The American Girl Company has had its triumphs (the introduction of Rebecca, a historically accurate Jewish girl!) and its defeats (the discontinuation of the line’s classic Samantha). But the recent controversy over Gwen, the newest AG doll, has us just downright confused.
It appears that Gwen was released back in February 2009, but is just now seeing all kinds of hype; the HuffPo recently ran an article about the doll’s most prominent characteristic: homelessness.
Wait, what?
Though many commenters, both on and offline, have tried to make the “Oh, she’s just a doll!” argument, the fact is the issue at stake goes beyond the toy. At $95 a pop, with not a penny going toward fund-raising for homeless children and teens, Gwen becomes a joke. While the intention to teach children about homelessness, a very real problem, is noble, selling that lesson for $95 in the form of a shiny doll that an actual homeless girl could never afford doesn’t exactly have us running out to Fifth Avenue to pick one up.
Gwen will continue to stir up controversy, but we can’t help thinking both sides of the argument should take a breather from discussing the American Girl dolls and start focusing on all the real American girls out there. Maybe if we put as much effort into solving the problem of homelessness as we do into arguing about a homeless doll, these “lessons” would become obsolete.
Who can forget Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the rest of the Riverdale crew? Though it’s likely been a while since you peeked into the comic characters’ lives, big things have been happening to them. In May, the Archie blog informed us that issue #600 was about to make a big announcement: The lovable redhead was going to propose to one of his two leading ladies! After 65 years of enduring the stressful yet hilarious love triangle, Mr. Andrews was finally making a decision. He’s been to approximately 42 high school proms at this point, so who can blame him?
The story is set to unfold in six issues, the first of which went on sale Sep 8 and revealed that he chose Veronica as his bride. As a lifelong Betty supporter, I’m devastated. Bets and Jughead both looked pretty confused, too, so I’m hoping it’s just a mix up—a bad dream, perhaps, or a blackmail ploy from Mr. Lodge. In any case, I’m excited to see what happens on Monday, when issue #2, “The Proposal,” goes on sale. Think ol’ Arch will reconsider?
We’re always searching for new dolls for our kids, so you’d think we’d be happy about the latest addition to the toy shelves. Guess again.
May we introduce Bebe Gloton. Hailing from Spain, the name translated literally means “Baby Glutton,” but don’t worry, this isn’t a rant about obesity, eating disorders or body image. This is a rant about nipple daisies.
You’re probably puzzled now…so are we. We’re puzzled why anyone would conceive of this doll, which comes with a smock adorned with bright pink daisies that your daughter can put on and then “breastfeed” the “baby.”
Yes, daughters like to emulate their mommies in many ways, but do prepubescent girls really have the urge to play breastfeeding? If a little girl wants to pretend to be mom, she can use her imagination. What’s next? A toy that simulates pregnancy so she can get in on that fun too?
Watch the demo below and then weigh in: Would you let your little princess play “breastfeeding baby,” or dump those detachable daisies, stat?
Attention classic board game aficionados (and yes, we know you love playing them as much—if not more so—than your brood!): Candy Land is being revamped in honor of its upcoming 60th birthday. (Suddenly you feel young, huh?)
A sweetly simple game along the lines of Chutes and Ladders, it’s hard not to get addicted to its colorful charms as players race to get to King Candy’s castle. The updated version, dubbed Candy Land Sweet Celebration, ups the ante: The first one at the royal door wins a party (strictly imaginary of course. Good luck explaining that to Junior). Plus, players will be able to build a freestanding board with interlocking pieces, so the path can be varying lengths. The makers are also throwing in two new destinations–Captain Kidd Cone’s Ship, the SS Neapolitan, and the Chunky Chocolate Mountains) and 3D “Sweet Spots”—to heighten the vicarious sugar rush.
We have to say, in an era of healthy eating, it takes chutzpah to keep Candy Land, well, filled with candy. We’re so glad it didn’t become Fiberland!
On Friday three large elephants, currently starring in Ringling Bros.’s Coney Island Boom-A-Ring, will go up against three brave humans in a six-minute hot-dog bun eating contest. The trio of people, Juliet Lee (43), Gravy Brown (30) and Tim “Eater X” Janus (32), sound up to the challenge, but the elephants, Bunny (42), Susie (46) and Minnie (48), who weigh nine tons collectively, don’t seem too concerned. The beasts gobble upward of 200 pounds of food every day!
If nothing else, this event should prove to be a great teaching tool: You can show your kids firsthand the difference between human and pachyderm eating styles, thus giving new meaning to the refrain, “Don’t behave like a wild animal!” On second thought, if Team Human has any chance of winning, they’ll have to throw all dining etiquette to the wind.
Cross-Species Eating Competition: Elephants vs. Humans Fri Jul 3 at 11am. Coney Island, corner of Surf and Stillwell Aves (ringling.com/coneyisland). Free.
Looking for a way to spice up your Central Park adventures? Then listen up—literally. The Park’s Conservancy has just debuted its “Seeing Central Park Audio Guide,” which features personal anecdotes by famous New Yorkers such as Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kevin Bacon. Here’s how it works: When you get to the park, grab an Audio Guide map at the Conservancy Visitor Center, or plan your route online before you go. Once you come upon a stop, dial the Audio Guide number followed by the designated extension and a short-but-sweet story will unfold. As is the case with the similar Tree Museum public art installation on the Grand Concourse, you may want to bring a cell with speaker phone so everyone can listen.
Though the star-factor may be lost on younger kids, the tales, which are a combination of facts and feelings, aim to please. Perhaps they’ll inspire children to share their Central Park memories too. If you want to test out the tour before you schlep, check out the video below. How can you say no to Whoopi?
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The American Girl Company has had its triumphs (the introduction of Rebecca, a historically accurate Jewish girl!) and its defeats (the discontinuation of the line’s classic Samantha). But the recent controversy over Gwen, the newest AG doll, has us just downright confused.
Who can forget Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the rest of the Riverdale crew? Though it’s likely been a while since you peeked into the comic characters’ lives, big things have been happening to them. In May, the Archie blog 
Attention classic board game aficionados (and yes, we know you love playing them as much—if not more so—than your brood!): Candy Land is being revamped in honor of its upcoming 60th birthday. (Suddenly you feel young, huh?)