http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2867777467_e5300ed802_o.jpg

There is a toy store in the Pearl that I checked out a while back and it seemed pretty cool. They’re called Green Frog Toys and the website is here: http://www.greenfrogtoys.com/

Aside from that, I get a lot of my toys online. I know it’s not the same as shopping, but it’ll do when you have something specific in mind and you can’t find it anywhere! It’s a sad state, however, when you can’t find a toy store, let alone a decent one.

And, dieselboi, I know steel toys are hard to find, but they do last longer — at least at the hands of the rambunctious boys my extended family seems to spawn — none of which have been injured by said toys. That’s one reason I like John Deere toys — while they are producing more plastic stuff, you still can get the steel replicas of current tractors, construction equipment and combines from John Deere directly (made by Ertl). And my brother, father of two of the more rambunctious boys in my life, often picked up small metal versions of construction toys when he traveled to Germany and Japan.

The fact that Tonka’s best selling truck is that big yellow metal dump trunk SHOULD signal there’s a market for metal toys in the U.S. Smaller-scale versions would be less likely to cause injury.

Yes, Juicy, lets highlight behinds as a means of sales. Let’s infuse young women with the idea if no one is looking at your booty, you aren’t cool. What, your butt says nothing? You can’t sit with us at lunch! UGH. Help us.

You could always hit the Antique stores and get them a vintage one.

It was pretty much Finnegan’s and City Kids for me; we weren’t much of a Toys ‘R Us/chain family, though I did buy my share of My Little Ponies (I KNOW, shudder) at local Freddy’s stores.

I was shocked to find the Toys R’ Us at Jantzen Beach had been leveled — I was looking for a Bob the Builder video (toys R us was a good place for videos/CDs and a certain brand of train set I’ve gotten for every family kid under 3 that was much beloved and sized for people not ready for Brio/Thomas.) And I think the toy store at Lloyd Center is shuttered, too. These, in addition to those you cite.

When I feel like traveling (I live in inner northwest Portland), I head down to Lake O and go to Toy Bliss in the Lake Grove area (the original store of the one in Pioneer Square) but it, too, is quitting business soon (hopefully after Christmas — they have a really good Lego selection as my nephews also are past the Thomas stage). I also hit Learning Palace stores, one outside Clackamas Town Center and another outside Washington Square, that stock some good brands, including Rokenbok, an interesting and expensive marriage of erector-set-like building sets and remote controlled vehicles — good for older kids (toy bliss in Lake O also stocks it).

I did see a sign recently for a toy store in the Pearl, off Lovejoy, but I didn’t get the name.

I’d be interested to know about any independent toy store around the city since a bunch of birthdays and Christmas are on the horizon. I prefer to buy local.

But in the absence of that, I hit Amazon, Hearthsong and a few others on the Internet — I also go straight to Lego and Rokenbok websites when that’s what I’m looking for. And because my little guys have cousins on a midwest farm, John Deere toys and videos are quite popular and easily found on the web. And in the Wal-Marts on SE 82nd. Freddy also stocks john deere stuff — which appeals to guys. And my niece.

I suspect web shoppers are one reason local stores are going under.

I do like Finnegan’s but agree it’s best for younger kids. Their non-popular-culture Lego collection isn’t so good. But they have a good board game collection for older kids. Child’s Play on 23rd is also a regular stop.

My biggest complaint is a lack of steel trucks and construction vehicles. Other than the big Tonka dump truck, it’s hard to find quality metal vehicles.

Oh, and there’s a pretty good toy store in the airport’s A-C concourse. I forget the name. Unfortunately I don’t fly enough these days to make that a regular stop.