By JoAnne Klimovich Harrop

Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, 8:52 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Lisa Zwirn sees things other people don't.

As visual manager at Macy's Downtown Pittsburgh, it was her input that helped in the creation of the holiday windows, which celebrate “The Magic of Christmas.” They can be viewed through Jan. 7. This year's designs touch on seasonal traditions such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and an animated special about Virginia O'Hanlon, an 8-year-old who asked a newspaper editor in 1897 about Santa Claus, inspiring the famous, “Yes Virginia” editorial.

Two Pittsburgh-inspired windows feature a meeting place under the nearby Kaufmann's clock and the Rink at PPG Place, which Zwirn recommended. Zwirn worked with an army of carpenters, machinists, artisans and animators to bring each scene to life.

In addition to the holiday windows, Zwirn, 48, of Mt. Lebanon oversees “everything that makes the store magical.” She has been in the position for the past year-and-a-half and has worked for Macy's for three years. Zwirn is originally from Newport Beach, Calif., and has lived in Seattle, Park City, Utah and San Diego.

The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:

Jennifer Aniston. She's funny

Pick one:

A. Go-Gos

B. Goo Goo Dolls

C. Lady Gaga

D. Yo Gabba Gabba

A. Go-Gos

The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had.

Charm bracelet — I lost it!

I can't live without my: iPod, cellphone, DVR, or laptop?

Cellphone — It does everything!

One word my mother would use to describe me:

Dramatic

I'm deathly afraid of:

Snakes

My most memorable fashion mistake:

Overalls

Pick one:

A. Pirates

B. Penguins

C. Steelers

D. Other

E. I hate sports

E. I hate sports.

The superpower I wish I had in real life and why:

Transporting, because I'm originally from the West Coast, and it would make visiting easier.

Celebrity crush:

Johnny Depp or Heath Ledger

The oldest thing in my refrigerator is:

Condiments

TV marathon I could watch all day and why:

“Law & Order: SVU” — I just love it

People would be surprised to know that I:

I was a surfer groupie in high school.

Saturday mornings, you'll find me:

Sleeping in

The best concert I've ever seen:

The Talking Heads

My first job:

Paper route

The person I'm most often mistaken for:

Julie — my coworker

If I wasn't the visual manager at Macy's, I'd be:

A set decorator

Childhood hero and why:

Nancy Drew. She was like MacGyver for girls

Favorite guilty pleasure:

Red Vines

My favorite Pittsburgh pizza:

Il Pizzaiola

My childhood nickname was:

Sarah — after Sarah Bernhardt, the overly dramatic stage actress

My favorite cable channel:

MSNBC or Food Network

I never travel without my:

Extra bag of shoes

What you'll always find in my glove compartment:

A screwdriver

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