Operation Santa Claus at James Farley Post Office in NYC

Every day, we post a one minute guide to one great thing happening today in New York City. We list doings that are inexpensive or completely free, social and 100% unique to New York. Designed for the curious local or savvy tourist, we aim to expose the eccentric and obvious all over NYC. Check back every morning to crack open a new nutshell

Be a part of “Operation  Santa Claus”

During the Holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in Giant Trees, Endless Sales and general merriment. But December is also a great time to give a lil’ something back and to make a difference.

The Big Adventure fondly endorses “Operation Santa Claus” happening nationwide at United States Post Offices . This seasonal program that is nearly a century old enables Joe Public to become St. Nick for a bit and respond to letters from children that are addressed to the Jolly Old Elf.  Nearly a million letters are sent “Santa Claus” and the “North Pole,” but the letters remain in the area they were mailed (unless they contain a completely crazy Alaska address).

The doing good part is simple: Show up, register and then sit down to respond to letters that kids from all over wrote to Santa Claus.  If you want, you can even respond to a specific Christmas Wish by working with the USPS to buy and send the requested gift. Craft a thoughtful note, bring some joy, help some dreams come true and the USPS does the rest. Not bad, hunh?

You can help specifically at the James Farley Gigantor Midtown Post Office at 34^th and 8^th, which handles more letters to Santa than any other Post Office in the country.

   

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Thursday open to 7:00 PM through 12/23

Cost: Free

Where: James Farley Post Office – 34^th Street & 8^th Avenue 

Category: Holidays, Doing Some Good,

More Details: http://operationsanta.com/operation-santa-claus-at-james-farley-post-office-2012/

All Locations Nationwide: http://www.operationlettertosanta.com/Pages/chapters.htm

Visit KGB Bar - To Do In NYC Today

Every day, we post a one minute guide to one great thing happening today in New York City. We list doings that are inexpensive or completely free, social and 100% unique to New York. Designed for the curious local or savvy tourist, we aim to expose the eccentric and obvious all over NYC. Check back every morning to crack open a new nutshell

KGB Bar

Man, we love this bar. Located on the second floor above a small performance space and decked out in red, this Communist throwback dive is plastered with posters of Iconic, fallen leaders from the land of Tsars. An endless vodka selection behind the bar and, to be honest, it is the opposite of the bar where everyone knows your name…or even cares that you’re there. With supposed ties to old Russian revolutionists, we always feel like a Bolshevik revolution is just about to go down while we're inside.

Located on The Lower East Side, the bar even hosts readings and a pretty packed event calendar. Now that the weather is turning a bit colder, this place becomes even more perfect. From Russia with love, this bar knows that with a little vodka, anyone can pronounce "Dostoyevsky" correctly.  

Time: Open Late. Really Late. Every Night.

Cost: No cover; reasonably priced drinks.
Where: 85 East 4th Street near 2nd Avenue

Category: Bars, Social Watering Holes, Literary Readings, Russia 
More Info: http://www.kgbbar.com/