FAO Schwarz, Fifth Avenue, NYC
Recently, the kids and I wanted nothing more than to just hang out around the city. It had been after a few days of my being away and I not only missed my kids, I also missed walking around NYC.
As you know, we can spend hours upon hours just walking around Central Park, but I instead decided to take them into one of the funnest stores in close to the area, FAO Schwarz. Now FAO Schwarz is not exclusive to New York City, but it is where Tom Hanks played the giant piano in Big, and where Diane Keaton bought her baby’s toys in Baby Boom. Those are just a few, but my favorite FAO Schwarz movie moments.
Well, on this particular day however, my favorite moment at this amazing toy store was being with my kids who, after being greeted by the Bobby The Toy Soldier at the door, entered the place completely wide-eyed.
The store layout has gone through some changes, and the design is a bit different from what I remembered, but it remains a colorful, happy place to walk into. When you first walk in, the store is plush toy heaven, followed by a lower level of candy magic, where you can get hard candy, baked goods, and other sweet treats.
They also have a muppet workshop, where kids can design their own muppet to take home with them. I loved the pottery shop, Make, open during store hours, no appointments needed, where you and kiddos can walk in selected your pottery piece and paint it as you wish.
The upper level is all about the babies, with toys and items that would cater to the younger child’s needs and wants. My kids really enjoyed three areas the most: Barefoot Books section, the Lego section, with the life size characters, and of course, the big piano area. This is where we spent most of our time, and where most parents seem to stop by with their little ones after touring the store. It was great fun!
I am not sure how long we were in the store, I wasn’t keeping track of time. But I do know we were there for a long time, and the boys couldn’t get enough of it. Luckily, they didn’t ask for anything…or maybe asked for too much…I’m not sure, but in the end we walked out empty handed, but happily chatting about all the awesome toys we saw there.
I often stop into Toys R Us with my boys when I want to buy them a quick toy or gift, but I do think that if you want to bring back a piece of New York for little ones during your travels here, that a great place to start would be at FAO Schwarz’s on fifth avenue.
For us, it was a lovely time spent…followed by a walk back home past the horse carriages, the hot dogs stands, and of course, the lovely Central Park.
FAO Schwarz 767 Fifth Avenue (58th St.) 212-644-9400
Wow! Sounds like fun. I haven’t seen the changes to the layout – can’t wait to go. Too bad my little one is too little to get anything out of it (2 months).
Did y’all walk all the way back? If I remember correctly, you live quite the distance away!
Ps- I had some difficulty getting the comment area to accept my typing- ended up writing everything in word and copy/pasting it in. Not sure if that is something on my end or yours.
Hi Theresa-no, we didn’t walk home, but rather to the train station : )
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