Shopping with the kids in New York, sweetie stores and robots while the locals go mad for Black Friday

Most Americans will be heading to the stores today for techie goods and fashion bargains for the famed Black Friday reductions, but where do you shop that entertains the kids as well?

Luckily in New York they know retail and they do it very well, even a sweetshop is turned into a magical emporium of multiple levels, witness Dylan’s Candy Bar which has just opened a Christmas special pop up shop in Bryant Park and whose Black Friday deal of 10% off is topped by the 20% off on Cyber Monday!

Or try Toys’R’Us whose 6 floors in Times Square feature an actual big wheel that turns in the atrium and you can ride in, and a life size animatronic dinosaur in the model section. Both Hershey’s and M&M whose stores face off against each other across the street have inbuilt displays that deserve more than a passing glance, even from the guy dressed as the Statue of Liberty who hangs on the other street corner. Soft toy lovers will appreciate the crowded cuddly ground floor at FAO Schwarz and look out for the dancing piano mat demonstration.

Teenagers however will prefer the quieter and low key Nintendo store where there is an actual Game Boy blown up in the Gulf War that still works in its 2nd floor Museum or the relaxed vibe in the village where Kidrobot shows how cool is really done. For those in the know Forbidden Planet gives away old copies of comics on a Thursday and is chock a full with toys and books from Japan.

Dylan's Candy Bar at 1011 3rd Avenue New York, right in with the upscale boutiques including Bloomingdales

Loving the gummy staircase at Dylan's Candy Store, New York

Do you have a favourite celebrity, do you want to know what their favourite sweets are? No, me neither but never mind!

Stop off for ice cream and cookies at the Wily Wonka style cafe at the top of Dylan's Candy store where the TV monitors show a selection of vintage confectionary ads.

A few sealed cabinets have vintage sweet packaging, and what we used to do before computer games at Dylan's Candy Bar, NYC

The amazing Big Wheel inside Toys R Us Times Square, NYC

Hershey's go for the Olde Worlde mad inventor look at their flagship NYC store

Whilst M&M's go for the slick modern vibe across the street in Times Square, New York

You are never far from a statue of Liberty in New York

The Nintendo store has loads of soon to be released games to check out on its monitors

Game Boy damaged in the Gulf War has pride of place in the Nintendo Museum in New York

Kidrobot's cool store in the Village, New York

Every variation of Kidrobot your teenage offspring could hope for in the store in the Village, NYC

Just when you think you've seen it all, up pop Angry Bird's Candy at Dylan's Candy Bar

Followed by the Angry Birds cuddly toy's at FAO Schwarz in New York

Halloween goodies from Fortnum and Mason, what a treat!

Passing Fortnum and Mason the other day and desperate for the loo I popped inside. I think its now my new favorite store. The ground floor is a confectioners delight and they are all freshly stocked up for Halloween and what a fantastic selection of goodies they have.

Pricey  I am afraid but way better than anything else I have seen for the coming Halloween. Look out as well for the Pumpkin carving competition held in store on 29th October, adults and children 5-18 can enter, details here, it sounds like spooky fun.

Coffin boxes filled with white chocolate skulls and bones

Skeleton chocolate lollies

Chocolate Owls and mice

Haunted House in chocolate biscuit gingerbread style with jelly sweets too

Haunted house made up, I think I might have had a bit less on the roof!

Exploding chocolate toad filled with popping candy

As well as all this Fortnums have a brilliant window display with a moss and branch woodland floor with bright poisonous looking mushrooms amongst which nestle some of their foodie goodies

Macaroons in Fortnum and Mason woodland window

Plus a celebrations window to Heinz for 100 years of their tomato soup. Whats not to like here!

Heinz tomato soup celebration window at Fortnum and Mason

All photos except toad by Smudgetikka, toad by Fortnum and Mason – all rights reserved