LEGO Alien Conquest Mothership
LEGO Systems has a brand new Alien Mothership that offers builders a really unusual build. The addition of a new gear at the middle allows the center of the spaceship to spin. LEGO has also added an alien sound piece to the mix. Great fun! Watch our video.
Remember asking this question as a kid? Or hearing it from the backseat of your car now that you’re a parent? Wonderopolis.org is a wonderful new site that poses such questions (and answers) every day. The site (the brainchild of the National Center for Family Literacy) is geared for parents and kids to explore together. 
Educator and Today Show Correspondent Jenna Bush Hager is getting the word out about the site and their programs for the summer. Read my interview with Jenna at www.toyportfolio.com.
Groovy Girl Kitchen....
...and plates
Manhattan Toy’s award-winning line of Groovy Girls has been expanding into other realms of pretend play. Last year they introduced costumes (on our Platinum List). We look forward to testing their first kitchen and dishes.
Razor USA's new Graffiti Action Scooter
The rain this morning made me hopeful that Spring can’t be that far away. And for some reason…when I think Spring…I think scooters. As I’m writing this I realize that many people probably don’t go directly to scooters…but hey, I play with toys.
I’m looking forward to testing the newest scooter from Razor USA…this one has a piece of chalk in the back. Wondering how it will work…without the chalk breaking. Last year they had a “spark” off the back end…something our testers enjoyed as a novelty. Even though this has been given an edgy name, it’s called the Graffiti Action Scooter, this is a kinder and gentler scooter that will probably appeal to a different audience. Stay tuned.
Each year there are certain concepts that just seem to be in the air at toy fair. This year we are already seeing certain themes emerging for 2011.
Banana Splits, Taxis and Toilets…
From Learning Resources
Banana Split from Earlyears (International Playthings)
Step 2's New Taxi Ride In
Viking Toys Taxi (from International Playthings)
All wood...from Maxim
Even the new Disney Princess Castle comes with a royal throne
Faux Wooden Toilet Seat from Calico Critters
Tree at Rockefeller Center 2010
Headed to the studio for set up today. It was brutally cold and yet everyone around Rockefeller Center seemed cheery. The tree is absolutely beautiful this year! Last year’s tree seemed like a true recession tree- a little skimpy and a dose of sad. This tree is robust and just looks happy and hopeful. A good sign. Even though I’ve lived here for so long–it never fails to make me feel like I’m a little kid again.
My usual routine is walk around Saks and then get a cup of coffee. Saks is all decked out and it was so crowded today–it’s hard to believe that the economy is not humming. You wouldn’t know it from the volume of people not only looking but walking out with shopping bags. Coffee was replaced today by hot chocolate (hey, it was really cold outside).
The studio was overflowing with products for all of the different holiday segments planned for the morning. I ran into Robyn Spizman who is doing a fun gift segment. Robyn was one of the first journalists to cover the toyportfolio when we started so it was particularly fun to see her and meet her daughter.
I have so many toys tomorrow– the idea is to show how many great choices there are without breaking the bank. We are scheduled to have lots of kids there to play.
The plaza on a cold day!
It really is amazing to watch the staff there transform a bunch of boxes, and products into the segments that are aired every morning. Everyone works with good humor and it’s as if sugar plum fairies come in and make it all look so perfect when we go on.
After set up...the Rockefeller Christmas Tree!
Our list of What’s In and What’s Out in Toyland for 2010. Every year there are trends that emerge in toyland. Last year there were dinosaurs everywhere…this year they have been replaced by bugs. Elmo is no where to be found (he’ll be relaunched next holiday season by Hasbro), and like everything else in our world these days, toys have also gone 3-D. We’re not sorry to see some the OUT toys go bye-bye and the same is true of many of the IN toys. This is more our observation from a year of testing rather than an thumbs up to either list.
Toys that Are Out for 2o1o Toys that Are IN for 2010
Cute Hamsters Hamster Ready for Battle
Barbie al natural Barbie with an (video) implant
Hannah Montana Doll Justin Bieber Doll
Wireless Controllers No Controllers
Elmo Dance Star Mickey
Scrabble Scrabble Flash
Avatar Toys Anything Iron Man
Hand Held Electronic Toys Your Smartphone
Remote Controlled Dinosaurs Remote Controlled Bugs
Friendship Bracelets Toy Handcuffs
Dolls that Wet Dolls with simulate
Rococo Plastic Toys Wooden Toys
Bubbles and Chalk 3-D Bubbles and Chalk
Polly Pockets Zoobles
For a list of the toys we do recommend–visit www.toyportfolio.com where you’ll find all of our Platinum, Gold, SNAP (special needs adaptable products) and Blue Chip Award winners.
For the celebrity that has everything, I started thinking about what toys would be appropriate. Now for some they already have their own dolls. Like the Justin Bieber Singing Doll or the Taylor Swift Performance Doll.
But for the less fortunate celeb there are certainly fun choices.
For Courtney Cox, the Webkinz Endangered Signature Cougar
For Denzel Washington, the Zip, Zoom and Logging Adventure from the Thomas & Friends Collection.
Mandy Moore (the voice of Rapunzel in the new movie Tangled) 
The Barbie Cut and Style Rapunzel
and in case Robert Downey Jr. misses his Iron Man role, there’s always the portable Iron Man Arc Chest Light. 
As someone who walked away from a legal career to play with toys (and not regretted it for a moment) – I’m always curious about how other people land in the toy industry. Of course the toy business is a business–but there is something special about it. The continued connection to the magic of childhood–sounds sappy but it’s true for anyone really committed to making quality playthings for kids.
Mary Beth Minton
I especially love start up stories and Mary Beth Minton, of Arete LLC, has all of my favorite ingredients…a strong business education (she went to Wharton), a strong business background (she worked at Bankers Trust) and a desire to fill a niche she saw in the toy industry by observing her own kids. The result, The Adventures of Zylie Bear and Shen the Panda…both Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award winners this season. These high styled bears can travel the world in great fashion. Read our interview.
From the folks that brought us Bananagrams, you have to try the brand new Zip It! I love this game (I’m the office champion!) Read our complete review. 
