Toys From Another Time

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The New York Times profiled the owner of Burlington Toys, the last shop of its kind, and its glimpse into prized childhood possessions will make you nostalgic for a time when "toy store" didn't mean "Toys R' Us". Tucked underground and damaged by a recent boiler explosion, Steve Balkin's shop is a veritable wonderland for anyone wanting to reconnect with the objects of their past, which has included noteworthy clients such as as Bruce Springsteen. It's apparently Balkin's policy to never let a child walk out empty-handed, and now that we know about a $40 Pee-Wee Herman that "warbles, 'I love you,' like a vintage twerp", we're inclined to include ourselves into that genre as a big kid, too. [NY Times]