Disneyland is incredible no matter what time of year you visit, but the holidays are really something special. It starts with Halloween, which, at the Disneyland Resort kicks off September 16, 2011 (and runs through Halloween night). Halloween is too much fun to celebrate it on just one night. Disney gets it.

In addition to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) being decked out for the fall holiday (including a Nightmare Before Christmas update to The Haunted Mansion) you can also attend the after-hours fun of Mickey’s Halloween Party. Mickey’s party is a separate-ticket event ($49 – $64 per person, priced by date). It’s a great opportunity for kids of all ages to dress up and trick or treat with their favorite Disney characters (they dress up, too!). Read More »

It’s time for another rousing edition of Where in World is This Piece of Public Art and What is the Town Like Where You Found It. We’re still working on the name.

And now the clues:

The town featuring this public art is well-known for its weather and water.

Was that too easy?

Here’s another, it’s also well-known for its parks, both city and amusement, respectively.

It’s classy.

If you said San Diego, then congratulations, you are a freaking genius. Tell everyone.

The bell is the Yokohama Friendship Bell given by the people of Yokohama, Japan to San Diego in 1958 as part of the Central Celebration marking the formal relations between Japan and the United States. Yokohama is San Diego’s sister city.

The sculpture in the foreground is “The Girl in Red Shoes” and was added in 2010 to further honor the relationship between the two countries.

See? That’s classy.

This post is part of the UpTake Public Art Series

Photo: Port of San Diego via Flickr

This past weekend I attended the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA to see what all of the hullabaloo was regarding the event. Turns out, said hullabaloo is well-founded.

D23 is the official fan club of all things Disney, and while the event offered a number of perks and benefits to its members, expo tickets were available to the general public (now at Disney prices!).  All were welcome to enter.

The expo featured panels, sessions and meet and greet opportunities with Disney brass, legends and stars. For instance, in a two hour period I was a few feet away from John Lasseter, Kermit the Frog (the REAL Kermit the Frog), Miss Piggy (the REAL Miss Piggy), Jason Segel, Robert Downey, Jr. (actually, all of the Avengers minus Captain America and the Hulk, yes that means the beefcake from Thor and Scarlett Johansson were also there), Billy Crystal, and the cast and artists behind a number of Disney favorites, be they parks, movies, Marvel, Muppet or Pixar. It was really impressive. Also, churros. Read More »

I know, the X Games started yesterday, but this is L.A., and if you aren’t late you aren’t fashionable. It’s kind of a thing out here. That said, if you and yours are visiting SoCal this weekend there is one more must-do to add to your overflowing itinerary. That must-do is the X Games that I opened with. Pay attention.

The X Games are ESPN’s creation, a gift to the world of extreme sports competition. The Summer X Games started in 1995 and feature some of the best extreme athletes in the world. You know, the crazy kids.

All of the events are held in downtown Los Angeles. They are spread between Staples Center, the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Lot 7 (the actual parking lot), Event Deck at L.A. LIVE and Gilbert Lindsay Plaza. What could be more extreme than that?

Tickets start at $5 and include admission to the X Fest at L.A. LIVE, which features live music, sponsor tents, an interactive skate park, demonstrations and opportunities to meet the athletes. X Fest opens an hour before the events start and closes an hour before the events end.

If you plan to attend X Games 17 please consider public transportation as traffic will be congested (i.e., it will be ugly) due to street closures. For those of you that are up to the challenge, there is paid parking along Figueroa St. for $25.

X Games 17
Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 742-7100
More Information
Tickets