Peaceful vintage design. Alphaville is a unique little shop that has been around the corner from our home for many years. Populated by toys, posters and "objet" from the '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s, it stands as a paean to an era long before video games, splatter films and throwawayism.
They put it very nicely:
A quick glance at this era's toys fills the senses with wonderment, imagination, and above all-peace. The colors, shapes, & characters all speak for themselves. Nowhere else, in any other period of time in this century, will you find the palette of colors as soft and pastel...
Betcha P(2) comments on the tiger pic.....
Come on, who DOESN'T want to know what the Phantom is saying to that tiger? It's a new contest in the making!
they also have beautiful vintage greeting cards; very fun shop
that's so funny. i just was in there an hour ago buying a fantastic flip book. it has a nice vibe and i can always find something special in there.
Yes their cards are unique and worth a visit. I always find myself wandering in around Christmas, spotting all the great old decorations we used to have that my Mom tossed.... sigh.
Thank-you so much for listing this. A friend told me about this store years ago, described it as a great vintgage toy store where Roz Chast shops. I found it once wandering the city with my family but it was time to close or catch the subway and I was dragged away & wondered if I could ever find it again. Will definitely go there. I long to replace my beanie copter.
great shop, i always try to buy a gift here at holiday time, but a fun visit anytime. it's great that film forum is right accross the street.
cat--something about normally preferring bears, perhaps?