Rock Lobster Holiday

Dear readers: Remember the Rock Lobsters?  Shortcake's friends in New York?  Their holiday tradition is to visit Santa, walk 5th Avenue looking at Christmas windows and decorations and have dinner at the Todd English Food Hall in the Plaza.

Shortcake made the Rock Lobsters a reservation using Express Pass, so there was no line in the maze.  We saw Santa with hardly a wait.

We always start with Macy's windows. 

Santa's toy factory.  Including Olaf and Sven.

An elf dressed as Buzz Lightyear.  At least that's what Shortcake saw.

RAWR!  I'm a dinosaur! 

Frost giants that remind Shortcake of Norse mythology retold by Neil Gaiman. 

There's a Christmas tree on the moon! 

It was raining, so we skipped Fifth Avenue and went to dinner.

After dinner it was still raining, so we skipped Fifth Avenue altogether.  Shortcake will walk Fifth Avenue another time.  When it's not raining.

Krampusnacht

It was a busy day.  Shortcake brought in cookies and brownies.  She was not going to work on St. Nick Day, so she baked early.  Genie brought in chocolate and made a lovely candy dish for Santa.

Imagine this exchange between Santa and Shortcake:

Santa: Hi Cupcake.

Shortcake: What did you call me?

Santa: Cupcake.

Shortcake: What's my name?

Santa: ...Shortcake?

Shortcake: That's right.  Have a cookie.

As Shortcake was walking out she wished all the managers a Happy St. Nicholas Day (because tomorrow is St. Nick Day).  Brian and GW ("When there's trouble, you call GW!") were happy to celebrate St. Nick Day.

Krampus was not because December 5th is Krampusnacht.  No one was wishing him a Happy Krampusnacht.  

Karyn told us it was International Ninja Day. 

 Jen and Shortcake got really excited, and then Krampus pointed his pen angrily.  

Because we were more excited about International Ninja Day than Krampusnacht.  Because Krampus does not give presents. It's only logical.  Who gets excited about a visit from Krampus?  No one. 

No School Groups

It was a slow day.  We kept expecting school groups, but they never showed.  Shortcake and Santa think it's because there is not puppet theater this year, so schools aren't making the trip to Macy's just to see Santa.  This makes Santa very sad since he loooooooooooooooves school groups.

Macy's had a new policy with photos this year - you can take your own photos, but we can't take it for you.  Because if an elf drops or damages your phone/camera in any way, then Macy's could be liable. Which is a little sad and weird for the veteran elves because we've been doing it for years.  The iPhone had just come out when Shortcake started coming down from the North Pole to Macy's.  This whole revolution from digital camera to smartphone camera happened since she's been there.

But. Alas.  Legal matters.  Santa may not abide in the United States of America, but Macy's sure does, and Macy's has to abide by the American standards.

That was a convoluted sentence.

On a more positive note, here's a photo of Shortcake and Santa:

Cookie Disaster

It was slow today.  Mister Claus had many visits.  The best of the day was a girl who came in, maybe 5 years old, and ready for her conversation with Santa:

Santa: What do you want for Christmas?
*girl says what she wants*
Santa: Mom, what do you want for Christmas?
*Mom says what she wants*
Santa: Dad, what do you want for Christmas?
Dad: I want to spend more time with my family.
Girl: Nope.  Try again.
Dad: I don't get to choose what I want?
Girl: How about pie?


Santa received a rose from a guest, but he couldn't take it back to the North Pole (It would freeze on the sleigh.), so he gave it to Shortcake.

Perhaps it was a reward for her quick thinking.  Someone tried to go through the emergency exit door by the break room.  This set off the alarm, so Shortcake leapt into action.  She ran to the manager's office to ask for the key and ran to turn off the alarm, while also checking the door was closed again.

Shortcake has a cookie obsession.  As previously discussed.  So in the early afternoon, she went to Au Bon Pain to get a cookie.  She took $2 (a cookie should cost about $1.50) and her Macy's employee ID (for a discount).  She wanted a Christmas Krinkle cookie.  Or something.  It's chocolate and minty with powdered sugar.  

There were no Krinkle cookies.  There was one chocolate chip cookie, but Shortcake figured she would check on other Krinkle cookies.  There were packs of 2 cookies, but they were $3.  But Shortcake had to wait in line to find out the cost because they were not labeled.  Also, Shortcake only had two dollars.  TWO.   So she went back for the chocolate chip cookie.  Which was gone.  So she asked the baker if there were more cookies, and the baker said they were in the oven.  Shortcake despaired, and promised she would be back.  

Shortcake relayed her tale of woe to Santa, and he gave her a dollar.  Shortcake got the two pack and gave one cookie to Santa and kept one cookie for herself.  

Because Santa likes cookies as much as Shortcake does.

Santa with Ribbon (left), Glitz (center) and Teddy Bear (right). 

Santa with Sprinkles

HAPPY CHILD & Cider's Birthday!

Cider turned 31 today!

Cider was thrilled.  Shortcake made him a birthday card and had Santa and the elves sign it. Photobomb by Jodi.

Ruby made him a sign.

Shortcake didn't have time to bake, so she got Cider cupcakes.  He got a Red Velvet, a Double Chocolate, and a Salted Caramel Banana.  Cider generously let Shortcake eat the Salted Caramel Banana.  Because she asked for it.  Because she has no shame.

Santa welcomed Cider to the Old People Club.  Why, yes, yes that is an AARP card.

Today was also Operation HAPPY CHILD.  You have to say "HAPPY CHILD" by bellowing it as loud as possible so you can be heard down the hallway.  It's an event where Macy's invites underprivileged children to come to Macy's, and they get breakfast and toys and it's a lovely event.  That never runs on time and is a tad disorganized.

 It was cold all day at Santaland, so Shortcake visited Santa in the house in pursuit of warmth.  She also cuddled a teddy bear.  And took a selfie.

Navi was in charge of distributing the teddy bears.

Teddy bears ended up everywhere.  It's a consequence of HAPPY CHILD.

Figgy and Shortcake had an in depth conversation on the merits of Disney vs Pixar vs Marvel.

As if there wasn't enough excitement today, Alaina and Ivy came to visit Santa!

Ivy looking at Sprinkles.

Ivy and Santa and her mom.  

Express Pass

If you want to come see Santa, tell the elf with the headset that you're there to see Shortcake.

If you are coming when Shortcake isn't there, or want to make sure there isn't a line, use the Express Pass.  It opens for reservations 2 days before the day.  So if you want to come on Saturday, you can make a reservation on Thursday.  Go to www.macys.com/santaland.

You're welcome.

Sloooooooooooooooooooooow Monday

It was a sloooooooooow night on Monday.  That's normal for the first Monday night of the season.  We'll be missing these days in 3 weeks when Monday night is filled with panicked parents two days before Christmas Eve.

Santa wears glasses on his visits with guests, but sometimes when he's on break he'll switch to a more festive non-Macy's approved pair.  Sometimes these glasses are hot pink.  Sometimes Santa forgets to switch back to the Macy's approved glasses.  One family was treated to very stylish glasses in their photo.  Shortcake walked in after the visit and asked Santa if he'd prefer different glasses while taking the hot pink pair off his face.

Shortcake has an insatiable cookie appetite.  Imagine an elf-shaped cookie monster, and that's what Shortcake looks like.  She had a long conversation with Santa on the best types of cookies.  Santa likes all kinds, but Shortcake prefers chocolate chip.  Or snickerdoodle.  Shortcake's mom makes this cracker crisp cookies that are quite good.  Anyway, while Shortcake was desperately trying to not eat cookies she ate three servings of carrots with hummus.  It did not satisfy her cookie craving.

Back in the day, Macy's managers all wore white carnations in their lapels, so Macy's employees would call for a White Flower instead of asking for a manager.  In Santaland we still call for a white flower (it can be good to de-escalate a situation by asking for manager without asking for a manager), but they never wore white flowers.  This year someone crocheted white flower brooches for the managers.  Robert his modeling his (above), and Shortcake thinks it's a nice touch.

Willie came to visit Santa.  He's a Santaland regular, often coming at night, and bringing things to show Santa like skates or his trumpet or his dolls.  He brought all of his dolls, featuring ET and Princess Jane and three monkeys (we think those are monkeys).