Santa From the Grove in L.A.

A grand outdoor mall with plenty of surprises

Santa flying Low at the mall by Mark Tulin

The Grove is an outdoor shopping mall in Los Angeles. It is my favorite spot to grab lunch or a cup of coffee and enjoy my favorite pastime—people-watching. One of my favorite people, Santa, is flying over The Cheesecake Factory on his way to his workshop in the mall.

An L.A. Christmas Tree by Mark Tulin

A tall, decorated Christmas tree is something to behold. There may not be snow, and it may be sunny and warm in Southern California, but if you have a Christmas tree and Santa, you’ve got the holiday spirit.

The Famous Workshop by Mark Tulin

I wanted to sit on Santa’s lap, but because I was a senior citizen, they said — “Only children can sit on Santa’s lap.”

Santa on the Chair by Mark Tulin

But they said it nicely and invited me in any way. Honestly, I just wanted to meet Elf. I‘ve seen Santa a zillion times before, but I’ve never met Elf in…