NEW YORK — Here come Santa Clauses. Again.
Throngs of people dressed as jolly Old St. Nick descended on New York City for the annual SantaCon charity pub crawl on Saturday.
Revelers take part in the annual SantaCon charity pub crawl Saturday in New York.
The booze-fueled stroll, which included no shortage of Grinches, elves and other Christmas-themed costumes, kicked off at 10 a.m. in bars and clubs in midtown Manhattan. Revelers were expected to make their way downtown where the festivities end at 8 p.m. in local watering holes in the East Village.
The organizers encouraged participants to donate $15 to enter participating venues, which they said will go to charitable causes.
Similar Christmas-themed events and bacchanals were slated in cities across the U.S. and Europe, from San Francisco and Cincinnati to London and Berlin, on Saturday.
Children dressed in Santa Claus hats run Saturday in the traditional Christmas run along the streets of Vilnius, Lithuania. The run attracts many hundreds of people to the capital dressed as Santa Claus to participate.
As in years past, transit agencies hoped to keep the revelry from causing too much chaos in the nation’s busiest train system.
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Commuter rail lines from New Jersey and the New York suburbs banned passengers from drinking on trains headed into Manhattan starting from 4 a.m. Saturday through noon Sunday.
The New York Police Department also reminded revelers that the city’s open container laws that prohibit consuming alcohol in the street still apply.
“Ensuring everyone has access to safe and orderly travel is a top priority,” Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Chief John Mueller said in a statement this past week announcing the restrictions. “The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, and we want everyone to get to their destination smoothly and on time while enjoying the festivities.”
The best Secret Santa gifts under $50 for coworkers
1. Simple Modern Travel Mug
If you’re buying a gift for that coworker who always has a cup of coffee on their desk, grab this Voyager 360° coffee travel mug from Simple Modern. It comes in 10 colors, and 12 oz. and 16 oz. sizes so you can pick the perfect tumbler for your coworker.
Buy it here: Simple Modern Coffee Travel Mug, $30–$33
2. Viktor Jurgen Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager
This neck and back massager can be slung around your coworker’s shoulders to provide relief from those long days at the desk. The massager delivers a deep kneading with heat to boost circulation and relax muscles.
Buy it here: Viktor Jurgen Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager, $40
3. TCHO Vegan Chocolate Box
This TCHO gift box of quality chocolates is perfect for your coworker with a sweet tooth. The box contains six delicious plant-based flavors: Holy Fudge, Born Fruity, Dark Duo, Toffee Time, Choco Latté, and Aww Nuts.
Buy it here: TCHO Chocolate Gift Box, $36
4. Comrad Compression Socks
Comrad is on a mission to make compression socks cool, and if their sizable social media following is any indication, the company is doing a good job of it. These compression socks can alleviate aches and increase circulation, whether you work at a desk all day or on your feet.
Buy it here: Comrad Knee-High Compression Socks in Ombre, $32
5. Fluf Zipper Lunch Bag
If your coworker always brings lunch to the office, upgrade their daily routine with this roomy, machine-washable lunch tote from Fluf. It comes in more than 30 colors and patterns, so you can pick the one that looks like something your coworker would love.
Buy it here: Fluf Zipper Lunch Bag, $33
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