Delhi for Children – Teddy Bears in Shining India General by The Delhi Walla - December 16, 20073 GO STRAIGHT TO CITY CLASSIFIEDS & CITY EVENTSGO STRAIGHT TO MORE STORIESContact mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com for ad enquiries. Build-a-Bear Workshop for rich people’s children. [Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi] This is part of a special series for readers with children. Click here for National Rail Museum Buying a teddy bear is nothing novel. Building one certainly is. US-based Build-a-Bear Workshop recently opened its first Delhi outlet at Shopper’s Stop in Raja Garden. Here kids can customize a stuffed toy of their choice. That is you make your own bear – starting from choosing its size, colour and voice, to fattening it up and even dressing it in fancy clothes– all in 35 minutes. Bread, not bear; Outside Raja Garden Mall The showroom, which has pug marks painted on the floor, has 30 kinds of animals including leopard, cheetah and puppy. The size ranges from 14″ to 16″ and the price fluctuates from Rs. 395 to Rs. 1195. The 16″ Snow Leopard is the priciest. There is a special selection for very small children (upto 3 years) where the cloth is velvety and no plastic is used anywhere (eyes are embroidered). Asthma-friendly bears (Rs. 895) are a thoughtful addition. They have no furs to catch the dust. This or that? Once you have made your picking, the shop assistant (sorry, I mean the Bear Builder) helps bring your pet to life by stuffing, stitching and fluffing the chosen one. A special sound machine gives you the godly power of deciding your baby’s voice. Dog, cow or monkey (Rs. 99)? You can also give your own voice. The next step – stuffing – is painful when the back of the poor bear is rammed into a metallic nuzzle that quickly fills in 100 gm cotton. But all is made up as you tuck in a small satin-made heart before a short-duration stitching surgery heals the wound (chhho cute!). Please, give us something Now, the dress. Frock (Rs. 495) or bridal frock (Rs. 795)? Shoes (Rs. 295) or sandals (Rs. 250)? Goggles (Rs. 195) or baseball cap (Rs. 195)? All this grooming, of course, is optional. You may as well carry your bear in its birthday dress. However before leaving, don’t forget to get its computerized janam-patri. May you both live happily ever after. Where Shoppers Stop, Eros Mall, Raja Garden Ph 32438692 Where’s your teddy? FacebookX Related Related posts: Delhi for Children – National Rail Museum City Essentials – Street Walk with Street Children Photo Essay: Delhi Shining – The Metropolis Flaunts its Metro City Faith – Praying for The Children, Behram Khan Tiraha Mission Delhi – Fajru Rahman, Near Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children
Mayank,You have a pure heart. I’m glad someone feels the huge gap between the rich and poor in our country.It takes time for things to change and lets hope that they will with people like you sensitizing society.It goes without saying that I love your blog,Saurabh
I stumbled upon your blog a month or so back….and found it very refreshing. Your sensitivity comes through in every piece. And I especially like the captions to your photos. This one on the “Bear” is subtle, as always. Nice work…
Would the good Soofi care to put up the digital camera — or cell-phone — that took those oh-so-touching photos up for auction on eBay, the proceeds going to charity?Would the other hand-wringers care to deprive themselves of Internet access for, say, a month, using the savings for the poor, deprived, other adjective of choice, street kids?If not, would you lot care to put away those handkerchiefs? Or wrap them around your bleeding hearts?<>The size ranges from 14″ to 16″ and the price <>fluctuates<> from Rs. 395 to Rs. 1195.<>It does? Um, Soofi, is there any particular time of the day when the “fluctuation” is at its lowest point?[N.B.: One might even use the savings for your little pals.]