By Randi Pareira Santa Monica
Only on the west side of Los Angeles at the Sunday Santa Monica Farmers’ Market can a Santa Claus sit alone for hours on a white plastic lawn chair. At a comfortable distance are dozens of disinterested children. The face painting lady was quite busy. The buzz among the Santa Monicans’ was, “Is this an official, hourly paid, ‘real’ Claus, or one of the neighborhoods’ homeless residents?” Finally an adult tourist made good and sat on the guys lap for a photo op.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 26, 2007. Read the original PDF.