Twas 2 weeks before Christmas & all through downtown

There were santas aplenty all roaming around.

Frivolity & merriment were the words of the night

5000 santas is really quite a sight!

Pockets & purses were stuffed full of green!

Give to the charity, you’ll help with a dream!

Art Mann’s TV travel show will be filming galore,

Look! Santas, elves, yetis, grinches & more!

~ Melody- Libation & Frivolity Elf

Wednesday December 10, 2008

A variety of Santas, Mrs. Santas, elves, and other holiday beings will take to the streets of downtown Reno this Saturday night for the 7th Annual Reno Santa Pub Crawl. This roving party starts at one of three downtown bars and involves about 30 watering holes scattered around the neighborhood. Things get started at 7:30 p.m. – show up at Amendment 21, Imperial Bar and Lounge, or The Underground to get a crawl map and your first drink. Participation in the Reno Santa Pub Crawl is free, but you’ll have to pay for your drinks.

To keep things semi-under control, there are a few Santa Pub Crawl rules to party by, the most basic of which is you have to be 21 and wearing some variety of Santa suit to participate. Hey, this is a drinking event and there will be big bouncers checking IDs, so be sure to have yours handy. And don’t even think about driving, or letting anyone else in your group get behind the wheel.

All this frivolity has the underlying purpose of supporting local charity organizations. This year, it’s the Hashimoto Widows and Orphans Fund for the families of fallen law enforcement officers in the Reno / Sparks area. Revelers can support the “Claus” by purchasing souvenir bracelets at bars along the crawl.

Weather note: The forecast calls for a cold and snowy snap to arrive just in time for the Reno Santa Pub Crawl. Just so you know, we’re talking freezing temperatures and maybe some rain or snow.

Metromix
December 9, 2008

Skeptics with too much time on their hands may argue that there is no way Santa Clause could deliver presents to the home of every child in the world during the course of a single night. Since we’ll never know the answer to that impossible hypothetical dilemma, why not focus on a more easily tested challenge: drinking at 31 bars and clubs while decked out in holiday garb during the seventh annual Santa Pub Crawl on Dec. 13.

I don’t see it happening, and if I do see it, I’ll buy you a drink.

Regardless of how far you get, all proceeds from bars go to the Hashimoto Widows and Orphans’ Fund for families of fallen police officers, so doing good is as easy as raising a glass this Saturday.

Pick your starting bar

Although tackling all 31 (and imbibing at each, mind you) might be out of the question, there are a few ways to pick your route to avoid hundreds of Santas all showing up at once to any particular bar.

The Santa Pub Crawl Web site lets you bring up the list of places in three routes, starting at either Imperial, Amendment 21 or the Underground. And of course, all roads lead back to 210 North for the official after the arch party that keeps things going long after bars might close and will provide an opportunity to get all the Santas together at the same time.

Drinking bonus

During the crawl, fill out a raffle form or leave a business card at Amendment 21 or the Waterfall for a chance to win $200 in bar gift certificates and tickets to the Nevada vs. North Carolina men’s basketball game on Dec. 31. Plus, at 10:30 p.m., Amendment 21 is holding a Sexy Ms. Claus contest with $1,000 in prizes up for grabs.

Need help planning an outfit? The costume is key since it’s the ticket to drink specials during the no-cover event. Anything holidayish will do, but remember that in a mob of head-to-toe Santas, the person with just a jingle-belled hat is the one who looks silly. For costume tips, check out our Santa fashion guide.

Pub crawl supports families of fallen police officers
November 25, 2008

If you’ve always wanted to bust out your inner Santa and go wild boozing it up with hundreds and hundreds of like-minded elves, now’s your chance. The annual Reno Santa Pub Crawl makes its way back to the streets of Reno on Dec. 13.

The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. at three locations — Amendment 21, the Imperial and the Underground — where elves of all persuasion pick up their maps and joyfully mingle through the downtown district, stopping at 27 locations (if you can make all 27 bars before passing out). Maps and a full set of rules are also posted online at www.renosantacrawl.com.

The free event is a benefit for the Hashimoto Widows and Orphans Fund, which supports families of fallen police officers. The venues along the route are asked to donate to the cause, and as a reward for their generosity, they receive a visit from the crawling Clauses.

Organizer Matthew Goedert, a San Francisco attorney, has been spreading the good tidings with his crew of Santas since 2001. He says Santa is a beloved icon who always produced good interaction with the customers. The event is well-received for the most part and people react favorably. When you’re dressed as Santa, people love you and want to talk to you.

Although most of the revelers are 30-something professionals by day, the group of regulars includes at least one professional Santa Claus. Crawlers costumes can range from $13 one-time use discount-store goods to bawdy or barely-there wear for grown-ups. Some Santas dump hundreds of dollars into their Kris Kringle get-ups and Mrs. Claus attire.

Participants aren’t asked to pay a fee, Goedert says, because of the cost of the costumes and drinks, and because he does not want to be held responsible for the behavior of people he doesn’t know. Some Santas find themselves behind bars for various drunken indiscretions, but overall, Goedert says, “It’s a good event and hopefully, everybody behaves themselves.”

The evening wraps with Christmas carols under the Reno Arch, then an after party at 210 North.

December 14, 2007
Merrie Leininger, Reno Gazette-Journal

Hundreds of sauced Santas, blitzed Blitzens and jolly old elves will descend on downtown this Saturday for the annual Santa Bar Crawl fundraiser.

Organizers Matt Goedert, a San Francisco attorney who grew up in Reno and sales coordinator Tommy Keefhaver, of Reno, are hoping up to 1,000 people dressed as Santas, Mrs. Clauses and Rudolphs will go bar hopping with them Saturday night.

“We estimate, based on hits on the Web site, between 500 and 1,000 people,” Keefhaver said.

“The year before last we had 500, and last year, the snow killed a lot (of the attendance) and we still had 500. A lot of people got stuck in the snow and walked. Even my mother shows up. Even my grandparents showed up one year just to see the Santas. Just to wander around and look at people is worth the price of the suit.” ($14.99 at any Walgreens will get you a really cheap-looking Santa suit, complete with beard.)

“People go out who I don’t think drink. When you are dressed as Santa, people treat you a lot nicer, you’re automatically liked. I’m an attorney, so I’m hated everywhere I go, but for one night a year, I dress up like Santa and everybody likes me,” Goedert said.

This year, all the Santas who show up will have the opportunity not only to bring a little holiday cheer to the streets of Reno in between drinks and to help raise thousands for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, but also will take away a little souvenir.

Goedert said the small group of volunteers who joined the organizing crew this year came up with the idea of selling bracelets that say “2007 Reno Santa Crawl.”

The red, green, glow-in-the-dark-green or reddish-gold rubber bracelets (like the yellow “Live Strong” bracelets) will be available at two for $5 at most of the 25 bars on the crawl.

Goedert said that while they raised $4,500 last year, they are hoping to raise about $1,500 more in 2007.

“We don’t actually ask participants to pay anything except buy their own drinks,” Goedert said. “The money comes from the bars and we ask the bars for more money every year; we can only ask for so much. A lot of times people will ask us where do they pay, so if you would like to give to the charity, then just give $5 and you get something in return.”

Keefhaver said people really go all out with both their costumes — whether it’s making a costume that lights up like Keefhaver did one year, or shelling out big bucks on a beard like Goedert did this year — and getting into the giving spirit, buying strangers drinks and handing out toys to kids on the street or candy, stickers or condoms to fellow crawlers.

Goedert said the crawl is divided into two routes again this year (one that starts at the Imperial Bar at 150 N. Arlington Ave., and one that stars at Club Underground at 555 E. 4th St.) because there are so many bars and so many participants.

“Imagine 500 people walking into a bar and asking for a drink,” Goedert said.

He said just about every downtown Reno bar is involved, a real change from the first couple of years when he had to convince bars to participate and not charge a cover. Now they have all experienced how much money they can make from a bunch of sloppy Santas in the holiday mood.

The bars offer drink specials to the Santas, and some have bands or DJs in an effort to get them to stop crawling and stay in their bar. Club Underground has its own Toys for Tots benefit that night at 9 p.m. called “A Nightmare Before Christmas.” Local rock bands One Time in Reno, Greyscale, The Swamp Donkey, Dorcia, This Calendar Year and more will play. The show is free with a toy and costume.

“We’re just bringing people down there, it’s their job to keep them there,” Goedert said. “Some bars sold Santa suits last year, others put out a jar for donations to the Food Bank. Others have certain portions of drink specials that go to the Food Bank. One place will have pizza this year.”

Whichever bar you start or stop at this year, Goedert and Keefhaver urge people to either take a cab home or get a hotel room for the night.

“Do everybody a favor, including whoever has to clean your bathroom. Tommy and I are staying at the Eldorado because they give the most to our charity. You got to show the love,” Goedert said.

– Merrie Leininger, Reno Gazette-Journal

November 26, 2007

Just as the chaos of the holiday season mounts to its apex, the Reno downtown bar district will get its annual visit from the parade of pub-crawling Santas prepared to spread Christmas cheer.

The evening begins around 7:30 – 8 p.m. at two locations, where red-suit clad men and women meet to pick up their maps and joyfully mingle through the downtown district, stopping at 22 selected locations, bringing the joy of giving to revelers along the way.

The event, free to participants, can be expected to bring in about $4,000 to $5,000 in donations to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The venues along the route are asked to donate to the cause, and as a reward for their generosity, they receive a visit from the crawling Clauses.

Organizer Matthew Goedert, a San Francisco attorney, has been spreading the good tidings with his crew of Santas for the past eight years. He says Santa is a beloved icon who always produced good interaction with the customers. The event is well-received for the most part and people react favorably. When you’re dressed as Santa, people love you and want to talk to you.

Although most of the revelers are 30-something professionals by day, the group of regulars includes at least one professional Santa Claus. Crawlers costumes can range from $13 one-time use discount-store goods to bawdy or barely-there wear for grown-ups. Some Santas continue to dump hundreds of dollars into their Kris Kringle get-ups and Mrs. Claus attire.

Participants aren’t asked to pay a fee, Goedert says, one, because of the cost of the costumes and drinks, and two, because he does not want to be held responsible for the behavior of people he doesn’t know. Some folks in the crawl can get a little too absorbed in the de-stressing practices and find themselves out of hand. While 2006 saw only two Santas hauled in via paddywagon, (one for flashing and another for standing in the middle of the street blocking traffic,) Goedert says, “It’s a good event and hopefully, everybody behaves themselves.”

The www.renosantacrawl .com website has a list of crawl rules.

Although the continually growing event seems to be a lot to handle each year, Goedert says he has continued to host the event because of the charity element involved. “that makes it more worth the time and more appealing.”

The evening wraps with Christmas carols under the Reno Arch.

By Kris Vagner
At the Reno Santa Pub Crawl, from left, Heather Crawley is a wrapped present, Mark Morrison is a yeti, and Jeff Balmut is Santa’s helper as Santas frolick in front of Silver Peak Brewery downtown.

Photo By David Robert

‘Twas the week before Christmas,
when all through the town
Santa was trying not to fall down.

The sleigh had been filled;
the elves all on break.
Santa took to the streets.
There was merry to make.I had wondered myself
how one guy and one sleigh
pulls off world distribution
all on one day.

But now that I’ve seen
the Santa Pub Crawl,
I know just how
Santa conquers it all.

It’s true what they say:
Santa’s jolly, all-knowing.
But the guy’s basic secret
is actually cloning.

Last Saturday night,
the streets were a-swim
with not one red clad Santa–
but hundreds of him!

They wandered the city
by pick-up and bike.
Neither slick roads nor snow
impeded their hike.

They dropped by the jazz bar,
Basque club, and casino,
filled 29 bars in downtown Reno.With elves and Santas,
the thruways were thick,
and I learned a few things
about old Saint Nick.He works hard, as they say.
He’s crafty and arty.
But when chores are done,
Man, Santa can party!

He may wear a toga, so debonair.
He sometimes sports fishnets.
He could have green hair.

Sometimes he’s a pirate
loot and all, matey.
He may dress in drag;
He might be a lady!

But compared to Ms. Claus,
Santa’s fashion’s a flop.
She bought her red suit
at the lingerie shop.

At nightclubs and bars,
Santa sings out of tune.
He sips a Bud Light.
He howls at the moon.

So many temptations.
Will he stay in line?
I think I heard Santa say,
“Hey what’s your sign?”Santa and pals frolic–
a lot.
They smile for reporters.
They pose for group shots.Ol’ Santa cuts loose
but just once a year.
His ulterior motive
(besides his own cheer)
is to rouse up some funds
for Nevada Food Bank.
This year, it was nearly three grand
Hey, Santa, Thanks!

So, back to the North Pole,
for one more night cap,
two Alka-Seltzers,
and then a quick nap.

He must clock back in,
ready for the big flight;
fill his sack up with coal,
um, I mean toys. Right.

By Marnee Benson
Photo courtesy of Matt Goedert

Winter partiers hit the streets in honor of Old Saint Nick.

In December 2001, Matt Goedert was working long, stressful hours at a San Francisco law firm when he had his secretary call for some Santa suits. He showed up in Reno a few days later with seven furry costumes and a diabolical plan. He would coerce six of his friends to dress up with him and spend all night bar-hopping downtown.

“People reacted so well,” Goedert recalls. “Everyone smiled and greeted us. It was a universal response.” Well, practically universal.

“We learned pretty quick, after we accidentally split up, that many Santas are joyful, but one Santa by himself at a bar is just creepy.” Because they — and the public-at-large — had so much fun that first year, Goedert and company decided to make the pub crawl an annual event. The original group of seven, including co-founder Tommy Keefhaver, invited other friends along, and the red-and-white clad crowd grew to 30. By 2005, there was a Web site dedicated to the event and more than 400 jolly celebrants roaming the streets of Reno from sundown on Dec. 17 to sunup on Dec. 18.

Goedert says that 2005 was a watershed year for the event. Most of the partygoers were heretofore unknown to the organizing committee; and the Santa Pub Crawl started showing up on Internet searches. Not only that, but last year it snowed on participants as they gathered happily at midnight under The Biggest Little City arch. Plus, the event raised money for a charitable cause. Doris Phelps, at the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, reports a $3,000 donation from the pompom-topped group.

Most of the participant bars reportedly did quite well last year, too. “Santas spend a lot of money,” Goedert says.

And, according to the official Web site, they are encouraged to carry extra Santa hats and candy-canes to give away. The Santas also are encouraged to tip big, patronize all 22 bars, and always look out for each other. Under no circumstances is anyone allowed to drink and drive. “There are designated drivers and cabs everywhere,” Keefhaver says.

So what’s in store for 2006?

“More frivolity, cocktails, and holiday cheer,” Goedert says. “You should come!” To join the fun, mark your calendar for Dec. 16 and visit renosantacrawl.com for details. Marnee Benson is a freelance writer living in Reno.

The idea sounds pretty simple. A few friends, looking for something fun to do the weekend before Christmas, dress in Santa suits and hit bars, as many as they can from 7 p.m. Saturday until sunup Sunday, or until they’ve had enough, whichever comes first. “No Santa has ever died on us,” Goedert said. Or been arrested for drunken driving. “We’ve never had any sort of incident,” said Tom Keefhaver, a former bartender, friend of Goedert’s and veteran crawler. “We’ve never had any sort of problems.” That’s probably because the Santas either come to the crawl and leave it in cabs or reserve hotel rooms. They’ll walk to the bars, most of which are located on or between East Fourth and West First streets. The crawl includes sober Santas who look after the party Santas. Eating is encouraged during the crawl. The Nugget in downtown Reno, with its popular hamburgers, is a crawl stop. Coffee drinking is allowed. One of the bar stops is Java Jungle.

The pro crawlers also have two main rules — pace yourself and drink water at every other bar. “Last year only three made it to every (bar),” Goedert said of the 2004 crawl, which drew 150 Santas. “One was me. It was about 6 or 7 in the morning.” This year, along with attracting twice the number of Santas, the crawl will be for charity. Participating bars will donate to the food bank, some giving a set amount or percentage of crawl profits and others $1 for every Santa served. The Santas buy their drinks. At one tavern, Abby’s Highway 40 on East Fourth Street, Santa suits are sold for $20 each, with $10 going to the food bank.

“They came stumbling in the first year,” said Donny Schwartz, Abby’s owner, recalling the 2001 crawl when Goedert and his buddies showed up. “It was a good thing. I just latched on after that.” For the crawl, Schwartz leaves his bar, puts on a red suit and joins the Santas. “It’s an ‘out of body experience,’ I’ll tell you,” he said.

The crawl for a “few friends” has become something of a social event and tourist attraction. “People from Missouri come out,” said Goedert, who maintains an Internet mailing list for the crawl. “People from New York are coming in. People fly in. We’ve had (foreign) exchange students.” The crawl, according to several Santas, isn’t just about drinking.

“The first year we did it, the moment that struck me the most, there was this guy walking down the street,” Keefhaver said. “He said, ‘Thank you for making my night, for making the holidays a little better.’” It started small in 2001, when Goedert, seeking holiday stress release, got six pals to go with him on the first crawl. “I hated Christmas,” Goedert said. “I just did not like the holidays. It was so busy. It’s so stressful. Everybody was having a good time. I’m doing taxes.” Goedert decided to have a good time. “I could only afford seven (Santa) suits,” he said. “I didn’t think anybody would do it after the first year.” Wrong.

The Reno Santa Crawl, advertised by word of mouth and on the Internet, grew. For the second crawl, 30 Santas showed up. A year later, the total was 68. Last year, the number more than doubled. This year’s crawl, if Goedert’s count is correct, will feature more Santas than the first four combined. “We thought we would top off at 50 people,” Goedert said. “When it got up to 150 last year, we said, ‘Wow, we can do a lot of good with this. We are going to shift it to raising money.’”

Here’s how the crawl expands: “There is a lady in the office,” said Lyons, who works in the Santa Rosa branch of a California government agency. “She knows one of the people who goes (to the crawl). She e-mailed me last year. She said, ‘I’m going to go to this. It’s going to be fun.’ They came and they were glad they came. They went and told all their friends. I told my friends. My hairdresser and her husband are going.” The crawl attracts people, such as Lyons, who want to dress like Santa and have an all-night party. They like doing it in Reno, where there’s no closing hour for bars. “We can’t hardly do anything in California,” Lyons said. “There are just so many restrictions. You go to Reno. It’s cool.”

Over the years, the crawl crowd has changed. There are more female than male Santas. “We try to promote more girl Santas,” said Goedert, who estimates 60 percent of the Santas are women. “The girls really enjoy the event and have a good time. It calms everybody down. If it was all guys, maybe they would drink a little too much.” After last year’s crawl, Goedert and Keefhaver realized they had something more than a bar hop. “There was so much energy involved with this event,” Keefhaver said. “Why not capture this energy and give some of it back to the community?” That’s why Goedert contacted the food bank, which supplies 85 social service agencies, and offered his crawl as a fundraiser. “We had no clue,” said Janice Hoke, food bank spokeswoman. “They chose us. We’re not stodgy over here at the food bank.”

Author: Don Cox, Coxdcox@rgj.com
Copyright (c) Reno Gazette-Journal. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.