The Friday Five

As the popularity of LEGO increases among adults, so too has the number of adult LEGO user groups. Fueled by a desire to build and share their experiences, LEGO user groups (LUGs) continue to proliferate around the world, with members acting as informal ambassadors for the LEGO brand. Matthew Baker is one such ambassador. Baker is an executive member of ParLUGment, an Ottawa-area LUG. He talks with Toy Tales about LEGO collecting and explains the qualities that make ParLUGment unique.

As the counterfeit industry has proliferated through the advent of online shopping, so too have the efforts to halt corrupt manufacturers. Through SnapDragon, Rachel Jones – CEO and founder – is at the forefront of the fight. Jones explains the fight’s importance and why it’s crucial for consumers to exercise diligence when making online purchases.

Kim Smith is an advocate for teaching computational literacy to children. An artist and designer by trade, Smith spent time at MIT’s Media Lab collaborating with computer scientists to create wooden toys that tap into children’s natural curiosity and pave the way for learning the basic concepts of computer science. Her time at MIT led to her co-found Learning Beautiful, a company created to further her research and bring her analog toys to market. Here, she elaborates on why computational literacy is important for everyone, including children.

Lucas Harskamp created waves in the toy industry when he published an opinion piece in ToyNews about children’s television content and franchise-related toys. In this edition of The Friday Five, Harskamp expands on his theory and inspiration.

Play Library in Cincinnati, Ohio swaps books for toys and games to foster stronger family bonds, better communication, and new friendships.

In recognition of Neighbourhood Toy Store Day Canada, we talk with Mrs. Tiggy Winkles’ general manager about the current retail climate and the importance of independent toy stores to the communities where they do business. 

Olivia Wasilewski and Brynna Siewers are the 2016 winners of the Young Inventor Challenge, an international competition held at annually at ChiTAG. They talk about their experience at the event and provide a glimpse into what it’s like to invent a game.

Paul Nelson’s tale of the genesis of Laser Tag is a story of business lessons learned the hard way. But, his experience of trying to bring the game to market was his first “real” lesson in business that has led to countless other successes.

Mary Couzin, founder of Chicago Toy & Game Group, provides insight into the world of toy and game development and shares her top three pieces of advice for inventors.

Atari changed the way we played video games and thought about home entertainment when it released its Atari 2600 game console in 1977. The new ATARI Connect division is extending that legacy of innovation to new generations.

During its heyday in the 1970s, Mego Corporation produced some of the most innovative and popular toys of the times. The Mego Museum’s Brian Heiler tells us why their merchandise continues to capture the attention of new fans and avid collectors.

Stephen Lane, CEO of Prop Store, a movie and television prop auction, shares his story with Toy Tales and tells us about his favourite collectibles.

Andrew Farago has the enviable job of head curator of the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, California. He shares with us the mission of the Museum and what he hopes people take away from a Museum visit.

The Toy Association supports businesses that design, manufacture, and deliver entertainment products and advocates for the rights of factory workers and the health of children. Steve Pasierb explains the role of the Association in the $26 billion toy industry.

Have you always wanted your very own set of Spider-Man web shooters? Odin Abbott to the rescue! Odin re-creates some of pop culture’s most beloved fantasy props on his YouTube channel. Read Odin’s secrets to prop-master success.

Zac Womack takes battered Hot Wheels and makes them sing again. His love for restoring turned into a successful YouTube channel, baremetalHW, where he shows other collectors how to reinvigorate their die-cast toy cars. Zac talks with us about his collection and how he got started on YouTube.

Like many teens in the 1980s, Tony Temple spent his free time and allowance in video arcades. Today, Tony is an arcade video game restorer, collector, and writer at The Arcade Blogger. Tony explains his history with arcade games and why they continue to fascinate.

Chris Weston loves visiting toy museums so much that he decided to open one of his own. The Hamilton Toy Museum is a gathering place for the community he grew up in. Adults can step back in time to remember the toys they played with as children, while today’s children can learn, play, and build. Chris shares what it’s like to open a museum.