Play Stations

Selling everything from bobblehead dolls to action figures to wacky gag gifts, Chicago's one-of-a-kind toy stores can make almost anyone feel like a kid again.

Adults will feel like kids again in Chicago's eccentric toy stores.

The Windy City could very well change its name to the Spendy City for all the high-end retail opportunities it has to offer on "The Magnificent Mile," a strollable strip for serious fashionistas.

But shoppers in search of gag gifts will find no love there. The same goes for those interested in vintage Star Wars action figures or artist-designed toys from Japan. For these items, travelers must venture to shops specializing in the weird, the wacky and the one-of-a-kind-quirky toy stores that appeal to adults as much as young folks (maybe even more so).

The grandfather-or better yet, crazy old uncle-of Chicago toy stores is Uncle Fun (www.unclefun.chicago.com). Upon first inspection, this gem could be mistaken for a junk shop: shelves crammed with somewhat tired looking merchandise; stuff stacked upon stuff stacked upon more stuff . But soon you're caught in its tractor beam of kookiness. Maybe it's the talking Mr. T key chain ("I pity the fool!") or the wide assortment of whoopee cushions, but all of a sudden there's a big smile on customers' faces.

"It's a toy store for kids of all ages," says Bill McCall, who manages the 16-year-old shop. "We have kids in their 90s who come here and love this stuff . As long as you have a little bit of curiosity and a sense of humor, you're going to have a good time here."

Looking for a bobblehead doll? There are four shelves of them, with selections ranging from Dick Tracy to "Family Guy" characters. With so many ridiculous and low-priced items in one place (McCall says most are around $5), you likely won't walk out empty-handed.

"It's an old-timey style of shopping," says McCall, who helps owner Ted Frankel scour the country for everything from tin replica wind-up robots to bacon-flavored jelly beans. "We have weird things you aren't going to find at other stores. But beyond the merchandise, we have a fun attitude you don't find anymore."

The slightly more serious-minded Quake Collectibles (773-878-4288) shares Uncle Fun's merchandise display philosophy, which owner Dave Gutterman calls "organized chaos." Nostalgia is the name of the game, as Quake's biggest sellers are Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Transformers action figures and accessories. Collectors can score an unopened X-wing fighter toy from the original Star Wars movies, while younger Jedi can load up on more current gear. Kids and adults can bond while perusing old Hot Wheels cars, Fisher Price toys and vintage lunch boxes.

Gutterman used to stock more Baby Boomer-friendly items, but shifting demographics have pushed his shop squarely into Gen X territory. "My average customer is a 30-year-old male with some disposable income who wants to relive his childhood," he says. "It used to be Roy Rogers or Green Hornet, and now it's Ninja Turtles."

But he isn't complaining, as Hollywood's affinity for resurrecting old movies has proven a boon for business. "A lot of this [Gen X] stuff is retro for kids now… everything that was big in the '70s or '80s is coming back," he says. "So I'm able to be cross-generational, which is great."

Fans of Asian-inspired vinyl figures and plush toys may already be familiar with Rotofugi Designer Toy Store and Gallery (http://rotofugi.com), which has grown into a top toy seller whose products' ambiguity (Are they art? Are they toys?) attracts both kids and adults. The gallery houses artwork, while the shop's impeccably arranged shelves of colorful, sometimes playfully twisted, anthropomorphic beasties announce loud and clear that Rotofugi is not your typical toy store. But that doesn't mean it's not accessible.

Sure, hard-core devotees can invest $100 or more in Japanese kaiju (monster) toys. But casual shoppers and curious little ones can also dip their toes into plush mini-ninjas by Shawnimals-designed by a local artist-or pick up a cuddly Uglydoll for as low as $10.

The 4-year-old store has even started manufacturing its own toys, partnering with a product development firm to produce figures designed by local artists. Rotofugi also sells a diverse array of T-shirts, art books and cultural magazines. According to owner Kirby Kerr, anyone who's interested in good design-art, furniture or any other genre- will appreciate the toys.

"We really try to off er a lot of different things. It all fits under this big umbrella of designer toys," he says. "They may be toys based on an illustration or a character design by an artist, and not based on comics or movies, but they're still toys. We try to be careful not to take it too seriously."

Chances are, if these offbeat toy stores appeal to you, serious isn't in your vocabulary

LEGOLOVE

This year, Chicago's northwest suburb of Schaumburg became the first US city with a LEGOLAND Discovery Center (www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com ), dedicated to the world's favorite colored building blocks. Highlights include:

• A SCALE MODEL OF THE CHICAGO SKYLINE, including major landmarks like Buckingham Fountain and the Sears Tower. Kids will love the moving pieces like the spinning Ferris wheel, while parents will be amazed that it took nearly 1.5 million LEGO pieces to build.

• The LEGO HALL OF FAME, featuring life-sized recreations of characters like Batman, Harry Potter and Darth Vader-a perfect family photo-op.

• The LEGO FACTORY TOUR, where lab-coated guides demonstrate how the signature blocks are made-from brightly colored liquid form to the finished product.