SantaCon ranks among the worst experiences of my life not involving physical pain.
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:35 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Ugh, I work in midtown on Saturdays, and having to wave through intoxicated Santabros to get to and from work makes this my least favorite day of the year.
Last year during Santacon I took my boss's dog out for a walk, who is generally a sweet and friendly dog, and discovers that he does not like Santas at all.
Trying to take this poor old dog out to pee on streets completely overrun by intoxicated Santas who really wanted to pet him was not an easy task. He really does not like Santas.
posted by inertia at 10:40 AM on December 13, 2013 [10 favorites]
Last year during Santacon I took my boss's dog out for a walk, who is generally a sweet and friendly dog, and discovers that he does not like Santas at all.
Trying to take this poor old dog out to pee on streets completely overrun by intoxicated Santas who really wanted to pet him was not an easy task. He really does not like Santas.
posted by inertia at 10:40 AM on December 13, 2013 [10 favorites]
this is just held during the daytime, making it safer to participate, and with a theme.
Oh, there's a theme. Well that changes everything.
posted by R. Mutt at 10:47 AM on December 13, 2013
Oh, there's a theme. Well that changes everything.
posted by R. Mutt at 10:47 AM on December 13, 2013
OK, can this plague be counteracted by Krampi? I have a co-opwarming in SoHo to go to tomorrow!
posted by droplet at 10:49 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by droplet at 10:49 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
See? This is why I do all my drinking the old-fashioned way:
At home, alone, wearing an Easter Bunny suit.
The bunny suit sounds like work.
posted by MissySedai at 10:52 AM on December 13, 2013
At home, alone, wearing an Easter Bunny suit.
The bunny suit sounds like work.
posted by MissySedai at 10:52 AM on December 13, 2013
Drunk people can make dumb decisions, sure, but that can and does happen many weekend nights throughout the year-- this is just held during the daytime, making it safer to participate, and with a theme.
Sometimes things are fun for the people participating in them and really fucking unpleasant for the people who aren't.
posted by inertia at 10:58 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sometimes things are fun for the people participating in them and really fucking unpleasant for the people who aren't.
posted by inertia at 10:58 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
And Mardi Gras.
Bourbon street, all year long.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 11:07 AM on December 13, 2013
Bourbon street, all year long.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 11:07 AM on December 13, 2013
I checked to see if DC has one, and indeed we do, and it manages to hit most of the worst bars in the city. Mighty Pint and Sign of the Whale on the same night? This is some kind of punishment for relapsing alcoholics, right?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:13 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:13 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah yeah, it's a bit get of my damn lawn, but I feel like there's been an obnoxious trend from events where people get a little drunk and have a good time, to events which are an excuse to get smashed and be assholes. When did we turn into the UK?
posted by aspo at 11:19 AM on December 13, 2013
posted by aspo at 11:19 AM on December 13, 2013
The bunny suit sounds like work.
Well, as Nietzsche said: "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
I believe he was dressed as a raccoon at the time.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:21 AM on December 13, 2013 [13 favorites]
Well, as Nietzsche said: "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
I believe he was dressed as a raccoon at the time.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:21 AM on December 13, 2013 [13 favorites]
Droplet that's a hell of an idea.
Designate some Krampuses, who have to stay sober, as Santacon bouncers. When a given Santa/group of Santas is being unsafe/gets complaints, Krampus comes in and puts him in a taxi and sends him home. Or calls the cops.
Give local barkeeps a small paintgun so they can mark the offending Santas.
Have a few rest stations where helpful elves make sure people get hydrated/get help/get home/can complain about gropey Santas.
Of course this would all cost money. Maybe the local barkeeps would be willing to contribute though.
posted by emjaybee at 11:34 AM on December 13, 2013 [11 favorites]
Designate some Krampuses, who have to stay sober, as Santacon bouncers. When a given Santa/group of Santas is being unsafe/gets complaints, Krampus comes in and puts him in a taxi and sends him home. Or calls the cops.
Give local barkeeps a small paintgun so they can mark the offending Santas.
Have a few rest stations where helpful elves make sure people get hydrated/get help/get home/can complain about gropey Santas.
Of course this would all cost money. Maybe the local barkeeps would be willing to contribute though.
posted by emjaybee at 11:34 AM on December 13, 2013 [11 favorites]
Yet another fun concept ruined by overgrown frat kids who can't handle their booze (see also: most music festivals)
And Mardi Gras.
Hey now. The most fun evening I ever had at Mardi Gras I was stone cold sober. Throwing condoms and lube up to howling throngs on balconies in exchange for beads. I had so mean beads that night I had WELTS on my neck. CAPITAL NIGHT, that was.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 11:37 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
And Mardi Gras.
Hey now. The most fun evening I ever had at Mardi Gras I was stone cold sober. Throwing condoms and lube up to howling throngs on balconies in exchange for beads. I had so mean beads that night I had WELTS on my neck. CAPITAL NIGHT, that was.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 11:37 AM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
It sucks to see so many folks are so negative about it... I've always had so much (non-destructive!) fun!
Okay, so imagine you live or need to travel in Manhattan, which is already overcrowded in these areas. Imagine also that you're not interested in participating in SantaCon and instead want to do something else that involves setting foot outside your little apartment that day. In order to do that, you have to weave through masses of drunk and out-of-control frat boys/men in costume who treat your entire city like a giant toilet for them to piss and vomit all over. You have to hope they don't vomit on you or start harassing you while you're just trying to get to where you're going.
Imagine that you can't ride the subway or a city bus without being surrounded by these people, and you don't have a car because many people in NYC don't, and you also can't get a cab because the cabs are all full of these people and have also likely been vomited in. Does the negativity many New Yorkers feel start to make sense? We're not talking about "get off my lawn" grumpiness; we're talking about actually feeling unsafe and scared and angry about going outside during this because it's really that bad.
Drunk people can make dumb decisions, sure, but that can and does happen many weekend nights throughout the year-- this is just held during the daytime, making it safer to participate
The difference between every other weekend and SantaCon is that during SantaCon we're talking about drunken mobs taking over entire neighborhoods rather than some drunk idiots here and there. Their being in costume seems to make a lot of these people think they can/should get away with anything. Yes, every weekend the East Village has a lot of drunk people in it, but this is much worse.
posted by wondermouse at 11:38 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Okay, so imagine you live or need to travel in Manhattan, which is already overcrowded in these areas. Imagine also that you're not interested in participating in SantaCon and instead want to do something else that involves setting foot outside your little apartment that day. In order to do that, you have to weave through masses of drunk and out-of-control frat boys/men in costume who treat your entire city like a giant toilet for them to piss and vomit all over. You have to hope they don't vomit on you or start harassing you while you're just trying to get to where you're going.
Imagine that you can't ride the subway or a city bus without being surrounded by these people, and you don't have a car because many people in NYC don't, and you also can't get a cab because the cabs are all full of these people and have also likely been vomited in. Does the negativity many New Yorkers feel start to make sense? We're not talking about "get off my lawn" grumpiness; we're talking about actually feeling unsafe and scared and angry about going outside during this because it's really that bad.
Drunk people can make dumb decisions, sure, but that can and does happen many weekend nights throughout the year-- this is just held during the daytime, making it safer to participate
The difference between every other weekend and SantaCon is that during SantaCon we're talking about drunken mobs taking over entire neighborhoods rather than some drunk idiots here and there. Their being in costume seems to make a lot of these people think they can/should get away with anything. Yes, every weekend the East Village has a lot of drunk people in it, but this is much worse.
posted by wondermouse at 11:38 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Imagine that you can't ride the subway or a city bus without being surrounded by these people
Wow, is it that popular? I remember seeing it several years ago in Manhattan. We went into a bar, realized it was full of drunk santas, and moved to the bar next door, which only had a few stragglers. It's kind of surreally amazing (and horrifying) to imagine a city absolutely teeming with them.
posted by cell divide at 11:40 AM on December 13, 2013
Wow, is it that popular? I remember seeing it several years ago in Manhattan. We went into a bar, realized it was full of drunk santas, and moved to the bar next door, which only had a few stragglers. It's kind of surreally amazing (and horrifying) to imagine a city absolutely teeming with them.
posted by cell divide at 11:40 AM on December 13, 2013
Wow, is it that popular?
In certain neighborhoods, yes. Last year was horrible.
posted by wondermouse at 11:42 AM on December 13, 2013
In certain neighborhoods, yes. Last year was horrible.
posted by wondermouse at 11:42 AM on December 13, 2013
cell divide: they say it was 45,000 people last year, concentrated in specific neighborhoods of course. And it has grown exponentially in recent years, apparently.
It's going to snow this Santacon in NYC. I wonder if that will deter people or make them more likely to come out?
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:43 AM on December 13, 2013
It's going to snow this Santacon in NYC. I wonder if that will deter people or make them more likely to come out?
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:43 AM on December 13, 2013
It's gonna mean a lot of yellow snow and frozen vomit.
posted by elizardbits at 11:52 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 11:52 AM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Wow, is it that popular?
Yes, and it seems especially popular among the bridge and tunnel crowd. I've been literally the only person on an LIRR car not in a Santa costume. I don't envy the conductors tomorrow.
posted by inertia at 11:57 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yes, and it seems especially popular among the bridge and tunnel crowd. I've been literally the only person on an LIRR car not in a Santa costume. I don't envy the conductors tomorrow.
posted by inertia at 11:57 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Too much work, emjaybee. Let the Krampuses deal with the problem in their own fashion: the business end of a willow branch.
posted by dr_dank at 11:58 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 11:58 AM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm enjoying the Krampus idea but instead of taking them to a cab they can imprison them in the underworld.
posted by The Whelk at 11:59 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:59 AM on December 13, 2013 [5 favorites]
into the wicker maaan
posted by elizardbits at 12:00 PM on December 13, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 12:00 PM on December 13, 2013 [10 favorites]
I did Santacon (we called it 'Santarchy') a few years in Vancouver, roughly 2005-2008 or so, and I gradually got to see the transition as the frat types took it over. Sad but inevitable. I think in that case, it started as a popular event amongst the Burning Man types, was picked up by a lot of Couchsurfers and that's how the University kids found out about it. But the first couple I went to were really fun, most memorably when we were kicked out of the giant suburban mall outside of Vancouver:
Even Santa can be a little naughty at times. RCMP were called to a disturbance at Metrotown Mall near Vancouver on Saturday and found a gaggle of 100 Santas carrying a gasoline container full of “a pungent mix of holiday cheer.”posted by mannequito at 12:04 PM on December 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
“The Santas were relieved of their cocktails and sent on their way without incident,” RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.
“Santa was using public transportation and no reindeer were located. With the seizure of the Christmas spirits, police feel confident he will not be impaired at the reins and be on schedule for next week.”
"Culture Jam" should what we call what remains of people who use the term "culture jam" to excuse their obnoxious behaviors and attention-starved personalities, after we crush them like fruit preserves.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 12:17 PM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 12:17 PM on December 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Thereby protecting the supremacy of Culture Preserves.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:20 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:20 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Culture Marmalades are fine however, if spread a bit thin. g
posted by The Whelk at 12:24 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:24 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
When a given Santa/group of Santas is being unsafe/gets complaints, Krampus comes in and puts him in a taxi and sends him home. Or calls the cops.
Or cleaves to tradition and just beats them with sticks.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:43 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Or cleaves to tradition and just beats them with sticks.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:43 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
We should probobly figure out which pagan god we want a boon from in exchange for offering them 30,000 dead drunk frat boy souls to munch on for all eternity.
posted by The Whelk at 12:47 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:47 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
We should probobly figure out which pagan god we want a boon from in exchange for offering them 30,000 dead drunk frat boy souls to munch on for all eternity.
I doubt even my boss would want to deal with the secondhand hangover that'd come from eating that much garbage.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:49 PM on December 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
I doubt even my boss would want to deal with the secondhand hangover that'd come from eating that much garbage.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:49 PM on December 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
Love the NYT description: "...if you need to imagine a typical participant, just think of Billy Bob Thornton in “Bad Santa,” if the character were 24 and worked at Bain Capital."
posted by Mchelly at 12:55 PM on December 13, 2013 [14 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 12:55 PM on December 13, 2013 [14 favorites]
As someone who organized the SF SantaCon a few times when it was still manageable, I hope it dies in a fire.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:59 PM on December 13, 2013
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:59 PM on December 13, 2013
I checked to see if DC has one, and indeed we do
DC actually has two, a Santarchy (on the Mall) and a Santa Pub Crawl (low quality Dupont bars), both at 1pm on Saturday. Ugghhhh, I know, but probably less chaotic overall.
posted by troika at 1:06 PM on December 13, 2013
DC actually has two, a Santarchy (on the Mall) and a Santa Pub Crawl (low quality Dupont bars), both at 1pm on Saturday. Ugghhhh, I know, but probably less chaotic overall.
posted by troika at 1:06 PM on December 13, 2013
One of my early (2005?), surreal LA experiences was being part of a group of about a hundred Santas being shadowed by LAPD helicopters. I stopped going a couple years after that, and it's sad to hear of its transition/spiritual demise.
posted by jjwiseman at 1:11 PM on December 13, 2013
posted by jjwiseman at 1:11 PM on December 13, 2013
Maybe I've just been lucky, but I lived from 2009-2012 just 3 blocks off the Polk St santacon path, and I didn't participate (but stayed in the city) two of those years, and it did not negatively affect my life.
I think I'm hearing it's different in NYC, but at least in my hood, it wasn't so bad. *shrug* It just seemed like the drunks were out earlier, not that they were out to annoy me.
I'm really not trying to deny that it's been a Bad Thing in some places since it seems like it has been. It's just that my experience was... Fine. *shrug* good, even. I'll be quiet about it moving forward, but just wanted to share a viewpoint that might explain why it still happens...
posted by samthemander at 1:13 PM on December 13, 2013
I think I'm hearing it's different in NYC, but at least in my hood, it wasn't so bad. *shrug* It just seemed like the drunks were out earlier, not that they were out to annoy me.
I'm really not trying to deny that it's been a Bad Thing in some places since it seems like it has been. It's just that my experience was... Fine. *shrug* good, even. I'll be quiet about it moving forward, but just wanted to share a viewpoint that might explain why it still happens...
posted by samthemander at 1:13 PM on December 13, 2013
Oh man, that DC Santarchy page is blindingly terrible. It's also somewhat telling that all of the rules basically boil down to "wear a Santa suit, but don't get arrested."
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:17 PM on December 13, 2013
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:17 PM on December 13, 2013
It's really pretty bad in NYC, particularly in the east village (we're pretty used to drunks, so it takes a bit to phase one here). It used to not be terrible, and be mostly just amusing, but in the past two years it's exploded, and now... well it's the worst. It's worse than halloween in the east village, becuase people get mean and entitled and pushy when they are all in the same costume and drunk.
It's worse also because its "quasi organized" and there's a "donation" involved (for city harvest) so people take it to mean that it's sanctioned, and really, really don't give a fuck about the city or bars or neighborhoods where it takes place.
I mean LIRR and the Metro North are making tomorrow "dry days", to avoid having drunks on their trains.
So yes, it IS bad. very bad
posted by larthegreat at 1:28 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's worse also because its "quasi organized" and there's a "donation" involved (for city harvest) so people take it to mean that it's sanctioned, and really, really don't give a fuck about the city or bars or neighborhoods where it takes place.
I mean LIRR and the Metro North are making tomorrow "dry days", to avoid having drunks on their trains.
So yes, it IS bad. very bad
posted by larthegreat at 1:28 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I really wanted to check out the Christmas market thing in Bryant Park tomorrow after work, despite the bad weather, and generally try to enjoy the holiday stuff in the city for once.
Instead I'm going to be whining about how much I hate Santacon all day. If anyone sees a woman in Penn Station giving the side eye to a million Santabros, come say hi!
posted by inertia at 1:40 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Instead I'm going to be whining about how much I hate Santacon all day. If anyone sees a woman in Penn Station giving the side eye to a million Santabros, come say hi!
posted by inertia at 1:40 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
SantaCon always seems to be the same Saturday my friends and I make a quick tour of the holiday markets. I think we've been saved by one member of the group who insists that we be at the first market the second it opens (mid-morning, usually), so we wind up being done before the Santas have achieved critical drunken mass. (I gather they get worse as it gets darker out.)
posted by Karmakaze at 1:54 PM on December 13, 2013
posted by Karmakaze at 1:54 PM on December 13, 2013
It sounds like the Bryant Park area may be safe, as the crawl will probably start in the East Village. So you may actually be okay, inertia.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:54 PM on December 13, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:54 PM on December 13, 2013
I have extremely happy Santacon memories. I will probably never do it again. The slow transition from mostly Cacophony / Burning Man people to Seriously Dudebro has been painful to watch.
posted by feckless at 2:15 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by feckless at 2:15 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sometimes things are fun for the people participating in them and really fucking unpleasant for the people who aren't.
In fairness, this is how most of the country feels about NYC all year round.
posted by The Bellman at 3:38 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
In fairness, this is how most of the country feels about NYC all year round.
posted by The Bellman at 3:38 PM on December 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Still, I guess my experiences don't match others' feedback. I've participated in the SF version in the past, as a holly-jolly Mrs Claus, an elf, and an idle spectator. I find it to be really fun and satisfying to drink amongst costumed folks during the day,
San Franciscans are the best at public intoxication. I've gone to so many things there that I'd never in a million years attend in another city. They're happy drunks. Naked, glitter covered, cowboy boot wearing happy drunks
posted by fshgrl at 4:02 PM on December 13, 2013
San Franciscans are the best at public intoxication. I've gone to so many things there that I'd never in a million years attend in another city. They're happy drunks. Naked, glitter covered, cowboy boot wearing happy drunks
posted by fshgrl at 4:02 PM on December 13, 2013
A friend of mine who was involved with the old Santarchy events has been angsting over this on facebook, and it's no wonder why. Watching something cool get ruined by douchebags is a miserable thing.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:13 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:13 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh God it's the Zombie Pub Crawl in Santa outfits.
At least the day after the Zombie Pub Crawl, the hungover zombies look appropriately zombielike. Almost like the real thing.
posted by louche mustachio at 5:54 PM on December 13, 2013
At least the day after the Zombie Pub Crawl, the hungover zombies look appropriately zombielike. Almost like the real thing.
posted by louche mustachio at 5:54 PM on December 13, 2013
emjaybee, droplet, sign me right up for Krampus duty.
posted by gusandrews at 6:42 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by gusandrews at 6:42 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine used to go to SF Santacon, until some dudebros picked a fight with her husband and chucked my friend into the nearest grate. They got taken away by ambulance. No more SF Santacon for her.
See? This is why I do all my drinking the old-fashioned way:
At home, alone, wearing an Easter Bunny suit.
I feel like there needs to be some kind of Elwood P. Dowd/Harvey joke about this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:16 PM on December 13, 2013
See? This is why I do all my drinking the old-fashioned way:
At home, alone, wearing an Easter Bunny suit.
I feel like there needs to be some kind of Elwood P. Dowd/Harvey joke about this.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:16 PM on December 13, 2013
OK, can this plague be counteracted by Krampi?
I think the Krampuses are converging on Los Angeles this year, though they'd be a perfect fit for Wall Street.
posted by homunculus at 7:35 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think the Krampuses are converging on Los Angeles this year, though they'd be a perfect fit for Wall Street.
posted by homunculus at 7:35 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Adding support to the idea that this was once a nice thing that was ruined by assholes.
About 5 or so years ago I was out with the future wife in the east village and saw a lot of people dressed as santas/elves having a jolly good time. Had some drinks, learned it was Santa con and thought it was adorable. Basically "hey let's get festive and have fun!"
Last year got caught in the midst of a bunch of puking, belligerent, "walking into traffic because I'm invincible" assholes as I came home from a dinner around midnight and I don't live anywhere near the main festivities. It's gotten out of hand.
posted by slapshot57 at 9:01 PM on December 13, 2013
About 5 or so years ago I was out with the future wife in the east village and saw a lot of people dressed as santas/elves having a jolly good time. Had some drinks, learned it was Santa con and thought it was adorable. Basically "hey let's get festive and have fun!"
Last year got caught in the midst of a bunch of puking, belligerent, "walking into traffic because I'm invincible" assholes as I came home from a dinner around midnight and I don't live anywhere near the main festivities. It's gotten out of hand.
posted by slapshot57 at 9:01 PM on December 13, 2013
This all sounds very City of Lost Children.
posted by mynameisluka at 10:14 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mynameisluka at 10:14 PM on December 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Awesome. Realized only yesterday this starts in my neighborhood this year.
Maybe I'll live blog it a bit.
posted by abulafa at 6:00 AM on December 14, 2013
Maybe I'll live blog it a bit.
posted by abulafa at 6:00 AM on December 14, 2013
At least SantaCon started out nice, as opposed to the extraordinarily vile "I’m Shmacked" event, which is expressly planned to be drunken and ghastly and videotaped.
The "I'm Shmacked" event in Providence, RI, in September featured (one-way!) bus-loads of college kids and young people lying prone in the streets and others with bloody wounds. Such swell times!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:13 AM on December 14, 2013
The "I'm Shmacked" event in Providence, RI, in September featured (one-way!) bus-loads of college kids and young people lying prone in the streets and others with bloody wounds. Such swell times!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:13 AM on December 14, 2013
The rise of the Broscordians.
posted by acb at 6:42 AM on December 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by acb at 6:42 AM on December 14, 2013 [2 favorites]
At 11am this morning there was already a drunk shirtless dude in santa pants and a santa hat staggering down Greenwich avenue.
why
posted by elizardbits at 10:16 AM on December 14, 2013
why
posted by elizardbits at 10:16 AM on December 14, 2013
Northern manhattan is Santae free.
posted by The Whelk at 10:57 AM on December 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 10:57 AM on December 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
A sprinkling of Santa hats in the EV, but no one in full regalia.
posted by brujita at 12:31 PM on December 14, 2013
posted by brujita at 12:31 PM on December 14, 2013
Pope Guilty: "A friend of mine who was involved with the old Santarchy events has been angsting over this on facebook, and it's no wonder why. Watching something cool get ruined by douchebags is a miserable thing."
I believe Immanuel Kant had a rule covering this: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, wish that it should become a universal law. I have a hard time imaging Santarchy would fit into the Categorical Imperative.
posted by pwnguin at 4:24 PM on December 14, 2013
I believe Immanuel Kant had a rule covering this: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, wish that it should become a universal law. I have a hard time imaging Santarchy would fit into the Categorical Imperative.
posted by pwnguin at 4:24 PM on December 14, 2013
The BF and I were walking along Second Avenue in the 80s this afternoon, and saw at least a dozen people in various stages of Santa-wear, mostly being loud.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:21 PM on December 14, 2013
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:21 PM on December 14, 2013
Metafilter: Watching something cool get ruined by douchebags is a miserable thing.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:17 PM on December 18, 2013
posted by Chrysostom at 5:17 PM on December 18, 2013
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posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:06 AM on December 13, 2013