CitySearch listed its roundup for the best Santas in the city and it included Beverly Center’s “Hunky Santa,” the Santa who clocks in after 7pm when the kiddies have gone beddie-bye. And you’d think, “Beverly Center” and “West Hollywood,” this has got to be one hunky Santa since there certainly isn’t a shortage of “hunks” in the area. At least that’s what my friends and I thought.

So last year we thought it would be fun to get portraits done with the Hunky Santa for our Christmas cards. Sadly, when we got there, the Santa wasn’t so much a hunk as he was…a himbo. Well, that’s not a fair thing to say. Um, he looked like a New Jersey fireman. Better? What made it worse was that there wasn’t a line of giggly girls or gays for him…and I seriously considered getting the portrait done anyway cuz I felt bad since he seemed so friendly as he smiled and waved to all the passers-by who fled before him. So that holiday portrait idea was a bust.

But this year, checking out the Beverly Center site, there’s a special “Hunky Santa” section complete with pictures of this year’s winner. Sayyyyyy! He IS a cutie! Hmm, I might have to give the portrait idea another go… “Oh, Santa Baby!” If you want a different kind of Christmas portrait, forget about the jolly old man schtick and check out the pretty Kris Kringle at the Bev Center (located near the Snow Globes on Level 6) Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings thru December 23. Click here for Hunky Santa’s schedule. 8500 Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90048 (310) 854-0070 Cross Street: West Third Street