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Something Else
1324 Lexington Ave., at 88th St.
212-996-9845
For everyone from tots to teens, this precious store carries
magnets and key chains, camp accessories and stationery, Hello
Kitty supplies and party favors. Check out the “hoverdisc”
($14.95), this year’s hot item.
Stuyvesant
Trains & Hobbies
345 W. 14th St., near Eighth Ave., second fl.
212-254-5200
dept-56.com
Grown-up train addicts live for proprietor Tony Picciuto’s
collection of old and new Lionel engines (from $150 to $1,800)
and his endless supply of tracks and accessories. He’ll
special-order rare or unusual models that he doesn’t
stock.
Target
139 Flatbush Ave., near Atlantic Ave., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
With a new location in Brooklyn, Target is more accessible
to New Yorkers than ever before, but the Website still may
be a better way to go: Toys are organized down to subcategories,
like “Dolls and Accessories” and “Outdoor
Play.” Look for the Video Now Personal Video System
($39.99), Tokyo a Go Go Bratz Dolls ($26.99), and the learning
toy LeapFrog Leapster ($79.99).
360 Toy
Group
239 Eldridge St., near Houston St.
646-602-0138
360toygroup.com
Eternal boys get their fix at this cozy toy gallery, where
offerings are more like collector’s pieces than playthings.
A 360 exclusive is the 4eye figure, for $50; the seven Samurai,
or Kaws’ Chum, is $98.
Tiny
Doll House
1179 Lexington Ave., near 80th St.
212-744-3719
Looking more
like a museum of miniature interior decoration, this quiet
shop caters to a good tiptoer with a long attention span and
a precocious interest in Architectural Digest. You’ll
find shrunken croquet and barbecue sets, Persian carpets,
and do-it-yourself parquet flooring, Le Corbusier chairs,
and Starbucks coffee mugs. As in real life, there’s
furniture to fit every budget—from $19 for mini bunk
beds to $2,200 for a handmade, Chippendale-style break front.
Toys
’R’ Us
Call 800-869-7787
toysrus.com
You don’t have to drive to the suburbs to load up on
the latest must-have toys at discounted prices; Toys ’R’
Us is right here in town. The Times Square location has Operation
Shrek ($14.99) by Hasbro Games, a twist on the classic surgical
board game. Also big this year are the Fisher-Price Sing &
Boogie Blue ($24.99) and Hasbro’s VideoNow Color ($75),
a personal video player with color LCD screen and self-contained
speakers. How come we never had this stuff to play with?
Toy
Tokyo
21 Second Ave., near 7th St.
212-673-6424
Israel Lavarek’s eccentric East Village shop specializes
in hip Japanese imports. They’ve got Totoro figures
(a character from a animated film by legendary director Hayao
Miyazaki) for $7.99 to $19.99, and Japanese “candy toys”
(miniature toys with candy inside) starting at $2.99, as well
as more recognizable figurines like Godzilla and Transformers.
West
Side Kids
498 Amsterdam Ave., at 84th St.
212-496-7282
This low-key store has a hefty selection of creative toys.
Standouts include reasonably priced arts-and-crafts sets ($5–$50)
and small toys perfect for birthday parties. Also: tooth-fairy
pillows ($5), tents, and camp stationery.
Zittles
969 Madison Ave., near 76th St., third fl.
212-737-2040
zittles.com
The toy emporium at the tony Zitomer pharmacy is a good place
to stock up on high-end must-haves like stuffed animals, board
games, books, even a full line of Madame Alexander dolls (from
$50). Check out the battery-powered motorbike with training
wheels and pleather side pouch ($420).
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