Perched atop the city in his 27th-floor workshop, Mr. Claus spilled the beans on this year’s five most in-demand toys and where in the mall ordinary mortals might find them.
“Anything Star Wars”: George Lucas—er, Disney’s—’70s space-Western series has obvious staying power, so check out the Death Star Planetarium: a trippy table-top globe that projects the Star Wars galaxies (and our own) onto the ceiling. $27, HMV, 416-340-9801.
Furbies: They’re baaaack! These weird-cute fuzzy friends are interactive (try tickling one) and hella popular. Santa says they outnumber Barbie requests two to one. $70, Sears, 416-349-7111.
Tea Sets: Santa’s received countless requests for tea-time tools, so try the 13-piece Tea Set Sticker Party, with ceramic cups, saucers, and 110 decorative stickers. We’re pretty sure the Queen already got hers. $20, Indigo, 416-591-3622.
“Anything Marvel”: Between Thor, The Avengers, Spider-Man, and other spandex-clad heroes, comic characters have received their fair share of screen time this year. If your kid can’t get enough, there’s the Spider-Man Vault, an exhaustive trove of Spidey collectibles, trading cards, sketches, and, naturally, a mask. $60, HMV, 416-340-9801.
LeapPad 2: Not ready to trust your kid with Apple swag? This gadget is the next best thing. With over 325 learning games, videos, and music apps, your mini-geek won’t be able to tell the difference between iPad and LeapPad. $110, EB Games, 416-596-7871.
