Like amateur magicians, childhood toys are full of old gimmicks and appear to wince when sawn in half. Enlist a dependable new plaything instead with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of toys, games, and craft items at Finnegan's Toys & Gifts.

With 4,000 square feet of merchandise, Finnegan's Toys & Gifts is one of Portland's largest independent toy stores, keeping shelves overflowing with games, classic playthings, and craft kits. Youngsters can practice their pickup skills with a set of bamboo pick-up sticks ($3), a game of jacks ($10), or an overturned Scrabble board ($21). The Melissa & Doug wooden Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set ($20) comes with dry-erase markers, wipe-off cupcake tops, and wooden candles for custom cupcake design, and the plush Brandwell bear ($20) comes with paws outstretched for hugs. Kids can craft beaded bracelets with the Best Friend Bands kit ($18), which includes a loom and enough colorful beads and floss to make bands for up to 10 best friends or 2 loyal starfish. A Magic Crystal Garden kit ($6) or Sea-Monkeys on Mars set ($20) help budding scientists stock their nascent laboratories.