My friend Diana and I visited the Macy’s holiday display, “A Day in the Life of an Elf” today. The display is wonderful! You must see it before it ends on Dec. 30th.

Kids and families packed the 8th floor of Macy’s Downtown Minneapolis. Diana & I got to the back of the line and waited about 15 minutes to get to the display. The line moves much faster than you’d expect. Once in the display, you feel as though you’re really standing in Santaland (which, hello, I loved!) It’s sorta like you’re walking through one of Macy’s famous window displays. Everywhere you look there’s an elf, sparkling snow, tiny details that are perfectly placed. It’s really cool.

The display starts when the elves wake up, which is at 5:30 am, in bunk beds. Then they eat breakfast (the first of many meals & snacks). At school, little elves learn about toy making and reindeer flying. Among other things, we walked past the reindeer stable and saw the millions of letters come into Santaland.

My favorite part of the display took us to Santa’s workshop where elves are busy making treats and toys. A tiny elf stuffs chocolate into Hershey kiss twice its size. A magical machine twists candy canes. Giant, brilliantly colored lollipops hang on the wall.

In the next room: the elves make dozens of toys. Everywhere you look there’s another toy and another elf busy at work. It was brilliant.

Then at the end of the line, you got the chance to meet the man himself: Santa.

Diana and I waited in the line for the one-on-one time with Old St. Nick. We even sat on his lap — yes, both of us sat on his lap. We snapped a picture, then he asked what we wanted. I said I wanted a new car, or money for gas.

Santa said I wasn’t that good this year.

Ouch.

Maybe I should have asked for a boyfriend. Or maybe I should have told him I’m Jewish.