Ever read the Japanese manga "Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo" or "The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You"? It's an over-the-top romantic comedy about a lucky schlub named Ajio whom, due to a careless deity and a particularly good scene in a Hayao Mizayaki movie got blessed with 100 soulmates, and it became his life's mission to love every single one of them equally at the same time (or they will literally die if their affections were not reciprocated).
Well, I never came close to having 100 girlfriends (I was, and still remain a serial monogamist) but I do have close to 100 Lego sets, one significant other for over 5 years, the emotional wisdom / scars of a few ladies with whom I had strong past connections, and some who I had to figuratively kick to the curb for coming between me and my Legos. Jane, Sandra and Nicole? Not sorry. Don't ever come between a man and his lifelong addiction to Nordic plastic blocks.
So, as a techie working in silicon alley, my office is close to the Flatiron Lego store...but ironically enough I don't buy a lot of sets there. Between Lego's pick-a-brick online service, its Bricklink 3rd party bricks marketplace (and its BrickLink Studios design software), its Shop@Home service and the various 3rd party websites (like brickset or the new elementary) I usually find out about new Lego sets, double point days or free giveaways before most people, and since I also frequent Target or Costco warehouses, I often know more about available sets there than Lego's own retail operations. Since I don't enjoy carrying Lego sets home, I would often ship them directly to my house. Of course, I do have the occasional date night with the missus at Eataly next door (I made a promise with the missus that if I ever enter the C-suite we'll celebrate at Eleven Madison Park...which is at this point a very long shot and a recurrent joke that hurts) so we'll walk in and treat the place like a Lego showroom - the missus loves the botanical collection since it jives well with our interior decorative style, which she semi-sarcastically refer to as "Lego Jungle Cat condo garden server farm". I usually gun for their Ideas or Creators set (since I do custom designs). Before I buy a set I usually try to get an idea how it'll jive in own home, how well our 2 furbabies (*meow*) interact with them, and whether I'll love having them. The sad thing is that more often than not I'll be surprised by something that came in which I entirely forgot about, and is still sitting in a box unopened and un-assembled, waiting for my undivided time and attention.
So, should you buy Legos here? Well, out of the 2 Manhattan Lego locations this is the lesser known one (the other is at West 51st and 5th) with less selection of sets, but it's also the one that's more likely to have sets in stock. Their display setup tends to get the new ones later than the other, but whatever they have on display, they'll tend to have. Service is friendly without it being too intrusive, and it's nice to be offered freebies for dropping "stupid money" on Legos.
That being said, if you are planning to break up with a girlfriend over Legos, it'a slightly less embarrassing for her to do it at the Lavazza cafe next door at Eataly...although sometimes, you get to choose the event but not the venue. Just remember that ABS plastics endure even if your affection might fade... read more