...  New Sea Center picks up $1.5 M from Ty Warner

The four-year fund-raising campaign for the new Sea Center on Stearns Wharf finished with a flourish Thursday with the news that Beanie Baby magnate Ty Warner is pitching in $1.5 million. The revamped $8.1 million marine science education facility -- the most visible part of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History -- will now be called the Ty Warner Sea Center.   Click here to read the story

 ...  "From:  Your Friends at Ty"
Collectors are receiving an email from 'Your Friends at Ty' informing them of the Mother's Day Beanie 'Mom-e 2004', available at Ty Store.  The photo included in the email is the same one as shown on Ty's website when it was introduced on April 14th.  The email reads:

From:  Your Friends at Ty
Date:  Friday, April 23, 2004
To:  xxxxxx
Subject:  Mother's Day Exclusive Beanie Baby

Monday, April 19

 ...  Ty Retirement
Although there is no official Newsflash, Ty has retired 'Eggbeart' today at Ty Store.  This Easter Beanie Baby bear was introduced on March 16, 2004.
Click here to visit Ty Store 

 ...  Teenie Beanies?  It's True!
With all the recent discussions on the return of Teenie Beanie Babies at McDonald's, Randy confirms that ARE coming back!  He writes:
Hi,
I have been reading on the Ty Talk Cyberboard about Teenie Beanies coming back to McDonald’s and have been wondering why I hadn’t heard anything about it before then. Why? Because I work for McDonald’s as a manager and I am in charge of ordering all the supplies for our store. I get advanced info on what new food items are coming up and then have to figure out how much to order. Happy Meal items are ordered automatically but I also get advanced info on them and all I knew about is what would be available through the end of May. I haven’t received an update going any farther than that yet.  So what about Teenie Beanies? Are they coming back? All I can say is ‘write it down.’ What you have read on the Cyberboard is true.

I called customer service for our distributor on Friday and they confirmed that Teenies Beanies will be in Happy Meals towards the end of July as a part of a Happy Meal 25th Anniversary Celebration. I was told that they will be all bears with different emblems on their chest. Also one bear will be a McDonald’s style bear. As to whether it will just have a McDonald’s emblem or will be dressed in a Ronald McDonald type outfit, the person I talked to was not sure.  With all the other Teenie Beanie promotions, I was a customer. This time around I will be on the other side of the counter, which is kind of scary. On the plus side, I’ll get to see them before the customers do, which is kind of cool.

It will be interesting to see how this will all go over. Beanies are not as big now as they used to be. ‘Finding Nemo’ was about the most intense Happy Meal promotion I have gone through so far so I am wondering how Teenie Beanies will stack up against that one?  I will be sure to pass along any additional info if I am allowed to.  There is still Flyer info to come in the months ahead. The POP (Point Of Purchase) kit and of course, the Happy Meal display itself. And don't EVEN ask if I can get hold of the display because the owner of the stores in our co-op has a strict policy concerning the return of the display to the main office when we are through with it. Hmm, have to wonder if a previous Beanie Baby promotion led to that decision?
~Randy
Beanieholics  

... Thanks for sharing with us, Randy!  Sounds like McDonald's has some interesting plans for their 25th Happy Meal Celebration!

 ...  Let the Party Begin!
Want to play a game?  Ty Warner states there's a special prize for the person who posts the 100th reply to the following message.  (There are some GREAT poems worth reading!)
Looks like the party is just beginning !
Ty Warner   (Apr 15, 2004, 03:17 PM)
Message Id: 713016
Ty Warner writes:
I've had a great time today reading all your posts and reminiscing about the wonderful times we've had on the boards.
Here's a new game we can play. I have a special prize for the person who posts the 100th reply to this message. Now, you can't post just anything. I'm looking for a poem that celebrates 5 years of Ty Talk fun. Let the game begin !
Click here to view the Cyberboard posts 

(Update on 4/16 ... see above)


 ...  New 'Ask Ty' Q & A
A new 'Ask Ty' question and answer has been posted on Ty's website:
Q:  Will you be joining the celebration party for the 5th anniversary for the Ty Talk Cyberboard? (submitted by americanmaid)
A:  I wouldn't miss it for the world ! Happy Anniversary to all my Cyberboard friends.
Click here to visit 'Ask Ty'  


 ...  Ty Newsflash - Retirements
Ty has retired the following six Exclusive Asia Pacific Flag Beanie Buddies.  These bears were officially introduced by Ty on November 10, 2003.
Kiwiana
Aussiebear
Coreana
Wirabear
Ai
Singabear
Click here to view the announcement  


 ...  Anniversary Greeting to Cyberboard Friends from Ty Warner
The following was posted on the Ty Cyberboard this morning.  (To view Ty's message and the responses, click on the link below.)
A special greeting to all my Cyberboard Friends
Ty Warner (Apr 15, 2004, 09:07 AM)
Message Id: 712626
Ty Warner writes:
Good morning friends and happy 5th anniversary ! I have very much enjoyed all your posts, well wishes and stories over the past 5 years. I thank you and give you the credit for making these boards a success. Now . . . let's have some fun ! Please post your most favorite moment or story from the Cyberboard. You know I'll be watching and reading. Thanks again and Happy Anniversary !
Click here to view the Cyberboard postings 

 ...  Abbey Press Catalog
Ty continues to make an appearance in the latest Abbey Press catalog.  Below is a picture of the ad for the Mother's Day 2004 Beanie Baby.  The ad copy reads:

New! Ty Beanie Babies Mother's Day 2004 Flowers and candies are nice. But to really delight Mom on her special day, share this adorable gift she will treasure for a lifetime! Made of soft plush, the bear features embroidered detail, a ribbon tie that reads "Mother's Day 2004" and a heart-shaped hangtag. 9". 38214 $6.95 Each; Two or more $6.50 Each

... Thanks to Randy and Theresa of Beanieholics for sharing

 ...  Fire Ruins San Ysidro Ranch Kitchen
Suspected electrical fire ruins San Ysidro Ranch kitchen
4/13/04 ... by Camilla Cohee, News Press Staff Writer

An apparent electrical fire destroyed the kitchen at Montecito's San Ysidro Ranch but did not damage the adjacent dining room or rustic bistro below.

Firefighters suspect an overloaded or overheated circuit sparked the blaze, which broke out around 12:30 a.m. Monday in a crawl space under the kitchen. The ranch's night manager reported seeing smoke coming out of an electrical panel, and firefighters arrived shortly after.

The crew was forced to open walls and floors to douse the blaze within.

"It was difficult for us to get into, because the fire was concealed in the walls and floors, and we couldn't reach it with water," said Montecito Fire Battalion Chief Glen McLeod.

Angie Christensen, spokeswoman for the ranch, said Monday that the restaurant and bistro would be closed for the next couple of days. She said the staff was grateful that no extensive damage was done to the wooden building, a packing house built in the 1890s.

"It had burned down in the early 1900s and was rebuilt," she said.

She said the ranch is near full occupancy this time of year.

"Thankfully no one was hurt, and we'll be back and running within the next couple of days," she said.

Guests were served breakfast in another room, and food was brought up from owner Ty Warner's other hotel, the Four Seasons Biltmore.

There are plans to remodel the ranch kitchen as part of a larger revamp of the property. Ms. Christensen wasn't sure whether the entire remodel would occur now or in the future, as previously planned.

... Thanks to Randy and Theresa of Beanieholics for sharing

 ...  'Thank You' X 3
'Thank You', 'Thank You', and 'Thank You!  That's what you'll see when you click on the link below.  Posted on Ms. Janie's site is a photo of all three of Ty's 'Thank You' bears sent by a reader
Click here to view the photo 

 ...  Photos of 'Siesta'
If you haven't seen a photo of the Ty Store Exclusive Beanie 'Fiesta', you may want to check out our friend Sakurako's site (Bottega Beanies/Japan) ... there are some great close-ups, including the hat and hang tag info.
Click here to view the photos 

 ...  Have you Ordered Yours?
Have you ordered your 'Eggbeart' Easter Bear from Ty Store?  With Easter Sunday tomorrow, it will probably retire soon.  If this is a bear you wish for your collection, you may want to order now, if you haven't done so yet !

 ...  MOMS, Daughters Plan Trip to Work Croatian Orphans
Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea,MN,USA
They don't yet know what they'll be called on to do, but three area moms and their daughters are preparing to help kids in Croatia.

They have formed the Kids Caring for Kids Mission Team and plan to travel to war-torn Croatia in July for a three-week mission experience. Those participating are Jean Anderson and her daughters, Rebecca and Faith; Jill Petersen and her daughters, Samantha and Ashley; and Carrie Troe and her daughter, Emily.

The team plans to bring each child in the orphanages a Beanie Baby or stuffed animal. "They're like gold over there," Jean said.

The girls will actually be giving away their own Beanie Babies are have been speaking to Sunday school classes about adopting a Beanie for $10 to help fly it Croatia.
Click here to read the article 

 ...  Happy Birthday Happy Meal
Sun-Sentinel.com
A quintessentially American meal is celebrating a big birthday this year, but it's not meatloaf or spare ribs or Mom's apple pie.

It is the humble Happy Meal, rolled out 25 years ago under the Golden Arches in a campaign to build loyalty among the youngest of McDonald's customers.

... For some kids, the food undoubtedly became secondary to digging down for the prize. And the supremacy of the toy reached absurd proportions in 1997, when McDonald's started stashing Teenie Beanie Babies -- pint-sized versions of the insanely popular beanbag animals -- into Happy Meals.

Click here to read the article 


 ...  New 'Ask Ty' Q & A
A new 'Ask Ty' question and answer has been posted on Ty's website:
Q: Is this what you had planned for when you started to make Beanie Babies? Did you think it would get this big, and touch and affect so many people? (submitted by Taggerung)
A: My original plan for Beanies was to create a soft, cute, under-stuffed toy that a child could hold in the palm of their hand and afford with their allowance. Did I think Beanies "would get this big?" . . . . it crossed my mind a time or two !
Click here to visit 'Ask Ty' 


 ...  Beanie Baby Checklist
Randy and Theresa of Beanieholics always had one of the most comprehensive and compact Beanie Baby checklist on the internet.  Although they posted a "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen' on December 31st, many collectors will be glad to know they have updated their checklist ... it is now current and up-to-date.
Click here to view Beanieholics' checklist 

Added Note:  Yes, Randy and Theresa, we (and many others) DO miss you greatly!  As Ms. Janie said ... Could we be dreaming ... or do we possibly see signs of a comeback?  We'll just sit back and wait & see!  

Hi!
We’re working on a couple of new stories … I thought your site visitors might like to be featured in the magazine!  I hope all is well with you!
Thank you!
Erin

I met Ty!
 If you're one of the lucky collectors who have met Ty Warner in person, we want to hear your story! Beanies & More is chronicling some of the most exciting Ty meetings in an upcoming issue ... share your story with us at beaniesandmore@imaginepub.com today!

Wanted: Collectors from Across the Country!
Are you a serious collector on the West Coast, a big Beanie fan in the Midwest or a Southern Ty aficionado? Beanies & More is looking for collectors from all across the country for a special article in an upcoming issue. If you love Ty items, we want to hear how collecting is unique in your neck of the woods -- wherever those woods may be! E-mail us today at beaniesandmore@imaginepub.com! 


 ...  'Thank You' Bear Arriving
Ms. Janie has posted photos of the April BBOTM 'Thank You' Bear.  To view the photo, along with hang tag information, click here 

 ...  New Ty Trademark Applications
Sly reports to Ms. Janie of two new Ty trademark application registrations ... "The Snoozers Collection" (applied on March 24, 2004) and "Snoozers" (applied on March 26, 2004).  "Plush toys" was listed as the Goods and Services for both applications.  Now just what could a "Snoozer" be?  :)


 ...  Ty Newsflash
Ty has retired two Beanie Babies today - 'Bo' (dog) and 'Bearon' (bear - brown and red versions).
Click here to view the retirement announcement 

 ...  Contest at Planet Beans
Lisa shares news with us of her Contest, which runs April 3-30:
WIN 8 UK EXCLUSIVE BEANIES/BUDDIES!
Planet Beans is running a simple 'graphic hunt' contest for the rest of April in which one lucky winner will win a group of 8 UK exclusive Beanies and Buddies.
Click here for Contest details 

 ...  Remember - 'Spring Forward'
Daylight Saving Time will begin for many (most of the U.S.) at 2:00 am Sunday morning (the first Sunday of April).   If you are in a DST zone, don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour tonight before heading to bed.
Click here for more info on DST 

 ...  New UK Additional Tags
Daphne writes to us with the following:
Now that the new Beanies have hit the UK, we've put up pics of the new, additional Euro tags on the latest releases.

It's a single tag, with printing on both sides, attached behind the regular Ty hang tag. The safety information in French, German, Italian and Spanish states:
'Safety precaution Remove all tickets and accessories before giving the item to a child Keep tag for reference Surface wash'

 ...  New 'Ask Ty' Q & A
A new 'Ask Ty' question and answer has been posted on Ty's website:
Q: What was the best April Fool's joke anyone ever played on you? (submitted by goldbear)
A: I have been at the receiving end of more April Fool's Day jokes than I care to remember. Several years ago someone filled my car from floor to ceiling with Beanies !
Click here to visit 'Ask Ty'  


 ...  The Two Noses of Piñata
The recently discussed two 'nose' versions of 'Piñata' are now appearing at retailers.  A reader has sent a photo to Ms. Janie of each Beanie, which can be viewed by clicking here.  (Sounds like the 'flag nose' version may be a bit more difficult to find.)