Of all the retailers to find themselves in a heated debate about immigration, Toys R Us is one of the more unlikely ones. But the toy retailer is under some criticism concerning how it handled a newborn's situation in a New Year's contest. Toys R Us offers a $25,000 scholarship towards college education for a baby born in the new year. The NY Times reports that three babies were tied for being the first......

Dunh dunh DUNH! It's the most insane shopping day of the year, thanks to most people being off and feeling that the day after Thanksgiving is an acceptable beginning to the Christmas shopping season. However, some stores were actually open yesterday, giving turkey and football some competition. Some stores opened at 5AM today, others at 6AM. In fact, some people have been flying in from overseas, perhaps to take advantage of the exchange rate!......

The city is always a hotbed for activism. Metro has a story about two gay men and a lesbian staging a sit-in in front of the U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square yesterday. Only thing is the USAFRS was closed! The three protesters, who were trying to "enlist in defiance of the military’s ban on homosexuals" believe the USAF knew they were staging the purpose and decided to close up. Jake Retain, a......

If you tuned into Good Morning America this morning, you may have noticed Diane Sawyer extracting something from a safe. And, yes, that red and furry object was the new Tickle Me Elmo T.M.X. - T.M.X. for Tickle Me eXtreme. Not only the the doll talk in the third person and giggle, Elmo basically has a crazy laughing fit - slapping his knee, falling on his back and convulsing, getting back up, falling on......

It has happened: The Howard Johnson at Broadway and 46th Street has been sold. The Rubinstein family who owned the HoJo at 1551 Broadway for ages sold the property, plus another building on West 34th, for $100 million. The Post speculates that the new retailer will be something a little more high-end, as rumors say the buyer, Wharton Acquisitions, will level the building to create a "retail box" like the Times Square Toys R Us......

Okay, we know you've seen Lord of the Rings: Return of the King already, maybe as part of the marathon showing. Gothamist wants to know what you think. And if you haven't seen it yet (gasp!), before or after you watch the movie in Times Square, you can go to the Times Square Toys R Us where they have some of the props from the film on display. [Via Neil] Gothamist is not making......

Samology's photographs of the ferris wheel at the Toys R Us at Times Square reminds Gothamist of how fun it is to go there. While the megastoring of NY is disconcerting, the Times Square Toys R Us is a keeper.......

The 100th Toy Fair is wrapping up at the Jacob K. Javits Center this week. Apparently, it's the last big toy blowout before the show splits into smaller ones. It's an exciting time in the city, with the prototype toys not yet released displayed at the Times Square Toys R Us and reports about the cool toys on the Today Show - Corey Greenberg says that "Hokey Pokey Elmo" is on his way. I wonder......