vip in the city

Christmas shopping at Short Hills

After some surprisingly good pastrami with Russian slaw at Main Street’s idiosyncratically named Bagel Chateau, DK, LK, SYB, HH and I piled into the Taupe Wonder for a trip to Millburn township’s upscale shopping center, along winding low-hilled roads (hence: Short Hills) and multi-million dollar homes.

At the Mall: penguins everywhere! At the Santa Snow Globe…

…and at the coin fountain.

We did not stick around in Short Hills long enough that day to witness Santa Paws where — wait for it… — people could bring their dogs in to have a holiday picture taken with Santa. Infants, however, would not be photographed.

Ended up not doing any Christmas shopping after all, though we did get to refuel with snacks and hot chocolates at the American Express Members Lounge. And SYB finally, finally, gave in to the lure of the super small and shiny.

Back at Chez H, we were joined by SK and RL. Over meat-and-pepper-lovers Boboli and SYB’s homemade apple-cranberry pie, we busted myths about Diet Coke and Mentos, but Settlers and Telephone Pictionary would have to wait for another time.

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Millburn Snowflake Parade 2006

D and LK picked me up shortly before noon to drive me to Jersey for our day with HH. Along the way, they picked up SYB, and breakfast. Door-to-door service and fresh-baked pear-apricot danish — sweet!

We met HH at his new(ish) home, and then set out for our day’s adventure. Earlier in the week, he and I consulted the Time Out Millburn for goings on around town. As luck would have it, our Sunday visit coincided with Millburn’s 23rd Annual Snowflake Parade.

Everybody loves a parade! I’m not sure why, but I am particularly fond of these small town parades, though truth be told, Millburn isn’t all that small; the 2000 U.S. Census puts the township population at just under 20,000. The five of us took a brisk, ten minute stroll to the turn-of-the-century downtown, along neat, tree-lined streets. We arrived just as the parade was getting started. From the distance, the (sometimes not so PC) announcer introduced each group of parade participants to the waiting crowds lining Main Street, Millburn.

All the essential parade elements were there: the brass band…

… the Brownie and Girl Scout troops…

…clowns, floats…

…giddy spectators….

…men in kilts…

…Shriners in weird little cars…

…high school marching band — this one led by one very young and very energetic bandleader…

…flag twirlers….

…Minnie and (surely not a Disney-approved) Mickey.

Afterwards, Santa needed a bit of assistance to dismount from the town firetruck.

When it was all over, the police reopened Main Street, as a Snowman and a Dalmatian wandered among the townsfolk to the endless delight of the younger set.

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