Santa Visits with Special Needs Children at 10:30 AM on Dec. 18, outside of 1351 Lincoln Avenue, Willow Glen, San Jose, CA
In response to those parents and care givers who need a low-key visit with Santa without the press of rushing through the visit after waiting in long lines, Santa Walter will be on Lincoln Avenue with his sleigh. Come by starting at 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 18, 2010, somewhere between 1275 and 1351 Lincoln Avenue.
A caring and gentle approach is needed without the loud bells and hearty, “Ho, HO, HO!” for God’s special children of all ages. Lisa called and asked to bring her nephew and her son, and it just seems to fit! All are welcome, of course. There is no charge, and everyone needs to shoot their own photographs. Santa is on Lincoln Avenue with the auspices of Willow Glen Business Association helping celebrate the wonderful environs of Willow Glen.
- Santa’s Sleigh on Lincoln Avenue
On Ladies Night Out, Santa Walter was surrounded by beautiful models momentarily. The Willow Glen Business Association enjoyed quite an effective promotion with the support of over 40 business who stayed open late on Thursday, December 2, 2010 up and down Lincoln Avenue in San Jose’s Willow Glen area.
The Santa House for Willow Glen is open for professional photos as well as for take-your-own. Located in the Bergmann building, 1355 Lincoln Avenue, the Santa House is the host site for Wagon Rides as well. The dates and times Santa House is open are:
- December 2, Thursday — 6 to 9 PM — Ladies Night Out
- December 4, Saturday — 4:30 to 6:00 PM
- December 5, Sunday — 3 to 4:30 PM and 6 to 7:30 PM
- December 11, Saturday — 6:30 to 8 PM
- December 12, Sunday — 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM and
- December 12, Sunday — 6 to 7:30 PM — Pet Night at Santa House
- December 18, Saturday — 12 to 1:30 PM and 6 to 7:30 PM
- December 19, Sunday — 1:30 to 3 PM
- December 21, Tuesday — 1:30 to 3 PM
Katie Nguyen Blossoms as a Santa Stylist Since Patty Fisher’s Column in the Mercury News
Katie Nguyen Trims Santa Walter, photo by Nhat V. Meyer/ Mercury News
Katie Nguyen, who has been helping whiten and trim Santa Walter for years, is now having other Santas stop in for her expertise since Patty Fisher’s article:
“When it comes to Santa, the beard makes the man.”
Katie operates a walk-ins-are-welcome hair salon on Aborn Road near White Boulevard in the Evergreen section of San Jose. She uses purple or blue colored bleach to get the best results to move Santa’s hair and beard into the expected white-as-driven-snow condition. Her results lead to lots of compliments!
2754 Aborn Rd
San Jose, CA 95121
408-270-2040
Ladies' Night in Downtown Willow Glen
The Willow Glen Business Association cordially invites all women to Ladies’ Night in Downtown Willow Glen. Just in time for the holidays, put on your Santa hats, grab your girlfriends, and join us for an evening of special offers, holiday spirits, and fun!
Ladies Night in Downtown Willow Glen has more details about the Ladies Night Out, with special offers from over 40 participating businesses.
Please click here to view a complete list of offerings and specials at more than 40 restaurants, shops, and spas that night. To download a one-page map listing all specials, please click here (PDF, 291kb). [ more info ]
Free Photos as Santa Sleigh Stroll Begins on Lincoln Avenue, Willow Glen, San Jose
Santa's Sleigh on Lincoln Avenue
Today, Sunday, November 28, was the first of many Santa Sleigh Strolls on Lincoln Avenue. Santa is sponsored by the Willow Glen Business Association to spread a bit of cheer, several candy canes, and to pose for photos as desired. There is no cost to the public. The next dates scheduled are for:
- Friday, 12/3 — 12 to 1:30 PM
- Saturday, 12/4 — 10:30 to Noon
- Sunday, 12/5 — 4:30 to 6 PM
- Friday, 12/10 — 4:00 to 5:30 PM
- Saturday, 12/11 — 2:30 to 4 PM
- Sunday, 12/12 — 12 to 1:30 PM
- Saturday, 12/18 — 10:30 to 12:00 PM
- Sunday, 12/19 — 12 to 1:30 PM
Please plan on looking up Santa as he strolls up and down Lincoln Avenue, Willow Glen, San Jose, CA. And be sure to thank Norma Ruiz and the Willow Glen Business Association!
Children love Santa to read!
Santa Walter continues his sharing of books and stories with children in Willow Glen area of San Jose, CA. This year, Santa was in the Santa House, in the old Bergmann building next door to La Boulanger, along with over a dozen youngsters and their parents and grand parents. Santa needed to do some paraphrasing to keep the attention span going, and had a great deal of enthusiastic antler-wearing and bell-ringing! Norma Ruiz, of the Willow Glen Business Association supplied hot chocolate and apple cider as well as cookies for everyone. It was a big splash and a rainy Saturday afternoon, from 12 to 1:00 PM. The next reading session is also free, and happens on Saturday, December 18th, from 2 to 3:00 PM in the Santa House (former location of Casa Casa in the Bergmann Building).
Chef Santa Walter
Santa Walter, along with his family including Reluctant Reindeer Debbie and Elf Della, prepared and served a Thanksgiving Dinner at Stone Church of Willow Glen, San Jose, CA, on Thursday, at 2 PM. By arriving at the church kitchen at 2:15 AM, Santa Walter put on the first 2 of 6 turkeys. An ace kitchen helper, Lawrence Summers, came in at 8:00 AM with his onion-chopping knife, and the Kitchen Crew then prepped red potatoes to go out as mashed potatoes, southern style cornbread and sausage dressing, and sliced those 20-pound turkeys ready to serve.
Many of the guests brought in favorite dishes as well. While preparing for around 50 people, this year the dinner count came in at 44 folks, with many well-wishers stopping by on their way to other family dinners. Lizanne headed up the dining room decor team and put out festive table cloths and table decorations. Rhonda and Bill brought chocolate cornucopias to share; the dessert table was really impressive with pies, cakes, cookies, as well as hand-whipped cream by Debbie.
“There are no artificial shortages!” Santa Walter exclaims. He firmly believes each participant should take home turkey leftovers, since that is also part of Thanksgiving traditions. “There is nothing like a turkey sandwich the next day.” One friend, Maureen, always asks for one of the turkey carcasses so she can make her own soup. For others, this year Santa Walter also made some turkey barley soup for folks to take home as well, even though it was not part of the dinner. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful dinner.
Patty Fisher, noted columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, met up with Santa Walter at Hair International on Aborn Road in San Jose on Monday. And she brought the photographer Nhat V. Mayer along as well. All of the secrets of Santa’s Elf Colorist Katie are revealed. She leads off her article,
“‘Twas the day before the opening of Santa Claus season, and on the way to his first holiday gig, Santa Walter Roach made a very important stop — to see his hair colorist.
After all, if Santa’s beard isn’t as white as the snow, then he can’t be the real Santa. And Roach is about as real as a Santa Claus can be.”
Santa Walter introduces “Holiday Photos on the Fly with Windows 7 and Southwest Airlines” in San Francisco
Santa Walter
Santa Walter spent the day Tuesday, November 23, having a wonderful time in San Francisco supporting Microsoft Windows 7 and Southwest Airlines announcement of free Christmas photos at 26 nationwide airports. Instead of using those reindeer to get around, Michael Celiceo and his associate John rode shotgun while Ali drove the Town Car all around San Francisco. Alternating public appearances all around town with visits with various ‘influentials’, Santa Walter seemed to make a big hit, even if he came around before Thanksgiving! Those ‘influentials’ included Ryan Singal at Wired, Ari Levy at Bloomberg’s, Debbie Gage at Dow Jones, Verne Kopytoff at New York Times, Anthony Ha at Venture Beat, and Taylor Buley at Forbes among others.
Santa Walter made a bit of a splash in the lobby of the earth-friendly W hotel at 181 3rd Street, San Francisco, as well. Guests and staff snapped dozens of photos with their phone cameras with Santa Walter and accepted a candy cane from his basket.
Microsoft News Center reports, ” DALLAS — Nov. 23, 2010 — If you’re traveling on Southwest Airlines this holiday season, you’re sure to be put on the “Nice List.” Southwest and Windows have partnered to make your holiday travel experience jollier with Holiday Photos on the Fly.
“Beginning Dec. 2, Southwest and Windows will offer free holiday photos to customers at 26 airports nationwide. Customers can stop by one of Santa’s workshops set up in select Southwest Airlines airports and have their photo taken with Santa or a holiday-themed backdrop. Once a photo is taken, a Windows 7 Elf will guide customers through an online experience to learn how to edit, share and store their photos with ease, thanks to Windows Live and Windows 7. Families will be able to print a copy of their photo at the airport, or visit http://www.freeholidayphotos.com to retrieve and share their photos online.”
Bloomberg carried the press release that reports, “Holiday Photos on the Fly will be available in the following airports:
Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love, Denver, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Houston Hobby, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oakland, Ontario, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Antonio, St Louis, Seattle Tacoma, and Tampa Bay."
Father Christmas with Puppy
Santa For Events serves a broad range of quality Santa appearances. In clarifying answers to the Bay City News reporter, Allecia Vermillion, it is clear that there are at least many different Santa appearance scenarios (with differing mix on how much group entertainment versus private conversations versus photo shoot):
Santa teams with companion Elves or with Mrs. Claus for a quality experience with:- intimate family setting, 1 to 12 children, 20 to 30 minutes;
- home party with 15 to 30 children, 40 to 60 minutes;
- small office Christmas party on their premises (employees and families with 12 to 30 children, and occasionally a party with just adults.)
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Santa and companions
mid-sized company party with crafts, face painting, cookie decorating, storytelling, games, with Santa photos as a highlight.
- intermediate company Christmas party (employees and families, up to 600 people with 200 children)
-
Children love making crafts.
management company hosting Christmas party for their tenants, both offices and apartments
- breakfast or brunch with Santa at restaurants, country clubs, and Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
- non-profit organization public appearance (e.g. History San Jose – photo session of 2 hours, antique fire truck entrance, for an honorarium)
- tree lighting ceremonies
- media Santa for advertising campaign
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Santa's Sleigh on Lincoln Avenue
Santa and his sleigh on a stroll up and down the retail center
- retail space photo shoot for client who sells photo packages to the public
- Santa on stage with Symphony Silicon Valley Chorus and San Jose Symphonic Choir brings entertainment to the stage as well.
"Twas the Night Before Christmas . . . "
Within these, there is variety on what type and how much group entertainment is expected. That’s why the 5 different monologues! Some of the monologue lines are aimed at listening adults while being addressed to children. Sometimes, it is for everyone; other times Santa is entertaining adults.
Santa Reads in Willow Glen
