War on Christmas be damned!
A Bay Ridge cabbie turned his for-hire vehicle into a veritable rolling Christmas tree as part of his annual mission to spread holiday cheer. Driver Ibrahim Eid festooned the interior with ornaments and blinking bulbs, and now the lively livery cab is a legend among Bay Ridge’s ever-merry bar-goers, one frequent fare said.
“The people working in the bars in Bay Ridge all know him, and everybody wants the Christmas cab,” said Salty Dog bartender Francis Lawler. “People love it when he rolls up with the lights and music going. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people post photos and videos on social media taking rides in the Christmas cab.”
At night the car lights up like, well, a Christmas tree — Eid plays Christmas tunes and illuminates multicolored lights and tiny disco balls strung across the cab’s ceiling, creating a kaleidoscope of festivity. He got the tradition rolling six years ago, but this year he and co-workers at Alex II Limo and Car Service plan to spruce up the outside of his ride too, he said.
“It’s not finished, I’ve got more to do,” said Eid, who is not Christian but said he and his family enjoy celebrating America’s beloved holidays. “This year we’ll put lights on and decorations on the outside.”
The driver does it for fun and to bolster business, he said.
“Everybody loves it — this guy gave me his phone number and address after a ride so I could pick him up again,” said Eid.
You need not come to Bay Ridge to hail the holiday ride — Eid will pick up kindred Christmas spirits anywhere in the city for the right price, he said.
And if you miss out this season you can always call around St. Patrick’s Day, when Eid dresses himself and his cab in all green.
