Having a Ball!

Beantown Toys fan Jillian, of St. Brendan's School in Dorchester, took the time to show us what she'd like a couple of our future Beans to look like!

Bean at St. Brendan's

Field Day at St Brendan's in Dorchester fielded a special visitor: The Bean! With summer on horizon, the students spent one of their last school days playing games with friends, family and faculty.

Hugs and crowds were the order of the day!

And we have to hand it to Jillian, one of our biggest Beantown Fans!
Way to show your true colors!
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Series 4 and More!!

Rocky, Greenwing, Princess Patty, Sir Bean, Mac, Honey Bean, and Pixel are just a few of the newest members of Beantown. In all more than 20 never before seen Beans are available now at Beantown Toys, 291 Newbury Street. Individual Beans are $2.99, but for a limited time you mix and match any 3 for $7.99. There is no limit on the number of sets of 3 you can buy, so now is your chance to complete you set and save a few bucks!

We are also proud to announce the return of Beantown Collectable Key Chains. Your old favorites; Bean, Lucky, Pitch, Quacker, Blitz and Lobstah are back with a new friend: Kix!
Soccer fans will really get a kick out him! Key Chains are $3.99 each, or you can buy 3 for $9.99!

A full supply of Series 1 Beanbots are available for only $7.99 each or 3 for $21.99. And Series 1 & 2 Spoon Racers are all $5.99 and 3 for $16.99.

Combine your Beanbots and Spoon Racers for limitless ways to Build Your Character! Just look at this creation by Beantown fans Becky and Bert!

Email photos of what you build to beantowneditor@comcast.net and we'll show to the world!

The Beanbots Have Landed!

The newest members of Beantown have arrived at our Mothership Store:
Beantown Toys
291 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115

Be the first to get yours today!

Bean To The Fututre

If six year old Adrian of Medfield was buying Wonka Bars, he'd have found a Golden Ticket! He is one of lucky few who has been able to add a Beanbot to his collection! A very limited number Beantown's newest family members were recently made available and Adrian was quick enough to scoop one up!

Keep an eye out for the full release of our Beanbots in the coming weeks!

Itz A Party!

Hello Friends!

Our "itz A Party" celebrations in Stoughton, Weymouth, and Pembroke were quite a success!
Check out the photos here. (link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2007486&l=c8f97&id=1005314670) Hint: you don't even have to have a Facebook Profile to see the photos, but if you do, add me as a friend: Bean Beantown.

We had a blast painting faces and meeting new Bean-lovers in these 3 great towns.
Remember, you can pick up Spoon Racers (and SOON BEAN BOTS too!) at:

Itzaparty!
10 Schoosett St
Pembroke MA 02359

Itzaparty!
600 South St. W Route 44
Raynham MA 02767

Itzaparty!
1334 Park St.
Stoughton MA 02072

Itzaparty!
842 Washington St
Weymouth MA 02189

Stay tuned for more Bean Events in the near future.


LovE, BeaN

ItzaBean at ItzaParty!

Beantown's Biggest Bean Fan!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with a special young lady, Ellie from Dorchester, and her impressive collection of more than 100 Beans! The 12 year old Boston Latin student began building her Bean bonanza a little more than two years ago, and has inspired us at the Beantown Gazette and Beantown Toys ever since.

I first met Ellie in December 2007 when she came to our "Bean Counting" event at her local Members Plus Credit Union. She single-handedly made that fundraiser bigger than we ever expected. Our plan was to have people turn their coins in cash for holiday shopping, while a small percentage of all coins counted would go to a local charity. And everybody who participated would receive a gift from The Bean himself!

When Ellie came in with her bag of coins she did something no one expected, she donated all her money to the charity! A little more than $30! A truly selfless act!

Ellie and The Bean at the Members Plus Credit Union "Bean Counting" event

Ellie has not only been generous in donating her money, she has giving us many of her ideas for future Beans. Her latest creations are: Vic, Greiko, and my favorite, Mr Snicklefritz.

Vic & Greiko

Mr. Snickelfritz

Some of her other Beantastic designs have been: AmeriBean, the very clumsy Clyde, Laffs The Clown, Chop! The Black Belt Bean, and Super Bean's sidekick Buzz.

And we'll never forget her drawing of an epic battle between Shadow Shark and Shark Machine! She called it: Showdown!

Thank you for all for your generosity and hard work Ellie! You certainly know how to Trust Your Heart, Use Your Bean, and Build Your Character!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!

The Boston Globe and Boston.com writer Johnny Diaz recently wrote a great article about Beantown Toys and Beantown CEO Tom Hayes, and we have it here in case you missed it! Thank you Mr. Diaz!

By Johnny Diaz
Globe Staff / January 15, 2009

Tom Hayes is in Beantown, one inhabited by baked bean characters who drive cars made out of spoons, live in homes called bean pots, and work in skyscrapers that have a certain legume shape.

This whimsical world of a two-legged bean in a baseball cap is the brainchild of Hayes, a former X-ray salesman and longtime stand-up comedian who dreamed of creating a Web comic strip based on funny exchanges with his wife, Inna Zhdanova. After considering various vegetables in the starring role, Hayes reached out to an animator who suggested using a baked bean as a character. Hayes says he invested $600,000 of his own magic beans to launch this alternative bean town, which has sprouted new characters and toys in the past year, with more to come.

"The whole idea is create a whole mythology, a bean town where beans live," says Hayes, who lives in South Boston. He's standing in the middle of bean central, better known as Beantown Toys on Newbury Street. The toy store features a wall of plush bean character collectibles such as Dunky, a pink bean that looks like it might work at a particular coffee and donut shop. There's Pitch, a bean that resembles a Red Sox baseball. And there's Statey, a bean state trooper.

As Hayes talks, a monitor plays a new animated trailer featuring the bean theme song: Use your bean, trust your heart, build your character in Beantown.

"We stumbled on a very charismatic figure, like Mickey Mouse or SpongeBob," says Hayes, who recently unveiled the bean animated trailer, which was produced by FableVision, a multimedia studio based in Boston. He's developing that trailer into an online animated series as part of the bean's evolution.

"It's not just about the toys but about the message, follow your path. We are trying to hit at certain truths and use them as role models for kids and their parents."

The bean's first incarnation began as a human-size character played by a local actor who wore a costume that looked like a Boston baked bean. He appeared at birthday parties, Boston Duck Tours, and events around the city such as First Night. In October 2006, Hayes opened Beantown Toys with a 4-foot plush smiling doll greeting tourists and passersby from the front window.

The bean has grown into an unofficial Boston mascot and its brand has expanded into key chains, mugs, T-shirts, and, of course, collectibles, which number about 180. The characters, by toy designer Matt Doughty, made their debut at the annual International Toy Fair in New York City and have appeared at the San Diego Comic Convention.

Hayes is about to introduce "bean bots" construction toys, and plans to publish books about being true to yourself.

On a recent Friday midday, several kids poured into the toy store and began giggling when they spotted all the bean characters.

"We can't figure it out," adds Hayes with a laugh. "Whether it's the shape or the image, people are so charged about it. There's this kinetic appeal that kids are fascinated with."

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Beantown LoveFest 2009!

Saturday, February 14th, 12pm-4pm

Everyone knows the Bean LOVES to give BIG hugs, so who else would you want to see on the most LOVEly day of all...VALENTINES! Come by and see us between 12PM-4PM on Saturday, Feb.14 for a LOVE Fest of Bean-proportions. As always, we'll have face-painting, storytelling, coloring contests, Spoon Races and more. Come get your BIG BEAN HUG!"

Where: 291 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Magic Show with Tom Hayes!

Saturday, January 24th, 12pm-2pm Some of you have already come to our Newbury Street toy shop to see our MAGIC BANK in action...but what if we told you, the MAGIC MAN is coming?! That's Right! Tom Hayes, the beloved owner, visionary, author, and CEO of Beantown Toys is coming to do a magic show at the BEAN'S HOME at 291 Newbury St. It's FREE! Don't miss it!" Where: 291 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Celebrate Your B-Day with The Bean!

Each month, we will send out a special birthday message from the BEAN for all those born in that Month. Email BeantownBirthday@gmail.com to be included on this SPECIAL list. You will also receive a discount coupon! ALSO! We will be collecting email addresses in a fishbowl in the Beantown Toys store, and one lucky person each month will be chosen to have their BIRTHDAY PARTY with the BEAN!! Come into the store for your chance at this SPECIAL treat!"

Featured Product:

Twirling Spaghetti Fork! In case your Valentines Day dinner date includes NOODLES! Twirling is a better way to eat spaghetti and the motorized fork automatically winds up the pasta on the end of the fork! Now there's less mess, more satisfying bites and 100% twirling fun. Battery operated. Age:3y+ To see a list of more LOVELY Toys available at our store, please click here!

URGENT! Special Message from The Bean:

Hello Everyone! I now have my own BEAN PROFILE on Facebook! Click Here to see the profile and befriend me: Bean Beantown. At the other Beantown Toys Facebook Page: the FAN PAGE, you can find out about upcoming events, see the newest videos, and stay in touch with all things Beantown! Click here to see the page! Love, BEAN

Beantown is Now A Two Blog Town!

The Beantown Gazette is excited to welcome sister-blog The Beantown Beacon! Straight out of Beantown, the Beacon offers the latest scoops on what is going on inside Beantown now, and what to expect in the future!

Sparkle For The New Year!

Limited Edition Sparkle is now available! This collectible Bean is coated in a super shiny reflective silver paint and features the words, "Happy New Year!" on the back. Priority Shipping is available at checkout. All orders will receive a special bonus!

Beantown Toys (formerly The Boston Baked Bean) now offers even more awesome toys! To celebrate the arrival of our new products, we are having a special Holiday Event all day this coming Saturday, the 20th.

From 11am-7pm on the 20th, we will have balloons, face-painting, storytelling, coloring contests, Spoon Races and more! Please come buy to check out all of the new fun toys, and maybe even stock up on last-minute stocking stuffers & holiday gifts.

Beantown Toys is the only Children's Toy Store in the heart of Boston, and we are committed to providing our customers with the most fun, highest quality specialty toy selection in the world!

We hope to see you at the Holiday Event, but if you can't visit this weekend, please try to visit us soon!

Wind-up Dancing Robots!

We now carry a great selection of toys that kids can buy with their own allowance money! Please stop by today, and let your child choose a little special something for being such a good kid!

Beantown Toys, formerly The Boston Baked Bean, invites you to celebrate our re-launch!

by Rebecca Cornwell - BOSTON, MA – Boston's Back Bay has needed a toy store for quite some time, and now Beantown Toys is filling that void!

On Friday November 28th, Beantown Toys invites you to stop by the grand opening of its brand new store on Newbury Street – located in the center of the city's popular shopping and dining district. Nestled among the beautiful brownstones that line this classic Boston street is the BEAN's toyshop, where bay windows and a cozy fireplace make guests feel at home. Inside, the store's shelves are lined with an array of fun children's toys, including BEAN plushies, and small plastic Beans that sit and scoot inside Bean Spoons on wheels!

The public is warmly invited to attend the BEAN's Opening Party to meet the 6-foot, cuddly mascot, and check out his shop, which sits at 291 Newbury Street. The party will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Guests can enjoy refreshments, face painting, coloring contests, spoon races, storytelling and maybe even some live music. Just look for the balloons out front!

The BEAN is a budding new Boston mascot born from the rich, local history of The Boston Baked Bean. Now, as a life-size, walking, waving Baked Bean, he symbolizes all that Boston was, is and can be. The BEAN's mission is to inspire a spirit of unity, education, community, harmony and diversity. As the city's new goodwill ambassador, the BEAN seeks to share "Beantown Pride" with residents and visitors, while promoting local and national causes through charitable appearances. His playful can-do attitude inspires goodwill in children and adults alike!

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For any of you our-of-town Bean Friends, please stay in touch with us through our website: www.beantowntoys.com. And let us know if there are any cool toy stores in your area that would serve as a good home for our beloved BEANS. :)

The Beantown Trailer is here!

What A Collection!

Eddie and Katie of Southborough, MA love showing off their huge battalions of Beans!