The LEGO® Group just unveiled the latest addition to it’s LEGO® City line, and we’ve got total city envy. From recognizable characters in The City storyline to the sweet green space right in the middle, this is one set that’ll keep your master builders occupied for hours on end. Plus, we’re pretty sure Emmett would approve because basically, everything about it is awesome.
The brand-new 1,517-piece set comes with 14 minifigures, a City Hall, an intercity tram, a classic diner, an adorable green space with a statue of Harl Hubbs’ great grandfather, and there’s even a concert stage. It’s a perfect way for kids to enjoy the buzz of city life without having to leave the house. Easy enough for kids ages five and up to tackle, after it’s complete, there’s hours of pretend play waiting to happen. Do you collect the LEGO® City line? Then you’ll recognize several city characters, like Poppy Star, Duke DeTain and even Mayor Fleck, who comes complete with the all-important keys to the city.
This new set also comes with ‘Instructions Plus,’ an interactive building guide you can access via the free LEGO® Building Instructions app for smart devices—there’s a zoom and rotate feature that helps younger builders visualize the finished product as they go. Your kids will become Master Builders in no time.
Do you dream about starring on Broadway? Now you can reserve vocal coaching or an acting lesson from one of your favorite actors. Broadway Plus lets you choose from their directory to schedule meet and greets, video shout outs or masterclasses with former and current Broadway stars.
The enhanced site features include dedicated artist pages and personalized concierge service, helping theater fans find and connect with the stars of shows like Hamilton, Mean Girls, Wicked, SIX, and dozens more
After launching its interactive digital experiences earlier this year, Broadway Plus, the first and only company to provide Official VIP Broadway experiences, is now releasing a new website, making it easier for fans and aspiring actors to meet their favorite Broadway star with the click of a button.
Through Broadway Plus, fans can book customized, virtual experiences with Broadway’s biggest stars from award-winning shows like Hamilton, Wicked and Mean Girls. The VIP experiences include virtual voice lessons, private concerts, group Q&As, and one-on-one video meet-and-greets. Fans may easily search for specific actors, filter by show, and book an experience with a click. In addition to show-sorting, new categories like Film & TV Stars, Fan Favorites, and Tony Award Nominees enhance the user experience. As always, fans may contact the Broadway Plus Concierge Team to design a one-of-kind custom private event or concert.
“Sharing our love for theater through personalized, bespoke experiences for fans has always been our number one goal. Our new website is the latest testament to that – it allows us to provide VIP Broadway experiences to fans faster than ever,” says Nathaniel Hill, Founder and President of Broadway Plus. “By expanding our offerings online and enhancing the digital experience, we’re able to support our Artists and continue to make Broadway accessible for people all around the world.”
Broadway Plus started out as a concierge service facilitating in-person VIP packages for Broadway shows. When theaters shut down due to the pandemic, they changed their model to offer one-on-one meet-and-greets, voice lessons, parties, concerts and more on Zoom.
The virtual offerings were an immediate success and now Broadway Plus is coordinating more than 100 virtual experiences per week. Broadway Plus is continuously adding new talent to its roster – the company is now working with more than 125 actors.
Visit broadwayplus.com for more information, instant booking, and to be connected with a Broadway expert to design your unique Broadway experience.
During social distancing many kids turned to social gaming forums to socialize with their friends. Since this spring, over half the kids under 16 in the US are on Roblox. Additionally, many use Roblox’s free tools to learn coding to create and publish their own games.
Roblox has launched a summer coding challenge called Build It Play It. This fun and educational activity helps kids and teens learn how to create a game with custom animations and offers exclusive rewards in exchange for moving through challenge levels. The best part is that the challenge is all about movement, both in-game and in real life.
While participating in the challenge, your kids will learn step-by-step how to make a game where players race around a track and gain levels by moving in real life with their mobile device. Users decide how their avatars will move and get to build various animations from scratch.
Also, Roblox is offering a new Party Place experience based on the venue from the 7th Annual Bloxy Awards. After hosting some huge global events this year, like the Bloxys and the One World: Together At Home concert, Roblox wanted to give everyone a chance to host their own events too. Whether it’s a birthday bash, hangout time, or even a graduation, Party Place is perfect for getting together with friends, listening to music, etc.
The gaming forum has launched free Private Servers (developers now have the option to make them available for free with their game). This feature can be used to create whitelisted and invite-only play sessions, so you can have just your friends playing with you in a game server for your birthday party celebration. Every player will be allowed to create one free Private Server for every game that has it enabled. There will be lots of games offering free Private Servers in the Play Together game sort.
Mark you calendar: The Beatbuds are putting on a concert! On Sun., Jul. 12 at 10 a.m PST, families can tun into the first ever virtual BeatBASH, a 360° interactive experience.
Partnering with Experiential Supply, the Beatbuds show will be a unique virtual concert experience. Everyone watching will get to experience an interactive tropical island that has digital touchpoints, virtual instruments, trivia games, and BeatBuds songs.
Throughout the concert, families and friends will be able to see each other while singing and dancing. The Beatbuds will also debut a new single, “I Have a Voice,” a song dedicated to empowering people on the importance of voting and making change.
Tickets to the event are free and can be found here.
The Broadway League announced that Broadway performances in New York City will be suspended through the remainder of 2020 due to COVID-19. They released updated information regarding performance cancellations and ticketing. Broadway theaters are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for all performances through Jan. 3, 2021.
While continuing to work with city and state officials along with leaders in science, technology and medicine The Broadway league is trying to formulate the best plan to restart the industry. Some of the logistics being reviewed include screening and testing, cleaning and sanitizing, wayfinding in theaters, backstage protocol and much more.
Returning productions are currently projected to resume performances over a series of rolling dates in early 2021. Tickets for performances for next winter and spring are expected to go on sale in the coming weeks. For regular updates on ticket sales, individual show announcements, performance dates, and more, please check Broadway.org for information as it becomes available.
“The Broadway experience can be deeply personal but it is also, crucially, communal,” said Chairman of the Board of The Broadway League Thomas Schumacher. “The alchemy of 1000 strangers bonding into a single audience fueling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theatres can safely host full houses. Every single member of our community is eager to get back to work sharing stories that inspire our audience through the transformative power of a shared live experience. The safety of our cast, crew, orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it’s safe to do so. One thing is for sure, when we return we will be stronger and more needed than ever.”
“Our membership is working closely with the theatrical unions and in concert with key experts and some of the greatest minds inside and outside of the industry to explore protocols for all aspects of reopening. We are focused on identifying and implementing necessary measures that will enable us to resume performances safely for Broadway audiences and employees,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “We are determined to bring back the people who rely on this industry for their livelihood, and to welcome back all those who love this vital part of New York City, as soon as it is safe to do so. As so many of us in the Broadway community have been saying during this time – We’ll be back, and we have so many more stories to tell.”
Those holding tickets for performances through Jan. 3, 2021 will receive an e-mail from their point of purchase with detailed information regarding refund and exchange options. Any customers holding tickets through Jan. 3, 2021 that have not received an e-mail by Jul. 13 are advised to contact their point of purchase for assistance after this date.
The Wiggles have been putting out new content during the pandemic. Now they are taking it to the next level. The Wiggles are getting ready to debut a new broadcast series and studio album this week.
Simply called The Wiggles’ World!, this latest series from The Wiggles will debut on their YouTube channel starting Thurs., Jun. 25. The Wiggles’ World! will feature many exciting surprises and Wiggles firsts, including Award-winning Broadway star, James Harkness (Ain’t Too Proud), who is the proprietor of Le James Café. When The Wiggles visit Le James Café each day it’s musical mayhem mixed with a serving of dynamic dancing.
For the first time ever, viewers will be introduced to The Cartoon Wiggles with six animated music videos. Shirley Shawn the Unicorn, featured in last year’s Wiggles North American tour will make her first ever appearance in a TV series. Some of Australia’s most talented ballet dancers, including Paul Knobloch who performs as a dancing waiter at Le James Café , and self-professed “first hijab ballerina” Stephanie Kurlow will also be featured.
The Wiggles’ World! allows viewers to visit exciting new places such as Lachy’s Curly World and Emma’s Bow Room. Clips of The Wiggles live in concert will also be shown.
The Wiggles brand new studio album, Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes and Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car launches on Fri. Jun. 26. The album features songs about all forms of travel, including riding in the Big Red Car.
Emma Wiggle said, “Today, more than ever, children need a release for all their creative energy, and we hope this album will have the young listener dancing, singing and using their imagination to go travelling!”
Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes and Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car will also feature the audio debut of The Wiggles’ two smash pandemic songs, “Social Distancing” and the “Handwashing Song.”
Editor’s note: Due to Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, Washington, DC’s 4th of July events have been cancelled for 2020. We hope to see you back here next year, perusing our guide for the best July 4th festivities.
Don’t get us wrong: Fireworks are totally AMAZING! But truth be told, there are many families (with little babies or kids with sensitive ears) for whom fireworks are more scary than spectacular. The good news is that there are plenty of activities to get involved in around July 4th that don’t involve big explosions in the sky!
photo: Kate Loweth
1. Many national holidays get a parade in DC, and July 4th is no exception. At the National Independence Day Parade, scores of spectators are expected to line the Constitution Avenue sidewalks to watch the procession celebrating Independence Day make its way from 7th to 17th Streets. Marching bands, floats, giant balloons, equestrian groups, drill teams, and military units will be among the pageantry.
2. Down past the other end of the Mall, A Capitol Fourth, the annual Independence Day concert that airs live on PBS, will feature even more musical pageantry. The National Symphony Orchestra, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, and many more exciting acts.
3. On the July 4th holiday, catch the annual dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence. There will also be historical guests, patriotic music, and family activities before and after that.
4. Grab a picnic blanket and take in an outdoor family movie. Places like the NOMA Summer Screen and Arlington Mill show films like The Sandlot and A Wrinkle In Time the week of the 4th .
6. Celebrate the 4th of July at Germantown Glory and Mid-County Sparkles! Enjoy live music and a skip out before the fireworks display. Food vendors will be on site.
7.Throw on your swimsuits and jump into the spray at one of these wet and wonderful spray grounds.
9. The popular Kids in Canal series offers weekly kid-friendly entertainment at the Capitol Waterfront from June 12 to August 28. Shows are every Wednesday at 10:30 am and include magic and puppet shows, science demos, and family concerts. After the performances, kids can splash around in the Canal Park dancing water fountains. Get spangle ready with Earth Conservation Corps Raptors on July 3rd!
11. Continuing on thedino train, head to the National Zoo for “Dino Summer.” See six jumbo animatronic dinos and a live theatrical show.
12. After the parade (even earlier for some) at the Independence Day Celebration on the Mall, the National Mall will begin filling up for a day of July 4th festivities — Junior Ranger activities, concerts, and more. Fireworks start around 9PM so leave before then, if you want to avoid them!
13. Cool down at the National Building Museum and check out their new, summer installation Lawn. Located in the museum’s great hall, it opens July 4.
14. The Kensington Fourth of July Bike Parade is open to all kids, and those young at heart, that wish to decorate their bike, scooter, wagon or stroller and follow a Kensington Volunteer Fire Department truck through the streets of Kensington!
16. At the Catonsville 4th of July Celebration, Catonsville High School Athletic Fields host old fashioned fun for kids including a Decorated Bike Contest, Lollipop Scramble, Quarter Hunt, Ball on Spoon Race, Shoe Scramble, Leapfrog, Wheelbarrow and Sack Races, and Water Balloon Toss. The Annual Grand Parade starts at 3 p.m., followed by a Family Fun Fest at 6:30 p.m.
17. It’s Red, White & Zoo Enrichment Day at Maryland Zoo! Come to the Maryland Zoo on July 4th between 10-4 for a day of special enrichment! Watch as the Zoo’s animals receive special Fourth of July treats, including “fishsicles” and paper mache toys, and listen as zookeepers explain the importance of enrichment activities.
18. Kick off your 4th of July with a 5K bang at the Firecracker 5K for the Troops!. Enjoy live music and show off your patriotism by waving American flags. Root for your favorite military branch in the “Battle of the Branches” competition! Free Tot Dash Fun Run at 8:55 a.m., followed by the 5K finish. All Tot Dash finishers will receive a bib and medal.
19. The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants 4th of July Concert is a special 4th of July concert featuring the U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants. Additionally, there will be a special performance by the USAF Honor Guard Drill Team prior to the concert at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, no tickets required.
20. The 53rd annual Palisades Citizens’ Association‘s Fourth of July Parade is an old-fashioned neighborhood parade that attracts participants and spectators from throughout the Washington area. District officials will march down MacArthur Boulevard along with neighbors, local businesses, schools and families.
Swifties rejoice! Taylor Swift’s Lover Fest tour may have been cancelled, but fans can still enjoy the experience from their living rooms. Today, ABC announced a brand new concert special, Taylor Swift City of Lover Concert, airing Sun., May 17 at 10 p.m., immediately following the season finale of American Idol.
The special will be made available the following day on demand, on Hulu and Disney+.
Filmed last September at L’Olympia Theater in Paris, France, Swift performs songs from her award-winning album “Lover” to an intimate crowd of fans from 37 countries, traveling to the City of Love for this once-in-a-lifetime concert. The musical event gives fans unprecedented access to behind-the-scenes moments with the artist and marks her only concert performance this year, after her Lover Fest tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While we are all home, Taylor Swift and her family of fans will be able to have a moment together and experience a never-before-seen, intimate performance, and we are so thrilled to be able to offer this to our own family of viewers on ABC,” added Eric Avram, vice president, Talent and Booking, ABC Entertainment.
Wiggles fans rejoice! If your kids missed out on seeing the Wiggles in concert this year, then we have great news for you. The Wiggles are bringing their live show back to millions of fans around the world with The Wiggles – Live from Hot Potato Studios!
This intimate series of concerts will give every fan of The Wiggles a front row seat. Live from Hot Potato Studios will feature six separate live Wiggles concerts. The Wiggles will hit the road from their state-of-the-art Hot Potato Studios with the first show, “Let There Be Rock-a-Bye Your Bear” (a tip of that hat to fellow countrymen AC/DC) on Tuesday, May 5th. A new concert experience will take the stage approximately every two weeks. Each concert will be available on iTunes and Google Play and priced at $2.99 per concert, or $10.99 for the six-concert season pass.
Experience Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony as you used to be able to when they were live and on-stage, all from the comfort of your own home. Each concert is filmed live in Hot Potato Studios; with no editing, retakes or over dubs, to truly capture that live-in-concert feel so many Wiggles fans have enjoyed for nearly 30 years.
Join in for unscripted fun, impromptu moments of hilarity as the group navigate bringing their shows to life in the studio whilst practicing important social distancing. Each concert will feature a unique theme that aims to enrich, educate and entertain with all the Wiggly songs, dancing and fun fans have come to expect at a Wiggles show. You will truly feel that you have the best seats in the house as you enjoy Wiggling to The Wiggles – Live from Hot Potato Studios!
The first concert, “Let There Be Rock-a-Bye Your Bear” is now available.
This Easter Sunday, churchgoers will not be permitted to enter a place of worship. An exception will be made for Andrea Bocelli. He will live-stream a concert on YouTube that evening from the historic Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy.
Bocelli said, “On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan. I believe in the strength of praying together; I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone – whether they are believers or not – truly needs right now. Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug this wounded Earth’s pulsing heart, this wonderful international forge that is reason for Italian pride. The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and the whole of Italy will be again, and very soon, a winning model, engine of a renaissance that we all hope for. It will be a joy to witness it, in the Duomo, during the Easter celebration which evokes the mystery of birth and rebirth”
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) has started a fundraiser to help hospitals purchase all the instrumentation and equipment necessary to protect their medical staff. It is possible to donate through the GoFundMe campaign.
