Not your traditional Toy Store, but worth a visit! (FAO Schwarz)

Member Name: bestbunnygirl

Product:	FAO Schwarz
Date:	31/01/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ice cream, Ice Cream, Ice Cream... did I mention Ice Cream!

Disadvantages: The toys are very expensive

I got really excited about visiting the FAO Schwarz in New York as it features in one of my all time favourite films - Big.

I really wanted to have a go on the huge piano that Tom Hanks plays chopsticks on. However when I saw the piano I was a little dissapointed! It wasn't like the one in the film and it was really difficult to get on to have ago. They do daily displays where they dance which is quite fun to watch though!

Anyway, once I'd got over my dissapointment at not being able to go on the giant keyboard we were able to have a mooch around the rest of the store.

It's like no other toy store I've ever been in. This isn't really the toy store to go to unless you are prepared to pay a pretty penny (or should I say cent) for a toy!

As you enter the main doors the first thing you notice are the lifesize stuffed animals! These are brilliant for a photo opportunity but they cost a fortune, but if you had a house big enough for something like this, then I guess money isn't really a problem!

They also have little electric sports cars and hummers for a couple of grand! I remember sitting in a little pedal car and getting stuck in the mud! None of that with these bad boys!

There are always staff around to help you out if you need anything and they demonstrate some of the smaller more reasonably priced toys. They put on quite a display and it's really enjoyable to watch even as an adult as they look like they're having great fun.

I have to say though the best part about the store is the ice cream parlour located on the ground floor. I always tend to think about my belly and this was a right treat!

The theming of the parlour is brilliant, it's styled like a 50's diner with the booths and stools at the bar. Me and my husband both had the "small" bowl of ice cream.

The small bowl was definately what you could consider an american portion! It was rather big and it was Mr Whippy style ice cream but probably about the equivilant to 4 scoops! You could have any sauces and toppings that you wanted, so I took full advantage of this and had hot fudge sauce, M&Ms and sprinkles (100's and 1000's to us)! I did start to feel rather sick half way through but powered on to finish, it was the polite thing to do!

It's definately a store to visit in New York but we didn't come away with anything apart from a very full tummy as the toys were all a bit pricey!

Summary: The toys are great to look at, but too pricey to buy, but definately worth a visit for the ice cream