World of Mirth toy store

Last weekend, we met up with some DC friends in Richmond to spend the afternoon and found ourselves at one point in World of Mirth toy store in Carytown. If you've never been to/heard of World of Mirth before (I hadn't), prepare to be amazed: this place is like something out of a kids movie. The big store is crammed full of all kinds of treasures for kids and adults alike.

The day we went was Nov. 1, so we were greeted with a Day of the Dead display which kind of set the tone for what we would find deeper in the store. There's an emphasis on the funky, the retro, the crafty and creative over the kind of run of the mill plastic stuff you find in chain stores (although to be fair in the vastness of the store, there's enough of that, too). Especially memorable were the book section (with some amazing coloring books), the carefully curated science toys section (with baskets of toys to test), and the collections of plastic animals and figurines lining shelves at the front of the store (from cows to dinosaurs to Greek mythological figures). World of Mirth has a pretty awesome selection of stuff for adults, too, including this Darth Vader tote bag that I am having serious buyer's remorse over.

We wanted to buy one of everything but ended up going home with some new books (review coming), candy, a stuffed dog, and some geodes to smash open (they were duds but we enjoyed the smashing). All in all, a good haul.

PS: Free hayrides at Bluebird Gap Farm in Hampton this Saturday! Head on over to Fun and Free Hampton Roads for details.