Just because we’re parents doesn’t mean we have to give up our rock ’n’ roll roots. Yes, we might mortify our children if we venture out in those tight leather pants. Others may mock our platform boots. Sure, you’ll get a few stares for the black-star makeup and overly coiffed hair. But wouldn’t it all be worth it if it meant you might win tickets to see one of the most iconic rock bands of all time?
Get out your white makeup, spiky metal shoulder pads and black vest and get yourself to KISS Night at the Anaheim Ducks game at the Honda Center tomorrow, Nov. 21. You’ll hear plenty of KISS music and find face painters giving fans the proper look. Then be sure to enter the “best dressed” contest, which will earn the winner two tickets to see KISS in concert on Nov. 24 at the Honda Center.
If you can’t make that one, KISS is scheduled to appear at Staples Center on Nov. 25 and is streaming the concert live on Facebook – just don’t let that stop you from dressing up.
Needles leaves a lot to be desired, but Barstow, with its signature railroad depot-themed McDonald’s, was bustling with tourists. We paused at the Petrified Forest but since we actually started making some time, didn’t get a chance to view the Meteor Crater (let’s save something for next time). Jack got a coon-skin cap (or “raccoon hat,” as he preferred to call it), and we all ate plenty of greasy food while admiring Native American jewelry, moccasins and Route 66 collectibles.
In between watching the Yankees’ inevitable march toward World Series glory, our family enjoys getting into the dugout with 2K Sports Baseball Blast! Baseball Blast is a simplified version of the great American pastime boiled down to themed mini-games based on team names. Our favorite is battling against the Pittsburgh Pirates where the batter has to hit back flaming baseballs launched by real pirate ships! We also enjoy “City Ball” where players have to throw a baseball through a maze trying to hit as many trophies as possible. The real gem of the collection though is “Play Ball” mode. In Play Ball players take turns swinging for the fences in regular play and then between innings you get to play a mini-game to win cards that can give your team extra power or put some bad mojo on the other player’s team. Its a lot of fun, surprisingly strategic and guaranteed to get your family laughing.
The Wii Balance Board is one of the most enjoyable controllers we’ve ever used, especially for a game like We Ski and Snowboard. As the name would imply, you can use your personalized “Mii” avatar or one of the adorable provided ones to ski and snowboard around two mountain resorts doing races, slaloms or participating in contests where you rack up points for doing tricks. The game’s controls are fairly simple, although it’s not recommended for the youngest kids. For those older than 8 – or those parents who ever wanted to catch some “sick air” without the danger of ending up in traction – there’s nothing better than that moment when you cross the finish line first fully aware that you are an Icelandic ski god! Then you should go towel off because you’ll most likely build up a pretty good sweat there, Picabo Street.
Motion Control Plus” accessory that’s required for this title. But that shouldn’t stop you – just a few minutes playing Wii Sports Resort will have you rushing out do so. Yes, it’s that good, and yes, you will want to be able to play with four players at once.
Museum officials just released information about the Fruitadens haagarorum, which they’re calling the smallest dinosaur ever discovered from North America. This little critter weighed less than two pounds and topped out at just 28 inches in length (think very odd-looking and oversized lizard, pictured above). The bones were discovered in Colorado in the late 1970s and were studied by an international team of scientists, including Luis Chiappe, Ph.D., Natural History Museum Dinosaur Institute Director. Their findings were released today in the British science journal 
of sparrows and spend endless hours editing videos and photos. But it’s not all work and no play – the best part is getting out there and learning about what’s cool and fun for families in Los Angeles.
There’s so much great stuff to report about 
