Open as of Saturday, Tildie's Toy Box is East Passyunk's latest retail offering. Michelle Gillen-Doobrajh and her husband, Paul, who live in the neighborhood, set up shop at 1829 East Passyunk Ave. after having more than a few rough go-rounds shopping for their two daughters on the web. Read More

Local toy store owners say this soft, bouncy, stretchy goo, which sells for $12 to $15 for a 3.2-ounce tin is flying off their shelves. That's because it's not only kids who are addicted to the putty — which comes in an array of colors and varieties that include magnetic and glow-in-the-dark — but their parents who can't stop touching the stuff.

Crazy Aaron's Liquid Glass Thinking Putty makes a great desktop toy for those times when you don’t feel like working. But as the folks at VAT19 discovered, the putty also makes for a terrible substitute for water when it comes to bathing.

Toy stores are exciting places to visit, but it can be tough to find high quality toys that satisfy green and ethical standards. Since ‘eco-friendly toys’ is not a mainstream industry, it’s usually necessary to look online in order to find such manufacturers. Here is a list of ideas from cool companies that care about production methods. Some focus on domestic (North American) production, fair trade certification, and sustainable sourcing, so choose according to your priorities.