Turn in a Car Seat, Ride a Ferris Wheel at New York's Toys R Us

Out with the old, in with the new: In New York City as well as across the country, Toys R Us is spearheading an initiative so parents and caregivers can trade in potentially unsafe, old, and used baby products as part of “The Great Trade In” event. Items that can be traded in include used car seats, strollers, play yards, high chairs, toddler beds, and cribs. (Many of these items are old and still in circulation, but should not actually be used or passed on to someone else.)
In exchange for turning in these products, consumers will receive a 25 percent savings on certain new baby items.
The program began yesterday, and continues through Feb. 20.
During the first trade-in event, in Sept. 2009, tens of thousands of items were brought in; used car seats were the number one item brought to stores--as well as the number one item purchased.
In New York, the place to head, of course, is the Toys R Us in Times Square. (1514 Broadway at 44th Street; 1-800-TOYSRUS). In addition to ridding yourself of those baby products that have been sitting in the attic, kids can partake of the giant Ferris wheel; walk-in Barbie Dream house; and the "R Zone," a 5500-square megalopolis of the newest in electronic games, DVDs, and other tech gizmos. Customers can play on giant plasma screens (and those over 30 are guaranteed to walk out with unsteady balance and buzzing in your ears, not to mention your brains, so be forewarned.)
Oh yes, watch out for the 5-ton, 20-foot-high, 34-foot long animatronic dinosaur inspired by “Jurassic Park.”
If you weren’t unsteady on your feet after the Ferris Wheel and the game room, you will be after an encounter with him.

Still Need Gifts? Pop Into These Pop Ups

Still only halfway through your holiday shopping? Haven’t even started to think about it yet? Luckily, you’re in New York, and shopping options abound. If you've had your fill of cuter-than-a-button holiday markets and I-saw-it-first overwhelming department stores, check out the year’s hot shopping trend: The holiday pop-up store.
For your techno nephew Ed, go to the fifth annual holiday pop up sponsored by Wired Magazine (415 W. 13th Street; 212 645-0120). More than 150 gadgets galore are there for the browsing, from a home planetarium system to laptops laser-engraved by a local tattoo artist. Wouldn’t Aunt Sally like that?
For your oh-so-hip neighbor, cool British publisher Phaidon has opened a 2,500-foot space at 1100 Wooster Street (212 925-1900.) From hip coffee-table books about architecture to wow-factor cookbooks, this is the “it” bookstore.
Didn’t your sister say she was always cold? Trot along to the Under Amour shop at 3 West 57th Street. It boasts one of the largest selections of the brand’s signature athletic wear, as well as accessories and shoes.
And who doesn’t love a store that showcases both candy and Italian furniture? We certainly do. Drop in on Candy Shoppe at Capellini (152 Wooster Street; 212 620-7953) to feast on architectural hard candies by candy makers Papabubble--you can even fork over $150 for a limited-edition lollypop that resembles Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, should you care to.
And in the this-trend-has-reached-the-tipping-point category: Toys R Us has opened a Pop-Up Store at 692 Broadway, in the former Tower Records building. In addition to the usual mass of of-the-moment toys, New York souvenirs abound--and visitors can even get their picture taken with Santa.