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Nutcracker photo shoot, NYC

As a momento of your visit to the New York State theater for a performance of the Nutcracker, you can get your photo taken with a ballerina against a backdrop of a scene from the ballet. The tickets come with an invitation to come early in order to do so. Areas are set up on either side of the second landing, and lines of little girls branch out from each. It's like a more cultured version of Macy's Santaland, without the crazy elves and the maze of Santas each in their dark closet.

After the performance, families who didn't get the chance line up and sneak photos of their children against the backdrop. Velvet ropes are set around the area, and a small sign asks people not to do so, but the sign on its brass post has has little hope of enforcing policy. People brush past the sign and its feeble request and step over the rope. The staff doesn't seem to mind. It's as if they know from years of experience what will ensue after the performance and they quietly turn a blind eye to the families of photographers.

One year, I'm going to get my photo taken with a ballerina and use it as my Christmas card.