Unless you've got a 6-11 year-old girl in your life, you've probably managed to avoid the notorious American Girl Place at the Grove (and you consider yourself lucky, indeed). Oh, you've heard tell of their ostentatious parties for little darlings and their little darling dollies (that's around $90 a pop to sip tiny cups of tea and get matching hairdos for each girl and her girl doll) but you've steered clear, right?* LAist Featured......

When you open the door to The Valley of the Dolls you enter a fantasy world. From Pullips wearing fishnet tights to Rozen Maidens in elaborate costumes, these are no ordinary dolls. The Blythe dolls wear groovy clothes and stare at you with their very real looking eyes. Add some Gloomy Bears, miniatures, and Japanese plushies and you have found a toy heaven. LAist asked store owner Scot Reyes about designing toys, opening a store......

A car breaks down on an isolated country road. It is not only a dark and stormy night, it is the longest night in the world. The occupants, little Judy and her dysfunctional parents, are forced to seek shelter for the night in a remote old mansion. The mansion comes into view as it is illuminated by a flash of lightning, of course. Dolls pokes fun at the formulaic haunted house cliche while also providing......

If you've been to the Grove lately, you know about the American Girl Doll phenomenon: 7 year old girls dragging around $86 dolls with matching clothing that sells for about $80 per outfit for the girl (and $25 per outfit for the doll). Every westside 2nd grader must have a doll, and leaving the Grove without $300 worth of American Girl Place Merchandise is a cause for shame. Despite the fact that dolls were......