Giveaway: 'Dino Dan: Dino Trackers' DVD

Do you know the difference between a Brachiosaurus and a Diplodocus? CC does now, thanks to "Dino Dan."

CC has caught a few episodes of the paleontology-friendly kid series on Nick Jr., and she's learned even more dino tidbits from the new NCircle Entertainment DVD "Dino Dan: Dino Trackers" ($12.99) that I received for review. (I'm giving away 1 copy of the DVD, too, thanks to NCircle!)

If you haven't seen the show, "Dino Dan" is a live-action/CG-animated show that spotlights 10-year-old Dan, who's obsessed with dinosaurs. He imagines them in his everyday life -- at school, at home, trotting around his neighborhood. Every time he spots one, Dan's curiosity is piqued, and he researches everything from what the dinos eat to how they defend themselves.

And that part has totally inspired CC. It also doesn't hurt that he has a smart-cookie friend named Angie, who's described as a "typical type-A overachiever." She even corrects Dan a bit on his dino knowledge.

I've noticed that for CC it's important that shows feature smart, strong-minded girls. She mentions it every time I ask her what she likes about certain programs. I can tell she's looking for a role model or someone she can relate to. After all, she's not shy about asking questions.

I had to give her a high-five during one of the episodes, "Name-A-Saurus," when Dan wanted to name a dinosaur he had never seen before. Its primary feature? A long tail that it used as a kind of whip in battle.

"What would you call that dinosaur?" I asked CC.

"Smackosaurus!" she said.

Dan found out later, via Angie, that it was actually called a Diplodocus. But I think Smackosaurus works just as well, too.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 1 copy of "Dino Dan: Dino Trackers," from NCircle Entertainment.

To enter, please leave a comment telling me your child's (or your) favorite dinosaur.

For more chances to win, retweet this giveaway on Twitter. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I'll announce the winner on this post (not a separate one) Friday, Feb. 17!

Giveaway: 'Expressing Motherhood' Tickets

Happy February! I have some great news. "Expressing Motherhood," the live show in which moms offer entertaining tales about raising little ones (and big ones), is coming back to Los Angeles in March. Not only that, but I'm giving away a pair of tickets to one of the shows. (See below.)

If you haven't seen a performance of "Expressing Motherhood," I highly recommend it. I attended one of the Mother's Day shows last year, and it was both poignant and hilarious. Created by two moms, Lindsay Kavet and Jessica Cribbs, the show features real moms who write and perform their own work.

On stage at the intimate Elephant Space in West Hollywood, the atmosphere is supportive and moving. Seeing these women talk about such personal moments, including the frustrations of childbirth or the challenges of raising a child with special needs, is inspiring and empowering. You can really hear your own voice in the words of another mom. I know I did.

Bonus: Click here to read my interview with Lindsay Kavet.

"Expressing Motherhood"

March 9 (8 p.m.); March 10 (8 p.m.); March 11 (2:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.)
The Elephant Space
6322 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Tickets: $15

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 2 tickets to a performance of "Expressing Motherhood."

To enter, please leave a comment about a funny, moving, crazy moment in your life as a parent. We all have them, that's for sure!

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I'll announce the winner on this post (not a separate one) Monday, Feb. 13!

[Image credits: Expressing Motherhood/Lindsay Kavet]

Ferris Bueller Visits Los Angeles

Have you seen this adorably funny (pre) Super Bowl ad for Honda? Ferris Bueller, aka Matthew Broderick, has grown up and apparently moved from Chicago to Los Angeles.

I love the places he visits while playing hooky from work, a la high school circa 1986. Did you notice Pacific Park, in addition to the Museum of Natural History and Chinatown?

Yo Ho Ho: It's a "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" Life for CC

CC with Jake from Disney Junior's "Jake and the Never Land Pirates."

"Yo Ho Ho" was the pirate-friendly phrase of the day on Saturday, as CC and I visited Walt Disney Studios in Burbank for a sneak peek of "Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns."

CC's been in pirate mode for a while, so this was a particularly exciting adventure for my little buccaneer. She's also a big fan of Jake and his friends, Izzy and Cubby, and loves counting all of the gold doubloons in the Disney Junior series.

"Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns" (Image courtesy of Disney Junior)

In this special primetime episode, which will air Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, Peter Pan (voiced by Adam Wylie) makes his first appearance with the pint-sized pirates. After losing his shadow, and then having Captain Hook capture it, Peter needs the Never Land crew's help to get it back. But, in the meantime, he teaches them some valuable lessons about thinking before you act. In addition to the adventure, kids will also be able to hear fun new songs.

Just before we settled into our seats in the studio's Main Theatre, CC landed a pirate bandanna and toy sword before she rocked out on a hula hoop, thanks to Radio Disney. Along with the other kiddos in the audience, she shouted, "Arrrggh," "Yo Ho Ho" and "Me Mateys!"

After the show was over, CC leaped up from her seat and started dancing. Jake definitely left my little pirate in mighty jolly spirits.

Season two of the series will kick off on Feb. 20. Stay tuned for guest voices, including Sharon Osbourne, Josh Duhamel and Jane Kaczmarek.

Friday Finds

Since this seems to be the week of travel, I wanted to start off with a Friday Find that I'd like to take with me on the plane.

I've heard that Klorane Dry Shampoo, which comes in aerosol or an eco-friendly spray, is great for long flights when you don't have access to, say, a shower. I don't know about you, but my hair looks insane if I don't wash it every single day. Look forward to trying this out!

* Would love this book for CC.

* Where did you find those Girl Scout Cookies?

* Ha! What happened to the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

* Porn for Pregnant Ladies (It's not what you think.)

Coming Attraction: Los Angeles Times Travel Show

And speaking of travel, the Los Angeles Times is hosting its annual Travel Show this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The show will feature celeb speakers, including journalist Lisa Ling, TV travel expert Rick Steves, travel guide publisher Arthur Frommer and "Man v. Food Nation" host Adam Richman, among others.

In addition to speakers and panels, you'll also be able to check out the Xtreme Adventure Zone for thrill-seeking vacationers, a culinary stage and -- great for parents! -- an area called Kid's World, which will spotlight family-friendly destinations while offering hands-on activities and performances for the little ones.

Open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, the Travel Show is offering tickets for $10 (adults), with kids ages 16 and younger free with a paid adult admission. But, click here for discounted tickets priced at $8.

Los Angeles Times Travel Show

Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Public: Jan. 28-29; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tickets: $10 (adults); click here for $8 tickets

Los Angeles + Berlin = Sister Cities

Sister Cities of Los Angeles sign and City Hall. (Photo credit: azza-bazoo)

If you look closely around Los Angeles, you'll spot connections you otherwise might have missed. One of those -- and there are many in this town -- happens to be an L.A. tie to Germany's capital, Berlin.

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, CC and I are making the voyage across the Atlantic to check out the 2012 Berlinale, and I wanted to share a few things about our own city that have bonded us to that Teutonic metropolis.

On June 27, 1967, Berlin became L.A.'s sixth sister city, and the mission, according to the Los Angeles-Berlin Sister City Committee, "was to advance the relationship in every way possible between the two prominent cities: culturally, intellectually, commercially and socially."

So I wanted to show you a few L.A.-Berlin spots around the city. It's by no means comprehensive, so if you have others, please let me know!

And, fun fact. Did you know that there's a Los-Angeles-Platz park in Berlin?

CC sidles up to a segment of the Berlin Wall on Wilshire Boulevard. (2009)

In addition to the above Sister Cities sign, located downtown's Main Street very close to City Hall, there's a more striking nod to Berlin on the Miracle Mile. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Wende Museum in Culver City partnered with the City of L.A. to erect this wall in 2009. CC and I went for a visit a few weeks after it was placed outside 5900 Wilshire Blvd. The two white sections that you see above have been painted over with images of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

"Stasi Briefcase, n.d." (Photo credit: Marie Astrid González/The Wende Museum)

And speaking of The Wende Museum, which is tucked into a small office park off Slauson Avenue, be sure to check out its collection of Cold War artifacts, which includes artifacts such as this Stasi briefcase, which was used to listen in on private conversations in the former East Germany. Admission is free.

Berlin Forest in Griffith Park (Photo credit: Al Pavangkanan)

Take the Mt. Hollywood Trail in Griffith Park to find the Berlin Forest. With pine trees planted by Berliners and visiting German dignitaries, the Berlin Forest was dedicated in 1990 and offers great views of L.A.

If you're still in a Berlin kind of mood, here are some other places of interest:

* The Goethe-Institut Los Angeles (down the street from the Wall segment at 5750 Wilshire Blvd.)
* Berlin Currywurst (all sorts of wursts from native Germans in Silver Lake)
* Orange Berlin (a hair salon on Beverly Boulevard)
* And, of course, the '80s New Wave/pop group Berlin (of "Take My Breath Away" fame) was formed right here in L.A.

Enjoy!