1. Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Yorkdale Shopping Centre’s Fashion Santa has been generating serious worldwide holiday buzz. ICYMI, model Paul Mason has primped his crisp white beard, donned his finest père Noël-inspired threads and is reprising his role as a head-turning hipster version of the man in red. “While you can’t add him to your Christmas list this season,” the AIMCo-owned and Oxford Properties-managed mall notes on its website, shoppers are encouraged to snap selfies with this foxy Father Christmas, and for every selfie posted on social media with the hashtag #YorkdaleFashionSanta, the mall will donate $1 to the SickKids Foundation.

2. CF Sherway Gardens

Meanwhile, The Keg Steakhouse + Bar just opened at CF Sherway Gardens, undergoing a $550M revamp. The launch of The Keg, a 10k SF space with a 140-seat terrace, will be followed in the new year by bar Bar Freddo Caffe and JOEY Sherway. Saks Fifth Avenue, opening next February, will have an Oliver Bonacini lounge. And a Cactus Club Café is coming in 2017. Sherway’s also redesigned its Gourmet Fare food court.  “We’re seeing huge demand for a breadth of in-property dining, shopping and experiences,” Cadillac Fairview VP Finley McEwen tells us, noting new food options “show our customers that we’re listening and are ready to evolve alongside them.”

3. First Canadian Place

First Canadian Place has unveiled its enhanced and revitalized Food Terrace, the Financial District’s only above-ground food court (great holiday party factoid!). FCP marked the occasion with a $25k donation to Community Food Centres Canada and Regent Park Community Food Centre. Brookfield Property Partners hired Kearns Mancini Architects to reconfigure the space, part of a three-level shopping complex, which now features more natural light and an outdoor patio overlooking King Street. Cactus Club Café just opened its first TO location there, to be followed by Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Greenhouse Juice Co, iQ Food Co and fast-casual Japanese restaurant Supa.