Annual trip to the International Toy Fair

Our annual trip to the New York International Toy Fair in February was particularly significant because this year, we were not only buying for our store in Richmond, but also for www.sillyasstoys.com . During the 2004 Christmas season, we discovered that some toys sold well in the brick and mortar store, some toys sold better online, and some sold well in both. Knowing this, we searched four days up and down 17 miles of booths at the Jacob Javits Center in New York.

Boy, did we find Marbles ! One of our favorite vendors Mega Marbles have created several beautiful new colors and designs this year. We sell these wonderful glass jewels as singles—over 70+ styles.

Hydro Gyro is my favorite gyroscope/top. For one thing, it is beautiful—a neon green transparent plastic exterior with a deep blue liquid interior. The water in the center controls the spinning of the gyroscope. It reminds me of a space ship floating through space. And under a black light, it is so cool!

Euler’s Disc is a science project that became an executive toy for grownups and kids, too. In a nutshell, the Disc is a puck-shaped, chrome plated, holographic steel disk with a super-smooth edge that spins faster and faster to create a hypnotic display of light and sound. And it makes this weird sound as it spins faster and faster. With the sound and visual effect, it looks like it’s going to take off!

Snorta is a great group game for all ages that originated from an Australian military drinking game. It’s been “G-rated” by the folks at Out Of The Box. We’ve found it to be wonderful entertainment during holiday gatherings or summer vacation at the beach. The nice appeal of this game is that you can play in a group of mixed ages. And since making barnyard animal noises is a big part of the game, everyone loosens up quickly after the first round. Good fun for fools and uptight people!

If you were ever looking for the perfect greeting card, Say & Send Bear might just be the answer to your quest. This darling stuffed bear stands about 7” tall. He has a recorder in his tummy that you press to activate the sound. You access the recorder through a Velcro slit on his back. Ten seconds of recording time is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, valentines, get well, any greeting that needs a special messenger.

Tiki Drummer is one of the oddest battery operated toys we have run across in a while. The Tiki Drummer sits about 6” high with his drums. He taps out a wild Polynesian tune that intrigues all who hear.

Log Building Set is one of those marvelous old toys that is making a comeback. This set is actually a kit that supplies enough real wood pieces to create a log building reminiscent of a cowboy bunkhouse or a log cabin camp. It’s a wonderful gift for a creative child with a penchant to build.

As more of the new items from Toy Fair arrive and are posted on www.sillyasstoys.com, check out this log.

New Toys for Kids

We have updated our site with a host of great new toys for children.

“Rattlesnake Eggs”, also known by at least 18 other aliases, including Buzzing Stunt Magnets , “Clackers”, “UFO Eggs” and “Pulsing Magnets ” consists of two very powerful elliptical hematite magnets that fit in the palm of your hand. When they are thrown into the air about three inches apart, “Buzzzzzzzz!!!” they rattle and revolve around each other until caught or they hit the carpet. Cool little toy!

The Levitron is a great toy for kids and adults. It’s a system involving a magnetic plate and a top. Once the top is spinning, it will actually float over the plate. It defies gravity!!! You have to see it to believe it. It also looks very cool, a great addition to your favorite executive’s desk.

i-Top are going to be a great hit this summer. These rugged tops contain five electronic games that you play as the top spins. The face of the top has an LED display that guides you through the various games. It’s a wonderful past time for one or several players.

How about the noise of a cap gun without the safety issues? That’s Sprite Bombs. These little pellets create a nice “bang” when thrown onto a hard surface. They come in a bubble pack of 10. Great fun!

Inside-out Stretch Balls – Super Mondo has been a perennial favorite at the school festivals and fairs at which we have exhibited. It looks like a huge soft ball that you can squish in your hand, but there is a hole in it which allows you turn it inside out. Voila! You have a sea anemone! And it’s big enough to put on your head, which is what most kids tend to do with it. The newer model has the tips of the spikes tipped in different colors. Talk about a weird looking cap!

Feed Me is one of the silliest combinations of wind-up toy and a game. You have to wind-up the plastic head of a fish, frog or bird, all with their mouths open skyward, waiting for food. The object is to plunk a worm down their gullets. Sound easy? But wait! When you wind them up, they wiggle all over the place. Try aiming for these moving targets. This is a great group game for kids over 3 years old. There are probably some 5 year olds who can best their parents on this one!