Shopping mall photos with Santa Claus are nice, but here are a few places in the D.C. area where kids and their parents can share a meal as well as some holiday cheer with Santa this holiday season.

A few weeks ago, the holiday season officially began with Santa Claus riding into town at the end of the 35th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York City. Ever since then, he's been making appearances seemingly everywhere at once for children wanting to spend a few moments with him and tell him what they'd like for Christmas.

Because the sense of togetherness that accompanies the enjoyment of good food is as much an integral part of holiday traditions as Santa himself, it seems only proper this season to explore the joining of these two elements. While it is common knowledge to most people young and old that Santa is as benevolent and generous a person as anyone is likely to meet, something that may not be as widely known is that this is not all he is. There are as many sides to Santa Claus as there are boys and girls that adore him. Below is offered a sampling of some rarely-seen sides of Santa and three unconventional places to enjoy his company that will consist of more than a few fleeting seconds on Santa's lap at your local shopping mall.