Teams of firefighters compete in First Annual Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum. The firefighters will cook their best ribs, burgers and a dish using a secret ingredient that will be unveiled at the contest.

The cook-off will benefit the Nassau County Firefighters Museum where visitors learn about the heritage of the local volunteer fire services and, through a series of interactive exhibits, experience valuable lessons in fire safety and prevention.

Fairway has a long-standing commitment to firefighters, exemplified after the 9/11 tragedy, when Fairway adopted local firehouses and supplied food for them throughout the search and clean-up process and by the special shopping discount they receive at Fairway's five locations.

The event is taking place today, Wednesday, July 1 from 12pm to 1pm at the Nassau County Firefighters Museum at Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale, NY (or 1 Davis Ave, Garden City, NY 11530).

For more information, visit www.ncfiremuseum.org.

Andrew W.K. wants to show teens that blowing things up can be a learning experience. The rocker-turned-TV personality has signed on to host Destroy Build Destroy, a new Cartoon Network game show predicated entirely on explosions.

In the show, he guides two teams of teenagers through a competition on an empty lot in the mountains outside of Los Angeles as they destroy vehicles and then use the wreckage to create new machines. The teams teams take turns destroying each other's materials, then putting them back together, then destroying them again.

The California-born, Michigan-bred W.K.. -- the initials stand for "Wilkes-Krier," the surnames of his mom and dad -- began classical piano lessons at age four and moved on to playing in Detroit punk and metal bands, including the Pterodactyls. By age 17, W.K. was recording his own material.

After moving to New York City, his friends passed his demos on to various labels, including Bulb, who released W.K.'s debut EP, Girls Own Juice, and the follow up Party Til You Puke EP. The buzz around W.K.'s music resulted in a gig opening for the Foo Fighters as well as deals with Island/Def Jam in the U.S. and Mercury in the U.K.; his first major-label release was Party Hard EP. Later he released the full length albums I Get Wet and The Wolf.

Destroy Build Destroy airs Saturdays at 8:30pm on Cartoon Network. For more information, visit www.cartoonnetwork.com. For more On Andrew W.K., visit www.myspace.com/andrewwk.

Written by Pierre Bonny

We're mixing up three Fourth of July-inspired cocktails and using beer as the main ingredient. Mixologist Anthony Caporale shared with us his recipes for Red, White and Blueberry, Cider Flip and Pear Royale Martini.

And if you want the Pear Royale Martini to be mixed by its maker, stop by the Forty-Eight (1221 Avenue of the Americas at 48th Street) and Caporale, who's the general manager of the lounge, will mix one for you on the spot. The new upscale lounge is in the the McGraw-Hill Building, near Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall.

For more on Caporale, visit www.artofthedrink.tv.

InStyle Weddings has the "hot list" of how to celebrate your wedding day Hollywood-Style.

HOMEGROWN HOSPITALITY
Give your out of town guests some local flavor.. filling welcome bags with goodies your wedding city is famous for. We love Neighborhoodies - a local Brooklyn company -- will custom-make a totebag for you for wherever your wedding is held.

• Tote bag, Neighborhoodies Canvas Swinger tote, $20; neighborhoodies.com

Featured Items Included:
• Magnolia Bakery Gift Card, from $5
• Metro Card, from $2 - $81
• Subway map, $4.95; available at Hudson News
• City Walks: New York book, $14.95
• Dylan's Candy, Gumball paint can, $14, and chocolate bars, $14 for 5
• I *Heart* NY t-shirt, $25
• Zagat New York City Restaurants 2009 book, $15.95
• Sarabeth's Strawberry Peach jam, $10

Emmy-nominated actor EJ Bonilla stopped by to talk about his new movie Don’t Let Me Down.

Don't Let Me Drown is a romantic drama film about two Brooklyn teenagers (Bonilla and Gleendilys Inoa) who are both dealing with their families' struggles. As their friendship grows into romance they learn to survive in a post-9/11 New York.

Bonilla was born and raised in New York City and is currently attending Bard College. He starred on CBS’ Guiding Light as Raphael "Rafe" Rivera. Bonilla joined the cast of the day time soap opera on May 18, 2007. Recently, he appeared in the Golden Globe nominated film, The Ron Clark Story and guest starred in the primetime TV show Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Bonilla has also done a voice over for a recent Burger King ad campaign. During his free time, Bonilla enjoys dancing.

You can catch Don't Let Me Drown at the International Latino Film Festival starting tomorrow, July 27. For ticket and showtimes, visit www.nylatinofilm.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Organic baby food is a popular trend that truly benefits your baby. These pesticide-free creations keep your little one from exposure to harmful chemicals. Not to mention, these gourmet treats come in a slew of interesting flavors to provide your baby with a variety of nutritious bliss. For example:

Exotic Blends
• Taste Bud Baby (tastebudbaby.com;$3.39). Taste Bud Baby creates delicious purées specifically designed for three different stages. The peas, stage one, are made only from organic peas and water to ease your baby’s transition to solid food.
• Plum Organics (plumorganics.com; $3.00). These delicious dishes taste so good you will want to try them for yourself. Made from only the best organic ingredients and flash frozen to lock in taste, your baby will be guaranteed great flavor with tons of nutrients.

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. I am having so much trouble with shaving my underarms. I get awful razor burn. Then I get stubble. I hear lemons work to get rid of razor burn? Please help. It hurts so bad!
Anonymous

2. My husband is allergic to iodine and iodide. What seafoods should he avoid?
Anonymous

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

The last time you went to the clinic, did you find your doctor on Facebook? Research your procedure on YouTube? Or tweet during surgery? The CyberGuy is here with a behind-the-scenes look at a clinic where technology and medicine mix in a way you’ve never seen before.

You can find out more about lasik surgeon Dr. Feinerman by watching his YouTube page, visiting his Twitter page and friending him on Facebook.

Actor Seann William Scott stopped by to talk about his role in the animated film Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs where he lends his voice to the character Crash. The film also features the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Queen Latifah.

According to IMDB, "After the events of Ice Age: The Meltdown, life begins to change for Manny and his friends: Scrat is still on the hunt to hold onto his beloved acorn, while finding a possible romance in a female sabre-toothed squirrel named Scratte. Manny and Ellie, having since become an item, are expecting a baby, which leaves Manny anxious to ensure that everything is perfect for when his baby arrives.

So far the Harry Potter video game franchise has made over $1 billion in sales worldwide. With the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince set to come out in less than two weeks, its only fitting that video game maker Electronic Arts is putting out the game a bit earlier, and who better to test out the game than the castmembers themselves?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hit theaters on JUly 15. The movie's video game is available in stores now. For more information, visit harrypotter.ea.com.

Lisa Mateo is in Coney Island for the 2009 AVP Crocs Slam Lumber Liquidators Coney Island Open presented by Kentucky Grilled Chicken, which is taking place today, Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5. She's talking to AVP player Albert Hannemann.

The AVP Crocs Tour will celebrate the Fourth of July in Coney Island. 2009 marks the fourth consecutive year that the AVP Crocs Tour has visited Coney Island. The AVP was established in 1983 and is comprised of the best men's and women's pro beach volleyball players in the U.S. and arguably, the world.

The AVP's main goal is to deliver its fans the experience of an amazing athletic contest surrounded by an unforgettable beach party. More than one million people are expected to attend an AVP event this year.

You can join the fun on the beach at 21st and Surf Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. For more information, visit www.avp.com. For more on Hannemann, visit volleyballvacations.com.

Whether or not anecdotal reports of iPhones overheating are true, Apple has taken them seriously enough to reveal the presence of a temperature warning screen for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Here's the deal: an unknown but probably very small number of iPhones have been affected by overheating, to the point that some white iPhone 3GSes have allegedly turned pink. Sascha Segan, our phone analyst, said he hasn't seen any such problems with his iPhone 3GS, however. Apple, however, has issued what some might call a "common sense" warning: a support document that warns users not to keep the iPhone in an environment where temperatures can exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit, including parked cars.

But Apple also warns that CPU-intensive applications, such as playing music or using the GPS while in direct sunlight may also overheat the iPhone. In that case, actually using the iPhone in temperatures over 95 degrees can also trigger the temperature warning. "Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly," Apple warns.

For more information, visit support.apple.com.

Courtesy of PCMag.com

The spectacular Big Apple Circus is back in town for its 31st season with Play On! - a brand new, magical music box of a show!

Play On! is a circus symphony of astonishing acts and side-splitting laughter, propelled by a jazzy mix of classical, soul and rock & roll from the best circus band in the land! While the title is from Shakespeare (If music be the food of love, play on!), Play On! is pure circus, featuring the world's finest artists under a classic Big Top tent, performing in the intimate setting of a single ring!

There are high-spirited Colombians on the flying trapeze; an acrobatic Chinese ballerina, pirouetting on top of her partner; jazzed-up juggling twins from America; Russians springing skyward from their Russian barre; a talented troupe of Italian dogs; and the breath-taking exploits of Big Apple Circus equestrians vaulting onto galloping horses. Not to mention our incomparable paragon of love and laughter, Grandma the Clown!

No seat under the Big Top is more than 50 feet from the ring, so even if you're very small you won't miss a thing - it's the finest family entertainment around!

For more information, visit www.bigapplecircus.org.

Before your Independence Day cookout, do the planet a favor by picking up the best alfresco eating staples. Here with ways to throw a backyard bash that won't be a blow to the environment is Sharon Liao from Shape Magazine. Some of the eco-friendly items include:

Flame Disk ($5; flamedisk.com)
This eco-friendly alternative to charcoal produces the same great taste as traditional grills, with 99 percent less carbon monoxide emissions.

Yellow + Blue Wine ($12; ybwines.com)
Produced from organically grown grapes, and packaged in recycled paper, this "green" wine is better for you, as well as the planet.

Actor Denis Leary stopped by to talk about his role in the animated film Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs where he lends his voice to the character Diego. The film also features the voices of Seann William Scott, who sat down with us yesterday, Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, and Queen Latifah.

According to IMDB, "After the events of Ice Age: The Meltdown, life begins to change for Manny and his friends: Scrat is still on the hunt to hold onto his beloved acorn, while finding a possible romance in a female sabre-toothed squirrel named Scratte. Manny and Ellie, having since become an item, are expecting a baby, which leaves Manny anxious to ensure that everything is perfect for when his baby arrives.

"Diego is fed up with being treated like a house-cat and ponders the notion that he is becoming too laid-back. Sid begins to wish for a family of his own, and so steals some dinosaur eggs which leads to Sid ending up in a strange underground world where his herd must rescue him, while dodging dinosaurs and facing danger left and right, and meeting up with a one-eyed weasel known as Buck who hunts dinosaurs intently."

Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs is in theaters today, July 1. For more information, visit www.iceagemovie.com. For more on Leary, visit www.denisleary.com.

CLICK FOR FULL COVERAGE OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH

Balloon Magician Todd Neufeld is stopping by to make patriotic balloon creations for the Fourth of July. He's headed to Washington, D.C. to perform at the White House on the Fourth.

Twistin' Todd Neufeld, trained as a patent attorney, but impassioned by his art, is a most unique artist and entertainer. His career "popped" after the construction of a Guinness World Record balloon sculpture nearly made him miss the bar exam.

Neufeld show our anchors how to make balloon statues. Tiffany and Suki will compete in an balloon animal making contest.

For more on Neufeld and his Twisted Balloon Company, visit www.twistedballoon.com.

Actor Tyrese Gibson stopped by to talk about his role as USAF Master Sergeant Epps in the new movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

In the new movie, "Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle," says IMDB. Gibson's co-stars included Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel and John Tuturro.

From modeling to singing and acting, the multi-talented Gibson also has a comic book coming out called Mayhem. It's a about a gun-toting vigilante who's fighting a crime lord in Los Angeles (which happens to be Gibson's hometown). The hero has super powers and takes refuge in the basement of an abandoned church. Gibson is also a long-time Transformers fan. He said to us that The Transformers were more important to him than homework and, as a result, he almost failed the sixth grade!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is in theaters now. For more informaiton, visit www.transformersmovie.com. For more on Mayhem, visit westfieldcomics.com.

Food Network chef Sandra Lee shares with us her recipes for Ale House Burgers with Red Onion Compote and Garlic, Lemon, and Herb Rubbed Legs. Check them out after the jump.

We sat down with actors Johnny Depp and Christian Bale to talk about their new film Public Enemies.

In the movie, the Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s. Depp plays Dillinger and Bale plays Melvin Purvis.

Public Enemies is in theaters today, For more information, visit www.publicenemies.net.

It's the biggest movie weekend ever and you can still enjoy your favorite movie treats without overloading. But there's really no need to overload on some of your favorite movie treats -- it's all about portion control. Frances Largeman-Roth R.D., Health Magazine's senior food and nutrition editor stops by with some options and their calorie count

• LIFE SAVERS: 5 pieces; 57 Calories
• JUNIOR MINTS: 7 pieces; 70 Calories
• MIKE & IKE: 10 pieces; 60 Calories
• DIVVIES CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POPCORN: 1/3 cup; 60 Calories
• TWIZZLERS: 3 twists; 47 Calories
• YOGURT DOTS: 5 pieces; 58 Calories
• SNO-CAPS: 1 1/2 tablespoons; 68 Calories
• JELLY BELLY STRAWBERRIES & BLUEBERRIES: 9 pieces; 65 Calories

For more information, visit www.health.com.

Chef Joshua Tepperberg of Dr. Marinade is back with a few more flavorful recipes inspired from cultures around the globe. He is doing the Spicy Calypso BBQ Sauce on chicken, steak and shrimp, Roasted Husk On Corn and Nuvo Paradise Punch.

Special thanks to Citarella for providing the food for this segment. For more on Dr. Marinade, visit www.drmarinade.com.

CLICK HERE TO FOR 4th OF JULY FUN.

Each week we're telling viewers about events, activities and items that are free. That's right! No money required!

On this week's free list:
1. Watch Ironman on the big screen under the stars on Wednesday, July 8 at 8pm in Manhattan
2. Kosher Deluxe is Midtown Manhattan's Fast Food Kosher King and they're offering a falafel ball with a taste of tahina sauce along with a soda for free!

CLICK HERE TO FOR 4th OF JULY FUN.

RoleMommy.com founder Beth Feldman will be here with her "Fave Five" stroller must-haves.

And Suki Mama Mania continues with a stroller giveaway. Viewers have the chance to win a Maclaren Grand Tour LX valued at upto $900! The stroller's features include a convertible seat, a 5 point safety harness and a cup holder for mom and dad!

The winner will be chosen at random and you have until Wednesday, June 24 to enter.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST.

You can keep up with Suki and her pregnancy on her blog, www.wpix.com/sukimama.

This week's Friday Forecaster is Uncle Sam!

Actually, it's patrotic Staten Island resident Mike Przbyszewski. He's dressed as Uncle Sam for the 99th Annual Independence Day Parade taking place Saturday, July 4, rain or shine. Mike and his dad dress up like Uncle Sam each year and greet the parade participants as they march down Cannon Avenue. Be sure to catch the duo tomorrow. The parade starts tomorro at 12pm at P.S. 26 (4108 Victory Blvd.)

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

CLICK HERE TO FOR 4th OF JULY FUN.

Kurt the CyberGuy shows you a digital expedition of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, including some of the best amateur photography and viral videos circulating through the internet of the late King of Pop’s infamous former residence. Even home video footage featuring Michael enjoying life at home at Neverland Ranch.

• Video of Neverland Ranch posted on YouTube by “MichaelJacksonFan95”
• Michael Jackson’s Home Video at Neverland Ranch posted on YouTube by “coffee178”
• Video of drive to gate of Neverland Ranch posted on Dailymotion by “MJackson80”
• Picture Montage of Neverland Ranch posted on Dailymotion by “my-lovely-one”
• Picture Montage of Neverland Ranch posted on YouTube by “Steph83Ga”
• Picture Montage of Neverland Ranch posted on YouTube by “LittleWeirdMonkey”

FULL COVERAGE OF MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH

The three alternating leads of the award winning musical "Billy Elliot" stopped by to talk about winning the top honors at this year’s Tony Awards.

David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kril Kulish share the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. The trio of teens all played the role of Billy Elliot in the 2009 Tony Award winning Best Musical.

Based on the critically acclaimed feature film, "Billy Elliot" is a joyous, exciting and feel-good celebration of one boy following his heart and making his dreams come true.

"Billy Elliot" is produced by Universal Pictures, Working Title, The Old Vic Company, and The Weinstein Company.

For more on "Billy Elliot," visit www.billyelliotbroadway.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Larry paid a visit to Philippe Express, one of the newest eateries from Philippe Chow. There, he showed off his skills when it came to playing with dough, spinning noodles, and cooking them. He also treated his tastebuds to the restaurant's renowned chicken satay dish.

Philippe Express is located on 469 6th Avenue between 11th and 12th. For more information on the restaurant, please visit: www.philippechow.com/express.

We're whipping up a dish and drink using items leftover from your barbecue!

Chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon. You made one incredible spread for your July 4th BBQ, but now you have lots of food leftover. What do you do with it? Chef Matthew Hayes from NYC Fitness Solutions has some great ideas for us. Check out his healthy living website at www.nycfitnesssolutions.com.

Watermelon Smoothie
Prep Time - 2 Minutes
Cook Time - 1 Minute 25 seconds

1 Large piece leftover Watermelon
4 Ice Cubes

Step 1 - add ice to the blender and
crush.
Step 2 - Dice up Watermelon and blend it with the ice
Step 3 - Pour it in a glass and drink it.

* Add 1 Banana for a boost of Potassium and creamy Smoothness, Add Dark Cherries to boost Blood flow and make this smoothy ever more heart healthy. Add Strawberries because they are awesome and go well with just about anything.

Recipe makes 2 portions. Add extra ingredients to make a healthy summer snack for
the whole family.

* You can also put this fruit puree in ice cube trays for interesting and flavorful additions to your drinks or fill up small paper cups to make a Healthy frozen Treat for the kids.

Carol Johnson of Crunch stopped by with their new "Dance Your Ass Off!" class. The class is based on the hit Oxygen reality show of the same title. In the class, you'll learn the basics to a different dance genre each week - just like the contestants on the show. You'll be sweatin' and shakin' while learning choreographed routines to hip hop, Latin and much more!

Attend class 6 of the 10 weeks and be entered-to-win an afternoon at the spa and a night of dancing out on the town for you and 3 of your friends.

For more info, log onto www.crunch.com.

He's the host of the new pop culture show The Great Debate on VH1--Chuck Nice stopped by to help settle some of the best pop culture debates ever, from Star Wars or Star Trek, to Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Aniston.

The Great Debate will air over five nights, for one hour each night. Each night will feature a bunch of debates which will grow in intensity from the important questions of the "CALIENTE" hour like "Who played a blind guy better: Pacino or Foxx?" to the life or death debates of the "INFERNO" hour like "Who is the greatest band of all-time: The Beatles or the Stones?"

Celebs from the present and past will tackle debates of all shapes, sizes and genres. Ranging from "Who's the ultimate pop princess: Britney or Christina?" to "Who's tougher: Rocky or Rambo?" The panelists are ready to take all these seemingly inane questions very seriously.

A veteran of stand-up comedy, Nice has successfully translated his affable stage presence to the small screen by hosting and appearing in several television productions. He is currently hosting two shows for the WE network (Cinematherapy and Three Men and a Chick Flick) and can be seen on VH1's Best Week Ever. For eight years, Nice has also lent his wit to the syndicated radio program "The Radio Chick" show.

The Great Debate premieres tonight at 10pm on VH1.

Dr. Steve is in, and he's here to answer your pressing health queries:

1.Dr. Steve,What cause hives? And what medication can help get rid of them? Nothing seems to help, except ice.
Liz Whiting, New Jersey

2. Hi Doctor Steve, I'm wondering if you have a facial moisturizer with SPF 15 and a foundation with SPF 15, does that offer the same protection as SPF 30?
Samara, Long Island

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

Stephanie Prommer, Fashion Editor of "Woman's World" stopped by with a dose of Double-Duty Fashion--get twice as much fun for your money!! Like to have a lot of wardrobe options? You’ll flip for thse double duty dresses, accessories and shoes—each piece gives you more than one look! From a little black dress that can take you from a casual lunch to a fancy cocktail party with interchangeable “wraps” to trendy reversible headbasnds, snap on straps for sandals, interchangeable bands that can create dozens of options and more!

The items included:

1. Modify Clothing dress (comes with four wraps) $ 79, ModifyClothing.com
• This little black dress can take you from a casual lunch to a fancy cocktail party, thanks to interchangeable "wraps" sewn from lacy and sequined fabrics!

2. LocoLili reversible headbands, $8.95, LocoLili.com
• Trendy reversible fabric headbands offer a choice of two preppy patterns! Bonus: Elastic won't pinch your temples or neck like plastic headbands can!

Carrie Preston came by to talk about starring in HBO's True Blood

True Blood takes place in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana and centers on a group of vampires who have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. Although they have removed human beings from their menu, many citizens remain apprehensive about the dangers they may pose.

Local waitress and bloodsucker Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) is all for the integration of vampires into human society. She finds herself drawn to the handsome 173-year old Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), but at the service of his less-virtuous associates, finds herself drawn into a series of catastrophes that will put their love to the test. Preston plays Arlene Fowler, whose last boyfriend turned out to be a serial killer and is thus finding herself struggling to care for her children while hustling burgers at Merlotte's.

A Georgia native, Preston made her breakout debut as Miranda on the Broadway's production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest." This has led to roles on Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Woody Allen's acclaimed film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

True Blood airs Sundays at 9pm on HBO.

Lisa Mateo sat down with celebrity chef Johnny Ciao shared with us his personal Michael Jackson story. He spent a year with Michael Jackson from 1989 to 1990 after Jackson collapsed while touring in Singapore. Additionally, he stayed with him at the Neverland Ranch, preparing meals to nurse him back to health. Ciao asserted that Michael Jackson was a man who really loved life and was a boy at heart.

After spending close to two decades in entertainment management and production where he always loved to cook for his celebrity clients, Johnny found a unique fusion between music and food. Aside from cooking for Jackson, Ciao acquired a solid reputation as an articulate culinary artist who has served the Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, the late Marlon Brando and Gregory Peck, Whitney Houston, Hank Aaron, Mayor Ed Koch, and many other music, sports and political figures.

For more info about the chef, go to www.johnnyciao.com.

The summer heat is bearing down on us, so what better way to cool off than to treat yourself to some Carvel?

Larry checked in with us from a Carvel in Brooklyn, where he prepared some treats, as well as some ice-cold drinks. Visit a Carvel near you so you could keep your cool, no matter how humid it gets!

Comedian Nick DiPaolo spoke with us about doing stand-up and his upcoming gigs.

DiPaolo began his career in his hometown of Boston and two years later, made the jump to New York, where his seething, sarcastic style was welcomed with open arms by New York audiences at such clubs as Catch a Rising Star, Caroline’s and The Comedy Cellar. His uncompromising point of view is what makes him not only a club favorite, but a true "comic's comic."

In addition, his act has been featured on shows such as The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman and Conan O’ Brien. He is a favorite on both Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony and hosted his own show on New York’s 92.3 Free FM.

DiPaolo will be hitting the stage beginning this Friday at the Prime Time Comedy Club in Sayreville, New Jersey. For more show information, visit: www.nickdip.com.

If you missed your chance to call in and win free tickets to see Nick DiPaolo this weekend at the Prime Time Comedy Club, here’s another chance: Visit primetimecomedyonline.com and use the coupon code "pixnews" to purchase tickets. One free ticket will be given for each ticket purchased.

We spoke with former Yankee publicist Marty Appel's. He shared insights from his new book entitled Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain, a work that documents the life of the late Thurman Munson.

Appel co-wrote New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson's autobiography 30 years ago, and his goal in his new effort is to tell the story that didn't get told then. We learn, for example, that Munson grew up in Canton, Ohio, with a father whose coldness and resentment bordered on emotional abuse. There's also, naturally, much more information about the 1979 plane crash that ended Munson's life, including the transcript of a lengthy interview with one of the survivors. Appel succeeds in painting Munson as someone who, while being a journeyman ballplayer who inspired his teammates with his tenacious work ethic, was so much more.

Appel's career in baseball took off while he was a student at SUNY Oneonta, after writing to then-Yankee public relations chief Bob Fishel. He began his tenure with the New York Yankees handling fan mail for Mickey Mantle, and was named PR Director of the team in 1973. While serving as VP for Public Relations for our own WPIX, he won an Emmy as the executive producer of Yankee telecasts; he also produced pre-season football telecasts for the New York Giants and New York Jets.

On top of that, Appel has written 17 books, including a biography of King Kelly, and children's biographies of Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio.

Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain hits bookstores today. For more information on Appel, visit: www.appelpr.com.

Lina Haimelin from Bideawee brought in a few cuddly companions looking for a home. If you're interested in adopting any of these animals you can call Bideawee at 866-262-8133.

Popular Mechanics technology editor Seth Porges has the best new gadgets for hitting the beach!

The items included:

1. Hammacher Schlemmer Treasure Seekers Sandals, $60
• Operating on a 9-volt battery, there are Hammacher Schlemmer metal-detecting sandalsplop on these sandals with a built-in metal detector, eliminating the need for sweepers

2. Canon Powershot D10 camera, $330
• A sand-proof, water-proof, drop-proof camera-great for the beach

Singer-songwriter Meiko came by to speak with us about her newfound fame. She also treated us with a performances of her song, entitled "Under My Bed" from her new, self-titled album.

The Georgia native currently resides in Los Angeles. She started out at the famed Hotel Caf‚ in Hollywood, where she was a waitress and performer before local and national buzz allowed her to put aside her drink tray for good. A songwriter with a keen eye and vivid narrative gift, Meiko collects jagged moments and devastating conversational flashes and turns them into deceptively simple tunes with hushed, gentle tones and stunning detailed imagery.

Meiko independently released a self-titled album in 2007 -- without the help of a record label, her album reached #35 on the iTunes Top 100 Albums chart. It was also iTunes’ #1 Singer-Songwriter album for over a month. In June 2008 Meiko signed a recording deal with MySpace Records/DGC, who released her album in partnership with Lucky Ear Music (Meiko's own indie label).

Meiko is in stores now.

Larry has gone fishin'! He spoke with us live from the Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside, Long Island. He showed us how to bait and cast.

Established in 1982, Bay Park Fishing Station offers Gulf Diesel Fuel and 89 Octane Gasoline, along with fresh and frozen baits, custom rods, offshore and inshore rods and reels, all lures and terminal tackle--featuring Bay Park Spreader Bars and Offshore lures. Bay Park Fishing Station also offers a full stock of wet weather gear and boots.

Bay Park Fishing Station is located at 480A Reina Road Oceanside, NY 11572. For more info, visit: www.bayparkfishing.com.

Pili Montilla is a host of PIX's very own digital station LATV, a bilingual music and entertainment network. The network features Latino-themed programming aimed at young adults aged 18 to 34, including the animated comedy show Ceasar and Chuy. LATV's programming offers a range of content that includes multi-genre music, lifestyle and entertainment. The network gives us a taste of an array of programming that is original and exclusive featuring top performers in the Latin music world.

This week, Montilla is in New York covering the 10th Annual LAMC (Latin Alternative Music Conference). This year, the event will take place from July 7-11 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Featuring leading artists as well as many of the music industry’s most prominent decision-makers, the highly-anticipated event is a “must play” event for developing and established acts alike. Among the events planned are free concerts at Central Park SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn Festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell, as well as numerous industry panels, showcases and film screenings for LAMC registrants.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Montilla is a famed actress and presenter is the host of three LATV's most popular programs: En La Zona LATV News, and En Concierto. The entertainment show covers the red carpet events for Hollywood premieres of movies like Pineapple Express and Che. You can find out more information on these programs by visiting www.latv.com/coverage.

For more information on LAMC 2009, visit: www.latinalternative.com.

Mark Britton, CEO and co-founder of the legal advice site Avvo.com, shared with us the information and tools we need to save our jobs during this time of layoffs and firings.

Britton gleaned his tips from experience: He was previously chief legal counsel for Expedia.com, and during his career has hired and fired hundreds of employees. He has also conducted a survey of the top employment attorneys in the country.

Among the topics he discussed were:

• "Employee Bill of Rights" - What your employer can (and can't) do
• What's your employee Scorecard - Figure out your value to the corporation
• How do employers decide who to layoff? Activities that can make you especially vulnerable
• How to fight back -- If you have been fired for unfair reasons, what legal recourse can you take?
• Protect yourself -- Legal documents that can add more security to your current or new job

The goal of Avvo.com is to empower consumers to handle their own legal decisions with confidence. The site does this through free legal advice and a directory that ranks attorneys nationwide--sparing us from spending a fortune on a live attorney. At Avvo.com, you can ask any legal question and get a personalized answer in a timely manner from an attorney for free. This feature is particularly helpful in today’s economy as many Americans perhaps have financial, bankruptcy, divorce tax or property related questions.

Britton will be in the city to dole out his legal and labor advice from now until tomorrow.

TV pitchman Billy Mays' death at 50 years young from a heart attack has many of us worried if we or our loved ones, are at risk for suffering the same fate. According to the coroner's report, Mayes had a serious case of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, from a buildup of plaque in his arteries.

The good news, however, is that most cases of atherosclerosis can be avoided and managed through diet and exercise. The Nutrition Twins Tammy and Lyssie Lakatos, share their five key steps to lowering your risk for heart attack.

1. Eat a plant-based diet.

Focus on including whole grains, fruits, vegetables and either beans or soy products in every meal. This will ensure you are getting the nutrients, fiber and protein that you need while crowding out the fatty animal products that clog the arteries and lead to heart disease.

2. Eat healthy fats

Again, it’s fun to focus on the foods we should eat more of—like monounsaturated fats. When most people think about the heart healthy fat, they think of olive oil. But other great options to use are canola oil and avocados and nuts are a better snack than most. Research shows that just one to 2 handfuls of pistachios a day may lower cardiovascular risk factors and can reduce the bad LDL cholesterol and actually raise the good, HDL cholesterol.

Eddie McClintock spoke with us about starring in the new Sci Fi show Warehouse 13.

The show is about two Secret Service agents who find themselves abruptly transferred to a massive, top-secret storage facility in windswept South Dakota which houses every strange artifact, mysterious relic, fantastical object and supernatural souvenir ever collected by the U.S. Government. The warehouse's caretaker, Artie (Saul Rubinek) charges Pete--played by McClintock--and Myka (Joanne Kelly) with chasing down reports of supernatural occurences in search for new objects to cache at the Warehouse.

McClintock was once a former wrestler and then a production assistant, and he was nearly 30 before moving into major actor roles.

He has had recurring roles on Bones as Special Agent Tim Sullivan, and on Desperate Housewives as Frank, the father of Gabrielle and Carlos' adoptive baby. He has also guest-starred on Sex and the City, My Boys, and Friends. McClintock's films include Confessions of an American Bride with Shannon Elizabeth, as well as Mumford, The Sweetest Thing, and Full Frontal.

Warehouse 13 airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on the Sci Fi Channel.

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your questions:

1. Hi Dr Steve, I play softball every weekend and by Monday I have body cramps. Why do you think that is? Should I be eating something to prevent this from happening?
Miguel, Manhattan

2. Dr. Steve, I get mosquito bites. But why do some of the bites look like ringworm? The ring around the bite doesn't appear until a day or two after. Am I hypersensitive or could I be mistaking these bites for something else? Should I be worried?
Cynthia

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

It's the 4th Annual Running of the Bulls at Las Ramblas, NYC's Original Encierro of Pamplona Party! The event is currently in full swing, until Tuesday, July 14th.

Natalie Sanz, owner of Las Ramblas showed us how to make some of the restaurant's popular dishes for us, including Tapas and "Esparragos Blancos con Vinagreta de Verduras" (White Asparagus w/ a Pepper Vinaigrette).

For eight days, the West Village tapas eatery will feature the food and wine of Navarra, Spain. The special menu will include specialties like piquillo peppers, white asparagus, and typical meats and cheeses from the region, and will be served in addition to the restaurant's regular tapas menu and wine list.

Las Ramblas is located at 170 W 4th St. (between 6th & 7th Aves.), NYC. For more info call 646-415-7924 or visit: www.lasramblasnyc.com.

Natalie’s recipes:
Alcachofas Salteadas con Jamon - Artichokes Sautéed w/ Ham
4 artichokes
1 clove minced garlic
2 oz thin strips of Serrano ham or other ham
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt to taste

Clean artichokes and cook in salted boiling water until tender. Chill in iced water and strain. Cover with olive oil and set aside. In a sauté pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil. Add minced garlic and cook until soft. Add Serrano ham and cook 10-15 seconds. Add artichokes to reheat. Serve immediately.
Suggestion: Add small potatoes and/or Spanish Piquillo peppers from Navarra.

John Tesh stopped by to discusses his upcoming musical performances that he will be making throughout the tri-state area.

For many years, John Tesh went virtually unrecognized as a musician and composer, instead enjoying television success as the co-host of the nightly showbiz news magazine Entertainment Tonight. He later rose to become one of new age instrumental music's biggest superstars.

Born July 9, 1952 in Long Island, New York, Tesh began playing piano at the age of six; as a teen, he also played organ and trombone with local rock bands. Tesh got an early start in media by working as an anchor at the CBS in New York City. He then joined CBS Sports as a commentator, where he later won Emmy Awards for his Pan American Games theme and the theme to the Tour de France.

In 1986, Tesh left CBS to host the syndicated Entertainment Tonight with co-anchor Mary Hart; while television remained his primary focus, he continued writing and performing music, and in 1988 issued his first album, Tour de France.

In 1991, Tesh won another pair of Emmys for his music for NBC Sports' coverage of the World Track and Field Championships; a year later, he formed his own label, GTS, and issued Romantic Christmas, Monterey Nights and Sax by the Fire.

Tesh then left Entertainment Tonight to focus all of his energies on music, scoring successive hits with the likes of Sax on the Beach, Sax All Night. Grand Passion, Pure Orchestra and Pure Gospel.

You can catch Tesh in concert this Friday at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the C.W. Post Campus at L.I.U., as well as on the following day at the Quick Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield, Connecticut at Fairfield University. For more information on John Tesh and his tour dates, visit: www.tesh.com.

A Long Island man was cheated of his money--at the expense of his own neighbor.

The man decided to buy a car from his next-door neighbor, an elderly woman, and paid her in increments each week, working his way up to the car's $32,000 price tag. When he finally paid the amount of $1,950, the woman suddenly rescinded the offer and refused to return his money. Needing assistance, the man called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Larry is riding in style with NYC Ducks and hitting the Hudson!

NYC Ducks is New York City's only amphibious land and water tour. The tour uses vehicles designed to resemble the Half Moon, which travel with a costumed captain and tour guide from Times Square, past the Empire State Building and other sites to the Ducks Theatre at the Hudson River. After the three-minute show, Ducks splash into the Hudson River for the water portion of the trip.

For more information on the NYC Ducks, visit: www.coachusa.com/nycducks.

Riding on the coattails of another car company bailout, Tesla Motors is promising to bring its high-end technology to the masses. Kurt the CyberGuy’s got a first look at the new electric car that might just help bail America out in return.

According to Jeremy Snyder of Tesla Motors, "Last week we received 465 million dollars from the federal government to produce 'Model S' our full-size sedan and develop our drive train technology to other vehicles. The company had recently received 465 million dollars from the federal government to produce 'Model S'--Tesla's full-size sedan--and develop their drive train technology to other vehicles. The Model S will have an efficiency somewhere between 88 and 90%, its about 400% more efficient than the internal combustion counterpart.

For more information, visit: www.teslamotors.com.

With deep plunging necklines and cling-to-your-skin dresses, fashion can present some challenges for women of different shapes and sizes. Style expert Nicole Young showed us how to wear this summer's revealing looks without revealing too much, from see-thru shirts to backless tops. The summer trends mentioned included:

1. The body-hugging dress
Proper underpinning: second skin tummy trimmer
Solution: Ultimate Instant Slimmer Torsette by Flexees for Maidenform

2. The micro mini dress
Proper underpinning: seamless boy shorts
Solution: Fat-Free Dressing Boy Short by Flexees for Maidenform

3. The halter neckline
Proper underpinning: convertible bra
Solution: Invisible Options Push-Up Bra by Maidenform

4. Strapless dress/top
Proper underpinning: strapless bra
Solution: The Smooth Bra Strapless by Maiden form

All looks are available at JC Penney’s (www.jcpenney.com) or Maidenform retailers (www.maidenform.com).

The notorious actor and comedian Andy Dick stopped by to talk about his upcoming gig at Caroline's Comedy Club.

Born in Charleston, North Carolina, Dick took improv comedy classes at iO WEST, a comedy club in Hollywood, California, during the mid-1980s. He started his television comedy career as a cast member on the sketch comedy program The Ben Stiller Show and later went on to appear in shows such as NewsRadio and The Nanny. In 2001, he created a show on MTV called The Andy Dick Show.

Dick will be performing at Caroline's Comedy Club this Friday to Saturday from 8 pm to 10:30 pm, as well as on Sunday at 8 pm. The venue is located on 1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. For ticket information and to find out more about Andy Dick's goings-on, visit: www.andydick.com.

Margaret Cho is starring in the all-new comedic drama series, Drop Dead Diva, which tells the story of a shallow model-in-training who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney.

Cho was raised in San Francisco and started performing stand-up at age 16 in a comedy club called The Rose & Thistle above a bookstore her parents ran. Soon after, she won a comedy contest where first prize was opening for Jerry Seinfeld. Arsenio Hall introduced her to late night audiences, Bob Hope put her on a prime time special and, seemingly overnight, Cho became a national celebrity.

Margaret Cho starred in the off Broadway one-woman show called "I’m The One That I Want." The show was extremely well received, toured the U.S, and was made into a concert film and a best-selling book of the same name. After the success of her first show, Cho launched Notorious C.H.O., a smash-hit 37-city national tour that culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Margaret embarked on her third sold-out national tour, "Revolution." The tour grossed 4.4M.

Drop Dead Diva debuts on Lifetime, this Sunday at 9 pm,

The stars of the award-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q treated us to performances of two songs: "The More You Ruv Someone" and "There's a Fine, Fine Line."

Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q. The neighbors seem nice, if not a bit eccentric. There's Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceé Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate.

And would you believe the building's superintendent is Gary Coleman? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

The musical was conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics, and directed by Jason Moore. It has won the Tony Award for Best Musical as well as the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Theatre Production, among a plethora of other accolades.

The final Broadway performance of Avenue Q will take place on September 13, 2009. For ticket and show information, check out: www.avenueq.com.

What can I say? I've been an on-air reporter and the Entertainment Anchor on the PIX Morning News for many years. But never in my career have I experienced anything like the Michael Jackson Memorial at the Staples Center.

With over 3000 police and thousands of fans, I've never seen such a well-behaved, respectful, and quiet crowd. Everyone who came to the Memorial, including police and employees of the Staples Center truly felt blessed to be a part of such a history-making event.

Inside was also the same, from your eyes, you all made the memorial the third most watched TV Show after the Public Memorial of Princess Diana and President Obama's Inauguration. From my eyes, I saw it in person and felt so very moved.

You could literally "hear" the silence. The crowd was so mesmerized by the performances and speeches, not a single person opened their mouth, except for a few shout outs to Michael and his family during the pauses in between speeches. Not even a single cell phone went off. When does that ever happen? In fact, I had my own video camera and as I was struggling to hit record, I accidentally played another video. I felt like the entire arena of 20,000 heard my video camera and gave me a dirty look.

A Staten Island woman bought an expensive necklace on her Fortunoff's credit card just before the company declared bankrupcy. She returned the necklace just a week later and received a return slip. However, months after the transaction, World Financial Bank, who issues Fortunoff credit cards, began hassling her for $1,200. They claimed she never paid the bill for her expensive necklace. That's when she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

The Citi Field crowd attempts to attain the Guinness World Record™ for Most Potato Chips Crunched at Once. John spoke with a spokesperson of the event to find out more about the competition.

Every fan entering the Mets' new ballpark for the 7:10 p.m. game will receive a .75-oz. bag of Wise Potato Chips, courtesy of Wise Snacks and the New York Mets. At the designated time, fans will be instructed to open their individual package and, when given the go-ahead, take a big bite of a chip and CRUNCH. Representatives of Guinness World Records™ will be on hand to record the occasion and, if all necessary criteria are met, shortly thereafter certify that a world record has been set.

We'll have Wise chips on set and will be giving them away in the plaza all morning, where you can catch a glimpse of Mr. Met!

For more information, visit www.wisesnacks.com/bcc or twitter.com/BigCityCrunch.

Women's Health's annual summer festival, "Are You Game?" is returning to New York for the third year. Building on the success of last year's events in New York and Chicago, which were attended by more than 4,000 people.

The event will allow urban women to experience the ultimate in outdoor fun and adventure. "Are You Game?" will be open to the public at no cost and will offer a host of fun and athletic challenges and activities, such as: Euro Bungee, Rock Climbing, Beauty and Spa Treatments, Workout Classes including: Masala Bhangra, Million Dollar Knockout, Hula Hoop Pilates, and more!

Are You Game will take place tomorrow from 10 am to 5 pm at Manhattan's Hudson River Park at Pier 46, between Charles Street and West Street.

For more information on the festival, visit: www.womenshealthmag.com

PHOTOS: Harry Potter Premiere in New York City

Emily spoke with the stars of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the movie premiere.

Emboldened by the return of Lord Voldemort, the Death Eaters are wreaking havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Dumbledore is intent upon preparing Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching.

Meanwhile, Harry's long friendship with Ginny Weasley is growing into something deeper, but standing in the way is Ginny's boyfriend, Dean Thomas, not to mention her big brother Ron (Rupert Grint). But Ron's got romantic entanglements of his own to worry about, with Lavender Brown lavishing her affections on him, leaving Hermione (Emma Watson) simmering with jealousy.

The film is directed by David Yates, who was also responsible for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth installment of Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter film franchise based on the beloved novels by J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on Wednesday, July 15.

PHOTOS: Harry Potter Premiere in New York City

A look at the dangers of salons double dipping in hot wax for waxing treatments. Tiffany McElroy goes to one salon that does it right and tells you what you should be on the lookout for. She spoke to Anjali Arora of Shobha, who offered some great advice for before and after wax care.

Before Waxing:
-i f its your first time, get a free patch test at shoba to see how your skin reacts to waxing.
- do not put any lotions or oils on your skin prior to waxing
- be menstruation free as your body more sensitive at this time

After Waxing
- wear loose fitting clothing after wax to avoid irritation caused by friction
- do not take a hot bath for at least 2 hours
- resist the sauna or steam room for at least after 48 hours
- avoid ultra violet rays- steer clear of tanning beds & and sunbathing for at least 48 hours
- no acidic products in the area for at least 48 hours

To find out more, visit myshobha.com.

Rolling on a pretty shade of paint is an inexpensive way to give rooms a fresher look. But trying to find the right color and brand can be a trial-and-error exercise. Sue Perry, deputy editor of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart Magazine, stopped by to take the guess work out of choosing paints. She mentioned:

• Fade Fighters - Valspar Ultra Premium Semigloss (orange)
• One-Coat Wonders - Kilz Casual Color Interior Sating Enamel (purple)
• Mildew Resisters - Behr Pemium Plus Interior Flat Enamel (blue)
• Best "Green" Paints - Olympic premium flat (green)

For more information on the paints tested and approved by ShopSmart Magazine, pick up the latest issue of the magazine on newsstands now or visit

Former New York Jet Keyshawn Johnson stopped by the studio to talk about his new A&E show Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design.

"From a master bedroom to a gourmet kitchen, a living room to a nursery, Johnson and his team will show clients how to work within their budget to make choices that make sense," says A&E.

"Away from the gridiron, Johnson heads up numerous business ventures including First Picks Management, a development company that focuses on franchise businesses in the foodservice and hospitality industries, as well as Keyshawn Capitol Development, a real estate company dealing with properties in the both the residential and commercial space."

Johnson, a California native was drafted out of the University of Southern California to the New York Jets. He then played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers before retiring in 2007 after an 11-year NFL career. Along with the show, he is also and ESPN sports analyst.

Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design premieres on Saturday, July 11 at 12pm. For mroe information, visit www.aetv.com.

Each week we're telling viewers about events, activities and items that are free. That's right! No money required.

This week's free list:
1. Family Day at Central Park on Sun. from 3pm-7pm -- Special performance from DJ Lance Rock and Brobee of Nickelodeon's Yo Gabba Gabba
2. Screening of Making Michael Jackson's Thriller on Wednesday at Marcus Garvey Memorial Park in Manhattan at 7:30pm

Read the full story: "Kennedy Airport's Busiest Runway To Be Closed For 4 Months"

In Week 5 of Suki Mama Mania, we've teamed up with Graco and Babies "R" Us to giveaway a Blossom™ 4-in-1 Seating System by Graco valued at $179.99. Andrea Rovaggi of Babies "R" Us will be here to talk about must have feeding items. Check them out after the jump.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST.

The winner wille be chosen at random and participants have until July 15 to enter.

You can keep up with Suki and her pregnancy on her blog, www.wpix.com/sukimama. This week, she's talking about marking the four-week countdown to Baby Schroeder.

This week's Friday Forecaster is Michael Vanunu. He won the Friday Forecaster spot at a St. John's University Law School Public Interest Auction.

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. When you do "number two", what does it mean when it's green?
Nathaniel

2. I am 27-years-old and suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, I'm on medication to treat it. In the future, if I want to have a baby, would the medication affect the baby even if I'm no longer taking it? Also, could the disease itself affect the baby in anyway?
Diana

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

Musician Laurie Beckner stopped by to perform her songs "Victor Vito" and "Mouse In My Toolbox" and talk about her band’s upcoming tour.

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Laurie Berkner didn't intend on becoming a highly successful children's performer. The New Jersey native spent her formative years immersed in music, participating in everything from choir to orchestra to musical theater.

After a couple of stints in bands, she became a children's music specialist at various New York area preschool and day care centers, and in 1997 she released her debut album, Whaddaya Think of That? After the release of "Buzz Buzz" the following year, Berkner started her own record label, Two Tomatoes Records.

With 1999's Victor Vito, Berkner achieved national fame, appearing on the FX network's American Baby Show and winning a Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award. The Laurie Berkner Band has put out numerous albums, videos, and books, including her latest album Rocketship Run, which came out in August 2008.

For more on The Laurie Berkner Band and their tour, visit laurieberkner.com/site.

Written by Pierre Bonny

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Rumors persist about Google’s new plan to take down Windows.  Kurt the CyberGuy is here with the new phone and operating system that might just have Microsoft’s number.  Plus the straight-from-Hollywood ad campaign that Bill Gates is fighting back with.

Rahal-Letterman BMW M3 race car that competes in the American Le Mans Series will have its show car on display at BMW's Manhattan showroom. Larry will check out the car and then try out the American Le Mans Similator.

For more on the car, visit www.rahal.com.

We're kicking things off Dance Week with some hot salsa lessons from Just One Dance Studio instructors. And after they teach us how to dance, they'll show us how the pros do it and perform to the song "Tremendo Combo" by Joe Cuba.

You can get salsa lessons from the pair at Just One Dance Studio in Belleville, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.JustOneDance.com or call (201) 259-8624.

What's your summer sport? Amie Hoff of New York Sports Clubs will be here to strengthen you for golf, tennis, beach volleyball and swimming.

For more information, visit www.mysportsclubs.com.

Comedian Michael Showalter stopped by to talk about his new show on Comedy Central, Michael and Michael Have Issues.

The sketch comedy is about two contentious best friends (Ian Black and Showalter) addressing their issues with each other and the world.

As a member of the comedy troupe "The State," Michael Showalter co-created, wrote, edited and produced an award-winning and critically acclaimed MTV series, a special for CBS, a book for Hyperion Press and an album for Warner Bros. entitled The State and also toured the United States and performed the sketch show "Molt" off-Broadway.

He also co-wrote and co-produced (David Wain directed) the feature film, Wet Hot American Summer, a comedy about the last day of summer camp in 1981, starring Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Michael Ian Black and many others.

Showalter's co-star Michael Ian Black is a multi-talented actor, writer, comedian and director. Most recently, he's become a filmmaker, writing and directing the MGM DVD release, "Wedding Daze," starring Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher.

Michael and Michael Have Issues debuts this Wednesday at 10:30 pm on Comedy Central.

Read the full story: "Sotomayor set to enter confirmation hearings for her historic nomination to the Supreme Court".

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. I have an unwanted mole right under my eye and it seems like its get bigger. What do I do?
Toni

2. I'm 36 and have no fertility problems. However, I'm considering IVF so that I can conceive twins on my next pregnancy. What are the pros and cons? Will doctors disapprove of this procedure when my reasoning is "timing and convenience"?
Julianne, Yonkers, NY

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

"The Manly Art of Grilling” the first of a series of articles dedicated to helping Playboy readers become culinary connoisseurs. With chefs like Mario Batali and Tom Colicchio exuding masculinity in every dish they prepare, a generation of men have turned into foodies. Playboy took to the trend and has commissioned McCusker to explore regional cuisines in order to wow others and satisfy at least one of mans’ carnal hungers.

In the July/August 2009 edition, on newsstands now, Playboy features McCusker’s first article in the cooking series, titled “The Manly Art of Grilling.” His first stop is McClard’s in Hot Spring, Arkansas where he garnered insight into the perfect barbeque menu as well as the essential skills and tricks to become the ultimate grill-master. With these recipes and a bevy of new grilling knowledge your viewer will be well on their way to preparing and executing the perfect summer menu.

He'll share with us recipes for "Best Beans On The Planet" and "Mama Faye's Home-Style Potato Salad." For more on the "The Manly Art of Grilling," visit www.playboy.com.

With the support of title sponsor, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, North Hills and premium sponsor SUBWAY® restaurants, New York Giant Justin Tuck will welcome some of the brightest stars in the worlds of entertainment and sports to participate in this exciting and competitive pool tournament for charity!

All proceeds will benefit Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy, which last year through its first “Sack Challenge” donated over 100,000 toward purchasing new books for underserved children in New York and Central Alabama.

Through Tuck’s Celebrity Billiards and R.U.S.H. for Literacy’s other initiatives, Justin and his wife Lauran strive to encourage children to READ, UNDERSTAND, SUCCEED and HOPE and embrace literacy throughout their lives.

Some celebrities scheduled to appear include Eddie Money, Eli Manning (New York Giants), DJ Irie, Jeanette “The Black Widow” Lee (Billiards champion), Josh Howard (Dallas Mavericks), Kelly Rowland, Laz Alonzo, Mya, Ronnie Lott (retired NFL star), Terry Crews, Vivica A. Fox with Master of Ceremonies Anthony Anderson.

Tuck's Celebrity Billiards 2009 will be held tonight at Slate-NYC (54 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10010) at 8:45pm. For more information, visit www.allstarshelpingkids.org/events/tucksbilliards.html.

You know her from the popular television series Law & Order and Crossing Jordan--but did you know that Jill Hennessy has a set of pipes to showcase as well? The star stopped by in our studio to perform to acoustic numbers entitled "Small Hands" and "10,000 Miles" from her debut album, Ghost in my Head.

Hennessy hails from Canada In 2000,She wrote, produced, and co-directed an independent film called The Acting Class. Inspired by a true story, the mockumentary looks at the trials and tribulations of a dysfunctional acting class. The film co-starred her sister, and included cameos by a number of Hennessy's former Law & Order co-stars.

In 2001 she portrayed Jackie Kennedy in the film Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot. In 2005 she appeared in the television show Las Vegas as Jordan Cavanaugh. Most recently, she portrayed Tim Allen's wife in the 2007 film Wild Hogs. On June 9, 2007, she received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

Hennessy's debut album, Ghost in my Head, is drawn from, or inspired by personal experiences. The songs are bone-marrow direct, honest and spectral. The album is available in stores now.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

Larry's checking out Stretch & Flex -- a work program that goes to different sites to promote health and fitness in the workplace. He will join hundreds of workers at the Croton Filtration worksite as they go through the program.

You can watch the workout at Croton Filtration, located at 3701 Jerome Ave. Bronx, NY 10467.

Yesterday, Dance Week kicked off with some salsa lessons. Today, we're going to channel the Bollywood star within us with dance instrctor Sarina Jane. With the help of Sunny Jain, who wil be playing the dhol, she'll teach us how to do the Indian dance Masala Bangra.

For more information on Masala Bangra, visit www.masaladance.com and for more on Jain, visit www.sunnyjain.com.

Former video vixen and currentNew York Times bestselling author Karrine Steffans stopped by to talk about her new book The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce and Keep the Man You Want.

"Since she exploded on the scene with her two juicy and impossible-to-put-down tell-alls (Confessions of a Video Vixen in 2005 and The Vixen Diaries in 2007), readers have wanted to know even more about what makes Karrine Steffans tick. How was she able to meet all the high profile politicians, movie stars, and other celebrities that are her close acquaintances? What skills does she possess to keep men wanting more?," says Amazon.

"Finally, Karrine lays it all out and explains exactly what a woman must do to win over the man of her dreams. With chapters like "Never Let Him See You Sweat,""Flirting,""Encouraging His Manhood," and "Give Him What He Wants," this hot and sexy manual is a must-have for every woman's bookshelf."

For more information, visit www.karrine.com.

Grammy Award winner Kelly Rowland stopped by to talk about being a co-host and judge on Bravo's new series The Fashion Show.

Alongside fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, Roland judges 15 professional, unknown designers as they battle each other in a fashion creative competition for a chance to have their designs sold in the retail market and win a $125,000 prize.

Roland is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and a founding member of Destiny's Child. Roland has two solo albums under her belt -- Simply Deep and Ms. Kelly. She has also appeared on The Hughleys and Girlfriends and in movies Freddy vs. Jason and The Seat Filler.

The Fashion Show airs Thursdays at 10pm on Bravo. For more information, visit www.bravotv.com/the-fashion-show. For more on Roland, visit www.kellyrowlandonline.com.

Jodi Record from The Little Shelter stopped by with three cute and cuddly pets in need of loving homes.

For more information on how to adopt a pet, visit www.littleshelter.com or call (631) 368-8770 x205.

Read the full story: "Confirmation All But Assured For Sonia Sotomayor".

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. But, what will you be wearing? Here with tips on how to be the best dressed wedding guest is style expert and author of Just Try It On! A Month-By-Month Guide To Shopping And Style Susan Redstone.

Wedding Fashion Etiquette #1
No shorts, no white, no heels, remove sunglasses for photos, wear a shaper under flimsy/clingy dresses. Avoid white, unless told specially to wear it!
On HER: Silhouettes Print Maxi Dress, $79
On HIM: Stafford Shirt $38, Dockers $29.99, Sperry Top Siders $49, JCPenney

Actor Tom Arnold stopped by to talk about his return to stand-up comedy and his upcoming performances at Caroline's On Broadway.

The Iowa native began doing stand-up when he was 23-years-old. During this time, the early 1980s, Arnold had a comedy routine called "Tom Arnold and the Goldfish Review". At the end of his prop comedy, he would swallow all the goldfish for the final laugh. He then became a writer on the show Roseanne and then one of its stars. Arnold's film credits include True Lies, Nine Months, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,Soul Plane and Good Dick.

Caroline's On Broadway is located at 1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. For ticket and show information, visit www.carolines.com or call (212) 757-4100.

To kick off Live Nation's "No Service Fee Wednesday" sexy Santa's will be hitting Irving Plaza giving out 1,000 free tickets to various live nation concerts.

A swarm of Summer Santas will gather at The Fillmore New York Irving Plaza (17 Irving Place) at 11am on Tuesday, July 14th to celebrate Christmas in July by handing out FREE concert tickets as part of Live Nation's "No Service Fee Wednesday" promotion.

Passers-by can also have a photo taken sitting on Santa's lap as he lounges in a lawn chair surrounded by fluffy white faux summer snow and cooks up free hot dogs - the ultimate summer snack.

And we're giving viewers the chance to win tickets to a Live Nation event.

The first 11 callers to call (212) 981-5230 have the chance to win two free tickets to a Live Nation concert of their choice from a selection of participating shows. The ticket vouchers are first come, first serve and good for Wednesday, July 15th only. No exceptions.

And anyone can get in on No Service Fee Wednesday! No Service Fee Wednesday begins at 12:01am on Wednesday, July 15th. Lawn tickets will be $29.99 and select reserved seats will be $49.99, including a hot dog and soda with no service fees. All shows are based on availability.

For more info log onto, www.livenation.com.

QuickStart Tennis is an exciting new play format for learning tennis, designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring, all tailored to age and size. It is divided into two different levels-- ages 8 and under and ages 10 and under.

For more information, visit consumers.quickstarttennis.com.

Grab your shovels, buckets and bathing suits! The 23rd Annual New Jersey Sandcastle Contest is set for Wednesday, July 15 at Belmar's 18th Avenue Beach. The event is free and open to participants of all ages. Three prize places will be awarded in six individual categories: 7 & under, 8-11, 12-15, 16 & up, Day Camps and Families. An award will also be presented to "Best on the Beach."

For more information, visit www.njsandcastle.com.

Dance Week continues with a tango lesson from Lincoln Center's "Midsummer Night Swing" dancers.

Victoria Sarquisse and Federico Jorquera from Midsummer Night's Swing will be performing to a song by Otros Aires -- an Argentinean based electro tango group that mixes tango and milongas songs from the early 20th Century with electric melodies, sequences and lyrics from the 21st century for a unique sound.

Whether it's swing or salsa, tango or rockabilly, you don't want to be caught out on the dance floor this summer without the proper attire! From the 1940s zoot suits for swing-dancing men to the sexy, bare ruffles on salsa-dancing women, there are many different styles to totally outfit oneself on the dance floor. Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing affords New Yorkers the opportunity to pull out these great clothes and dance the night away in Damrosch Park. For 15 dazzling nights, dancers of all levels and all ages can groove to the sounds of the world's most popular dance bands.

For more information, visit new.lincolncenter.org.

Soccer has been her passion since she was a little girl. And in 1999, she helped her team clinch the women's World Cup forever changing the image of soccer in the United States. Soccer star Brandi Chastain talks about she keeps in shape, vitamins and a chance to win $20,000 from Centrum.

Chastain is also a competitor in ABC contest show The Superstars. The show pairs eight athletes and celebrities in a competion for the title of The Superstars champion by competing in varying sporting events. The Superstars airs Tuesdays at 9pm on ABC. For more information on the show, visit abc.go.com.

For more on Centrum, visit www.Centrum.com.

Baseball legend Reggie Jackson stopped by the studio to talk about the first Old-Timers Day at Yankee Stadium.

Jackson is a baseball Hall of Famer nicknamed "Mr. October" because of his clutch hitting in the postseason. Jackson hit 3 homeruns in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, the most homeruns ever by one player in a World Series game.

Jackson is a former Major League Baseball right fielder who played for five different teams from 1967 to 1987. He helped win three consecutive World Series titles as a member of the Oakland A's in the early 1970s and also helped win two consecutive titles with the New York Yankees.

Jackson is the only player to be named MVP in two World Series. He is also baseball's all-time strikeout king, striking out 2,597 times, once every four at-bats. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

For more on Old-Timers Day, visit yankees.mlb.com. For more information on Jackson, visit reggiejackson.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

MORE HARRY POTTER CONTENT

Michael Proietti is the latest castoff on The Next Food Network Star.

Proietti joined the restaurant industry at a young age and worked his way up from washing dishes and prepping food to become executive chef at the Radisson Hotel in New Rochelle, N.Y. The New York Restaurant School graduate infuses his bold personality into everything he does and admits that his "inner diva" sometimes comes out in the kitchen.

A native New Yorker, Proietti uses influences from the variety of markets available to him and brings his appreciation for global cuisine and his one-of-a-kind attitude to the competition.

Proietti has a love for Asian and Latin cusines and making food fabulous!

Written by Pierre Bonny

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. I have eczema and it won't go away. I researched it and found out that eczema cannot be cured. Do you have any recommendations on how to soothe it?
Sabrina, Queens, New York

2. I was wondering at what age men should start screening from testicular cancer and about how often should that continue?
Nick, Manhattan

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

Actress Josie Bisset, who's guest starring in the new Melrose Place, has teamed up with Heinz and was in the PIX kitchen making Red Cabbage Coleslaw.

Bissett is mostly recognized for starring on FOX-TV's Melrose Place (1992). Bissett, who played Jane Andrews Mancini from 1992 to 1999 on the original Melrose Place, will reprise her role with a guest-starring appearance this fall on the CW's revival of the classic soap.

Bissett stars in the ABC Family Channel's new one-hour drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The show revolves around an unexpected teen pregnancy and debuted July 1, 2008. Josie plays Kathleen Johnson, wife to Dr. Marshall Johnson (John Schneider) and mother of two.

Bissett is also a successful author of children’s books. Her latest award winning children’s book Tickle Monster is an inspiring and beautifully illustrated storybook for kids, based on a treasured family tradition that Josie has continued with her own kids. Bissett is working with Heinz Ketchup on a contest where people share their family memories www.heinzwholesomememories.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

A Bronx woman has a tree growing in front of her house, that sits on city property. The roots are pushing up through the sidewalk, creating a walking hazard. The Parks Department said they'd take care of it, but when she began receiving violations from the city, threatening her with fines, she called Help Me Howard.

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

The JFK Foundation will be recreating history online as it tracks the first mission to the moon!

Beginning today at 9:32am, a website will mark Apollo 11's liftoff through the landing on the moon as Monday marks the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's "giant leap for mankind".

To re-create the trip, archived audio and video transmission will be used from the mission. You can follow the journey yourself at wechoosethemoon.org.

SoCal meets SoHo on July 16 as Abercrombie & Fitch opens the doors to the first EPIC Hollister store in New York City. The six-story store will be located at 600 Broadway, on the southeast corner of Houston & Broadway.

It’s 40,000 square feet of the California dream…walking along Huntington Pier, hanging with the hottest kids at the beach while the waves crash around you…It’s awesome! “The EPIC store is what Hollister is all about—hot guys, big waves, surfing, and hanging out on the pier,” said a Hollister rep. “The laidback HCo. vibe is effortlessly cool, and we’re bringing the SoCal lifestyle to SoHo.”

The first of its kind in the world, Hollister Co.’s EPIC store is about sight, sound, scent, taste, touch, and most of all, positive energy. It is without a doubt the coolest store to open in NYC. The experience is about discovery…it’s sure not to disappoint. In addition, the HCo. SoHo store will offer EPIC, an exclusive cologne for men and women.

Camp is in session and Larry Hoff is there. He's skating with campers at Chelsea Pier's Ice Skating Camp.

Summer Ice Skating Camp offers instruction for skaters of all ability levels. Our supportive, international coaching staff introduces campers to the fun and fundamentals of skating, whether you want to figure skate, play hockey or just enjoy the coolest sport in the world. Low camper-to-teacher ratios ensure personal attention and maximize safety. Camp is open to boys and girls ages 6 - 16. Sky Rink also offers a Champions Figure Skating camp for higher-level skaters.

Sessions are one week long so you can register for any week you want. Prices range depending on weeks but they are as low as $590. Camps run until September 4th. Kids as young as three can register for preschool skating camp. The Champions camp has kids as old as 18. We are one of the few places that has camps that appeal even to teenagers since some parents are forgoing weeks and weeks of sleep away camp based on price.

For more information, log onto www.chelseapiers.com.

Ever wanted to be a B-Boy or B-Girl? No matter what age you are, there's still time.

On Day 4 of PIX Morning News' Dance Week, Dance Stylez Entertainment breaks it down for us, as instructor SteveStylez shows us the moves that will let us pop and lock our way to B-boy and B-girl stardom.

SteveStylez is the founder of Dance Stylez Entertainment, a multi-entertainment company that not only nurtures up-and-coming breakers, but it also provides incredible b-boy breakdance shows & extraordinary DJ entertainment for special events such as Weddings, Birthday parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Events, and plenty more.

Dance Stylez Entertainment bills itself as the "only entertainment team of DJs, MCs, breakdancing b-boys, party motivators, and entertainment staff" that will make your event, an event to remember.

If you're interested in becoming a B-Boy or B-Girl in training, looking to hire a Dance Stylez DJ for your next event, or simply want to see an unbelievable break dance show at your next party... Contact Dance Stylez Entertainment by logging on to their website:

WATCH JILL NICOLINI AND DR. STEVE BREAK IT DOWN LIKE PROS WITH DANCE STYLEZ ENTERTAINMENT AFTER THE JUMP...

Actress Jennifer Damiano stopped by to talk about her role as Natalie in the Broadway show "Next To Normal".

Critics call "Next To Normal" the best new musical of the season and it is -- it's already won three Tony Awards, incuding one for Best Actress In A Musical. According to the show's website "emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other." Damiano plays Natalie, a 16-year-old who's trying to be perfect, but is having a lot of difficulty accomplishing that.

Westchester native Damiano was nominated for a Tony Award her role and made her Broadway debut at age 15 when she was part of the original cast of "Spring Awakening". She was also part of Oliver!, Inner Voices: Solo Musicals and NYC Readings: Disney's High School Musical 2 and had a role on the TV show Gossip Girl.

"Next To Normal" is playing at the Booth Theater (222 West 45th Street). For show and ticket information, visit www.nexttonormal.com.

Read the full story: "Video of Jackson Pepsi Commercial May Shed Light On Drug Use".

Many of us have our own method of loading the dishwasher, but believe it or not there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. We've got the "don'ts" and "do's" of loading a dishwasher. Here to explain was Sonal Dutt, lifestyle director of Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine.

CEREAL BOWLS
DON'T: Double up dishes in one space or nestle bowls into one another. This will block water and detergent from getting in between to clean
DO: Be sure that the bowls are standing up and have the rear ones face forward and the front ones facing back. Cereal bowls should be loaded down the center of the top rack...Something to be mindful of is the direction of the water jets

McHoff will be McDonald's to celebrate the recent launch of a new line of coffees at the McCafe at 160 Broadway in Manhattan.

The coffee wars have been moving at full steam since McDonald's introduced McCafé, a new line of coffees made with fresh ground espresso and steamed whole milk. Larry will work behind the counter serving customers.

For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com.

Dance Week concludes with African dancing. Djoniba of the Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre showed us a few moves and performs for us with his dance company.

To help the Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre find a new dance space and to make donation, visit djoniba.com

July is National Berry Month and we're showing viewers just how to make the most out of these high anti-oxidant snacks. We're making smoothies and highlighting different berries.

We're making a Power Smoothie (check out the recipe after the jump). Loews Hotels Chef Andrew Rubin also shared with us his recipe for Berry Salsa, Crepe and The Beach Berry.

For more information on Lowes Hotels, visit www.loewshotels.com. Special thanks to Driscolls for providing the berries this morning. For more information, visit www.driscolls.com.

He's a Blue Collar comic turned family man and even though he might not know a thing or two about being cool, Bill Engvall sure knows how to tell his kids he's the man in The Bill Engvall Show.

Engvall plays family counselor Bill Pearson who's having trouble figuring out his family. "Set in a Denver suburb, Engvall and Travis offer a humorous look at what it takes to be a parent in today’s world. They face parenting issues like allowance controversies, driver’s licenses and parking tickets, all while trying to keep the spark alive in their marriage and balancing work with family life," says TBS.

For more on The Bill Engvall Show, visit tbs.com/shows/billengvall. The season premiere is Saturday, July 18 at 9pm.

Each week we're telling viewers about events, activities and items that are free. That's right! No money required.

This week's free list:

1. Mambo Italiano Xpress restaurant is giving each customer two free tastings of the dish of their choice on Monday, June 20 and 27, and Aug 3 from 2pm to 4pm in Manhattan
2. River to River Festival's "The Big Draw" tomorrow (Sat) from 11am-4pm,in Manhattan -- various forms of art and drawings. Each person receives a free sketchbook and gets to join in on hands-on projects with artists on hand

In Week 6 of Suki Mama Mania, we're giving away an "ABC Home Green Baby Package" valued at $1,579! It includes a crib, bedding, and apothecary items. Jane Berk of ABC Home was here to explain more about the nursery items and the giveaway item.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST.

The winner will be chosen at random and participants have until July 22 to enter.

You can keep up with Suki and her pregnancy on her blog, www.wpix.com/sukimama.

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. How often is it safe to donate blood and platelets? I donate platelets on a regular basis but everyone says I do it too often. I figure the place where I donate knows whether or not it's safe, however if you say it's o.k. I'll feel better.
Eric, Long Beach, NY

2. What's the best way to lose belly fat?
Travalia, New Jersey

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

A longtime practitioner and aficionado of Kripalu Yoga, Geoffrey Paul Gordon first began "channeling" Yogi G as a character at the end of 2007.

The comic performance piece which has gained a devoted following in performances in the Hamptons is now in NYC and will play Sunday evenings at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street starting April 19th. Performances will then be Sundays, May 17th, June 21st, July 19th and August 30th at 6 PM.

A longtime practitioner and aficionado of Kripalu Yoga, Geoffrey Paul Gordon first began "channeling" Yogi G as a character at the end of 2007. KAHMIC YOGA with Yogi G pokes fun at the current popularity of yoga among people whose lives and lifestyles comprise the ying that stands in stark contrast to the yang of Eastern wisdom. Targets of impish Yogi G's humor include, among others, vanity, sexual politics, the commercialization of spiritual messages, misguided self-image and the taking of oneself too seriously.

Mr. Gordon started performances in the Hamptons where he has built a steady and devoted following. His performances take place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, 977 Bridgehampton/ Sag Harbor Turnpike. His upcoming performances there include Saturdays, April 18th, May 30th June 20th, July 18th and August 29th at 8 PM. Tickets are $15 and reservations can be made by calling 631-899-3181.

Tickets for shows at Don't Tell Mama are $15 cover and two drink minimum and reservations can be made by calling 212-757-0788.

For more information call the Kahmic Yoga hotline at 631-899-3181.

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

When the band The 88 decided to record a song on their iPhone they never knew it would become their best-selling single. Kurt the CyberGuy gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the technology that is transforming the music industry and giving bands a recession proof way to top the charts.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/iphonefourtrack.

Actress Jane Adams stopped by to talk about her role as Tanya Skagle in the new HBO comedy series Hung.

According to HBO, the series follows Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), a "former high school sports legend turned middle-aged high school basketball coach is divorced and struggling to provide for his kids when his already run-down house catches fire. Looking to take on a second job, Ray decides to exploit his best asset in a last-ditch attempt to change his fortunes." Adam's character Tanya "works the night shift at a Detroit law firm as a perma-temp proofreader" and offers Ray some assistance in his new venture.

Adam hails from Washington, D.C. and her acting credits include Frasier, Relativity, Family Ties and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Hung airs Sundays at 10pm on HBO. For more information, visit www.hbo.com/hung.

What would you do if Channel 11 gave you $1,000 in cash?

For the full story, read Howard's blog: www.wpix.com/helpmehoward. If you have a problem, send him an e-mail at helpme@wpix.com or call his hotline at (212) 210-2490.

The Mars Rovers mission has been one of the most successful in NASA's history, but now one of the rover, "Spirit," is in trouble in hostile territory.

Kurt the CyberGuy leads a behind-the-scenes exploration of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories to find out how scientists are racing to find a solution to save this billion dollar project and examine the possibility of life on Mars.

Lisa Mateo is at ShopRite in Woodbridge trying to create a recipe using Thomas' English Muffins. She'll announce the Thomas' English Muffin Recipe Contest, in which PIX11 viewers submit their recipes including Thomas' English Muffins for a chance to come on and cook it live! They'll also get four $50 gift certificates to area restaurants.

You can visit Lisa at the ShopRite on 877 St. Georges Avenue in Woodbridge, NJ. For more on Thomas' English Muffins, visit thomas.gwbakeries.com.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE THOMAS' ENGLISH MUFFIN RECIPE CONTEST.

We're more than halfway through the first season at the New Yankee Stadium. However, today we're taking a look back at the old stadium which is chronicled in the new book The Final Season: The Official Retrospective by Alfred Santasiere III, director of publications for the New York Yankees.

The Final Season, by Santasiere and Mark Vancil, provides the last look at the Stadium from the inside out with more than 150 never-before-published photographs and a moving introduction by Yankees legend Yogi Berra. This keepsake also features first-person accounts from Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, along with Yankees greats from every generation.

This photojournalistic chronicle captures all the significant moments of the final season, including Pope Benedict XVI’s historic Mass, the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the final Old-Timers’ Day and the final game at the iconic Stadium.

"For any fan of American sports, The Final Season is as unique as Yankee Stadium itself and essential to any book collection. For Yankees fans, the book captures all the magic, mystery and majesty of the most versatile outdoor venue in the history of the modern world. Around a baseball season that stretched from April to September, Yankee Stadium hosted events of all kinds. From Pope Benedict XVI s emotional Mass celebrated on an altar built over second base, to Military Appreciation Day, Major League Baseball s All-Star Game, the final Old-Timers Day and the final game played in the House That Ruth Built, the Stadium remained true to its history as America s grandest outdoor stage," says the publication.

At 192 pages, The Final Season: The Official Retrospective retails for $35 and is available online at www.yankees.com/publications or by calling (800) GO-YANKS.

Each week 20 million people tune in to watch So You Think You Can Dance and now you can get in on the fun with new workout DVDs. We'll learn moves from the new workout DVD So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit: Tone and Grove by second season contestant Stephen "Twitch" Boss.

So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit: Tone and Grove and So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit: Cardio Funk are available in stores today.

Actress Alexa Vega stopped by to discuss her starring role as Ruby Gallagher in the new ABC Family series Ruby & The Rockits.

Ruby & The Rockits centers on Ruby's sudden appearance in Patrick and David Gallagher's lives. While Ruby is David's daughter he never knew he had, Patrick agrees to help raise her while he's on tour. The brothers were part of the 1980s band The Rockits.

Vega possesses a special charm and talent that emanates onscreen, making her one of Hollywood’s hottest up-and-coming actresses. She appeared in the final installment of Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids trilogy, the exciting 3-D spectacular Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, which grossed over $34 million in its opening weekend. Vega has also appeared in films such as The Deep End of the Ocean co-starring with Michelle Pfeiffer, Ghosts of Mississippi, Twister, Nine Months and Little Giants. She also appeared on Broadway's "Hairspray" as Penny Pingleton.

Ruby & The Rockits premieres tomorrow, July 21 at 8:30pm on ABC Family. For more information, visit abcfamily.go.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Celebs need to know how to look good at all times, just in case the paparazzi are lurking round the corner! Fashion stylist Jacqui Stafford shows us tricks of the trade for every fashion emergency imaginable.

• Problem #1: Celebrities spend hours on their feet at red carpet events
Celeb Solution: Dr. Scholls for her high heel insoles ($9.99; drscholls.com)
These ingenious insoles have been designed specifically to help prevent foot aches and pains caused by high heels as they help shift the pressure off the ball of the foot. They have an ultra-soft arch and clear massaging gel waves to cushion the ball of the foot. Even wear them with open-toe shoes.

You know her as the sister of half the duo known as "Speidi"! Straight from California, reality star Holly Montag stopped by the studio to talk about the upcoming sixth season of MTV's The Hills and her new jewelry line.

Montag joined her sister Heidi and now brother-in-law Spencer Pratt on The Hills during its fourth season. This summer she filled in as her sister's replacement when both Heidi and Spencer suddenly left the show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. There was also gossip that she and fellow contestant, American Idol's Sanjaya began a small romance on the show, but she's denied the rumors. Eldest Baldwin brother Daniel was brought on as Spencer's replacement.

The Hills season premiere is in September 2009 on MTV. For more information, visit www.mtv.com. For more on Montag, visit hollymontag.com.

It's a new intimate website where women of color come to dish, learn and experience everything about love, sex and relationships. Get love advice, learn recipes to get him hooked, read sexy love stories, find out info on where to meet guys, check out the latest Hollywood love gossip, discover fashion trends and improve your self-esteem all on one site.

They are now working on a dating service for the website. Look out, eHarmony.com! Lisa Mateo interviewed the creator of the website, who took her through a tour of LoveMiOnline.com.

Larry is live at Liberty Science Center featuring the teachers attending the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy.

We spoke to Truman Bell, senior program officer, education and diversity for ExxonMobil. He talked about the Science Center's experiments and showcased the Teachers Academy and highlight ExxonMobil's commitment to math and science education.

This week, 200 teachers from all 50 states are attending the National Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy at Liberty Science Center. The 200 teachers were selected to attend the Academy after applying online last year at sendmyteacher.com.

The National Science Teachers Association and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics selected the 200 teachers based on their qualifications, dedication to inspiring students at an early age and overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession.

The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy is a professional development program designed to deepen teachers' understanding of math and science. At the Academy, third- through fifth-grade teachers spend five, all-expense paid days exploring and learning hands-on experiments to inspire students in math and science at an early age. To date, more than 1,700 teachers have attended the Academy affecting thousands of students across the country.

Teachers can apply to attend the 2010 Academy by logging onto SendMyTeacher.com.

The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy at Liberty Science Center is located at 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07305. For more on the Liberty Science Center, visit www.lsc.org.

Manhattan’s iconic Brother Jimmy’s announced today it will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on July 22, 2009, by turning back prices to its original menu from 1989. On July 22, prices in five locations will be set back, while the 2nd Avenue location will celebrate the original opening prices for the entire week: July 20-26, 2009.

In commemoration of this milestone, Josh Lebowitz, CEO of Brother Jimmy’s BBQ and Corporate Executive Chef Eva Pesantez have created a special menu of original favorites and new specialties. Traditional sandwiches like Pulled Pork Sandwiches are turned back to $6.95 add slaw for 25¢, Sliced Brisket Sandwich $6.95 and Grilled Chicken Sandwiches $6.50; while Brother Jimmy’s all time favorite dinners like Northern or Southern-style RIBS are $12.95, Half BBQ Chicken $8.95, and famous Pulled Pork Dinner only $9.95.

Combined with $2 Natural Lights, $2.50 Rolling Rocks and $12 Signature ½ Gallon Swamp Water, the 1989 Brother Jimmy’s-style party is complete. In addition to reverting back to their initial prices, Brother Jimmy’s will debut several new lines of men’s and women’s t-shirts, available in all locations. You can check out the adjusted menu after the jump.

Click here to download the Country Fried Steak recipe.

Singer-turned-actress Alanis Morrisette stopped by to talk about her recurring role as Dr. Audra Kitson on Showtime's hit series Weeds.

"After her husband's unexpected death and subsequent financial woes, suburban mom Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) embraces a new profession: the neighborhood pot dealer. As it seems like everyone secretly wants what she's selling -- even city councilman Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon) -- Nancy is faced with keeping her family life in check and her enterprise a secret from her neighbor/pseudo-friend/PTA president, Celia Hodes," according to IMDB.

Morissette hails from Ottawa, Canada and began her musical career when she was a teenager with the hit pop albums Alanis and Now Is the Time. Morrissette debuted on the international stage with her rock album Jagged Little Pill, which has sold more than 30 million albums to date and still holds the record for best-selling debut album by a female artist.

Her singles include "Hands Clean," "Precious Illusions," "Would Not Come," "Unsent" and "Ironic." Aside from Weeds, Morrissette acting credits include Nip/Tuck, American Dreams, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Sex In The City.

Weeds airs Mondays at 10pm on Showtime. For more on Weeds, visit sho.com/weeds. For more on Morrissette, visit www.alanismorissette.com.

Jennifer Lewis from the North Shore Animal League stopped by with some four-legged friends in need of loving homes.

For more information on how to adopt a pet, visit www.animalleague.org or call (516) 883-7575.

Interventionist and author of How To Change Someone You Love: Four Steps To Help You, Help Them Brad Lamm says you have the power to change someone you love. He'll tell us how. We'll discuss how to help:

1. The "life of the party" who sometimes goes a little too far and who's been drinking a little too much
2. The internet obsessed person who spends most of their free time online, only meets new people and socializes online, shies away from person-to-person relationships
3. The shopping addict - huge debt, can't pay bills but can't stop shopping
4. The seriously obese person who's reaching a life or death situation

Lamm is offering a free Change Seminar on Thursday, July 23 at 7:15pm at the Subud Center in Manhattan. His forthcoming book How To Change Someone You Love: Four Steps To Help You, Help Them is set to hit bookshelves in January 2010. For more information, visit www.changesomeoneyoulove.com.

Actress Keke Palmer stopped by to talk about her show, True Jackson VP and her upcoming film Shrink.

On the show, Palmer plays True Jackson, a 16-year old who has just been granted the opportunity of a lifetime when her idol hires her as Vice President of his fashiohn empire. We will follow Jackson's journey as she tries to navigate her way in her new, intimidating environment.

In Shrink, Palmer co-stars alongside Kevin Spacey as a troubled teenager who becomes celebrity psychiatrist Henry Carter's (Spacey) first pro bono case. But Henry is troubled too as a result of his cases. The question now becomes: can he help a teen awe-struck with Hollywood movies when he's so jaded himself?

Palmer's talents span film, television, and music. Palmer was the title character in the sleeper hit Akeelah and the Bee, opposite actor Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett. For her efforts on the film, she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture as well as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture by the Black Movie Awards.

Tune in to Nickelodeon Saturdays at 8:30 pm to catch True Jackson VP. Shrink debuts in theaters on July 24. For more information, visit www.shrinkthemovie.net.

A swimming advisory against nearly five dozen beaches on Long Island. Suffolk county officials say heavy rains can increase the bacterial content in water to unsafe levels. The affected beaches:

Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club, Eagle Dock Community Beach, Lloyd Harbor Village Park Beach, Gold Star Battalion Beach, Bay Hills POA Beach, Baycrest Beach, Crescent Beach, Head of the Bay Club Beach, Nathan Hale Beach Club, Wincoma Beach, Centerport Beach and Fleets Cove Beach.

They also include: Huntington Beach Community Association, Knollwood Beach, Asharoken Beach, Hobart Beach (Bay), Hobart Beach (Inlet), Prices Bend Beach, Steers Beach, Bayberry Cove Beach, Bayview Beach, Grantland Beach, Indian Field Association Beach, Little Bay Beach, Long Beach, Nissequogue Point Beach Club, Schubert Beach, Short Beach, Stony Brook Beach, Stony Brook Yacht Club Beach, Soundview Beach Association, Beech Road Beach, Broadway Beach, Crab Meadow Beach, Friendship Drive Beach, Miller Place Park Beach, Scotts Beach, Shoreham Shore Club Beach, Shoreham Village Park Beach, Shoreham Beach, Sound Beach POA East, Sound Beach POA West, Terraces on the Sound Beach, Tides Beach, Woodhull Landing Beach, Valley Grove Beach, Bayberry Beach & Tennis Club, Bayport Beach, Benjamin's Beach, Brightwaters Village Beach, Corey Creek Beach, Islip Beach, Patchogue Village Pool & Beach Club, Sandspit Beach, Sayville Beach, Sayville Marina Park Beach and Venetian Shores Beach.

Larry's showing off his muscles at Hybrid Athletics. They gym is a strongman-friendly gym. They offer open strongman hours for anyone who wants to practice with the real thing, including tires, atlas stones, fat bars, grip toys, kegs, sandbags, chains, sledgehammers, pulling/pushing sleds and harnesses. Larry spoke to Rob Orlando, owner of Hybrid Athletics.

You can visit Larry this morning at Hybrid Athletics, 7 Hyde Street, Lower Level, Stamford, CT 06907. For more information, visit www.crossfit-strongman.com.

Searching for a job? If so, you have something in common with nearly every other professional in the job market: putting together a resume. But despite the fact that nearly everyone writes one, preparing this document can be tricky. A workplace expert from Robert Half International will address the following sticky resume situations:

• You have a gap in your work history
• You've held a lot of jobs in a short amount of time
• You've worked for only one company
• You've held several temporary positions but few full-time roles
• You're a recent college graduate with little experience
• You're not sure how to list your GPA
• Your former employer changed its name

For more information, visit www.rhi.com.

The SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GROUP today unveils “SI Swimsuit 2009” a new mobile app for iPhone and coming soon to the Blackberry. The “world’s sexiest app” breaks new ground as the first mobile application in the lifestyle category to deliver video of SI’s gorgeous Swimsuit models, hundreds of SI Swimsuit photos as well as scores, schedules and team information.

The application, which retails for $2.99, is the mobile extension of SI Swimsuit – a multimedia franchise which reaches more than 66 million adults. The application features video and photos of all 20 models from the 2009 SI SWIMSUIT franchise and allows users to create their own daily sports calendar customizable to follow your favorite pro or college teams’ along with your choice of SI Swimsuit model each month. With in the lifestyle category there is tremendous anticipation for the potential of this new application, which could rank among the most popular in the mobile space. Features of the new SI Swimsuit application include:

• Videos from every shoot in the 2009 issue including the fan favorite body painting.
• A collection of 20 stellar high quality photos for each model, including cover model Bar Refaeli, Danica Patrick, Brooklyn Decker and Hilary Rhoda.
• Customizable sports calendar to keep track of schedules and scores for up to six of your favorite professional and/or college sports teams.

For more information, visit www.si.com.

Actor Robert Hoffman stopped by to discuss his lead role in upcoming feature film Aliens in the Attic.

Aliens in the Attic is an adventure/comedy about kids on a family vacation who must fight off an attack by knee-high alien invaders with world-destroying ambitions--while the youngsters' parents remain clueless about the battle.

Hoffman entered show business through his finesse as a professional dancer. The Gainesville, FL, native reportedly gravitated to footwork at the tender age of five, with enrollment in professional dance classes. Hoffman discovered his lifelong passion by watching superstar Michael Jackson perform and then subsequently moved to Madison, AL, and enrolled in dance classes. Years later he studied formally under the esteemed dance instructor Kim Wolfe. In time, Hoffman's tenacity and passion for dance led him to train with the Alabama Ballet, and when he opted to move to Hollywood and pursue film acting, dancing enabled him to carve out an unusual niche via a related series of movie roles.

Hoffman bowed as a beach dancer in the Ben Affleck gangster farce Gigli (2003), then appeared in a similar bit part in the dance-themed You Got Served (2004) and gradually expanded his range with supporting roles in the big-screen romantic comedy She's the Man (2006) and the supernatural horror movie Shrooms (2007). The urban drama Step Up 2: The Streets, however, represented Hoffman's breakthrough and brought him his first lead. In that film, he played a professional dancer who participates in an underground dance contest.

Aliens in the Attic hits theatres on July 31. For more information, visit www.aliensintheatticmovie.com.

Written By Pierre Bonny

Read the full story: "Times Square's Naked Cowboy Planning To Run For Mayor".

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. I am a 39-year-old female and have very painful menstrual cycles, which got worse after the birth of my son. Can you please tell me if I need to check with a doctor to see if something else is causing this? I have terrible pelvic pains.
Geremy

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

We're checking out beauty sensations that have been beloved by celebs, pros and regular girls alike for decades, while remaining budget-friendly. They're Cult Classics that cost under $10! It's with People StyleWatch beauty editor Holly Carter. Today's items included:

• Coty Airspun Face Powder, $6.99
• Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers, $8
• L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hair Spray, $6.99
• Smith's Rosebud Salve, $5
• Nivea Crème, $6.29
• Neutrogena Original Formula Facial Bar, $3.29
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Certainly Red, $7.99

For more celebrity beauty tips, check out the August issue of People StyleWatch on newsstands now or visit www.peoplestylewatch.com.

A new study says that 9 out of 10 people are annoyed by other people's bad tech behaviors. Etiquette expert Cooper Ray breaks cell phone dos and don'ts so you won't commit a social or business faux pas.

Actor, singer and songwriter Drew Seeley stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Prince Eric on Broadway's "The Little Mermaid."

The Broadway play is the 1989 Disney movie of the same name come to life. Young Princess Ariel (Chelsea Morgan Stock), a mermaid, becomes enchanted with the land above the sea, She trades her lovely voice to the evil Ursula for a chance to live among humans. Unable to speak, she falls in love with Prince Eric and tries to figure out how she can become part of his world.

Seeley hails from Ottawa, Canada and starred in Disney's High School Musical franchise and won an Emmy nomination for co-writing the HSM anthem "Get'cha Head in the Game." He also stopped by the studio last year to talk about starring opposite teen star Selena Gomez in a new take on another Disney classic Another Cinderella Story.

"The Little Mermaid" is playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre at 205 W. 46th Street. For tickets and showtimes, visit disney.go.com/theatre/thelittlemermaid. For more on Seeley, visit www.drewseeley.net.

I'm at the hospital right now and called the show this morning to let everyone know how I'm doing. You can click here to hear our conversations this morning.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress on my blog wpix.com/sukimama.

To 'stache or not to 'stache... That's the question apparently plauging John Oates -- of Hall and Oates. The question is so perplexing it's spawned an animated movie! It's called "J-Stache" and it's being shopped around for a possible deal.

You can watch the trailer at jstache.com or after the jump.

Journey to the Stars, a spectacular new Hayden Planetarium Space Show narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, launches visitors through time and space to experience the life and death of the stars in our night sky.

Travel 13 billion years into the past, when the first stars were born, and witness brilliant supernova explosions that formed new kinds of atoms and sent them coursing through the universe, even into our own bodies and the air we breathe.

Visit the heart of our fiery Sun, and glimpse its eventual demise after it transforms into an enormous red giant some five billion years in the future. Explore our galactic neighborhood, unveil new celestial mysteries, and discover the fascinating, unfolding story that connects us all to the stars.

The 27th Annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in association with PNC Bank, the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America, is set to take off July 24 thru July 26 with new special shaped balloons, its biggest concert lineup, and morning-through-night family entertainment. Affordability is the theme this year!

This weekend is supposed to be beautiful! And while you’re out enjoying the sun at the New Jersey Balloon Festival, it’s important to remember to protect yourself from the harsh UV rays. The folks at UV Sun Sense, will be handing out their easy to use wrist bands which tells you when to apply sun screen and when to hit the shade!

Comedian and MadTV player Bobby Lee stopped by the show to talk about his upcoming performance at Carolines on Broadway.

A native of San Diego, California, Lee joined the MadTV cast in its eight season in 2001 and became their first cast member of Asian descent. His eight-year tenure with the sketch comedy series makes him one of the longest-running cast members on the show and puts him in the league of Michael McDonald, Aries Spears and Debra Wilson.

Over the years, Lee has portrayed various male and female public figures like Kim Jong-il, Connie Chung, George Takei, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu. He has also played non-Asian characters like John McCain and Jai Rodriguez. Lee also created new characters for the show such as Blind Kung Fu Master, Tank, Xing Lao "Johnny" Gan and Bae Sung.

You can catch Lee at Caroline's tonight, July 23 thru Sunday, July 26. Caroline's On Broadway is located at 1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. For ticket and show information, call (212) 757-4100 or visit www.carolines.com. For more information on Lee, visit www.myspace.com/iambobbylee.

Social networking: everyone is doing it, but are you? If you don't know a thing about Facebook or Twitter, then listen up. Social website expert Shelly Palmer is here to help. Palmer spoke about Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google and Google Apps.

To find out more about Palmer's DVDs and online training programs, visit www.shellypalmermedia.com.

Former First Daughter Jenna Bush Hager stopped by to talk about her work with UNICEF's Next Generation.

UNICEF's Next Generation consists of 30 young professionals from diverse industries all with amazing passion and dedication for UNICEF. There goal is to engage younger generations in supporting the world's children.

Jenna, who is chair of UNICEF Next Generation, was born in Dallas, Texas one minute after her fraternal twin sister, Barbara. She was named after her maternal grandmother Jenna Hawkins. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas, in 2000, the same year her father George W. Bush was elected president. As the Bush family settled into the White House, Jenna attended the University of Texas in Austin.

After graduating college, Jenna taught third grade at Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School in Washington, D.C, for a year and a half. She then worked as an intern for UNICEF, where she taught in Latin America and visited drought-stricken Paraguay. The trip inspired the children's book, Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope (2007), based on the life of a 17-year-old Latin American single mother infected with HIV. Most recently, Jenna and her mother co-authored Read All About It! (2008), a book that urged children to read.

For more on UNICEF Next Generation, visit www.unicefusa.org or www.unicefusa.org/donate/nextgeneration.

Written By Pierre Bonny

Actress Katrina Bowden plays Cerie Xerox on NBC's 30 Rock and stopped by to talk about her partneryship with clothing store Daffy's and how you can get a West Village luxury furnished apartment that normally costs $7,000/month in rent for only $700/month.

For the first time ever, Daffy's is extending their incredible discounts beyond fashion. Beginning today, July 23, Daffy’s will hold auditions offering consumers the chance to win a rental lease for a fully furnished luxury apartment at One Seventh Ave South in Manhattan’s West Village, at a fraction of the cost. "The Daffy’s Apartment Contest" will coincide with the grand opening of a temporary Daffy’s pop-up store at the ground floor of the apartment building. Bowden will unveil the pop-up store as well as kick off the contest entry period at 3pm.

According to NBC, "30 Rock is told through the comedic voice of Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin as a top network executive and Tracy Morgan as the unpredictable star of Lemon's hit variety show, TGS with Tracy Jordan Lemon constantly has her hands full, juggling corporate interference from Donaghy and off-the-handle star antics from Jordan, all while attempting to salvage her own personal life."

This Jersey girl has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and in the music videos "Dance Dance" by Fall Out Boy and "After Hours" by We Are Scientists.

For more on the The Daffy’s Apartment Contest, visit www.daffys.com. 30 Rock airs on NBC Thursdays nights at 8:30pm.

Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui stopped by to talk about her role as Sloan McQuewick in the hit HBO series Entourage.

According to HBO, the show follows "the day-to-day life of Vincent (Vince) Chase, a hot young actor in modern-day Hollywood, and his entourage. He's brought with him from their hometown in Queens, NY: manager Eric, half-brother Drama, and friend Turtle. The series draws on the experiences of industry insiders to illustrate both the heady excesses of today's celebrity lifestyle, as well as the difficulty of finding love and success in the fast track of show biz. Now that the boys are getting used to the perks of stardom, Eric, along with superagent Ari, keep Vince's star rising while making sound decisions for a long-lasting career in a world of fleeting fame."

Chriqui was born in Montreal, Quebec, to Moroccan immigrants. She gueststarred in many series such as Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1991), Once a Thief (1997), and PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1996). Her first Hollywood role was in Detroit Rock City (1999). Her breakout performance came in 2000s Snow Day (2000), in which she played the foxy Claire Bonner.

Chriqui later starred in several films and was nominated for a DVD Exclusive Award as Best Actress for her performance in 100 Girls (2000). She also starred in the movie Adam and Eve (2005), opposite Cameron Douglas and You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008), opposite Adam Sandler.

Entourage air Sundays at 10:30 on HBO. For more information, visit www.hbo.com/entourage.

After a long day at the hospital and a solid hour of labor, my husband Eric and I said hello to our beautiful baby boy Kiran Krishnan Schroeder at 9:16pm last night.

Kiran weighs 7 pounds, and has blue eyes and curly, black hair.

I'm exhausted, but Kiran and I are both doing great.

I also added a solo pic of Kiran and videos of my phone-ins on my blog at wpix.com/sukimama.

Brooklyn Bowl, the highly anticipated 16-lane bowling alley, 600-capacity performance venue with food by Blue Ribbon in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, is open for business.

Larry's getting his game on and you can join him at the Brooklyn Bowl, located at 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

For more information, visit brooklynbowl.com.

Think it's hot outside? Well, its hotter in our PIX Kitchen!

Dr. Steve and Dr. Richard Shlofmitz are trading their scrubs for aprons and donning their chefs hats to show us some heart healthy grilling recipes, just in time for summer. Dr. Richard Shlofmitz is chairman of the Department of Cardiology for St. Francis Hospital, the Heart Center in Roslyn.

Dr. Shlofmitz joined St. Francis Hospital in 1987 and is the Director of the Cardiology. He has served as principal investigator in numerous percutaneous interventional trials at St. Francis Hospital and has one of the largest volumes of experience in percutaneous interventions in the nation with one of the lowest complication rates.

They'll be preparing the Double H Burger the "Double H" standing for heart healthy and the Cardiologist Cauliflower Classic.

When he's not hanging with Howard Stern and the gang on the howard stern show, he's playing with his tech gear and writing about it for Sound and Vision Magazine. Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'Abate is back to share with us some of his favorite gadgets. The feature items included:

• MiFi, www.novatelwireless.com
Basically a portable Hot Spot that casts a 25 foot "cloud" of wireless wherever you go.

• Sonos, www.sonos.com
Gives you the ability to have music in any room of your house without running wires through the walls

• Pogo Plug, www.pogoplug.com
Access your home hard drive form anywhere you can get an internet connection

• Slingbox, www.slingbox.com

For more on Dell'Abate's pics, pick up Sound and Vision Magazine or visit www.soundandvisionmag.com. You can also catch him every morning on The Howard Stern Show on Sirius/XM Radio.

Irish actor/comedian Graham Norton stopped by to talk about hosting WEtv's provocative new game show Most Popular.

Most Popular consists of six one-hour episodes. Each week, Norton asks an audience of 100 women to make judgments that could reward one of seven contestants with a cash prize of $10,000.

Norton was born in Dublin but grew up in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. He first attended the University College Cork but soon moved to San Francisco and later moved to London to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Norton rose to fame by virtue of his two British talk shows, So Graham Norton and V Graham Norton , then landed a deal with Comedy Central in 2004 for an American equivalent called The Graham Norton Effect.

Most Popular airs on Thursdays on WEtv at 10pm. For more information, visit www.wetv.com/most-popular.

Written By Pierre Bonny

Read the full story: "3 NJ Mayors, Several Rabbis Arrested In Massive Corruption Probe".

Bagpipe Busker and Super Scotsman Rob Calder, a 32-year-old bagpiper from Edinburgh, piped his way across the United States for charity.

Calder spent six weeks "busking" -- playing his bagpipes for tips in public -- from coast to coast, rain or shine, relying on the kindness of locals and people of Scots descent to host him along the way. He arrived in Richmond, VA yesterday and continues onto Charlotte, SC tomorrow, followed by Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, ending in California late July.

Calder's busking has raised $7,417 so far for Ecas, a voluntary organisation in Edinburgh, dedicated to giving friendly and practical help to physically disabled people.

To make a donation to Ecas, visit www.ecas-edinburgh.org. For more on Calder, visit www.bagpipebusker.com. For more on Homecoming Scotland, visit www.homecomingscotland.com.

This week's Friday Forecaster is Charles Fulford, who won the opportunity to do the weather at an event last fall to benefit New York Presbyterian.

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

Don’t have time to go to yoga class? Now you can bring real yoga classes from top instructors into your on home, or on the go. Kurt introduces you to Yoga Glo, a brick and mortar yoga studio that’s gaining global attention for its virtual classes.

For more information on Yoga Glo, visit www.yogaglo.com.

Australian singer-songwriter Emma Sophina stopped by to talk about her new album Wake Up which is inspired by her experience aboard US Airways Flight 1549, which made an emergency landing in the Hudson River.

Sophina was visiting New York when she boarded Flight 1549. After declaring a double bird strike situation, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger made the incredicle "miracle on the Hudson" landing.

Sophina used her experience to create beautiful music that serves as a “thank you” to the pilots and crew of that flight which saved the lives of over 150 people.

Wake Up is the Aussie's first album and it was produced by Grammy Award winning producers Marc Swersky and Tony Black. The five song EP was released digitally by Decca Records.

For more on Sophina, visit www.myspace.com/emmasophina.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Larry is staying fit and cool on Long Island with kayaking, boarding and sail kayaking on Long Island.

Situated on the water in Island Park, Empire Kayaks carries a complete line of top quality kayaks and accessories. Their waterfront location provides access to sensational paddling. Experience nature and wildlife from a new perspective as you paddle the bays,creeks and marshes of Nassau County's South Shore.

Stop by Empire Kayaks for sales, equipment, rentals, instruction and tours. Empire Kayaks is located at 4 Empire Blvd., Island Park, NY 11558. For more information, visit www.empirekayaks.com or call (516) 889-8300.

The latest issue of Reader's Digest gives advice on everything from how to look good in pictures to how to stop being late. We're going to check out:

• How to Look Good in Pictures
• How to Stop Being Late
• How to Date
• How to Look Lively

For more information, check out the latest copy of Reader's Digest on newsstands now or visit www.rd.com.

In today's Wake Up Workout, we're getting a preview to a new workout class "Rush" from the New York Health & Racquet Club that basic gym equipment in a circuit setting. It focuses on strength building but utilizes cardio as it is constantly moving.

For more information on this class and for a list of other classes offered at the New York Health and Racquet Club, visit nyhrc.com.

Actor-turned-film producer Fisher Stevens stopped by the studio to talk about his documentary The Cove”

The Cove highlights a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry, who infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health. The Cove received the Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

A Chicago native, Stevens moved to New York City at age 13 to pursue an acting career. When he was 14-years-old, he appeared in his first theatre production in the off-Broadway musical "A Christmas Carol." He then performed in more than 20 stage productions including 544 performances in Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song Trilogy", both on and off Broadway. He also appeared in the New York City Shakespeare Festival production of "A Midsummer Nights Dream".

At 16, Fisher made his film debut in the horror movie The Burning . After that he appeared in Baby It’s You , The Brother from Another Planet and co-starred with Matt Dillon in the hit comedy film The Flamingo Kid.

The Cove opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, July 31. For more information, visit thecovemovie.com.

Written by Pierre Bonny

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. I am 47-years-old and in construction. Two months ago, I pulled a muscle in the back of my neck and the pain goes down to my shoulder. How long does this usually last? Do you have any suggestions to help speed up the healing process?
Mark

2. What are your thoughts on acupuncture?
Lavaughn

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

From the office to a night on the town, you can transform yourself in the back of a cab. We've got the products ideal for taxi cab beauty. Editor Michelle Madhok of SheFinds.com shared with us her top picks. Today's featured items included:

• Colgate Wisp, $2.39
• Lip Lights from ModelCo, $28
• Kiss Express On French Nails, 5.99
• Thrrrob Blush, $28
• Michael Kors Leg Shine, $32
• Aveda Pure Abundance Hair $23
• Bloch Flats, $91.52 to $137.95

For details on where you can buy these items, log onto www.shefinds.com/morningnews.

She's the host of 5 Ingredient Fix on the Food Network--Claire Robinson stopped by to talk about the how. She also showed us how to make her delectable Sea Scallops with Saffron Aioli and Grilled Watermelon Salad dish.

In 5 Ingredient Fix, Robinson combines her passions for food and television. The show features deliciously eclectic recipes made with five ingredients or fewer, proving that delicious dishes only need five ingredients or fewer to make cooking easier, faster and down right irresistible. Robinson shows viewers how to enhance the natural flavors of carefully-selected, fresh ingredients to illustrate her belief that each ingredient should truly stand out in a recipe. Her cooking style promotes healthy, seasonal eating as well as stress-free shopping.

The Jacksonville, Florida native cites her French-speaking grandmother as a major influence on her love for food. She has attended The French Culinary Institute in New York City and has worked on culinary production teams for several cooking series including Food Network's Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello and PBS' Everyday Baking for Everyday Food.

Catch the new season of 5 Ingredient Fix Saturdays at 12:30 pm on the Food Network.

Larry's live this morning in the heart of Hell's Kitchen at Mother Burger to cook some delicacies from their mouth-watering menu.

At Mother Burger, all their burgers are made with all-natural, humanely-raised, antibiotic and hormone-free products - ensuring customers are eating the best burgers in NYC. So Hoff will be taking a bite out of this trendy Big Apple eatery, to find out what the buzz is all about. He'll learn how to make Mother Burgers, Superbowl Salads and Mother Shakes.

Mother Burger is located at the World Wide Plaza at 329 West 49th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). For more information, visit www.yelp.com/biz/mother-burger-new-york.

You've got the swimsuit, the suntan lotion, the sunglasses and you're ready to hit the beach, right? Wrong! You still need that steamy, sexy beach book, the one you can't put down.

Edwin Tucker from Barnes and Noble shared with us some great summer reads for different types of book lover. His picks included:

Bestsellers:
• Twenties Girl, Sophie Kinsella
• Best Friends Forever, Jennifer Weiner

Movie Tie-in:
• The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger

Romance:
• Burn, Linda Howard
• Black Hills, Nora Roberts

Actor James Roday stopped by to talk about his role as Shawn Spencer.in the USA Network comedy series Psych and the show's upcoming season premiere.

Psych, which premiered in 2006 to the highest ratings of a cable series premiere, is a big hit for USA Network with an average of 5 million viewers. The show follows Shawn (Roday), a crime con consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. His heightened observational skills and impressive detective instincts allow him to convince people that he is psychic.

This Texas native studied theatre at New York University and started off acting in a number of theatrical productions, before making the switch to film and with oles in Rolling Kansas and Beerfest. He also appeared in the big-screen adaptation of The Dukes of Hazzard as Billy Prickett. Behind the scenes, Roday and writing partners Todd Haathan and James DeMonaco wrote the screenplay for the 2007 horror film Skinwalkers.

The season premiere of Psych airs on August 7 at 10pm on the USA Network. For more information, visit usanetwork.com/series/psych.

Written by Pierre Bonny

Sarah Brown from Animal Care and Control stop by with some cute and cuddly pets in need of loving homes.

For more information on how you can adopt a pet, visit www.nycacc.org or call (212) 788-4000.

Read the full story: "Senator Schumer Unveils Texting Ban for Mass Transit Drivers"

Rose Byrne talked with us about starring in the new film Adam.

In the movie, Hugh Dancy stars as Adam Raki, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome who develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth Buchwald, a brainy, beautiful writer damaged from a past relationship, played by Byrne. Beth and Adam's ultimate connection leads to a tricky relationship that exemplifies something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into uncomfortable territory and the resulting shake-up can be liberating. The film has garnered the Sundance 2009 Alfred P. Sloane Award.

Byrne hails from Australia and is most notable for her ongoing role of Ellen Parsons in the television series Damages. Further, she has been featured in a number of blockbusters, including 28 Weeks Later, Troy, and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Adam hits theaters on Wednesday, July 29 and will play at The Angelika and Lincoln Plaza. For more information, visit www.foxsearchlight.com/adam.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos. She came by to speak about reprising her role as herself on the popular television series Entourage.

The comedy series that takes a look at the day-to-day life of Vincent (Vince) Chase, a hot young actor in modern-day Hollywood, and his entourage. He's brought with him from their hometown in Queens, NY: manager Eric, half-brother Drama, and friend Turtle. The series draws on the experiences of industry insiders to illustrate both the heady excesses of today's celebrity lifestyle, as well as the difficulty of finding love and success in the fast track of show biz. Sigler plays Turtle's (Jerry Ferrara) girlfriend.

Sigler is a Queens native. In 1997, she was cast as the smart but troubled Meadow Soprano, daughter of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. The show premiered in 1999 and became a huge success, with Sigler rising to some fame as a TV actress. She has also made appearances in How I Met Your Mother and Saturday Night Live--most notably, in which she played the infamous role of the checkout girl in the Digital Short "Jizz In My Pants."

You can catch Entourage Sundays at 10:30 pm on HBO.

Larry's at the Nespresso pop up store at Sur La Table in Soho. He's teamed up with "Top Chef" Season 4 contestant and Chef/Owner or 24 Prince Nikki Cascone, as well as Executive Chef Brad Thompson to cook with coffee!

You can stop by Sur La Table to sample Nespresso from July 31st to August 9th. The store is located at 75 Spring St., New York, NY 10012.

For info on Nespresso's new coffee machine Citiz, log onto www.nespresso.com/citiz.

Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, stopped by to guide us through the Cash for Clunkers Program.

"The Cash for Clunkers Program is a tremendous incentive to encourage people to trade-in their old vehicles for newer, safer, more fuel efficient and less polluting cars and trucks, but they must act fast before the money runs out,” said Schienberg.

The program is still confusing to many and to help consumers navigate the Government’s Cash for Clunkers program, GNYADA has published a consumer guide which will be available at all area dealerships or online at www.gnyada.com/guide/cars.

GNYADA is encouraging those who are considering a new vehicle to act fast because the incentive program will end as soon as the $1 billion assigned by the Government has been used up.

Key elements of the Cash for Clunkers Program are:
• The $1 billion program is authorized from July through November
• It will provide for rebates of between $3,500 and $4,500 when consumers trade in a vehicle toward the purchase of a new qualifying model.
• There is no income limitation for the rebate but the maximum purchase price is $45,000.
• The vehicle that is traded in will have to be scrapped.

The measure is expected to help boost auto sales by creating a significant cash incentive to replace older cars and trucks with newer, higher mileage, less polluting vehicles.

For more information, visit www.gnyada.com/guide/cars.

Former star of The Shield actress Paula Garces stopped by the studio to talk about her new ABC series Defying Gravity,

Defying Gravity follows eight astronauts -- four male and four female -- from five countries as they take part in a Venus-bound six-year international space mission on the spaceship Antares. During the long misson, their past is revealed and they discover they're all connected in some way.

A native of Colombia, Garces grew up in Spanish Harlem. She played Tina Hanlon on the hit series The Shield. Her other acting credits includ Che Guevara, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Garces and her husband Antonio Hernandez own From Earth to You Cafe on 25th Street and 10th Avenue in Chelsea.

The two-hour series premiere of Defying Gravity airs on Sunday, August 2 at 9pm on ABC. For more information, visit abc.go.com/primetime/defyinggravity.

The doctor is in! The PIX Morning News' Dr. Steve Salvatore is here to answer your question:

1. I have fair skin and burn easily. I've always used SPF 15 sunscreen. But, I'm having trouble finding SPF 15. I've seen SPF 45, 50 and 80. Should I be using something stronger? I do like to get some color in the summer. What is the difference between the numbers and can I get color using SPF 80?
Steve, Point Pleasant, NJ

2. My job is to lift heavy boxes, what tips can you give me to prevent injuries to my left shoulder?
Kevin, Brooklyn

Have a question? E-mail Dr. Steve at askthedoctor@tribune.com.

Actress Cybill Shepherd stopped by to talk about her new Hallmark Channel Original Movie Mrs Washington Goes To Smith.

The movie follows Alice Washington (Shepherd), who is recently divorced, as she goes back to Smith College to finish her degree. She ends up with a rebel roommate who is the same age as her children. As Alice finds herself again through classes and extra-cirriculars (like joining the basketball team), she develops a relationship with her poetry professor. But as news of the student-teacher romance spreads, Alice's education becomes in jeopardy. Shepherd's co-stars include Corrie English and Jeffrey Nordling.

A Memphis native, Shepherd has been in the public eye for a long time. She was a beauty queen-turnedmodel and later became an actress, comedienne , author and musician. her TV credits include the series The Yellow Rose, Moonlighting, Cybill, The L Word and Psych. She also portrayed Martha Stewart in both the NBC tele-film Martha Stewart, Inc. and Martha Behind Bars for CBS. She has recorded 11 albums; her most recent, At Home with Cybill, was released in 2004; according to Hallmark.

Mrs Washington Goes To Smith premieres Saturday, August 1 at 9pm. For more information, visit www.hallmarkchannel.com. For more on Shepherd, visit www.cybill.com.

Actor Hugh Dancy talked with us about starring in the new film Adam. Dancy's co-star Rose Byrne stopped by yesterday to talk about the film.

In the movie, Dancy stars as Adam Raki, a lonely man with Asperger's Syndrome who develops a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth Buchwald, a brainy, beautiful writer damaged from a past relationship, played by Byrne. Beth and Adam's ultimate connection leads to a tricky relationship that exemplifies something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into uncomfortable territory and the resulting shake-up can be liberating. The film has garnered the Sundance 2009 Alfred P. Sloane Award.

Dancy is an English-born actor whose acting credits includes the recent Confessions of a Shopaholic, opposite Isla Fisher, and Ella Enchanted, opposite Anne Hathaway. He also starred in Blood and Chocolate, The Jane Austen Book Club and Savage Grace.

Adam hits theaters on Wednesday, July 29 and will play at The Angelika and Lincoln Plaza. For more information, visit www.foxsearchlight.com/adam.

Our Tiffany McElroy first announced her engagement to Jim Gibson in April. Today, she's a married woman. She and Jim got married last Saturday in Jamaica in a beautiful beach ceremony!

Congratulations, Tiffany and Jim!

MORE WEDDING PHOTOS AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

No matter where you run, these next-gen accessories are sure to improve your stride. Here with some road essentials is Chris Strauss from Men's Fitness magazine.

• Personalized Shoes: The Somnio
This line of three unique running shoes can be customized to your exact foot shape. With more than 150 different configurations, they'll provide the exact level of cushioning and support you need.

• A Supercool Tee: Mountain Hardwear's Threshold Zip T
Perforated microfiber on the jersey's armpits, sides and hot zones on the front and back let air in and perspiration out, eliminating stickiness so you can stay cool.

Mary Jo Buttafuoco stopped by to talk about her new book Getting It Through My Thick Skull and spoke about her new life, what she learned and why she stayed with cheating ex-husband Joey Buttafuoco for so long.

For more than 17 years, she had an anonymous life as a suburban wife and mother in Massapequa, Long Island. But in May 1992, she answered her front door and was confronted by a young woman who shot her in the head. That young woman was Amy Fisher who became known as the Long Island Lolita and the story sparked a media frenzy.

Getting It Through My Thick Skull is more than a book about Buttafuoco's long, tumultuous marriage to Joey and her realization that she was married to a sociopath. The book 'illuminates the reasons women stay in such relationships; explains why the spell of a sociopath is so hard to break, and points out the many warning signs along the way for those who feel trapped in a relationship they can’t fix no matter how hard they try," according to the book's offical site.

Buttafuoco's book Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned And
What Millions Of People Involved With Sociopaths Need To Know is available in book stores now. For information, visit www.maryjobuttafuoco.com.

The Nets Kids auditions are coming up for the new Nets Kids and this past season's group is coming in to show us how they move anf perform "Shout Out" and "Tootsie Roll."

For more on the Nets Kids, visit www.nba.com/nets/netskids/index.html.

Click here for NJ NETS AUDITIONS information.

Actor Chris Messina stopped by the studio to talk about his role in the new movie Julie & Julia.

"Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams) are featured in writer-director Nora Ephron's adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell's Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme. Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible," says Columbia Pictures. Messina plays Julie's husband Eric Powell.

Messina is a native New Yorker whose other film credits include Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Siege, You've Got Mail and Nothing is Private. His TV acting credits include Six Feet Under, Law & Order, Third Watch and Medium. You can catch him next in the new TV series Anatomy of Hope and two upcoming movies Greenberg and An Invisible Sign of My Own.

Julie & Julia hits theaters on Friday, August 7. For more information, visit , www.julieandjulia.com.

Actress Allison Janney stopped by to talk about her role as Violet Newstead in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "9 to 5."

The musical comedy is about friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. It follows Violet, the wise-cracking ringleader who joins co-workers Judy and Doralee to turn the tables on their obnoxious boss, Franklin Hart, Jr.

This all-new musical comedy based on the hit movie features the blockbuster title song plus an exciting new score of 18 original numbers by Dolly Parton that mix Broadway and pop with her signature witty lyrics.

A native of Ohio, Janney is best known for her role as C. J. Cregg on the hit television series The West. She has slo been in Strangers With Candy, Hairspray and Juno. Janney was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in "9 to 5".

For ticket and show information, visit www.9to5themusical.com. The soundtrack to "9 To 5" is available in stores now.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz stopped by the Chat Room to sound off on the news of the day. He also talked about Shop Brooklyn and Brooklyn's Free Summer Concert Series.

For more on Shop Brooklyn, visit www.brooklyn-usa.org.

For more on the Free Summer Concert Series, visit www.brooklynconcerts.com.

Markowitz also shared some Brooklyn gifts for Suki's baby boy Kiran.

Welcome to Disney Cruise Line!

Tiffany McElroy gives us an overview of the Disney Cruise Line. Tiffany will be chatting with Kevin Banks, Synergy Director for Disney Cruise Line. Captain Mickey will open the segment with Tiffany on Deck 10 of the ship.

Later, she'll speak to Darren (assistant cruise director) about all the Pirate-themed activities on the ship and island. Passengers can have the pirate's life on board the Disney World. A band of rowdy pirates led by Captain Hook and Debby Ryan (from TV's Suite Life on Deck) will invite Tiffany to join them on the Pirates In The Caribbean Deck Party. She'll also speak to Ryan about Suite Life on Deck and Disney Channel Summer at Sea.

Finally, Tiffany will be joined by Jake Austin and Jennifer Stone from Wizards of Waverly Place to participate in one of the most popular activities at Disney's Oceaneer Lab -- Flubber! Guided by Professor Flubber, Tiffany and the Disney Channel Stars will learn how to conjure the infamous green and gooey substance from the movie of the same name. This segment is highly interactive and very fun!

For more on Disney Cruise Line, visit disneycruise.disney.go.com.

Today, JCPenney will open its first store in Manhattan. Located at 33rd and 6th, the store will be 150,000+ square feet and give jobs to 500 New Yorkers. It is expected to be among the most highly trafficked of all JCPenney stores.

Throughout opening day there will be fashion shows in Greeley Square in addition to sidewalk giveaways and many more special events.

Larry is at the brand new JCPenney checking out the new digs and talking about festivities and giveaways for the day.

For more information, visit jcpenney.com.

Emily hit the red carpet to talk to the stars of the upcoming movie Julie & Julia. Actor Chris Messina, who plays Eric Powell, stopped by the studio yesterday to talk about his role in the film.

"Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams) are featured in writer-director Nora Ephron's adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell's Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme. Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible," says Columbia Pictures.

Julie & Julia hits theaters on Friday, August 7. For more information, visit , www.julieandjulia.com.

When he the joined the Mets in 1967, he helped transform the team from lovable losers to formable foes. Tonight, former pitcher Tom Seaver will host the Bank of America's Military Family Movie Night at the Intrepid -- a free event includes a screening of a premiere movie on the pier. Festivities start at 7:30 p.m. and the movie begins at sundown.

Bank of America Military Family Movie Night is a celebration of the brave men and women - and their supportive families - who serve our country and keep us safe every day. This program is designed to honor and thank them for their service. Movie Night at the Intrepid is the kickoff to a four-market program across the country. Bank of America, who has provided specialized financial services to military personnel since 1920, will be honoring men and women in uniform and their families in San Antonio, San Diego and the greater-Washington, D.C. area through the end of August.

Seaver was known as "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise" during his long 20-year career with the MBL. He played for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox and gained 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts and a 2.86 earned run average. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

For more information on Bank of America's Military Family Movie Night at the Intrepid, visit www.intrepidmuseum.org.

As a professional designer and a LEED AP, one of just 77,000 in the entire country credentialed by the US Green Buildings Council for her exceptional knowledge of green and sustainable design, former PIX reporter Cathy Hobbs, who is not co-host of Metro Residential, will walk viewers through some interesting materials they can incorporate in their own homes.

Hobbs talk about floors, walls and ceilings. She also spoke about about the first segment of Metro Residential where Jeff Appel, Hobbs' co-host talk a green designer about greening your home.

Metro Residential airs Sundays at 9am on WPIX. For more information, visit www.wpix.com/marketplace/realestate/metroresidential.

Actress Valerie Cruz stopped by the studio to talk about her role as Isabel on the hit HBO series True Blood.

True Blood has garnered critical acclaim and centers on the co-existence of vampires and humans in fictional Bon Temps, a small town in northern Louisiana. The show follows waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who is telepathic and falls in love with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer).

Cruz is a hails from Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her acting credits include Celluar, Nip/Tuck, Grey's Anatomy, Las Vegas and Dexter. She also stars in indie movie La Linea and her co-star Armand Assante will stop by later to talk more about the film.

True Blood airs Sundays at 9pm on HBO. For more information, visit www.hbo.com/trueblood.

Each week we're telling viewers about events, activities and items that are free. That's right! No money required.

On this week's free list:

1. Ali Baba's Terrace is a turkish restaurant offering free samples of their soup of the day, Gunun Corbasi. It is filled with Turkish spices and is being offered on Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 4pm to 6pm at their Second Avenue location

2. Ayromist Spa is offering a free 15-minute electrolysis (hair removal) service. This is normally a $45 value. It will only be available on fridays for the entire month of August BUT is by appointment only!

Read the full story: "White House Reviewing 'Cash For Clunkers' Program".

Actor Armand Assante stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Padre Antonio in the indie crime drama La Linea (The Line).

Set on the Mexican-American border, the movie centers on "Mexican drug lord Pelon has managed to escape the ire of the American government, but his decision to switch from cocaine from Colombia to heroin from Afghanistan attracts their attention. Numerous assassins come for the man's blood, but Pelon evades them all," says All Movie Guide. Assante's co-stars include Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta and Esai Morales.

Assante is a native New Yorker whose acting credits include ER, Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service and American Gangster.

La Linea (The Line) is playing at the New York International Latino Film Festival. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.nylatinofilm.com.

This week's Friday Forecaster is Kerry St. Pierre, who won the appearance through a charity event hosted by the Yai for the Brighter Future Society. She's originally from Long Island but now lives in West Village with husband Steve and two dogs, Anna Belle and Buster. She's a trader at a hedge fund here in Manhattan.

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

Season 4 winner of The Next Food Network Star Aaron McCargo, Jr. stopped by the studio to talk about hosting new show Big Daddy's House, his prediction for the winner of this season's The Next Food Network Star and his involvement with Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out. McCargo will show us how to make Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Pistachio Pesto Butter and Sweet Pea Salad and Ricotta Cheese Crostini.

In his new show, according to the Food Network, McCargo shares his passion for big, bold flavors and fun, family cooking. He brings a down-to-earth vibe and a warm smile to the kitchen while whipping up mouth-watering recipes inspired by many years of culinary experience and his fun-loving family.

Big Daddy's House airs Sundays at 1:30pm. For more information, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

The Next Food Network Star finale airs Sunday at 9pm on the Food Network. For more on the show, visit www.foodnetwork.com.

For more on Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out, visit dineout.strength.org.

And could you be The Next Food Network Star? There's an open casting taking place today from 10am to 3pm at CBS located at 530 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019.

Returning for its second year, the All Points West Music and Arts Festival will kick off this Friday with a bill that has something for everyone.

With bands like Coldplay, the Ting Tings, Vampire Weekend and Tool, there's plenty of must-see acts to choose from.

Organizers are expecting nearly 100,000 ticket holders to swarm Liberty State Park in Jersey City, where 65 bands will be simultaneously playing on three stages, over three days.