You should always have an emergency crash pad lined up, devoid of annoying relatives or whiny younger siblings. What to do when the Tribeca Star, W Union Square, and the Hudson are all full? Here’s the need-to-know for holiday house-crashing. Give freely. They thought they were done opening their presents, so please your hosts-to-be by bringing a bottle of wine and a tray of Citarella holiday cookies. You’re practically guaranteed the guest bedroom. Show up during the witching hour. You know that time around four o’clock when it’s already dark, even though it feels like you’ve only been up for a few hours? It’s too late to do anything productive, but too early to go out. Show up when boredom’s at its peak, and your hosts will be thrilled to see you. Play the poor-me card. I don’t usually advocate whining, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If you truly have nowhere to go, let your hosts know exactly why.
