A Santa Who's Just 'One of the Neighbors'

It’s almost time for Santa’s big night, so Patch sat down with the big man in red while he was hanging out at his Birmingham outpost in , the , to ask the hard questions:

How many children have you seen this year in Birmingham?

Santa gives out candy canes to every child who goes through the Birmingham Santa House. As of Friday afternoon, he’d given out 1,309 candy canes this year. Even then, Santa admitted, “Of course, I’ve seen many, many more children than that.”

What is this year’s most popular toy request?

The most popular toys are fairly predictable, Santa said, counting them off on his fingers: “Barbies, American Girl dolls, Transformers, cars and trains.”

This year, however, Santa said he’s heard several requests for iPad 2s and even a few requests for iPad 3s. “I’ve had to explain that it might be awhile before I get those,” he said.

What’s the Christmas movie you watch every year?

. What else does he watch every year?

“It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas and Scrooge: The Musical,” he said.

What do you tell parents if their children may be scared or nervous to visit Santa?

“I always try to slow things down,” Santa said, noting that the Santa House is a wonderful place if your child is a little scared. “There’s space here to have a child stand off to the side or sit down next to me."

If your little one draws a blank when asked what he or she wants for Christmas, Santa said he’ll try to draw children into conversations about whatever is important to them, such as how school has been or what they’re most proud of. “Santa keeps track of that, too,” he said.

What is your favorite part of Christmas Day?

“I sleep most of it,” he said, noting, “Christmas is a chance for me to sit down and spend time with Mrs. Claus.”

The pair has plans for a simple holiday meal this year, featuring roast beef, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and Yorkshire pudding.

What is your favorite kind of cookie?

“I love all cookies,” he said. “I always tell children that they should make their favorite kind of cookie. That way, I get to try a new cookie at every stop.”

Santa also recommends leaving some oatmeal or birdseed outside — a particular favorite of the reindeer. Also, leaving birdseed ensures the arrival of plenty of birds, and birdsong, on Christmas morning.

When do you start growing the beard?

“The beard gets pretty dirty on Christmas Eve,” he said. “So on Christmas, I trim it, but otherwise keep it grown out most of the year.”

Is it going to snow this year in Metro Detroit?

“I’m not entirely sure,” Santa said. “There are predictions of spits of snow this week, but unfortunately, the weather is not one of the things my magic can control.”

What do you like about being here in Birmingham?

“I walk around Birmingham, and I’m recognized as Santa,” he said. “But I’m treated as if I’m a resident as well. I like that. I like that in Birmingham, Santa is one of the neighbors.”

Have Birmingham children been naughty or nice this year?

“They’ve been great,” he said. “Santa finds something to like in everybody.”

Still haven't visited Santa this year? He'll be in Birmingham until Christmas Eve. For complete hours, visit the . While you’re there, make sure to drop off your letter. or youngsters who are tech-savvy may send him an email at santa@northpole.com.

Spoiler alert! Don’t look, kids! Santa is also known as Westland’s Mike Short, a video and audio specialist with Ford. Short has been Santa Claus since college and has been occupying Santa’s chair in Birmingham for the past 15 years.