Unless you live in a city that has a Kidrobot store, you may not be familiar with the wonderfully weird world of Kidrobot, created by Paul Budnitz. Kidrobot combines the talents of fine artists, fashion designers, graffiti artists and illustrators to produce a line of limited-edition toys and apparel. Kidrobot launched in 2002 with the Munny and Dunny toys, which officially became collectible art after the Museum of Modern Art acquired 13 of them for their permanent collection in 2007. Today kids of all ages with as little as $7 can amass a collection of pop art toys interpreted and signed by well-known and emerging artists from all over the world. Collecting Kidrobot toys can become addictive. Besides the accessible price point, the “blind assortment” packaging concept adds to the fun since you don’t know what you’re getting until you open the box. Outside the package is a list of possible figures and the odds of getting them. Open the box and find a figure not pictured, and you’ve scored a rare “chase” figure, which serious Kidrobot addicts are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for. Starting to get the picture? If you’re ready to bag your first Dunny, the new Dunny French Series ($7, pictured) looks tres adorable. Your artistic friends will probably love personalizing the Mini Munny ($10) — also available in pink or white — with this set of Munny Markers ($5) or Munny Crayons ($5). We loved the Chumps Mini Series ($8) by poster artist Frank Kozik with their streetwise Top Cat vibe, but you might prefer Kozik’s surly and silly Mongers Breakfast 5-Pack ($16). The Zoomies Mini Series ($8) and the Kiiro Mini Series ($8) are equally darling, but you may be moved by the retro feel of these Peecol figures ($10) by the German pixel-art group EbOY. Choose between WGirl, Mr. Q or NYOff, or several more in this line of interchangeable figures. Be sure to check out the Kidrobot Community and Event pages, where you can download free stuff, chat and stay abreast of Kidrobot events like trading parties. Whether you go ga-ga over Brobee ($25) or nutty over Muno ($25), a virtual stroll through Kidrobot is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

I’ve always rolled my eyes at those froufrou cookies and frosted bakery-style treats for pets that cost more than their for-human-consumption counterparts. Please. As if a cat or dog gets excited by a doughnut. But maybe they do if it tastes really good. After some surfing around the Internet, I discovered that most of the pricey “gourmet” snacks for cats and dogs are so-named because, in fact, they are made of better-quality, more healthful ingredients than the “junk food” available at the supermarket. At Full Petential, the Doggie Sushi ($5.45 for a 6.4-ounce package; they make it for cats, too) contains no byproducts or other fillers, no artificial colors or flavors. The “delectable fish-wrapped, soft chicken breast treat” contains omega fatty acids for the heart, skin and coat (see the ingredients and nutritional analysis here). For your favorite feline, they make Tasty Teasers ($2.82 for a 1.78-ounce package). These low-allergen chicken and potato morsels are high in protein and free of filler. You can even order free samples of the company’s product line (shipping not included). Zuke’s, of Durango, Colo., sells American-made natural dog and cat treats that are free of wheat, corn, soy, byproducts, artificial colors and artificial preservatives. Check out the complete Woof Index, where you’ll find Jerky Naturals ($5.29 for 6 ounces; pictured), a semi-moist treat in meat or fish flavors with ingredients such as fresh blueberries, ground flax seed, apples and carrots. The Meow Index is smaller, with goodies such as salmon or chicken flavored Cat Hip Action ($4.20 for 3 ounces). There are many vendors online competing for your money in this niche market, but how many offer carob- and peanut-butter-flavored Betty Cocker Brownies for dogs? Bone Appetit Bakery recommends them for small breeds and dogs with skin allergies (50 cents each). Check out the entire selection of dog and cat treats and see if you don’t get hungry yourself.

Arvo Pärt, the septuagenarian Estonian composer, ranks among the most important living composers of what for lack of a better term is still called “classical music.” His often ethereal, soaringly beautiful compositions are modern without jarring the listener as some avant-garde works do; they’ve caught on so thoroughly with listeners outside the usual classical circles that one critic was prompted to comment (comparing his success to that of Philip Glass), “Lately I’ve noticed that artificial Glass has increasingly been supplanted by pseudo-Pärt on TV and film soundtracks.” A new package from the giant record label Naxos, The Silence of Being, collects five discs of the composer’s work for the bargain price of $39.99. (A sixth, bonus disc gathers material by such other maverick composers as John Cage and George Crumb; that disc also appears in a new Naxos box devoted to Glass symphonies and concerti.) The set presents an array of Pärt’s music, containing some that is very famous — like “Fratres” and “Tabula Rasa” from 1977, the period during which he developed a signature compositional technique he dubbed “tintinnabulation” — along with more obscure pieces. It offers everything from string quartets to full orchestral works and unaccompanied choirs. The recordings are excellent, and while the CDs’ packaging doesn’t match the evocative design of some Pärt releases from the ECM label, the low price surely makes the tradeoff worthwhile.

For baseball fans, next Monday is a major holiday – it’s Opening Day. Proclaim your allegiance to your favorite team with an authentic throwback jersey from Distant Replays Retro Sports Store, like a 1917 Chicago White Sox road jersey. ($225). If you’re one of those freaky stats-spouting baseball nerds, you’ll love Turbo Stats baseball software, which allows you to keep score on a Palm PDA and then go back to your PC and crunch those numbers any way you wish ($39.95 to $179.95). Playing catch speeds up with with the Laser Ball, which displays the speed of your pitch upon impact ($11.95, pictured). If you’re confined to your office during day games, keep up on the scores with the SportsCast Wireless Baseball Scoreboard, which updates via satellite every 15 minutes, with no TV, PC or subscription needed ($99; order now to receive a limited edition baseball). For a more retro look, check out the Liveboard ($199), which uses Bluetooth technology to track games. Another desk accoutrement that captures the baseball mystique is the Levitating Baseball – you can even control its spin and speed ($19.99). And here’s your chance to play George Steinbrenner: USAopoly My Major League Baseball Edition is the first customizable Monopoly game in which players buy, sell and trade teams in an effort to control Major League Baseball ($34.99). For the serious fan, there’s nothing like a road trip. Check out the baseball tour packages from Sports Travel and Tours; tours include tickets, hotel, transportation from city to city, and more (and if you can’t find your dream trip, you can customize your own). The gift shop of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is the ticket for everything from caps and patches to baseball cards and signed baseballs while the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum pays tribute to some of the greats; we like this commemorative leather jacket ($295.95). If you’re into memorabilia, check out MLB’s auction site; you can even “steal home” by bidding on one of these home plates!

There’s more to honey than what you find in a plastic bear on your supermarket shelves. Bees are busy all year long in every part of the world, so that we can add golden sweeteness to a cup of tea, a loaf of bread, even a facial. Plus, honey is good for you; it’s the rare sweetener with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Honeys are as unique as the plants and flowers that spawn them. One of Sardinia’s most ancient products is Abbamele, a honey-and-pollen reduction that can be used in salads, on ice cream or fresh fruit, or like a chutney ($26.99). Spanish orange honey from Alemeny, Spain, or orange blossom honey from ApiPharm, Greece, can be used in marinades, yogurts and more ($12). We also found some inviting French rosemary honey, which has a thicker, more liquid texture, though it’s still drizzle-able ($12.85). This fireweed honey, known as “the champagne of honeys.” is touted for its “light, delicate nose, a satiny smooth texture, and suprisingly fruity flavor.” It comes from the red-purple flowers that shoot up after forest fires in Washington state and is certified kosher ($10). Other sweet treats include the Four Flavors raw-honey collection from Honeytaster.com, a sampler of one-pound jars of palmetto honey, blackberry honey, star thistle honey and Tupelo honey ($36.95, pictured). For a piece of all-natural honeycomb, try Dutch Gold’s sweet clover honey, which is the best thing you can put on toast ($10.45). For honey-friendly recipes, see the selections at Burlesons Pure Honey or the National Honey Board. You’ll find great ideas for desserts, snacks, sauces and side dishes, along with recipes for all-natural beauty treatments. Speaking of beauty products, buzz on over to BeeCeuticals Organics, which uses a special holistic honey blend in its line. We vote for the Queen Bee for a Day Cream, $22.99).

You’ve heard it before: All work and no play make Johnny a dull boy. That’s because play is more than just a good time. It actually engages parts of the brain needed for certain cognitive, social, physical and emotional abilities, while giving rest to our overused “work” brains. If you can’t afford to play hooky from your job, Shopperati’s evening and weekend experts urge you to take up at least one recreational pastime this spring. Here are some suggestions and some gear to go with them. Softball: Great to play with coworkers and friends as it heightens your enjoyment of the outdoors and sharpens the senses. If you haven’t played in years, invest in a nice new game-improving glove such as the DeMarini Diablo Slow Pitch 13-incher ($49.99). The Sorbothane shock-absorbing palm cushions the pain of fast, hard throws. Golf: Rolling green courses, birdsong, plenty of walking and ample opportunities to work on eye-body coordination. If you get hooked, pick up a set of handsome Wilson Golf Neoprene Iron Covers ($9.99) and keep your irons unscratched. While you’re at it, we also recommend the Samsonite Trunk Golf Organizer ($29.99), which has pockets and compartments to keep your golf shoes, grips, jacket, gloves and more stowed neatly in your car trunk. Biking: Good for the heart, the leg muscles, the circulation - and good for the planet as an alternative to driving. You can even get one that folds up inside a travel bag, for taking on a plane, from Bike Friday. While you’re splurging, treat yourself to the award-winning CamelBAK Mayhem 100-ounce Hydration Pack ($90) and say goodbye to reaching for a bottle while riding. This one has an outer mesh pocket for holding gear, and it supplies more than three hours of water. Camping: The opposite of sleeping indoors close to the TV and computer, on a soft bed you know so well you don’t even notice you’re worrying again. Look at the stars and moon instead! Listen to the night! Sleep better than ever inside Columbia’s Bugaboo Family Dome Tent ($128.28 plus free shipping). It’s large enough for up to five people and features a remote control light, skylights and a venting system for fresh air all night. Plan to play, and you’ll work better when you get back.