| “It’s Fortune Telling, Tooth Brushing, Mobilized Guy.” My daughter held her creation of recycled toys as Professor Jordan asked her about its superpowers. She surveyed her blue blob on wheels with a toothbrush hot-glued to its arm and answered, “He tells fortunes, brushes teeth, and moves.” I suggested he be a “plaque fighter,” but she corrected me. “It’s Fortune Telling, Tooth Brushing, Mobilized Guy. He brushes teeth.” I stood corrected at Happen's Toy Lab on Beechmont Avenue on the east side of Cincinnati. The Toylab is an outreach program of Happen’s Inc, a non-profit organization that “allows adults and children the opportunity to grow and explore the ways of art together.” Our exploration began as we pulled open the storefront door and entered the colorful Toylab lobby. Professor Christine, in lab coat and tie, shook our hands and asked everyone’s name. Then she announced the rules—to have fun, look over the recycled toys and choose up to seven pieces to create our new toys. As the kids pushed their cafeteria-style trays among bins labeled “legs,” “arms,” “heads,” “torsos” and so fourth, comic antics began with the rumored escape of a lab rat named “Precious.” Overhead, a window sprang open, Professor Jordan popped out, and the kids laughed and called up to him as they rummaged through toy trucks, tables, tigers and other stuff, selectively choosing their seven pieces. Our youngest two selected their pieces quickly. I worked with my nine-year-old as he arranged and rearranged the pieces of “Mo-boy,” so named because it fused the Powerpuff Girl’s Mo- jo-Jojo with Frisches’ icon, Big Boy. But we had a problem. He wanted it to roll and I saw no way to add the Angelica Pickles’ car. Her ponytails were in the way of the wheels. Professor Christine solved our dilemma. “We could chop her head off. OK?” “OK.” Professor Christine called herself a plastic surgeon as she snipped and glued MoBoy. Meanwhile our eight-year-old had filled his tray. He created two toys: a boat and “The Wheelie Present.” Since the wheel had no axel, I didn’t see how it would roll. But Professor Jordan went to work. “It might be wobbly, but I think I can do it.” And he did. Meanwhile Professor Christine assembled my eleven-year-old’ s “Duck.” She snipped and glued a police duck onto motorcycle with a plastic shield and a chicken leg while another little boy wandered into the lab with his grandpa. “I want to trade this in.” He held a broken action figure. “And make a new toy.” His grandpa took a seat as the experienced toymaker took a tray and began his work. Soon it was time to activate our new toys. Professor Jordan silenced the crowd. He held the microphone at the Activation Station and announced the creator and the creation, and amid cheers revealed that “The Wheelie Present” is “really good at opening presents,” that Mo Boy “has super speed,” and that Duck can “eat really fast.” After the applause, we took our toys and headed home, but the toys’ images remain a part of Toy Lab’s permanent collection. Anyone can see them at the “Zoo” of www.toy-lab.com/gallery. Check out numbers 7073, 7074, 7075 and 7076, or better still check out the Toylab and create your own cool toy. |
Happen's Toy Lab
Trips with Kids!
Trips with Kids!
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Happen's Toy Lab
5208 Beechmont Ave.
Cincinnati, OH. 45230
(513) 751-2345
Open Saturday &
Sunday 11am–5pm
Mon.–Fri. 9am–5:
30pm
The basic Toy Lab
experience costs
$14.00 per toy
(maximum of seven
parts, plus tax).
5208 Beechmont Ave.
Cincinnati, OH. 45230
(513) 751-2345
Open Saturday &
Sunday 11am–5pm
Mon.–Fri. 9am–5:
30pm
The basic Toy Lab
experience costs
$14.00 per toy
(maximum of seven
parts, plus tax).
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