Surprise! Your Fave L.O.L. Dolls Are Going on Tour in the Spring

by Erica LoopApril 27, 2021

L.O.L. Surprise! is coming to a stage near you. If you’re ready for some in-person entertainment, the beloved brand is taking its fierce, fab characters on a nationwide concert tour—with dozens of dates announced! New tour dates have been added in big destinations like Washington D.C. and Boston and due to a scheduling shift, some of the previous dates have been rescheduled or removed.

Lady Diva, Royal Bee, Neonlicious, Swag and other faves are hitting the road for the L.O.L. Surprise! Live-Calling All B’B.’s concert experience. With awesomely amazing visuals, the L.O.L. Dance crew and plenty of music, this interactive show is a can’t-miss for your young fan.

photo courtesy of MGA Entertainment

Here’s the full tour schedule, which kicks off in Spring 2022:

March 5 Thousand Oaks, CA Bank of America Performing Arts Center
March 6 Anaheim, CA City National Grove of Anaheim
March 9 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Federal Theatre
March 11 San Jose, CA San Jose Civic
March 12 Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theatre
March 13 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
March 16 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
March 17 Ralston, NE Ralston Arena
March 18 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
March 19 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
March 20 Saint Louis, MO Fox Theatre – St. Louis
March 22 Knoxville, TN The Tennessee Theatre
March 23 Charleston, WV Clay Center for Arts & Sciences
March 24 Chattanooga, TN Tivoli Theatre
March 25 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
March 26 Lima, OH Veterans Memorial Civic Center
March 27 Richmond, VA Carpenter Theatre
March 29 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
March 30 Warren, OH Packard Music Hall
March 31 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
April 1 Greensburg, PA The Palace Theatre
April 2 Rockford, IL Coronado Performing Arts Center
April 3 Rosemont, IL Rosemont Theatre
April 5 Rochester, NY Kodak Center for the Arts
April 6 Wilkes Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
April 7 Staten Island, NY St. George Theatre
April 8 Brookville, NY The Tilles Center at LIU Post
April 9 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
April 10 Boston, MA Emerson Colonial Theatre
April 12 Syracuse, NY Oncenter – John H. Mulroy Civic Center – Crouse-Hinds Theatre
April 13 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
April 14 Lancaster, PA American Music Theatre
April 15 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre
April 16 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Center for the Arts
April 19 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center
April 20 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
April 22 Louiville, KY The Louisville Palace Theater
April 23 Charlotte, NC Belk Theater At North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
April 24 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre
April 27 Birmingham, AL BJCC Concert Hall
April 28 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
April 30 Fort Lauderdale, FL Broward Center for the Performing Arts
May 2 Melbourne, FL King Center for the Performing Arts
May 3 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
May 4 Orlando, FL Walt Disney Theatre
May 5 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
May 6 Atlanta, GA The Fox Theatre
May 7 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium
May 8 New Orleans, LA Saenger Theatre
May 10 Sugar Land, TX Smart Financial Centre
May 11 Midland, TX Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
May 12 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
May 13 Grand Prairie, TX Texas Trust CU Theatre

Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now for shows that were rescheduled and tickets for the newly added shows go on sale to the general public starting Friday, October 8. Since Citi is the official presale credit card of the tour, Citi cardmembers have access to purchase presale tickets for the new shows beginning October 5 at 10 a.m. local time. Visit Citi or the LOL Surprise Live site for all the details!

—Erica Loop

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American Girl & Magnolia Bakery Join Forces for a Cupcake-Packed Cyber Party

by Erica LoopApril 13, 2021

American Girl and Magnolia Bakery are teaming up for a very special virtual event! The two beloved brands are both celebrating big birthdays: it’s American Girl’s 35th anniversary and Magnolia Bakery’s 25th.

In honor of both events, fans can take part in a cyber cupcake baking bday bash. Tune in to the American Girl Birthday Bash, Hosted by Magnolia Bakery Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. ET for plenty of cupcake-filled fun.

Magnolia’s Chief Baking Officer, Bobbie Lloyd, will help your fam to mix up their own bountiful batch of cute celebratory cupcakes.

The virtual event is $115 and includes the online cupcake decorating event and a limited-edition American Girl x Magnolia Bakery Cupcake Kit. The kit comes with six full-size and 12 mini vanilla cupcakes, colorful sprinkles, edible star decorations, food dye gel and powdered sugar (a.k.a. the main ingredients in buttercream), icing bags and decorating tips. Your kiddo will also get one American Girl Cupcake toy in the kit.

Along with Chief Baking Officer Bobbie Lloyd, the event will also feature special appearances by influencers Rachel Pitzel, Ava and Leah Clements and Zooey Miyoshi. Tickets to this virtual events go on sale Apr. 13 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Buy your ticket from Magnolia Bakery’s website here.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Magnolia Bakery

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Universal Studios Hollywood Announces Reopening Plan

by Erica LoopApril 3, 2021

Universal Studios Hollywood is ready to reopen! You can purchase tickets for the theme park online, starting Apr. 8. The California theme park recently announced it will welcome guests back starting Apr. 16—but with some restrictions.

With Universal Studios Hollywood’s latest news, your fam may finally get the chance to check out the Studio Tour, see the awesomeness of the Indominus rex on “Jurassic World-The Ride,” or catch a glimpse of the new “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” attraction.

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Before you book your trip, take a moment to review the park’s current set of rules and restrictions. To start with, Universal Studios Hollywood theme park visits are only open to California residents—for the time being.

The visitor party size is limited to a maximum of three households and a total of 10 people. All guests must follow state and park safety protocols. This means guests must wear face coverings at all times and practice physical distancing. Temperatures are checked at park entry and visitors with a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher may not enter the park.

photo: Nauris Pukis via Unsplash

If you purchased one of the park’s 3 Visit Ticket passes prior to the pandemic closure and still have remaining visits left, you must register on Universal Studios Hollywood’s website by Monday, Apr. 5, 2021. Guests who scheduled a visit during the closure are credited via their Universal account with a visit to use at a future valid date.

If you used your 3 Visit Ticket and the ticket was set to expire Mar. 14, 2020 or after, the 12-month expiration date is extended by the total number of days of the park closure. The deadline for unused 3 Visit Ticket first visits is extended to Dec. 16, 2021. Blackout dates will include Dec. 26 through Dec. 31, 2021.

For more information on park re-opening procedures and how to use your 3 Visit Ticket, visit the Universal Studios Hollywood website here.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo:

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PAW Patrol Is Coming to Your Living Room with a Live Event

by Erica LoopApril 2, 2021

Calling all PAW Patrol fans! Nickelodeon recently announced a brand-new interactive streaming experience for the PAW Patrol-loving preschool set—and it includes a 45-minute stage show and a shared viewing room.

PAW Patrol Live! At Home is exactly what the name sounds like. Instead of going to a a theater, stadium, or other mega-venue to watch your fam’s fave Nick friends, you can watch this PAW-tastic production 100 percent from home.

photo courtesy of Nickelodeon

Amy Hyland, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Strategy, Business Development and Operations, said in a press release, “As we look forward to a return to normalcy and welcoming families back to our live events, we continue to invest in innovative ways to grow our Nickelodeon Experiences business during these unprecedented times. With PAW Patrol Live! At Home we’ve produced a one-of-a-kind co-viewing event that allows us to recreate the communal theater experience and give families a way to connect with not only fan favorite Nick characters, but their loved ones as well.”

Nick’s new PAW Patrol Live! At Home experience will include a pre-show with digital games, an e-shop, printable activity sheets and a Pup Pup Boogie dance-along video. The pre-show options are available immediately after your ticket purchase.

The show itself will stream Apr. 24 and 25 at either 7:00 a.m. PT/10:00 a.m. ET, 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 p.m. ET or 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET in English and in Spanish. Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Parents can purchase a single ticket for access on one device or a group ticket that comes with one single ticket and three additional access codes to share with friends and family. Single and group pass ticket holders can also log on to re-watch the experience through May 2.

—Erica Loop

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LEGOLAND California Announces Opening Dates

by Karly WoodMarch 24, 2021

With California slowly beginning to reopen, theme parks are getting in on the action. LEGOLAND is ready to play!

The brick-themed park has announced its opening date, and Apr. 1 is kicking off the fun. You’ll be able to cash in on Park Preview Days that will include select rides, dining, retail, live entertainment and building activities.

photo: LEGOLAND

So what rides can you expect to hop aboard? From Apr. 1, you can enjoy Coastersaurus, LEGO^® TECHNIC™ Coaster, Driving School, Jr. Driving School, Skipper School, Royal Joust, Fairy Tale Brook, LEGOLAND Express Train, Lost Kingdom Adventure and Cargo Ace. You’ll also get to have fun with all the outdoor playgrounds and Miniland U.S.A.

Beginning, Apr. 15, the full reopening will commence. The remaining rides will open in addition to LEGO^® CHIMA™ Water Park, SEA LIFE^®Aquarium and select dining, retail, and indoor attractions available with advanced reservation.

LEGOLAND is offering priority access during April for LEGOLAND Hotel Guests, active Pass Holders (Play Pass, Annual Pass and Monthly Pay Memberships) and existing Day Ticket Holders for expired and unused during closures.

You can find even more details at legoland.com.

––Karly Wood

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Why You Need to Take the Kids to Check Out Immersive Van Gogh

by anitachuMarch 23, 2021

Immersive Van Gogh, a unique art exhibit that just opened in San Francisco on March 18, is a fanciful and remarkable escape from our world into a land of sunlit countrysides, endless flowers and star-filled nights. The distinctive, often dreamlike paintings of the famous Dutch painter are turned into huge, moving animations for this exhibition, which combine digital projections and music to create a truly immersive experience. It’s an eye-opening introduction into the growing field of immersive art, and is a fun new way for all ages to appreciate Van Gogh’s paintings. Here’s the scoop on what you’ll see when you check out this exhibit.

Massimiliano Siccardi, the creative director of this exhibit, was inspired by Van Gogh’s quote, “I dream my painting and I paint my dream”, and the approximately 40-minute exhibition feels remarkably like stepping into a dream. In the darkness, images taken from Van Gogh’s paintings appear on the walls and floor of the empty space: pastoral landscapes, sunflowers and irises, streets filled with people, and the famous starry night.

The images continually move and morph, so you can see brushstrokes forming an image, the sun moving across a yellow sky, and flowers blooming. One of the most effective sections of the piece makes viewers feel like they are slowly descending down from the night sky past tall towers, onto a busy street lined with cafes lit by candles. At that moment you feel truly immersed in Van Gogh’s vision. The accompanying original score by Luca Longobardi also creates a contemplative, dreamy mood as the exhibition progresses through Van Gogh’s various pieces, roughly tracing his life.

The exhibition takes place in a single large gallery space at SVN West. Once you step inside, you see ceiling projectors projecting images on all four walls, and hear music filling the space—you’re instantly immersed in sights and sounds. Visitors are spaced out in social distancing circles on the floor, and there is an elevated viewing platform in the center. Definitely move around the entire space to experience the exhibit from all angles. Admissions are limited to comply with city capacity guidelines, and temperature checks are required upon arrival. All guests must wear a face covering at all times during their visit.

Ticket prices start at $39.99 ($24.99 for children 16 or younger), with VIP, timed, and flexible ticket options available. The exhibition runs through Monday, September 6, 2021, and tickets are already selling out for the month of March. For kids, this exhibition can provide a new way to view art and understand the creative process.

Very small children may be overwhelmed by the moments of darkness in the exhibition or the loudness of the music, but you can step outside to the adjoining gallery space for a break if needed. More often, older children seem entranced by the images slowly moving across the walls. Afterwards, when you get home you can look up some of Van Gogh’s paintings that were used for this exhibition. They might inspire your kids to create their own artwork or digital art experience: Immersive Van Gogh showcases some of the marvelous ways art may evolve in the future.

Immersive Van Gogh
SVN West, 10 S. Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA

On view through September 6, 2021

Online: vangoghsf.com or call 844-307-4644

—Anita Chu

Photos by Cheshire Isaacs

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Chuck E. Cheese Just Dropped a Whole Season of Spring-tastic Fun

by Erica LoopFebruary 25, 2021

Celebrate spring with Chuck E. Cheese! The iconic kids’ eatery recently announced the launch of “4 Seasons of Fun.” These all-new immersive experiences will give your kiddo a totally new way to experience the best the beloved brand has to offer.

The fab family-friendly seasonal festivities begin Mar. 1, 2021. Chuck E. Cheese and his new pal Ronnie the Unicorn will bring their Spring-tastic Celebration to restaurants and your home—via online activities. The two-month long spring event includes everything from new menu items to exclusive deals.

photo courtesy of PR Newswire/Chuck E. Cheese

CEO of CEC Entertainment, David McKillips, said in a press release, “At Chuck E. Cheese, each season brings a fresh opportunity for families to gather for fun.” McKillips continued, “Over the last year, we’ve helped families find new ways to celebrate each day. That’s why we’re rolling out our 4 Seasons of Fun in 2021, to encourage special moments all year long. We’re kicking things off with a Spring-tastic Celebration and have pulled out all the stops to bring families exciting new memories, from exclusive treats like our Unicorn Churros to instant-win games and weekday deals on both pizza and play.”

McKillips also noted that the fun won’t end with the Spring-tastic Celebration, “This newly imagined event will be followed by our Summer of Fun, Halloween Boo-tacular and Winter Winner-Land events, so families can join unique celebrations all year round.”

Spring-tastic deals include:

Spring Family Fun Pack (two large one-topping pizzas, one spring dessert, a goody bag, an activity sheet, and a 250 e-ticket voucher for carryout or delivery only) starting at $34.99
Spring FunBreak Bundle (one large one-topping pizza, two soft drinks, two 30-minute play cards, and a spring dessert for in-store use only) starting at $39.99
More Ticket Monday (score up to 500 bonus e-tickets with a food and drink combo purchase)
All You Can Play Wednesday (one hour of All You Can Play for $14.99)
Pizza & Play Friday (get one large cheese pizza for $5 when you spend $25 on games).

Along with the deals, your kiddos will enjoy the new spring treat menu items, including Rainbow Ice Dippin’ Sots, Unicorn Cotton Candy, Rainbow Lollipops and Unicorn Churros!

—Erica Loop

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Amtrak’s Valentine’s Day BOGO Sale Is the Perfect Gift (But It Ends Soon)

by Erica LoopFebruary 13, 2021

Forget about roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate-covered cherries. This Valentine’s Day you can gift your sweetie a train trip!

Amtrak’s Valentine’s Day Buy One Get One Free Sale is a BOGO you can’t miss. The sale starts Feb. 11 and goes through Feb. 16. Customers who use the code C214 at checkout (or visit the Amtrak website here) will get a free companion ticket when they purchase one regular fare.

The Valentine’s Day BOGO special includes tickets used for nationwide travel between February 22 and August 27. This means you don’t have to use this holiday deal to actually celebrate Valentine’s Day. You can pick a later date for a spring break or summer-time getaway.

BOGO deals are available for adult-priced tickets on select train lines—the Auto Train, California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, Acela, and Northeast Regional. Check with Amtrak for additional route availability. Fairs vary by route. Both adults must travel together. You may upgrade to Acela First Class and non-Acela Business Class for an extra charge, upon payment in full.

Seating is limited—so book your BOGO ASAP. Visit Amtrak’s website for a full list of restrictions, terms, and conditions.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Amtrak

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You Can Dine on Baby Yoda Plates & Love Them You Will

by Karly WoodFebruary 11, 2021

Why suffer through meal time with boring plates and bowls when you can liven up your place settings with Disney dinnerware? Corelle has curated some of the best and brightest icons from the Mickey Mouse and Star Wars franchises to bring diners fun new options.

Want to share a meal with Mickey? Or perhaps serve some Baby Yoda-inspired apps? Corelle’s lineup of magical and galactic plates and bowls is just the ticket. Keep scrolling to see our faves.

12-pc Dinnerware Set: Mickey Mouse - The True Original

You get everything you need in this adorable set $80, including dinner plates, appetizer/salad plates and bowls. The set boasts adorable Mickey images in vibrant colors that are equally fun and functional.

Corelle 6.75" Appetizer Plates: Star Wars

The entire gang is here with Corelle's Star Wars line. Not only can you get 4- ($25) and 8-count appetizer plates ($40) but you can get salad plates, too! ($45 but currently sold out) The set is dishwasher and microwave safe and is chip resistant.

6.75" Appetizer Plate: Star Wars- The Child, 4-pack

While they're technically appetizer plates, we think these The Child ($25) plates make a great kid-sized option, too! They are light weight which makes handling them a breeze, and they stack up easily, taking up less space than a traditional plate.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Corelle

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The Easiest Way for Oregonians to Have Fun and Do Good

by Jamie AderskiJanuary 27, 2021

Who doesn’t love to take a chance now and again and dream of a lottery win? A ticket in hand is an affordable thrill that can potentially pay off big, at least for some lucky winner. But there are even better reasons to play Oregon Lottery games. Over half of Oregon Lottery proceeds go to support Oregon’s public schools. That dollar or two you put in fate’s hands serves a great purpose—helping local teachers and students achieve their very best.

A Commitment to Education

Oregonians have demonstrated time and again their commitment to the educational well-being of Oregon’s students. That’s why in 1995, voters passed a constitutional amendment that requires a portion of Oregon Lottery proceeds go to public education, benefitting students from kindergarten through college. Because of Lottery funding, schools across the state have more resources to pay for much-needed textbooks, computers, classroom equipment and education-related services.

Oregon's Teacher of the Year

As part of its support for public education, the Oregon Lottery also sponsors Oregon’s Teacher of the Year program. This year’s recipient, Nicole Butler-Hooton, is an inspiring second-grade teacher at Irving Elementary School in Eugene. Her win comes with a $5,000 award for her and a matching $5,000 for Irving Elementary. The title will give Nicole the opportunity to share her passion, equity-driven and inclusive teaching practices, on a state and national level. As the first Native American to win the Oregon Teacher of the Year title, Nicole’s win is inspiring to students and the community alike!

Do good things, with the Oregon Lottery!

Learn more about how your lottery dollars help support education in Oregon.

—Jamie Aderski

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