If you're not going to visit Mall Santa, maybe you could get Santa to visit you. RealSantas.com directly represents over 100 "real bearded Santas" around the country (most are in Southern California, though), and has contact information for over 400 more. The New York Santa pictured here, Santa Tom, "loves working with Heidi Klum of Victoria's Secret." I guess he was a good boy last year.
Naturally, Santas' [sic] schedules are pretty busy this time of year, but if you can book a visit, Santa usually gets around $175-250 for the first hour. Whether you book RealSanta or FreelanceSanta, you'll find the Handy Hints for a Visit From Santa will be very, um, handy:
2. Reserve a special parking place for Santa. It should be as close as possible to where he is appearing. And remember, Santa is a senior citizen. If he parks down the street or around the corner and has to walk all the way to your home, or office, he might be a bit winded or exhausted, when he gets there.Book Santa at RealSantas.com [RealSantas.com]...
8. If there is a balance or payment due to Santa, place it inside a Christmas card or envelope. It never looks appropriate when someone gives cash to Santa. So, as Santa is departing, hand him the envelope and say, "Thank you Santa, and here is a Christmas card from all of us."
Handy Hints for a Visit From Santa [RealSantas.com]
Say it ain't so - Santa doesn't park on the roof?
if he does, you better have a valet parking guy up there to meet him...