Life Is Better On Vacation

Monday, 20 July 2015

The Big Piano

Location: Manhattan, New York, USA
Address: 767 5th Avenue
Date: Nov 2014
Website: www.bigpiano.com

One of the things that the FAO Schwarz toy store in Manhattan is most famous for is that it was used as a filming location for the movie Big. Almost everyone remembers Tom Hanks dancing on a giant piano along with the owner of MacMillan Toys (Robert Loggia). First they play a rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's Heart & Soul and then finish off with Chopsticks. Both songs were executed beautifully due to some fancy footwork.
When we last visited FAO Schwarz the Big Pianos were located upstairs on the second floor. There were lots of children taking a turn walking or jumping along the keys of the piano that was on display. We didn't hear anything that even resembled a familiar tune. The notes were all there, but the order and timing was all off.

The Big Piano was created by Remo Saraceni in 1982 and is designed to be played with your feet by walking up and down the keys. Many people visit the FAO Schwarz store in Manhattan for a chance to play on the piano just like they did in the movie Big. You can play on a similar piano and even purchase one to continue the fun at home, but the real piano used in the movie has been donated to Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum.
Sadly, the FAO Schwarz store in New York has now closed its 5th Avenue location. If you wish to visit the exact spot where Tom Hanks played piano with his feet then you will have to find a way into the building once the new tenants arrive. The actual spot is not up on the second floor at all. In the movie you see Tom Hanks come down the escalator that is always surrounded by stuffed animals and has a distinctive striped pattern to the glass wall behind it.

Sing it Boys. Heart and Soul. I Fell in Love with You, Heart and Soul!

He turns right and then walks until he realizes he has stepped onto the piano. He walks up and down the keys and does a body slide before remembering his piano lessons. He is only 12 years old after all. Once they finish playing he walks away with a very impressed Mr. MacMillan and they go right past the clock tower. Some of you should recall the FAO Schwarz clock face which sang "Welcome to our World of Toys".

Welcome to Our World ....Hey was that Tom Hanks?

Basically enter from the 5th Avenue doors and walk straight up the middle of the store until you are in line with the bottom of the escalators. This is the spot.

This is where a classic movie moment happened in one of the greatest toy stores in the world and makes us all feel like kids again.

Map of Our World

The Big Piano

Post # 64

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

FAO Schwarz (New York)

Location: Manhattan, New York, USA
Address: 767 5th Avenue
Date: Nov 2014
Website: www.fao.com

Since 1986 FAO Schwarz has been a must visit destination on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York. Sadly, it will be closing it's doors today (July 15, 2015) and will start to look for a new Manhattan location to call home. The FAO Schwarz toy company was founded in 1862. The FAO stands for Frederick August Otto who started the business with his brothers Schwarz. Toy lovers from all over have flocked to this store where a visit is often just as much fun as the toys you take home.

We have visited the toy store on numerous New York City vacations. The store is known for it's high end toys such as near life sized stuffed animals. Animals like the nine-hundred dollar, 95 inch tall giraffe below.

For simpler tastes, or for those with ceiling and wallet restrictions, you may prefer to choose from one of the more reasonably sized dogs sitting next to the escalator.

The displays in the main entrance area just beside the escalators are always changing with different themes. Everything from Hello Kitty to Star Wars or Anastasia to Tamagotchi. It is also in this front area where Tom Hanks played on a giant walking piano in the movie Big. If you wish to buy one of those, just head up stairs to the second floor.

There used to be a clock face that would greet visitors and every so often it would start to sing "Welcome to our World of Toys". This would bring a smile to the faces of children both young and old. It was all part of the FAO Schwarz magic.

The store is filled with all types of toys. It has everything from dolls and board games to model cars and video games. There is a candy section downstairs called FAO Schweetz. The store also caters to the collector with special edition dolls like the Wizard of Oz dolls below.

In front of FAO Schwarz you will see the glass walls of the Apple Store where patrons descend into the depths of the earth to get all of their iWants and iNeeds. Just past that was always an excited soldier greeter, more than happy to pose for numerous photos. With the store closing on 5th Avenue, let's hope they can find another location soon. It would be a shame if after over 150 years in business one of the world's greatest toy stores became nothing more than a website.

What Now? I hope they let us keep the hats.

Map of Our World

FAO Schwarz

Post # 63

Friday, 10 July 2015

Pan Am Games (Toronto)

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address: Nathan Phillips Square
Date: July 2015
Website: www.toronto2015.org

The Pan Am Games are coming to Toronto. Everywhere you look you see the signs. Buses and subways are covered over in ads promoting the games. There is a giant countdown clock sitting in Nathan Phillips Square which is counting down to the very second that the games begin. Across the street from Nathan Phillips Square, The Sheraton Centre has a huge banner hanging down the side proclaiming "The games are coming".

We were even in Niagara Falls, Ontario and noticed this floral display.

There are also lots of strange signs appearing around the city. For example, we spotted this building which was labelled UDAC and was flying the Pan Am Games flag out front. We discovered that UDAC stands for Uniform Distribution and Accreditation Centre and that this is where all of the volunteers go to obtain their uniforms.

Back in Nathan Phillips Square (or should we say NPS) the area has become a main location for enjoying the games.

Just outside the square in front of Old City Hall, we spotted PACHI on top of a bus shelter. PACHI the porcupine is the official mascot of the games. He has 41 coloured quills on his back and each one represents a participating country. The games are open to North American, South American, and Caribbean countries. The Pan Am Games are held every four years and are the next biggest summer sporting event behind the Olympics.

As we entered the square we could see the scaffolding getting ready for Panamania. Panamania is a series of free concerts being held around Toronto for the duration of the games. There are also plans to broadcast some of the sporting events live on giant screens.

On the west side of the square is a temporary Pan Am Games Superstore where you can get all your souvenirs from the games. This includes Pan Am T-shirts, hats, buttons, PACHI dolls or merchandise to show your support for a particular country. We received some free PACHI stickers just for walking inside to take a look.

The countdown clock is getting ever closer to the Opening Ceremonies which take place tonight (July 10 2015). There are actually two clocks. One counts down to the start of the Pan Am Games, and the second counts down to the start of the Parapan Am portion which runs August 7th to 15th. The clock counts down all day and night until the final second passes. Let the games begin!