American Idol” Top 13 was pre-taped on Tuesday, March 8 to allow the producers to fit all the performances and judges’ comments into two hours. As a result, the songs that the finalists sing have been leaked before the broadcast. The list is as follows:
Lauren Alaina: “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain
Casey Abrams: “With a Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles
Ashthon Jones: “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” by Diana Ross
Paul McDonald: “Come Pick Me Up” by Ryan Adams
Pia Toscano: “All by Myself” made popular by Celine Dion
James Durbin: “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney
Apple has released iOS 4.3 for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, and iPad ahead of its scheduled date of March 11. The update includes a number of new features, such as improved Safari performance, improved support for AirPlay video and audio from third-party apps and Safari, the ability to customize the iPad switch for mute or orientation lock, Personal Hotspot cellular data sharing for the GSM iPhone 4, and iTunes Home Sharing, which allows users to wirelessly stream content from iTunes to an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch over their home network. iOS 4.3 is available now via the Update feature in iTunes.
Last week Rolling Stone asked their readers to vote for their favorite live acts of all time. The results have been tabulated and the winner, without a close second anywhere in sight, was Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. The Rolling Stones and The Who were next. See which other bands made the list HERE.
Here is a fun game from Cadbury that allows you to egg people’s houses (virtually). Simply type in an address (city, state, country, street) and then follow the instructions to catapult a creme egg towards that address. Click HERE to try it out.
HBO has commissioned famed screenwriter/author Michael Chabon (Wonderboys, Spider-Man 2) and his wife, novelist Ayelet Walden to develop a period piece detailing the exploits of magicians against Adolf Hitler.
The series, tentatively titled Hobgoblin, will focus on a group of con men and magicians using their skills in deception and illusion to outwit the forces of the Third Reich in World War II.
A documented example of this type of deception is the magician Jasper Maskelyne who created illusions of armies, tanks and battleships and even mis-directed German bombers away from Alexandria and the Suez Canal.
DreamWorks Animation announced its feature film slate through 2014, including Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Madagascar 3, Rise of the Guardians, The Croods, Turbo, Me and My Shadow, Mr. Peabody & Sherman and How to Train Your Dragon 2:
DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical release schedule is currently planned as follows: Kung Fu Panda 2 for May 26, 2011 and Puss In Boots for November 4, 2011; Madagascar 3 for June 8, 2012 and Rise of the Guardians for November 21, 2012; The Croods for March 1, 2013, Turbo for June 7, 2013 and Me and My Shadow for November 8, 2013; Mr. Peabody & Sherman for March 21, 2014 and How to Train Your Dragon 2 for June 20, 2014.
Below is additional detail on the feature films that comprise DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical release schedule:
Kung Fu Panda 2 will be released on May 26, 2011. It is being directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda), produced by Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger (Kung Fu Panda). It stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong and Michelle Yeoh. In the sequel, Po is living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po’s life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins… only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.
Puss In Boots will be released on November 4, 2011. It is directed by Chris Miller (Shrek the Third) and produced by Joe Aguilar (Merry Madagascar) and Latifa Ouaou (Monsters vs. Aliens). It is being written by Tom Wheeler (The Cape). Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) are serving as executive producers on the film, which stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris. Way before he ever met Shrek, the legendary Puss In Boots goes on a heroic journey, teaming up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs. It’s the adventure of nine lifetimes!
Madagascar 3 will be released on June 8, 2012. It is directed by Eric Darnell (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) and produced by Mireille Soria (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) and Mark Swift (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa). It is being written by Noah Baumbach (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and once again stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer and Andy Richter. Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent – Madagascar style.
Rise of the Guardians, based on the forthcoming books by William Joyce, will be released on November 21, 2012. It is directed by Peter Ramsey (Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space) and co-directed by Joyce. The film is being produced by Christina Steinberg (Bee Movie, National Treasure) and Nancy Bernstein, long-time head of Production at DreamWorks Animation. Rise of the Guardians is being written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and Michael Siegel. It stars Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher and Jude Law. More than a collection of the well-known childhood legends, Rise of the Guardians is an epic adventure that tells the story of a group of heroes – each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.
The Croods will be released on March 1, 2013. It is being written and directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch) and Kirk DeMicco (Space Chimps) and produced by Kristine Belson (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jane Hartwell (Shrek). It stars Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke and Cloris Leachman. The Croods is a comedy adventure that takes us back to a previously undiscovered era in the history of our planet known as the Croodaceous, when nature was still a work-in-progress… full of never-before- seen creatures and landscapes. Audiences will relate to the hilarious family antics as an imaginative and resourceful newcomer helps the Croods navigate their way through the fantastic world beyond their cave.
Turbo will be released on June 7, 2013. It is being directed by David Soren (Merry Madagascar), who first brought the project to the studio, and produced by Lisa Stewart (Monsters vs. Aliens). It is being written by Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After) together with Soren. Turbo tells the story of an ordinary garden snail with an impossible dream: to become the fastest snail in the world. When a freak accident gives him extraordinary speed, Turbo sets out to try to make this dream come true.
In Me and My Shadow, which will be released on November 8, 2013, the studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of both CG and traditional animation techniques seamlessly together throughout the film. The film is directed by Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor’s New Groove) and produced by Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) and Teresa Cheng (Shrek Forever After, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron). It is being written by Tom Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart). Me and My Shadow tells the story of Shadow Stan, an extremely frustrated shadow who yearns for a dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world’s most boring human. Finally pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World – “They lead, we follow” – and takes control of Stanley!
Mr. Peabody & Sherman will be released on March 21, 2014. It is directed by Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little, The Lion King) and produced by Jason Clark (Monster House, Stuart Little) and Denise Nolan Cascino (Megamind). It is being written by Craig Wright (United States of Tara, Six Feet Under). Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Bullwinkle Studio’s Tiffany Ward and Classic Media’s Eric Ellenbogen are serving as executive producers on the film, which stars two-time Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr. Based on Jay Ward’s classic cartoon, Mr. Peabody is the world’s smartest person who happens to be a dog. He and his “pet” boy Sherman discover that someone has stolen their time traveling WABAC machine and is changing moments in history to disastrous and comical results. It’s up to this most unexpected of father-son teams to somehow put a stop to this villain before his actions destroy the space-time continuum in Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
How to Train Your Dragon 2, the sequel to the Academy Award-nominated original film from 2010, will be released on June 20, 2014. It is being directed and written by Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon) and produced by Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon). Also based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, the sequel is being executive produced by Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon) together with DeBlois. How to Train Your Dragon 2 again stars Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, TJ Miller and Kristen Wiig.
A new collection of never-before-seen poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein will be released in September. The book is titled “Every Thing on It,” and this week publisher HarperCollins Children’s Books released the image of the cover.
The poems and drawings in the book were selected by family members from his archives — Silverstein died in 1999 — and care has been taken to echo his best-known works.
Silverstein’s books of poetry for children — “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “A Light in the Attic” — were both bestsellers. He was also the author of the bestselling children’s picture book, “The Giving Tree.”
The JBL On Air Wireless AirPlay speaker dock will revolutionize the way you listen to music. Imagine being able to wirelessly play all the music in your house from any computer with iTunes 10.1 (Mac and PC) or later, or iPhone, iPod touch, iPad with iOS 4.2 or later. The full color screen displays album, artist, song information and full color album artwork. The rounded grill sports a dual alarm clock, FM radio, and a USB port for future firmware updates. The speaker dock will be available this Spring at at yet to be determined price.
Disney Pixar created these retro-style travel posters to promote the release of Cars 2. The images are creative, beautiful and emphasize the amazing landscapes that will be showcased in the widely anticipated film.
Cars 2 comes to theaters June 24th, 2011 and stars Owen Wilson, John Ratzenberger, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Larry The Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer. The film is directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis.
The vintage comics scene is in shock this afternoon with the news that the CGC 9.6 copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee, has sold in a private transaction for $1.1 million. This is far and away the highest price paid for a Silver Age comic book, and is indicative of just how strong the SA Marvel market is right now as we enter a huge year for Marvel properties with a full movie slate.
The CGC 9.6 copy is the highest grade of the book known to exist, and is the only copy in that grade. The previous best sale for a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 was for $227,000 in 2007 for a 9.4 copy from the famous White Mountain collection.
The broker for the sale is comicconnect.com, who sold an Action Comics #1 for 1.5 million last year.
Apple just pushed out a minor iTunes update. iTunes 10.2.1 allows you to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iOS 4.3 and provides improved Home Sharing, the service that allows you to browse and play media from your home computer’s iTunes library. You can download iTunes via your Mac’s Software Update utility, or on Windows using Apple Software Update. It’s also available at itunes.com.
On Wednesday, March 9 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), America’s Top 13 will take the stage to perform songs by their favorite artists. Tune in the following night, Thursday, March 10 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), to the live results show to see performances by Adam Lambert and Diddy-Dirty Money with Skylar Grey and to find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who is sent home.
The End starts here! The Death of Spider-Man prologue!! The most talked about story of the year begins!! Peter Parker has gathered his most eclectic group of friends and family in the world. In this very special issue we will discover some shocking secrets that will either pull them closer together or push them apart forever. Welcome to Spider-Man stories you have never read before. Welcome to the beginning of the end of what you know to be Ultimate Spider-Man. And welcome fan-favorite Chris Samnee as he makes his Ultimate Universe debut! The issue will be available on Wednesday March 9th.
Ig Perrish wakes up one morning with a hell of a hangover and discovers that he has grown horns on his head. He has become the devil, has powers and thus opportunities (but also downsides) he didn’t have before and within a short time, he knows just what he wants to do with them – take revenge for a hideous wrong. How best to do it? The is the premise for Joe Hill’s page turner, Horns which is out in a paperback edition today.
Everyone knows that being a pop culture fanatic can make you do crazy things. Sometimes it’s innocent enough: you get a new haircut or wear an outfit that’s inspired by your favorite actor. But things can quickly become more extreme. You start speaking in a fake British accent just because Madonna does. You only drink Old-Fashioneds — the personal favorite of Don Draper. Or maybe you decide that you love Barbie so much that you need to live in a house where everything (everything!) is hot pink. Click HERE for a look at the real life Barbie Dream House, plus tons of other crazy pop-culture inspired homes.
National Geographic has recreated the flying balloon house from the Disney Pixar film “Up” as part of the new National Geographic Channel series “How Hard Can it Be?” which premiers this Fall.
National Geographic Channel and a team of scientists, engineers, and two world-class balloon pilots successfully launched a 16′ X 16′ house 18′ tall with 300 8′ colored weather balloons from a private airfield east of Los Angeles, and set a new world record for the largest balloon cluster flight ever attempted. The entire experimental aircraft was more than 10 stories high, reached an altitude of over 10,000 feet, and flew for approximately one hour. (Thanks for the tip Don)
With the earth’s population expected to exceed 7 billion this year, National Geographic set out to describe the “world’s most typical person” in the video “7 Billion: Are You Typical?” The video is part of National Geographic’s year-long series on the world population.
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced it will begin testing an offering of selected movies for purchase or rental through Warner Bros. Entertainment’s Facebook movie Pages. Consumers will be able to use Facebook Credits to easily buy or rent a title, all while staying connected to Facebook.
Starting today, millions of fans who “Liked” Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film “The Dark Knight” can rent the title through its official Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/darkknight). Consumers simply click on the “rent” icon to apply their Facebook Credits, and within seconds they will begin enjoying the film. The cost per rental is 30 Facebook Credits or $3. This offering is presently available only to consumers in the United States. Additional titles will be made available for rental and purchase on a regular basis over the coming months.
Fans will have full control over the film while watching it through their Facebook account for up to 48 hours from purchase. They can choose to watch it in full screen, pause the movie, and resume playing it when they log back into Facebook. Consumers will also have full Facebook functionality including the ability to post comments on the movie, interact with friends and update their status.
Here’s the theatrical trailer for Cars 2, and if the new trailer’s any indication, the film’s assured to be a visual delight. Cars 2 finds Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) competing in the World Grand Prix, with races in Tokyo, London, and on the Italian Riviera. Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) tags along and winds up getting involved in an international espionage mission with British agents Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer).
My family and I just returned from our 2nd Annual FIRE WIRE Road Trip, where we had an opportunity to experience some of the finest family friendly destinations that Southern California and Las Vegas have to offer. We were also fortunate enough to spend some time at THE FIRE WIRE Headquarters. Our trip spanned 4 different airports, with a final overnight layover in Chicago. The most valuable piece of travel equipment that we took was our ZÜCA Pro bag. I was able to comfortably sit on my ZÜCA in the airport when there was limited seating. It fit beautifully in the overhead compartments of each of the planes. Best of all, I was able to pack everyone’s individual overnight supplies in one convenient and well organized space.
Throughout our journey we visited some well known tourist attractions that included: The Griffith Observatory, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Disneyland and California Adventure. Everyone had a fantastic time being photographed with the famous HOLLYWOOD sign, matching their hands with the handprints of famous movie stars, and donning Mickey ears and eating churros. Our goal for each trip is to find activities that everyone in our family can enjoy, a mixture of fun, education and new experiences.
Some of the highlights of our trip began in Las Vegas. While Las Vegas is a veritable playground for adults, it also offers a wide variety of activities for the younger traveler. My son Ben adores architecture and logo design, so he was thrilled to find that he could tour New York, Paris, Venice and ancient Egypt all in one convenient location.
We were thrilled with our accommodations. We chose to stay at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, located at the southern end of the strip. We selected this hotel, as it offered wonderful roomy all-suite accommodations. We stayed in THESuite, which provided ample room for our family of four. Our room was on the 38th floor which provided an incredible view of the strip, especially at night. The suite was tastefully decorated in a contemporary style and came well equipped with a 42” Plasma TV in the living area, as well as additional television’s in both the bedroom and bathroom. We were pleased to also have access to both a DVD player as well as an alarm clock that was iPod compatible. There was also a desk area with wireless and hi-speed internet access. The suite boasted 1 1/2 baths, which was very convenient. The master bath was spacious and had a granite dual sink vanity with a roomy shower and large soaking tub. There was even a phone in the bathroom. The closet had complimentary his and hers bathrobes and slippers to use during our stay. The beds, couches, and chairs were all incredibly comfortable, and a great night of sleep was had by all. The air in the desert tends to be dry. Fortunately, we packed our Air-O-Swiss travel humidifier, which made the room even more comfortable. We also had access to the facilities at the Mandalay Bay Resort, including the Bathhouse spa which offers a large variety of options including their signature hot-and-cold body treatment and facials as well as a fitness center with personal training and yoga, warm and hot spa tubs, a sauna, and eucalyptus steam room, as well as a tropical water complex with a sandy manmade beach, seasonal wave pool, and three outdoor pools. Mandalay Bay is also the home to a shark-themed aquarium, the House of Blues concert hall, a live theater, and 20 restaurants, lounges, and cafés. THEhotel was conveniently located within indoor walking distance to the Mandalay Bay Resort, Hotel, and Casino, as well as The Four Seasons, The Luxor, and the Excalibur. Shops and restaurants were all conveniently located close by for that quick cup of coffee or souvenir purchase.
Best of all, we were steps away from the Theater at the Mandalay Bay Resort, where we were fortunate enough to see THE LION KING. If you have not had the opportunity to see this magical show, I urge you to do so. Based on the 1994 Disney animated film, THE LION KING brings the story of a precocious young lion named Simba to life with the most spectacular colorful costumes, creative puppetry, and fantastic characters, each one better than the next. I assure you, you will leave the theater singing “Hakuna Matata”. It is a show that the entire family will enjoy. My kids raved on and on about how much they loved the experience, and wanted to know when they could see it again.
We thoroughly enjoyed a memorable and delicious dinner at The Buffet at Wynn. The atmosphere was upscale and beautifully decorated with colorful flowers as far as the eye could see. Several massive dining rooms were located adjacent to the 16 live action cooking stations. This is not your average buffet, imagine 5 star fine dining with every conceivable food option available to try, it was pleasantly overwhelming. The Buffet at Wynn offered some of the finest cuisine; each dish that we sampled was beautifully presented and offered a taste sensation for the palate.
Here is a small sampling of some of the foods that were offered:
Appetizers: Pre-cut Alaskan King Crab Legs, Shrimp Cocktail, Italian Cold Cuts, Pot Stickers, Vegetable Egg Rolls, Squid Ceviche, Sushi, New England Clam Chowder, Gazpacho, Caesar Salad, Smoked Salmon, Assortment of Gourmet Cheeses, Hummus, Tabbouleh, and Marinated Duck Salad.
Entrees: Wood-Fired Artisan Pizza, Pesto Ziti, Prime Rib with Horseradish Sauce, Roasted Leg of Lamb, Pumpkin Ravioli and Gnocchi in Brown Butter Sauce, Curry Dishes, Lamb Chops, Jerk Chicken, Turkey, Veal Short Ribs, Pork Chops, and Pad Thai.
Desserts: Brownies, Assorted Tarts, Crepes and Waffles, Cookies, Raspberry Champagne Mousse, Cakes, Tiramisu, Gelato Bar with Numerous Toppings, Candied Apples, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Covered Marshmallows, and Crème Brule.
Open daily:
Breakfast: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Lunch: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Dinner: Monday through Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Champagne Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Whether you are seeking a gourmet brunch or a decadent late night snack, you are sure to enjoy the casual fine dining at The Buffet at Wynn as much as we did.
The kids were thrilled to be able to release some energy and play at the largest indoor amusement park in America, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus, located at the northern end of the strip. This 5-acre park has more than 25 rides and attractions for all age levels, and is kept at a constant 72°F.
This amusement park offers two levels of entertainment. There are rides to be enjoyed by the whole family.
You can ride each ride individually or purchase a Ride-All-Day Wristband (Junior under 48″ tall for $16.95 and a Regular 48″ or taller $26.95). This entitles you to enjoy the majority of attractions and rides within the park (does not include the featured attractions).
There are a variety of Family Rides such as:
- Drifters Balloon Ferris wheel: A hot air balloon Ferris wheel that gently carries you up and around.
- Road Runner: A mini-Himalayan ride.
- Circus Carousel: A classic carousel ride.
- B.C. Bus Stop: Get on the B.C. Bus and have a blast going up, down and all around.
The Premium Rides include:
- Extreme Ride Theater which is a motion simulator ride featuring Dino Land and Log Ride.
- Disk ‘O’: You’ll find yourself spinning and twirling in different directions the entire time while moving at an astounding 14 rotations per minute on its 100-foot roller coaster track.
- Sling Shot: Which shoots you up toward the ceiling at 4Gs and brings you back down at 1G. The ride is fast and packs a powerful punch.
- Inverter: Takes you 50 feet off the ground as it flips a full 360 degrees.
- Rim Runner: If you don’t mind getting wet, take a ride on the Rim Runner log flume with its 60-foot waterfall.
- Lazer Blast: Lazer Tag arena.
- Chaos: Spins you upside-down, backward and counterclockwise.
- Canyon Blaster: The world’s largest indoor, high-speed roller coaster that reaches speeds up to 55 miles per hour and gives riders a 90-foot-high view of the park and boasts the only double-loop, double-corkscrew track in the United States.
Large Rides:
- Sand Pirates: An out-of-control swinging pirate ship.
- Canyon Cars: Classic bumper cars.
Junior Rides:
- Frog Hopper: The Frog Hopper ride will have you going up, down, up, down …
- Thunderbird: Play pilot above The Adventuredome crowd in a remnant 1920s airplane.
- Miner Mike: A runaway coal train ride.
Featured Attractions include:
- Virtual 360 Ventures: A ride that combines virtual reality with 3D.
- Xtreme Zone: An indoor rock climbing and bungee jumping experience.
- Pikes Pass: 18 holes of miniature golf.
- Midway Games: Where you can play old-fashioned carnival games to try to win oversized stuffed animals.
- Adventuredome Arcade: An abundance of video games.
- Highway 66: Mini-bowling.
There are also a variety of entertainment options within the park. There are several free clown shows throughout the day located on the show stage. As well as a 4D Special FX Theater offering Dora & Diego’s 4-D Adventure and Nickelodeon’s Sponge Bob Square Pants 4-D for viewers 33” and taller.
Throughout the park there are plenty of places to grab a quick bite to eat such as a slice of pizza or a hot dog or enjoy some of your favorite fair food treats. For healthier food options or if you are looking for a close-by sit down meal, you can go into the promenade to the Garden Grill. They have a variety of salads, sandwiches, and steaks, as well as a children’s menu.
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 414-4300
The Gondola Ride at the Venetian is not just for young lovers, but in fact offers a wonderful experience for the entire family. The resort was built after a Venetian palazzo, complete with ceiling paintings and gilded columns. You can choose from either an indoor or outdoor ride, lasting approximately15-20 minutes. The kids loved riding up and down past the Grand Canal Shoppes. We had an amazing gondolier named Tino (Constantino) who hailed from New York. Not only did he have a wonderful singing voice, but was friendly, charismatic, and funny. He made our ride gliding through the clear blue waters a total joy. He sang “O Sole Mio”, “That’s Amore” and a variety of well known Italian songs and wore the classic black and white striped shirt and red scarf. We all enjoyed the charming trip under bridges and through the canals. I was told that this is such a popular attraction, that they sell out every single day, therefore reservations are necessary. The cost for up to four adults to ride is $16.00 each. A private two-passenger gondola costs $64.00. Ride hours are from:
Indoor
Sunday – Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.*
Friday & Saturday
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.*
Outdoor
12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.*
* Last gondola leaves the dock 15 minutes prior to closing. The outdoor ride operates on a seasonal and weather permitting basis.
3377 Las Vegas Boulevard South Suite 2001
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-862-7800
I will admit, I had never been to a wax museum prior to visiting Madame Tussauds at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. I was not sure how the kids would react to wax statues. I had no idea what to expect. We were all pleasantly surprised. This was not your typical “look, don’t touch” museum, in fact, looking and touching was suggested, even encouraged. In addition, we were able to walk up to each and every celebrity look-alike to pose with them for some amazing pictures. The wax figures were so natural-looking and realistic. I felt like a member of the paparazzi as everyone in my family insisted that I take a picture as they posed with Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp, and Simon Cowell, to name but a few. When you enter the museum, you can be photographed with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Will Smith. It was great to see the kids come to life as they tried to match the pose of each character; they really enjoyed their time at the museum. Madame Tussauds is divided into different rooms featuring figures including; Movie Stars, Speed Demons, Sports Stars, Pop Stars, Cultural Icons, World Icons, Hollywood Stars, and Las Vegas Legends. I would only caution parents with young children that in the Cultural Icons corner, you can pose with Hugh Heffner on a bed, and in that same corner is a partially covered topless Playboy bunny. We simply skipped that room with the kids. I was told that figures are frequently changed or new clothing may be updated. If you want to be certain to see a particular figure, you may want to call ahead to be sure that your favorite celebrity will still be there for your upcoming visit. The price for admission is $25 for adults, Seniors 60+ $18, Children ages 7-12 are $15, and Children under 6 are free. At the end of the museum is a wonderful gift shop where you can purchase some unique and iconic souvenirs.
On our way to enjoy a sumptuous feast at THE BUFFET at the Bellagio, we stopped to enjoy the Fountains of Bellagio show right outside the main entrance of the hotel. This fully choreographed and complex water show features colorful lights and perfectly timed water cannons that are beautifully synchronized to a wide array of music. The dancing water fountains were impressive and best of all were a free attraction.
We enjoyed a wonderful casually upscale dining experience at THE BUFFET at the Bellagio. The Bellagio is known for using the freshest ingredients. They always go direct to the source, whether they are seeking lobsters from Maine, Colorado beef, produce from the heartland of America, or unique food items flown in from all over the world. They spare no expense in bringing only the freshest seasonal foods to their restaurants, THE BUFFET included. The Buffet incorporates several live-action cooking stations and successfully creates an exceptional variety of delicious and beautiful food choices to satisfy even the pickiest of diners.
Some of the offerings included:
Appetizers: Rosemary Ham, California & Italian Salami, Wisconsin Goat Cheese, Sashimi, Sushi, Ahi and Salmon Poke, Shrimp Cocktail, Mussels, Smoked Salmon, a variety of Soups and Salads.
Entrees: Several Asian Stir Fry Selections, Brick Oven Pizzas, sliced Flank steak, Prime Rib,
Cirque du Soleil: The Beatles LOVE at the Mirage is truly an immersive and spectacular experiential show. The Beatles LOVE music was created by Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin, using the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios and released back in 2006. The Beatles LOVE show started as collaboration between George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil’s Guy LaLiberté. After George Harrison’s death, the remaining Beatles and the families of the late group members helped bring Harrison’s vision to life by sharing their ideas about song selection and song order for the show. The Mirage resort created a custom-made 360 degree theater housed around a central stage just for this show. The show was built around the music of the Beatles, and combines the best of Cirque’s mix of martial arts, puppetry, and pyrotechnics. The result of all of their efforts is an amazing show like no other, I felt like I was at an actual Beatles rock concert. I did not want the 90-minute spectacle to end. My feelings were shared by my entire family. The music of the Beatles comes to life with the multi-sensory inputs that come from eye popping graphics, lights, music, dance, puppetry, acrobatics, insanely amazing stunts all wrapped together within the magic that only Cirque du Soleil can create. Specific stunts were performed on skates, trampolines, bungee cords, Korean rope, and a Russian swing, to name but a few. I could see this performance15 times and still not see everything that was going on around me, as there was constant entertainment within the audience, below, on, and above the stage. This is a show that will surely be enjoyed by those young and old. However, I would caution bringing the very young, as the music is wonderfully loud, but not suitable for tiny ears. My kids have gone to a variety of circus shows in the past, and never quite enjoyed the experience. However, Cirque du Soleil is a circus like no other. My entire family cannot wait to see our next Cirque show. Whether you are a long time Beatles fan or just being introduced to the group for the very first time, one thing is certain, after you see this show you will be a fan.
In Carlsbad CA your imagination can go wild at LEGOLAND. My household is filled with diehard Lego fans. So they were thrilled to be able to enjoy a park that caters to their favorite Danish multi-colored brick. The word Lego is derived from the Danish words leg and godt, which basically mean “play well.” This is a park that truly has something for everyone. There are more than 60 rides and attractions that can be found throughout the park. The park is divided into 8 main areas; Fun Town, Dino Island, Duplo Village, Pirate Shores, Castle Hill, Land of Adventure, Imagination Zone, and Miniland USA.
Here are some of the highlights from the park that we enjoyed:
Dino Island: The Coastersaurus roller-coaster speeds up to 21 mph as it maneuvers around a prehistoric jungle of life–size animated LEGO brick dinosaurs.
Fun Town: Learn how LEGO bricks are made on this factory tour that features real automated machinery demonstrating molding, decorating, assembling and packing of LEGO products.
Fun Town: The Sky Cruiser allows you to pedal high above, on a track and get a great view of the entire park.
Castle Hill: Hideaways multi-level play structure allows children a place to get in on the activity. Kids can climb the rope ladders and brave the wooden catwalks.
Land of Adventure: Dune Raiders allows you to slide down this 30-foot-high attraction in one of six side-by-side 50-foot-long racing lanes.
Land of Adventure: Lost Kingdom Adventure has a 16-foot tall LEGOpharaoh that guards the entrance to Lost Kingdom Adventure. Your journey begins as you try to recover stolen treasure by blasting targets with laser guns.
Land of Adventure: Pharoah’s allows both children and parents to fire thousands of foam balls at targets and each other.
Imagination Zone: Lego Technic Coaster offers an action packed experience along a wild roller coaster track.
Miniland USA: This area includes reproductions of seven well known areas of the United States. All constructed with 20 million LEGO bricks in 1:20 scale, and can be seen from many places in the Park. Areas include New York City, New Orleans, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas.
With all the walking and playing, you are sure to build up an appetite. With 5 restaurants and 8 food stands, your LEGO adventurers will find plenty of dining options within the park. There are also numerous shops throughout the park, so LEGO builders are sure to find just the right set or create their own with the option to stock up on LEGO bricks by buying them in bulk. While at the LEGO Club House in Fun Town we made our very own custom drink combinations with the Coke Freestyle machine. Who knew that mixing Diet-Coke, Lemon, Orange Hi-C and Cherry Hi-C would be such a taste sensation?
The price for parking your car is $12 and campers or RV’s are $15 per day.
Daily Admission to LEGOLAND CA is as follows:
Adults (Age 13-59) $69
Seniors (Age 60+) and Children Age 3-12 $59
Toddlers (Age 1-2) Free
Please note that the park offers a variety of park hopper combinations to increase the fun and the savings for your next visit.
We had a great time at LEGOLAND CA. It was a wonderful way to spend the day with our entire family. If you are going to be near Carlsbad, be sure to stop by and see the new STAR WARS Miniland Area opening in the spring of 2011.
Also located right next door to LEGOLAND CA is Sea Life Aquarium which features hands-on learning activities coupled with educational talks and opportunities to have up close and personal encounters with a variety of sea creatures, such as starfish at the touch pools. The aquarium has play zones, as well as fun facts and quiz trails that encourage learners to get a greater understanding of the aquatic world in a unique and interactive environment. The displays were colorful and lively, and introduced sea life from around the world to enjoy. The museum is divided into exhibits spanning the California coastline to tropical coral reefs. There was a wonderful aquarium tunnel that we walked through which allowed us to be able to see a wide variety of fish species swimming all around us, even above us. This collection included sharks, sting rays, and a whole host of colorful tropical sea creatures. At the end of the two-story aquarium is a cafe with a small toddler play area as well as a gift shop.
6060 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-930-2277
The Petersen Automotive Museum is a Mecca for auto enthusiasts. This museum was founded by Margie and Robert Petersen. Robert was the founder of both Hot Rod and Motor Trend Magazines. The museum opened in 1994 and has since been dedicated to the exploration and preservation of the rich history that surrounds the automobile as it pertains to life and culture in America.
Parking was easily accessible. Upon entry to the museum, there was an ample gift shop on the first floor. The museum consists of three floors. The 4th floor is used for special events and functions. Permanent exhibits reside on the first floor, such as the Streetscape exhibit, which brings the history of the automobile to life. It reveals how the invention of the automobile impacted our daily lives. The early models are a wonder to look at, and the history about the evolution of service stations and the rise of car dealerships are both very interesting. Each car is set in a lifelike diorama or exhibit. After touring the museum, you might build up an appetite. Fortunately, there is a Johnny Rockets on site to satisfy that perfect burger, fries, and shake craving.
The second floor features five rotating galleries that have displays ranging from celebrity and movie cars, racecars, vintage motorcycles, classic cars and concept cars. We especially loved seeing and posing next to the Batmobile, Green Hornet and my personal favorite, Herbie the Love Bug. There was also an exhibit called “The Hot Wheels Hall of Fame” that included a large collection of vintage cars as well as information on the production process. My husband and boys loved looking through the case and locating cars that they too had in their own collection. We also enjoyed the exhibit on dragsters and funny cars.
The third floor is home to the May Family Discovery Center. This 6,500 square foot hands on interactive area was a hit with my children. They loved learning about the scientific fundamental principles associated with the functioning of a car. They also had an opportunity to sit in a Indy race car as well as dress up in vintage motoring attire and experience a 1910 Model T, as well as experience sitting on a real CHP motorcycle (just like Ponch used to ride).
The Petersen is a wonderful museum for car buffs, children, and everyone in between. If you are in the Los Angeles area, please be sure to check out the latest exhibit: Supercars: When Too Much Is Almost Enough, which began on 3/6/11 and will run through 10/16/11.
In summary, this whirlwind trip to the West Coast truly provided my family the flavors, sights and sounds of Southern California and Las Vegas. Although our schedule was hectic, there was a wealth of activities that ensured that each member of my family walked away with long lasting memories. We can’t wait to go back and do it again. (Written by Meredith Fire-Hess)
The AIR-O-SWISS Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier ($49.99) is a must have for your next hotel stay, your office or for use by your bedside at home. Simply add your own half-liter bottle of water, and plug the unit in anywhere and within seconds you’ll be enjoying a micro-fine cool mist that evaporates into the air. The unit is whisper quiet and extremely compact. It comes complete with a handy travel pouch, as well as a travel AC adapter and exchangeable plugs that can be used in North America or Europe. The bottle neck adapter has two size fittings for use with standard plastic water bottles. The adapter fits securely inside the neck of the bottle so water does not leak out. When turned upside down, the metal ball stopper is water tight. The base has adjustable fold out feet to alleviate tipping. In addition, the unit has a variable humidity adjustment to accommodate the amount of mist that is released. We used this travel humidifier on a recent trip to California and Nevada. The tiny unit made our room feel moist and comfortable. The Air-O-Swiss Travel Humidifier is the perfect anywhere option for anyone looking to quickly and easily add moisture to the air. (Reviewed by Meredith Fire-Hess)
ZÜCA has a whole line of fabulous products. One of the products that I am particularly enthusiastic about is the ZÜCA Pro ($285) rolling carry-on. Form meets function in this well designed bag. This is not your Grandma’s suitcase. It opens on the side to reveal a spacious compartment that houses 5 packing pouches and 1 clear TSA compliant Toiletry Bag. Each pouch is color coded by size and best of all stack up like a chest of drawers. There is an additional mesh pocket inside the case at the top of the bag. A perfect spot to store your clear TSA bag. There is additional packing space on the zippered side flap, as well as zippered compartments on the sides of the bag and a Velcro secured luggage tag area. Built into the bag is a telescoping handle that extends up to 41”. My husband is 6’1” and he has complained in the past that the wheels of our older wheeled carry-on bags used to hit his feet as he was walking, as the handle was never long enough to suit his stride. With the ZÜCA Pro, He was able to walk with comfort, and never had to stoop to pull the bag behind him. The wheels are whisper soft and roll as smooth as silk. That is because they use 4″ polyurethane wheels, like those used in inline skating. Best of all, the wheels are recessed, which means that the bag slides into overhead compartments quickly and easily. The durable Aluminum alloy frame is strong enough to support up to 300 pounds. The top of the flat frame makes a wonderful and sturdy seat as you are waiting for your flight in a crowded terminal. The bag also comes with a matching Ballistic Nylon Travel Cover, which is perfect for when you want to check your bag and keep the contents and the bag protected. The bag is removable and washable, so you can always keep your ZÜCA looking great.
The ZÜCA Pro is the perfect bag for travel, make-up artists, for carrying tools for work, or a million other uses. The bag comes in a variety of colors to suit your style ranging from Merlot Red, Caribbean Blue, Classic Black, or Dusty Rose. The Pro comes with a small booklet on helpful packing tips which allow you to hold up to a week’s worth of clothes in an incredibly organized manner. You never need to unpack in drawers again, simply pull out your packing-pouches and away you go. If you’re in the market for a new piece of carry-on luggage that you will adore, I urge you to consider the ZÜCA Pro. (Reviewed by Meredith Fire-Hess)
Target has confirmed via its Twitter feed that it will be offering the iPad 2 from launch day, March 11. “The #iPad2 is coming to @Target stores! Get yours on launch day – 3/11/11,” reads the update, without providing any further details.
PC World reports that the retailer will be promoting its electronics trade-in program, available at more than 800 stores, that will allow owners of first-generation iPads to them trade in for store credit starting on March 13.
Target joins Apple, Walmart, and Best Buy as official retail launch partners for the iPad 2.
They priced most of their Quarterly and Wholphin back issues in the single digits. And they are offering most books for 50% off or less.
And to top it all off, McSweeney’s will be offering a free book every day this week—starting off with the booklet-excerpt from Michael Chabon’s abandoned novel, Fountain City.
All you have to do is enter the appropriate promo code during the check-out process.
This Week’s Free Books
Today (Monday): Fountain City (promo code: “fountain”)
Tuesday: The Wild Things (promo code: “things”)
Wednesday: The Clock Without a Face (promo code: “gus”)
Thursday: Be a Nose! (promo code: “nose”)
Friday: The Polysyllabic Spree (promo code: “spree”)
Saturday & Sunday: Maps and Legends (promo code: “chabon”)
Computers mimic human reasoning by building on simple rules and statistical averages. Test your strategy against the computer in this rock-paper-scissors game illustrating basic artificial intelligence. Choose from two different modes: novice, where the computer learns to play from scratch, and veteran, where the computer pits over 200,000 rounds of previous experience against you.
Posted by Larry Fire 
