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This is the home stretch.... only 9 more killer days for us Toy Guys until Christmas. We still have a wide selection to choose from and we urge our customers to come downtown and shop with your favorite local merchants. Parking is free (in the "gift-wrapped" metered spaces) and we have extended our hours starting today through Christmas Eve:
Downtown is decorated, the shops and restaurants are open and bustling, and the annual "Spirit of Christmas Walk" is happening this Friday, Dec. 12th from 5 to 9pm.
It's shaping up to be a game and puzzle kind of season so far. People are buying puzzles and brainteasers for adults and games the whole family can enjoy. Also, Santa gets all the cool stocking stuffers from our "mountain of cheap thrills"...... then he heads to Enstrom's to complete his list of goodies. See you downtown!
Kettler tricycles, made in Germany, come in several styles and colors. These top- of -the -line trikes are made to last. The frames are engineered to hold more weight than any kid that will fit on one (big brother can't break it). Most kids start peddling at age 2 to 2 1/2 . The Kettler trikes all come with push bars and you can get a seat belt, too. That way, you can "strollerize" with a child as young as 1 1/2 getting a longer life from your tricycle. They will last through all the kids in your family and still be the first item sold at your garage sale! We have a good selection in stock and assembled so you can try before you buy.
We carry a couple of toy lines that are made in Italy. The Gymnic hop balls and Rody horse are fun, active toys. They are made of super sturdy non latex vinyl material and are easily inflated with a hand or foot pump. The balls come in several sizes to accommodate kids of all ages and we just got in the jumbo sized Rody . I'm pumping it up tomorrow so we can all see just how big it is. All the gymnic balls can support weight of up to 300 lbs, so you don't have to worry if the big kids sit on little Snooky's rody. 
Quercetti is our other Italian line of toys. We buy them through International Playthings so we don't have access to everything they make. Their bright orange boxes jump off the shelf and all their toys are in the category that inspire creativity and imagination. Illumino is reminiscent of the old "lite -bright" toy; just a little more high tech for today's kids. They also make the kaleidogears that combine the concepts of engineering and art. And last, but not least, we carry several of their marble run kits. These range from the simple to the technical to keep kids of all ages busy creating with gravity! There's something about boys and marble runs; I don't think it's something they ever outgrow. ( girls: don't feel left out, it's just that I have 2 boys and I'm speaking from their experience)
Founded in 1926, Bruder Toys is family owned and operated. They employ over 350 local people at their manufacturing plant in southern Germany. Here is another company that produces a high quality product in a competitive market without using labor exploitation. When we decided to start carrying a line of trucks, Bruder made the choice easy. We carry the roadmax series for younger players and the more detailed pro series for the older collectors.
Yes, there are still some toys made in the USA. Both Do-a-Dot and Harrisville Designs have been in our store for years. They are classic and quality, which is what we like to carry. Other classic American toys are Slinky and the balsa gliders (still costs about the same as a cup of coffee). I've noticed that many of the items made here are printed and die cut. Examples include; Create-a-Scene and Fractiles magnetic play sets, Gamewright card games, the educational placemats and the large cardboard blocks. We've added the new Green Toy Company and will continue to seek out great quality toys made here in the states.
Harrisville Designs : Harrisville, NH
The "Spooktacular" event takes place this Saturday from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Come downtown dressed in your Halloween costume and decorate a pumpkin and a cookie. Parade down Main Street and have a goulishly good time. This activity is geared toward the 12 and under crowd.
There is a lot going on this weekend in our Grand Valley. Main Street is hosting the annual car show on Saturday. Enjoy the good weather and relaxed atmosphere, oggle the cool cars, have lunch and , of course, shop at the Toy Store! Try parking in the new parking garage (free on weekends) on Rood Ave between 4th & 5th Streets. This time of year we are getting new toys in and stocking up for the big holiday season ahead. Come in and browse, ask questions, play. Pick up something for the next birthday party and we will gladly wrap it for free. See you downtown!
This week we celebrate creativity. With open-ended construction toys, kids can build whatever they can imagine. There is no "right or wrong". Come and enjoy the fall weather and produce and get your hands on some of our unique building toys.
This week's Farmer's Market activity is "good clean fun". We will be blowing every kind of soap bubbles we have along with the ever popular "touchable" bubbles. Bubbles work best when it's humid and not windy... not exactly our kind of weather, so let's hope for the best. As a matter of fact, the drier it is, the less soap you need in the bubble mixture. The science of soap bubbles involves concepts like surface tension which you can look up and study on your own... we're doing it "for the fun of it!"
This Thursday, August 14th, we will have a Calico Critters celebration from 5-8pm. The "critters" are very popular with the 3+ kids (mostly of the female persuasion). Twenty-somethings might remember the "sylvan families" from their childhoods. These cute flocked critters create a tiny world of their own, with a little help from your imagination. Coloring, crafts and giveaways are in store for all who participate.
Maybe I'm stretching the concept a little. Our Thursday activity this week IS "velvet art". Klutz books has provided a play day kit based on their best selling book. The pictures are more complicated; for ages 8 to adult. We will also provide materials for the younger crowd. Come down and enjoy summer before it's gone!
Remember June when we wondered if it would ever get hot? We will take advantage of the heat this week at Farmer's Market. Dress to get wet because we will provide a space (outside, of course) to "liquidate" you. We still have a supply of get wet toys for in the yard or in the pool.
