Las Vegas Weekly

December 18, 2008 · 1:49 PM

Forget the North Pole and Disneyland: Santa Claus loves Vegas, baby

By Robin Leach

Father Klimaski isn't really Santa Claus; he just plays him at Studio 54.

I discovered Santa Claus doesn’t go back home to the North Pole -- or even to Disneyland -- when he rests up from that amazing round-the-world, whirlwind trip on Christmas Eve. Scrambling down chimneys and climbing back on the roof to deliver gifts is no easy task, especially for a bearded, red-cloaked man with just about the same girth as mine!

I was amazed to discover Santa agrees with me that Las Vegas is the best place on Earth to rest up, relax and unwind! Last night, I ran into him wrapping up his tour of our best spots he plans to hit this year. We chatted over an early supper at my friend star chef Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill in Caesars Palace, and, as you’d expect, there were video cameras on hand to capture our conversation.

It was such an intriguing and fascinating chat that now our Visitors & Convention Authority plans to use it in a viral video marketing campaign. It will begin on the Internet the day after Christmas, and we’re expecting millions of hits over New Year’s when, for the first time ever, we discover Santa’s secrets of Vegas -- and some of his personal tips!

He even agreed that for the first time ever, he’ll let me tour Santa’s Workshop with cameras so long as I bring plenty of carrots for the reindeer. Now I’ve just got to find the Polar Express station!

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