Buddy the Elf

Many years ago, Irvin was browsing a thrift store when he happened upon Buddy's iconic green tunic and hat from the classic holiday movie Elf.  Naturally, he bought it, and it became a sort of holiday uniform for him over the years - worn for everything from tours of the Dyker lights to caroling on Christmas Eve.

In 2024, a pair of teenagers organized an event called Project Elf, where they invited New Yorkers to all dress up as Buddy and meet in Central Park for a bit of holiday cheer.  When Irvin saw the flyer, he determined that he would attend, and finally use the tunic in a proper full-blown cosplay.  Luckily, he had yellow tights, a big black belt, and black shoes handy!

The event was a rousing success, to the point that the NY Post event reported on it in "SantaCon 2024 rivaled by new, family-friendly NYC ‘Elf Project’ event," getting a picture of Irvin into the paper yet again!  About twenty elves showed up for the event, stumbled upon a group of Victorian carolers doing their thing, and spent the afternoon taking pictures and sharing their love for the movie.  There was even an elf who was drinking maple syrup out of a bottle, inspiring Irvin to level up his cosplay for next year!

And of course, the elves had to inform everyone that "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear" - as seen on the Instagram post below!  Everyone at the event expressed a fervent hope that it was the start of an annual tradition, it was a perfect bit of holiday jollity.

The organizers did indeed choose to make it an annual event, and to keep it as wholesome counterprogramming for SantaCon.  Irvin dutifully came to Project Elf 2025, but the organizers had failed to get the word out, so it was only a handful of elves hanging out with carolers and park rangers.  On the upside, Irvin was heading toa  Christmas decorating party afterwards, so the outfit was apropos!  And, inspired by one of the elves in 2024, Irvin carried a bottle of syrup with him - which came in handy when another elf got him coffee that wasn't sweet enough!