Actress Afton C. Williamson came to the PIX Morning today to speak with us about her new role in the Broadway show "RACE" directed by David Mamet. She replaced actress Kerry Washington and in the role of Susan, and made her debut in "RACE" on June 15th at the Ethel Barrymore Theater.

Williamson spoke about how she made it to the top in her Broadway play and her experiences. She was originally Washington's understudy and took over the roll after her great performances.

Mamet describes the play as,“"A firm made up of three lawyers, two black and one white, that are offered the chance to defend a white man charged with a crime against a black young woman. It is a play about lies." He adds: "All drama is about lies. When the lie is exposed, the play is over."

Sure, longer-looking gams are just a wedge heel away, but a truly trimmer lower half requires some work. Women's Health contributor Katie Johnson was here to show us four moves that will how to get sleeker stems.

• STEP UPS
This exercise targets the muscles of your glutes and hamstrings because you have to push your hips forward forcefully to perform each step

• SIDE TO SIDE LEG SWINGS
This exercise targets your hip abductors, primarily a hip muscle called the gluteus medius, as well as your hip adductors, the muscles on the inside of your upper thigh

• 45-DEGREE LUNGES
Lunges target your quadriceps. However, they also work just about all of the other muscles of your lower body, including your glutes, hamstrings, and

• SQUAT JUMPS
Squat jumps target the muscles of your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves

For get fit tricks, visit www.womenshealthmag.com or check out the August issue of Women's Health on newsstands now.

USA's hit show White Collar is about undercover agents, but its newest star Hilarie Burton let PIX Morning News in on a few secrets today when she stopped by to chat with us about her latest role.

Burton plays Sara Ellis, an insurance investigator looking to settle a score with Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), a conman who now helps the FBI catch criminals. This woman from Neal's past will spend six episodes on the show starting next Tuesday, August 10.

Hilarie worked as a video jockey on Total Request Live before landing her trademark role on CW drama One Tree Hill, where she starred as the artistic and emotional Peyton Sawyer for six seasons. Since then, Hilarie acted in a number of movies, from the horror film Solstice to a screen adaptation of the book The Secret Life of Bees.

Now you can catch Hilarie on the second season of White Collar, which airs Tuesdays at 9pm on the USA Network. For more information, visit www.usanetwork.com

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Jim Knox and Rob Tomas are bringing in remarkable heat-coping adapting animals. The animals are some of the stars of the Beardsley Zoo's Wonders of Wildlife summer show which features animals from around the world.

Today's animals included an American Alligator, Savannah Monitor, Alligator Snapping Turtle, Yellow Anaconda.

For more on the Beardsley Zoo, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org.

The Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation is hosting its 7th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament and Dinner next Monday, August 9, where players can meet celebrities, compete for prizes and, most important, support a great cause. Noah, Sean's father and the president of the foundation, joined PIX Morning News today to discuss the event, as well as the importance of screening for testicular cancer.

Monday's festivities include a silent auction, raffles, a buffet dinner, and of course, the golf tournament. The players will include sports legends Darryl Strawberry, Ron Darling, and Rich Caster. In addition, New York Mets hall of famer Ed Kranepool will be honored at the event.

Sean Kimerling was an Emmy award-winning sports anchor for WPIX who sadly lost his life to testicular cancer in 2003. He was 37-years-old. Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men younger than 40, and though it's treatable, early detection is a must. Noah established the Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation to raise awareness about early diagnosis and treatment.

Click here to sign up for the 7th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament and Dinner.

Everyone who registers will automatically be entered to win a chance to anchor on PIX News at 10 with sportscaster Lolita Lopez.

Learn more about testicular cancer and early detection by visiting the foundation's website at www.seankimerling.org.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Kristen and Brandi from the Bad Girls Club stopped y to talk to us about the show's fifth season premiere and it's new location -- Miami.

"For the first time, the fifth season of Bad Girls Club travels south to the hot beaches of Miami. The new batch of seven self-proclaimed "Bad Girls" live together with similarly explosive personalities, resulting in constant clashing between housemates. Besides hitting the trendy South Beach clubs, these "Bad Girls" are ready to take it up a notch -- with manipulative backstabbing friendships, in-house love triangles, exotic trips to the Caribbean, unexpected alliances and endless mind games," says Oxygen of their hit reality show.

Bad Girls Club makes its fifth season premiere on Tuesday, August 3 at 9pm on Oxygen.

Pro football legend Jerry Rice will talk about his induction and the launch of Procter & Gamble's Take It To The House program, the company's platform for its official National Football League (NFL) sponsorship.

P&G brands Gillette, Febreze, Old Spice, Prilosec OTC, Vicks and Head & Shoulders are part of the NFL's Official Locker Room Products and are included in the Take it to the House program.

These brands will be represented on Facebook and will be a part of a consumer photo contest, where fans are encouraged to show their football family’s team spirit for a chance to win amazing prizes like a visit from a former NFL player, P&G products and a $10,000 donation to a health and wellness organization in their local community in honor of NFL PLAY 60, which encourages kids to get 60 minutes of exercise a day.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/takeittothehouse.

Dr. Robert Freund came to the PIX Morning to speak with us about people getting plastic surgery for the wrong reasons. He discusses this issue in his new book, A More Beautiful You: Reverse Aging Through Skin Care, Plastic Surgery and Lifestyle Solutions. Dr. Freund is certified plastic surgeons that practices on New York’s Upper East Side.

Dr. Freund spoke about people being happy for who they are and why people tend to resort to plastic surgery. A study done by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that celebrities have a major effect on what women define as true beauty. Recently, reality star Kim Kardashian urged one of her Twitter followers not to undergo plastic surgery to look like her.

Dr. Freund says the pressure is high with people being obsessed with the surgery, friends' encouragement to get plastic surgery, people needing counseling, the media going crazy, and the obsession to look better. He has refused people who are “not getting the surgery for the right reasons. If they don’t have reasonable expectations and if they don’t understand the risks of recovery.” He will not support someone to get plastic surgery who wants to be like a celebrity or someone else. Dr. Freund says, “You have to be happy within yourselves.”

Dr. Robert Freund is a graduate of Brown University and Cornell University Medical School. His pioneering work on the Teardrop Breast Lift and Lateral Brow Lift led New York Magazine to name him "One of New York's leading plastic surgeons in 2003." He also has another book out called, Cosmetic Breast Surgery: A Complete Guide to Making the Right Decision--from A to Double D. Pick up a copy of Dr. Freund’s books online at www.robertfreundmd.com/books.

Written by Jerry L. Askin, Jr.

Heading to college? Then it's high-time to go high-tech with your higher education! Gadget Guru Steve Greenberg, author of Gadget Nation, was here with the latest tech items for college kids.

• Pulse Smartpen, Starts at $170
It's a pen that captures the audio of a lectures while you take notes-and plays back the specific section of the lecture when you touch the pen to your notes.

• iHome iA5 App-Enhanced Alarm Clock, $79.99
The iHome® 'app-enhanced' speaker dock for the iPhone OS combines an interactive app with a dedicated bedside alarm clock, providing users the most connected and engaging sleep experience available. Wake and sleep to your docked iPhone or iPod® music while the unit charges it. The clock works with free iHome+Sleep app for iPhone and iPod® touch, which enables custom configuration and up to 18 software alarms. The Reson8® speaker chamber technology offers true audio with depth, clarity and power, and you can set the sound to your liking with bass and treble EQ. Requires 3 AAA batteries for clock backup, not included.

Actress Angela Kinsey knows a lot about office supplies: she's played the character Angela on the U.S. version of The Office for seven seasons, and today, she'll announce the winner of a Post it-based art contest. Kinsey stopped by PIX Morning News to dish about the upcoming seventh season of The Office and to judge an impromptu art contest of our own.

The character Angela Martin is known for her cold, uptight personality and her affair with Dunder-Mifflin salesman Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson). Kinsey's played this role since The Office first aired in 2005, and she recently began filming the latest season, which will air on NBC Thursdays in the fall. The seventh season will also be Steve Carell's last as a permanent cast member.

Today, Kinsey will announce the winners of the not-for-profit organization Publicolor's art contest. The Post-it Brand 30th Anniversary Student Design Contest winning entry will be featured on the world's largest billboard made entirely of Post-it notes in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.

Stop by Grand Central before August 6 to see this piece, which will be made of more than 100,000 multi-colored Post-its. And watch the video below to find out whether Tamsen or Thalia is the better Post-it artist.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Is your desk a mess? Do things fall out of your closets when you open the doors? Tired searching for your keys everytime you want to leave the house? Look no further, professional organizer and life coach Andrew Mellen comes to the rescue with his new book, Unstuff Your Life: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good

In this helpful guide to organization, Andrew shares his unique, foolproof approach to getting a handle on life—the same approach he uses with private clients all over the country. His no-nonsense style sets this book apart from the rest and will motivate every reader.

For this week's edition of Neighborhood Bites, we got tipped off to a place in West New York, New Jersey, where they have only one thing on the menu -- steak sandwiches -- and it's been this way for two decades.

Dos Amigos is located at 3500 Bergenline Avenue, West New York, NJ 07093. Chris recommends you try the steak sandwich with cheese. He says the extra moisture really helps bind it all together.

And he'd love to check out your favorite hole-in-the-wall place to eat. E-mail him at morningnews@wpix.com.

Building an Islamic center and Muslim prayer room in Lower Manhattan seems to be coming together. An unanimous vote by the Landmark’s Preservation Commission rejected a proposal to grant protected status to two adjoining 19th-century buildings that a Muslim group wants to transform into a community center. Many family members who lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attacks feel that the proposed mosque center will be just too close to where the World Trade Centers were. Today, Zead Ramadan of the NY Council of Islamic Relations spoke to PIX 11 Morning News about the issue.

As an American Muslim, himself, Ramadan says he is against terrorists and he does not and has never had any association with the attack on the nation. He says, “Many Americans insinuate that American Muslims should be part of a collective guilt for what happened with 9/11." He goes on to say, “I’m a proud American Muslim who defends my nation.” He feels that the argument about impeding fellow Americans from having their constitutional rights and civil liberties is something that should be considered.

When completed, the Islamic center will provide a safe and happy living area and offer Muslim children an opportunity to prosper in the nation. The Muslim community is currently educating youth about anti-terrorism. He sums up to say that in no way is the center meant to disrespect anyone who lost family in 9/11 because we were all victims of 9/11

Written by Jerry L. Askin, Jr.

Long, short, curly or straight -- the choice is all yours when it comes to how you wear your hair. And no matter which magazine you look at nowadays, a lot of celebs are rocking hair extensions but you can't even tell! PIX Morning News' Ojinika Obiekwe went behind-the-scenes to get the real scoop on Hollywood's biggest secret.

She got the do's and don'ts and myths behind getting and caring for hair extensions from "Hair Extension Master” Nicola Augustine and High Definition's Sr. Hair Replacement Artist Nicole Paul.

Bravura Art of Entertainment is giving us the low down on planning entertainment for your wedding. We also had DJ Alfonso in studio to give us a taste of their musical artistry and skill from 7am to 9am.

Anthony Del Corvo of Bravura said to keep these things in mind thwn picking entertainment: make sure your entertainment is licensed and insured for the venue you're holding your wedding in, make sure the band/DJ has played in that venue before, make sure they have backup equipment, and make sure you have in your contract the specific performers/MC you have.

Bravura Art of Entertainment is located at 145 Froelich Farm Blvd, Woodbury NY. For more information on them, call (516) 367-7087 or visit www.bravuraentertainment.com.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE $100,000 MAGICAL WEDDING CONTEST.

Shaun Taylor-Corbett is no stranger to theater. Since 2007, the young and talented actor has been part of the Tony award-winning musical "In the Heights," where he plays the lazy but quick-witted Sonny. He's starring opposite High School Musical alum Corbin Bleu and, starting August 19, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.

"In the Heights" blends salsa, rap and Latin pop in its lively musical numbers. The show won Tonys for its score and choreography before it took the top award as Best Musical in 2008. "In the Heights" tells the story of Dominican-American youths living in New York City and struggling to realize their dreams, which range from winning the lottery to returning to the Dominican Republic.

After graduating from the University of Delaware, Shaun joined the New York Public Theater and studied in its Shakespeare Lab program. He made his Off-Broadway debut in "Altar Boyz" as the Ricky Martin-esque character Juan, and then he became an "In the Heights" ensemble member when the show came to Off-Broadway. Shaun stuck with "In the Heights," playing Sonny in its national tour and, now, on Broadway.

Want to see Shaun light the stage on fire? You can buy tickets for "In the Heights" here and learn more about this innovative musical by visiting its official website.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Former Yankees player and manager Bucky Dent stopped by to talk about the SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS tour, a unique traveling display that includes 40 baseballs designed by Little Leaguers and autographed by celebrities / athletes. The tour will make stops in four U.S. cities (Los Angeles, Anaheim, New York and Williamsport, PA) from July through the Little League Baseball World Series in late August.

The celebrity signed baseballs will be on display to the public in Manhattan as well as available for purchase via an online auction, with all the proceeds benefitting the Little League Baseball Urban Initiative.

Celebrities who have autographed baseballs in the tour include the actors Zac Levi and Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene from the Twilight movie series; 14-time gold medalist Michael Phelps; World Series Champions CC Sabathia and Ryan Howard; Joe Torre; Chris Drury; and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon.

In addition to viewing the baseballs on tour, fans can also go to SUBWAY's Facebook page. At the end of the tour the baseballs will be auctioned online with all proceeds going to the Little League Baseball Urban Initiative.

Actor Brandon T. Jackson stopped by to talk about his role as Benny in the new movie Lottery Ticket. His co-stars include Terry Crews and Bow Wow.

The film is about Kevin Carson (Bow Wow), a young man living in the projects who has to survive a three-day weekend after his opportunistic neighbors find out he's holding a winning lottery ticket worth $370 million, says IMDB.

Lottery Ticket premieres on August 20 in theaters. You can follow Jackson on Twitter @brandontjackson and for more information, visit www.lotteryticketmovie.com.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz came by to talk about 32nd annual the Seaside Summer Concert Series at Asser Levy/Seaside Park, the 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field in Crown Heights/Central Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Book Festival coming up Sept. 12.

Seaside Summer Concert Series Lineup
August 19: The B-52s, Belinda Carlisle.
August 26: Latino Music By the Sea .

Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series Lineup
August 16: Gospel Night: Bebe & Cece Winans, Fred Hammond
August 23: Caribbean Night: Sean Paul, Mighty Sparrow

Chef Ricardo Cardona stopped by to talk about his latest venture. His modern Dominican cuisine is the centerpiece of Corona, Queens new dining and nightlife destination Gabbana. It offers an interpretation of tradition Dominican fare in a romantic relaxed setting. He shoed us how to make Branzino a la Dominican.

Gabbana, which makes its grand oening today, is located at 107-11 Norther Blvd. in Corona, Queens. For more information, visit www.gabbanany.com.

Comedienne Loni Love stopped by to talk abotu her upcoming performance at theGotham Comedy Club.

Named by Variety as “One of the top 10 comics to watch,” Loni Love has taken stand-up comedy to new heights. As a regular panelist on E!'s hit late night show Chelsea Lately, Loni has quickly emerged as a comic force to be reckoned with. Her passion for making people laugh and ability to relate to the audience has catapulted her into comedic stardom.

Love's Comedy Central one-hour special Loni Love: America's Sister is available in sotres now. For tickets and showtimes to her Gotham Comedy Club performances, visit gothamcomedyclub.com.

Actress Natasha Henstridge stopped by to talk abot her role as in Lifetime's The Devil's Teardrop, which premieres on Sunday, August 8 at 8pm. Her co-stars include Tom Everett Scott and and Rena Sofer.

The Devil's Teardrop is based on New York Times best-selling author Jeffery Deaver's mystery novel of the same name. Says Lifetime:

"When Washington D.C. is terrorized by a serial killer, the only piece of evidence that FBI Special Agent Margaret Lukas (Natasha Henstridge) has to work with is a ransom note written by the perpetrator. Desperate to solve the case before the killer strikes again, Agent Lukas turns to renowned handwriting analyst Parker Kincaid (Tom Everett Scott). Kincaid is a former FBI agent who quit the force after his young son was attacked by an escaped killer that Kincaid had helped capture. While joining forces with Lukas to track down the murderer, Kincaid is also fighting his ex-wife (Rena Sofer) for what’s most dear to him — the custody of his children."

For more on Lifetime's The Devil's Teardrop, visit www.mylifetime.com/movies/the-devils-teardrop.

Ety Rybak, co-founder of Inside Sports and Entertainment Group, stopped by with the insider's guide to the best sites for great ticket. He also helped us give away two tickets to KTU's Beatstock, with headliners Enrique Iglesias, Kelly Rowland and Taio Cruz.

Discounted Theater Tickets:
- theatermania.com
- broadwaybox.com

Ticket Release Alerts:
- ticketdropchecker.com
- presaletoday.com (offers a list of everything that goes on sale and what times, also offers presale passwords)

Ticket Buying/Pricing:
- seatgeek.com
- fansnap.com (these sites help point the consumer towards the best prices in the secondary marketplace)

Actress Vanessa Marcil stopped by the show to talk about reprising her best-known role as Brenda on the hit ABC soap opera General Hospital on August 11th.

Marcil made her debut in appearance September 1992 as Brenda, and fans last saw her in February 2003 when she left town. According to USA Today, "Brenda Barrett's return to Port Charles comes at a time when the three most important men in her life – Sonny (Maurice Benard), Jax (Ingo Rademacher) and Jason (Steve Burton) – are all in crisis. Brenda's in trouble herself – when is she not? – possessing an explosive secret. Only she doesn’t even realize it's something devoutly to be kept secret. Brenda has no idea the havoc this little indiscretion will wreak or that she'll send the lives of loved ones hurling into chaos."

General Hospital airs wwekdays at 3pm on ABC.

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. Free Music Download
2. Free Canollis

With her killer pipes and her already impressive acting career, former 3LW member Naturi Naughton is now making a name for herself in the film business. Her latest role in the upcoming comedy Lottery Ticket is sure to elevate her star power while keeping moviegoers everywhere laughing.

Naturi’s character, Stacie, tries to support her best friend Kevin (Bow Wow) when he discovers he holds a winning lottery ticket and incurs the wrath of his greedy neighbors. Her co-star Brandon T. Jackson also came by to talk about the movies yesterday. She’ll follow Lottery Ticket up with a role in an independent film, Highland Park, where she’ll play opposite Twilight Saga star Billy Burke and indie queen Parker Posey.

Naturi kicked off her career in the girl group 3LW, whose self-titled first album went platinum. Though she left the group in 2002, Naturi’s blended her passions for music and acting to great success. She performed in the Broadway musical "Hairspray" for four years; played Lil’ Kim in Notorious, a biopic about rapper The Notorious B.I.G.; and, last year, starred as Denise, the lead role, in a remake of Fame. Naturi’s first solo single, the theme from Fame, charted internationally.

You catch Naturi Naughton in Lottery Ticket starting August 20. Watch the trailer here and visit the film’s official website at www.lotteryticketmovie.com.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Tom Papa, host of the Jerry Seinfeld-created show The Marriage Ref on NBC, stopped by to talk about his performances at Carolines on Broadway from now through August 8.

Papa, a native of New Jersey, is an actor, host and comedian. His credits include The Informant!, The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto and Analyze That. He also has two Comedy Central.

For tickets and showtimes, visit www.carolines.com.

You might know the multi-talented Tanya Wright from her numerous TV roles, but did you know she can write too? The True Blood star joined PIX Morning News today to dish about her debut novel Butterfly Rising, which she also adapted into a film.

Butterfly Rising tells the story of two women, Lilah and Rose, who escape their small town after Lilah suffers tragedy. Tanya conceived the idea in 2006, shortly after her brother died, and wrote the film's screenplay, which placed in the esteemed Nicholl's Screenwriting Competition. In addition to directing, producing, and starring in the movie, Tanya wrote the accompanying novel.

In her first TV role, Tanya played Theo Huxtable's girlfriend on The Cosby Show. (She and "Theo," Malcolm Jamal Warner, are still good friends.) After briefly working at The New York Times, she moved to Los Angeles to build her acting career. Her credits include 24, NYPD Blue, The Handler, and now True Blood on HBO, where she plays Deputy Kenya Jones, a sarcastic and skeptical policewoman. Tanya says she always knew her passions for acting and writing would intersect, and her many-year project Butterfly Rising proves it.

Want more of Tanya? You can buy Butterfly Rising on Amazon and stay up-to-date on the film version by visiting its website. She'll also be paying a visit to the Brooklyn Book Festival on September 12. And don't forget to catch her on HBO Sundays at 9 p.m. in True Blood.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Gabi Gregg, a native of Detroit who lives in Chicago, stopped by to talk about winning the title of MTV's first-ever TJ "Twitter Jockey" as part of the Follow Me: The Search for the first MTV TJ competition.

The competition kicked off July 7 with the 20 candidates competing in a series of five Twitter challenges. The other top-five finalists were: Jose M Iniguez (Tulare, CA), Ryan Lytle (Athens, OH), Xavier Moreno (Atlanta, GA), Dannielle Owens-Reid (Brooklyn, NY)

Before winning the top spot, Gabi had to complete a series of challenges. "Each challenge has a distinctive purpose and all challenges have two elements: personal and social. The personal elements are designed to reveal the candidate’s sense of individuality and character. The social elements are designed to reveal the candidate’s social talents online as well as offline," says MTV. As the winner, she moves to New York City to work a $100,000 job for MTV.

You can follow Gabi on Twitter @gabifresh and now @mtvtj. For more on the MTV TJ spot, visit mtv.com.

You've seen him fight zombies, the CIA, and even Nicolas Cage. Now you can watch Ving Rhames do battle with ancient but deadly fish in the upcoming Piranha 3-D. Ving stopped by PIX Morning News to chat about this horror flick that was deemed "too hot" for the San Diego Comic-Con.

The sea creatures that give the film its name are a 200-million-year-old species thought to be extinct, but these killer goldfish resurface during spring break, when a normally sleepy town is flooded with boozing and bikini-clad college kids. Ving plays Deputy Fallon, who, along with star Elisabeth Shue, must fight the man-eating fish.

A New York City native, Ving's career spans TV, stage and of course, the silver screen. He began his career on Broadway before appearing in television shows like Miami Vice and then transitioning to feature films. Some of his best known credits include Pulp Fiction mobster Marsellus Wallace; computer hacker Luther Stickell in all three Mission: Impossible movies; and a zombie combatant in Dawn of the Dead. Ving won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of boxing promoter Don King, and throughout his 25-year career, he's starred opposite big screen favorites like Tom Cruise, Samuel L. Jackson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Now you can catch Ving in Piranha 3-D starting August 20. Watch the trailer here and visit the movie's official website to learn more.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Celebrity trainer Brett Hoebel revealed how we can get those six pack abs we all wish we had. He walked us through four moves from his Capoiera-based workout, which is part of his RevAbs program.

For more information, visit www.Beachbody.com/RevAbs.

You may not recognize this young actress, but it's her voice that makes Dora the Explorer come alive. We're celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dora with 14-year-old Caitlin Sanchez, the the voice behind this lovable character. She also helped us dance to the song "We Did It."

Cailtin, a Jersey girl, told us that the show is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with the hour-lone special Dora's Big Birthday Adventure, which airs Sunday night on Nickelodeon.

Nickelodeon celebrates the landmark 10th anniversary of the world’s most beloved Latina heroine, Dora the Explorer, with a brand-new, hour-long primetime TV movie, Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure, premiering Sunday, Aug. 15, at 8pm on Nickelodeon. The special, which follows Dora and Boots on a whirlwind adventure through Magic Storybook Land, guest stars Rosie Perez as La Bruja (the witch), John Leguizamo as the Flying Monkeys and Hector Elizondo as the Wishing Wizzle.

Victoria's Secret Supermodel Candice Swanepoel is here to talk about brand's major launch of the Incredible!

The new bra features cushioned underwire, wider band, flat closure, and self-adjusting straps. For more on the Incredible, visit www.victoriassecret.com.

According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $606.40 getting ready for the upcoming school year. The survey also found that parents are spending more time looking for creative ways to spend less money. New product reporter and senior editor of BehindTheBuy.com David Gregg is here with some last minute tips and products to help you get the most bang for your back to school bucks.

Best Value Laptops
The Gateway ID Series weighs only 5 pounds and is just 1-inch thin. It features the performance a student needs in a primary PC including a 14-inch HD display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of memory, 500GB hard drive and Wifi. It’s also great for entertainment with Dolby home theater sound, easy one-touch multimedia keys, DVD burner and a web cam. For about half the price and half the size comes the Gateway LT Series netbook. It offers 8 hours of battery life in a 2.76-pound package. It also offers a social networking key that allows students to quickly access their social networks on Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep tabs on friends and provide their own updates, photos and videos. ($680; $350 respectively; www.gateway.com)

Allure Magazine's Beauty Editor Angelique Serrano stopped by with the best products different ethnicities should use to combat aging. She says the color of your skin actually determines how you should treat it, and the magazine interviewed doctors who explained how to target the needs of various skin types with the products below. We went over Black, White, East and Southeast Asian, South Asian and Middle Eastern, and Latina.

Black Skin
- Cells that make pigment are highly productive
- After inflamation, the productivity can create dark marks
Product: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream

Among the one in three American women affected by hair thinning at some point in their lives, 30 million of them will experience hair loss. Even glamorous celebrities have to deal with it: General Hospital star Finola Hughes started losing her hair when she became a mom. Finola, now sporting long, beautiful hair, stopped by PIX Morning News to talk about this personal challenge and how she overcame it.

The causes of hair thinning include genetics, high stress, and bad health and nutrition. When the body stops delivering certain nutrients to the scalp, the hair will grow slower, become thinner, and eventually stop growing at all.

But when Finola went through that herself, she refused to lose hope. She tried out new hairstyles, talked to doctors, and eventually came across the Viviscal products line. Finola regained her full head of hair after she took Viviscal's natural dietary supplements and used its shampoo and conditioner.

Finola, now a Viviscal spokesperson, wants her story to remind women that hair loss isn't uncommon and isn't irreversible, so losing hair doesn't have to mean losing self-worth. You can learn more about Viviscal by visiting its website.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Sometimes hair doesn't have to be practical in order to be fabulous, and Oxygen's newest reality series, Hair Battle Spectacular, embraces that fact. The show pits 10 stylists against each other for a chance to win $100,000. To move on in the competition, they must construct innovative fantasy hairstyles corresponding to themes, such as weddings or futuristic inventions.

Hair Battle Spectacular host Brooke Burns stopped by PIX Morning News and told us about her own hair adventures. She says she's always been a risk taker with her hair, so she's had many quirky stylists over the years, making them perfect for reality TV. She drew from her vast knowledge of all things hair to judge our own "PIX Hair Spectacular." Watch the video below the jump and check out which PIX personality had the most outrageous 'do!

Hair Battle Spectacular premieres tonight at 10 p.m. on Oxygen. Learn more by visiting the show's official website.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Leading fashion designer Sue Wong's new line "Eat, Pray, Love by Sue Wong" is a luxurious ready-to-wear collection inspired by the highly-anticipated film Eat, Pray, Love, starring Julia Roberts and based on the book of the same name by Elizabeth Gilbert. The film takes place in some exotic locations which Sue incorporated in her latest collection.

And if you want a chance to really get in the mind and spirit of the film, how about a trip? We've teamed up with Sony Pictures to giveaway a vacation to Italy, India or Indonesia. All you have to do is watch Friends every weeknight on PIX11 and look for the Eat, Pray, Love codeword. Then, log onto friendsprize.com to enter and receive all of sweepstakes details.

For more on Sue's fashion line, visit www.suewong.com/EatPrayLove.

Read the full story: "Flight Attendant Steven Slater: Facebook Rockstar."

Beautiful fashion expert Louise Roe gets wallflowers to bloom in the hottest new makeover show on the CW, Plain Jane.

Each of the series' eight episodes will feature a new "Jane" searching for the change of a lifetime. With Louise's help, each Plain Jane will receive a head-to-toe style transformation, including new wardrobe and confidence-building exercises. Once the transformation is complete, the formerly Plain Jane will surprise her unsuspecting crush with the new look and reveal her true feelings to him. A love connection is -- or isn't -- made.

We wanted to see her makeover skills in action, so we figured we'd give her a little challenge. Our intern Sara Grossbarth has an interview for an internship coming up in the fall. She asked Rachel to give her a look that's girly but professional.

Hairstylist Noelle Chen gave Sara a simple haircut for a healthier appearance. Then she added volume and shine for a fun, flirty look. She capped off Sara’s new hairstyle with L'Oréal Professionnel Texture Expert Freezing Mist.

d

YouTube expert Chris Hardwick gives viral video a venue on G4's Web Soup, which he hosts. Now he'll have a stage to himself at Carolines on Broadway starting tonight.

You can catch him through Sunday evening, so if you can't get enough of Chris, make sure to buy tickets online at www.carolines.com and visit his website, Nerdist.com.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

We all get fed up at work one time or another. However, when it comes to leaving your place of employment, there's a wrong and right way to do it says my next guest Daryl Pigat from Robert Half International.

• Give Ample Notice
Two weeks is usually the standard notice for departure, but check your employee handbook to see if your employer has different expectations. If you need to leave sooner, or would like to offer more transition time, tell your employer up front. However, don't be surprised if you are asked to leave the day you tender your resignation - and are escorted from the building. Many companies today, for security reasons, will cut ties immediately with a resigning employee. So, if your employer decides not to accept your offer to work another two weeks, don't be offended. Just make sure that before you resign, you are prepared to leave right away, if asked to do so

Witty observational humorist Sebastian Maniscalco knows funny: you’ve probably seen his unforgettable facial expressions and wisecracks on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Now you can catch him in person at the historic Gotham Comedy Club until the end of the week.

Sebastian made a name for himself early in his comedy career: fellow funnyman Vince Vaughn handpicked him to be a featured comedian in Wild West Comedy Show, alongside names like Jon Favreau and Justin Long. He then scored his own special, Sebastian Live!, on Comedy Central Presents, before landing his biggest television gig as style correspondent for The Tonight Show.

You can see Sebastian live at the Gotham Comedy Club starting tonight. His show will run until Saturday. Buy tickets at gothamcomedyclub.com and learn more about Sebastian by visiting his website.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Superman's best friend is now a superstar on stage. Smallville actress Allison Mack stopped by PIX Morning News to chat about her latest gig in the Off Broadway play "Love, Loss, and What I Wore."

The show, based on a book, consists of a series of anecdotes about clothes and the memories they trigger. From prom dresses to handbags, actresses like Rosie O'Donnell, Kristin Chenoweth, and Sherri Shepherd have recounted the wardrobe-inspired tales since the play's debut last September.

Allison's shown her talents on stage before in performances of "Chicago" and "Rent," but she's best known for her TV work, both on and off camera. She's played Chloe Sullivan for nine seasons on Smallville, right here on the CW. Its tenth season will premiere in September. Allison's proved herself behind the scenes, too: she directed two episodes of Smallville and opened her own production company, Parvati Creative, Inc.

You can see Allison in "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" until August 29, so make sure to get tickets soon! Visit the show's website to learn more. And don't forget to catch the premiere of Smallville's 10th season on September 24 at 8 p.m. on the CW.

Written by Sara Grossbarth

Parenting Expert Dr. Michele Borba teamed up with Upromise® World MasterCard® credit card from Bank of America to talk about raising money-smart kids.

Today at 1pm on facebook.com/upromise Dr. Borba will be answering parenting questions.

When to Start Talking About Finances with Your Kids:
If your child can count to ten, he/she is ready to learn about money. Introduce coin recognition, counting coins, saving in a piggy bank, exchanging goods and services for money and the idea that money is the reward for working. By five year’s of age, most kids’ beliefs, values, and expectations regarding money are already well established, so start early. The piggy bank is the simplest way to begin because the child can see the money going into the piggy bank and will have to make the choice to save the money or spend it on items they want – they can only buy what they want if they save enough money first.

We spoke with Wiston Majette about what's on schedule for Harlem Week and closed off with a fashion show. Some of the activities include:

1. NY Family "Health Walk-A-Thon for the Health of the Children of Haiti"& Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run

2. Broadway League - "Kids Night Out"

3. "Summer in the City" A. "Dancing in the Streets" B. NY City Children's Festival C. "Sounds of Philadelphia" - Delfonics D. Historic Black College Fair & Expo

4. HARLEM DAY A. Upper Manhattan Auto Show B. Health Fair C. Fifth Avenue Stage D. St. Nicholas Avenue Stage E. International Stage

For more information, visit harlemweek.com.

Billy Magnussen has starred on Broadway, soap operas, and now plays a role along side Gossip Girl's Chase Crawford and 50 Cent in the the new drama Twelve. Billy stopped by to talk to us about his role and what he may be planning for the future.

Directed by Joel Schumacher, Twelve is a drama/thriller based on the novel by Nick Mcdonnell.

We follow the life of a high-school dropout played by Billy's co-star Chace Crawford who leads the life as an upper east-side drug dealer. Once his cousin is murdered in the streets of East Harlem, White Mike's (played by Chace Crawford) life collides as he is drawn further into the drug world with the new drug of choice twelve.

Twelve can be seen in theaters now.

We spoke with Ety Rybak, co-founder of Inside Sports and Entertainment Group, about annual fall events in the area. He highlighted the 2010 US Open, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Start of NFL Football season, third annual Food Network New York City wine & Food Festival.

For any of the above tickets call Inside Sports & Entertainment Group at 212-686-5710.

Inside Sports & Entertainment Group is giving away two tickets to the NFL Preseason Jets/Giants Monday, August 16th (first football game and the New Meadowlands Stadium). For the tickets, all you have to do wait for the on-air cue and be the 11th caller to (866) 414-2911. Click here to read the rules.

Actress Cassie Scerbo stopped by to talk about her role as feisty Lauren Tanner on ABC Family's Make It or Break It.

ABC says of the show, "When the Rock girls compete against the Chinese everyone calls them gutsy. (Or crazy.) When they win five medals -- compared to the National Team's four -- people say they're the best. But the Rock gymnasts and their coach are also being called renegades – a label that could hurt them in the eyes of the National Committee. [...] The stakes are higher than ever. The gymnasts will be pushed to the limit. And loyalties will be tested like never before."

Make It or Break It airs Tuesdays at 8pm on ABC Family.

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. Performance by BeBe & CeCe Winans in Wingate Field, BK
2. Movie in Bryant, NYC Park

"Eat Pray Love." It's the much talked about film starring Julia Roberts. Adapted from a best selling memoir, Julia's character sets out on a journey through Italy, India and Bali. We drew inspiration from her travels with Carlota Espinosa, Fashion Expert of HauteLook.com .

Italy:
Tt Layerd T-Shirts, $62 (65% off today at HauteLook.com)
J. Crew Military Style Blazer
French Connection Linen Pants
Maya Brenner Gold Earrings and Bracelet
Sir Alistair Rai Scarf

This Friday the 13th could leave a mark on some tattoo fans. Thicker than Water Tattoos has something special going on today and joining us now is Shon Lindauer, the shop's co-owner and a tattoo artist as well. He also gave one of our line producers, Ed, a "13" tattoo too.

Thicker than Water Tattoos is located at 181 Avenue B New York, NY 10009.

Today nearly 200 standup paddle boaders took to the Hudson River for a good cause. The 4th Annual Surfers Environmental Alliance is a 6 hour, 28 mile journey from Pier 40 to the Seaport's Water Taxi Beach.

The charity paddle will raise money for a number of different Autism organizations as well as the SEA. Last year the event raised almost $250,000.

For more information, log onto seapaddlenyc.org.

For this week's edition of Neighborhood Bites, we were tipped off to a place called Metro Diner located at Broadway and 100th Street. Not only is it big to the locals but a few New York celebrities such as Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Governor Elliot Spitzer have stopped in for the amazing food.

From the Belgium Waffles, to the tuna melt, and even the skirt steak the Metro Diner falls under the category of very good and a bit pricey, but it is well worth it.

Chris would love to check out your favorite hole-in-the-wall place to eat. E-mail him at morningnews@wpix.com.

Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr takes a break from the Upper East Side to star in the newest thriller Piranha 3D.

Jessica plays the role of Kelly who heads to Lake Victoria with friends for a spring break they may never forget. Once an underwater tremor sets loose a school of fierce and hungry piranhas, a group of teenagers have much more to worry about then your regular hangover.

Starring alongside Jessica are Ving Rhames, Christopher Lloyd, Elisabeth Shue, Richard Dreyfuss and Jerry O'Connell. Piranha 3D hits theaters August 20th

John sat down with Nando Difino, sports writer with the Wall Street Journal, and Tom Lorenzo from AOL Fanhouse.

With the hype of the preseason between the New York Jets and Giants; and the addition of the new stadium; John gets the scoop from what sports writers are expecting to see at tonight's game and the season to come.

New York Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV met with PIX Morning News back in April to announce he will run against longtime congressman Charles Rangel in the upcoming House of Representatives race. But circumstances have changed completely now that Rangel’s embroiled in violations and an impending ethics trial. Powell sat down with PIX again this morning to discuss these new developments and the primary race in September.

The son of congressman and civil rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Powell IV has been involved with New York government since 1992, when he represented East Harlem as a New York City Council Member until 1997. He’s served a state assemblyman for the past 10 years representing Harlem and East Harlem. Powell IV made an unsuccessful bid for Rangel’s Congress seat in 1994. Rangel originally won that office in 1970 when he beat Powell IV’s father in the Congressional race.

The primary race will take place on September 14.

If you would like to know the secrets to savings, our Lisa Mateo talked with Joanie Demer from thekrazycouponlady.com.

They want to help you put more money in your pocket and teach you the great ways you can save at the supermarket. The main secret is to organize your coupons, and shop store smart.

Franklyn Ajaye stopped in to talk about his rare East coast appearance.

The legendary comedian / writer /actor returns to his New York comedy club roots with a special show at Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan on Wednesday, August 18th as part of the 2010 New York Underground Comedy Festival.

Known as 'The Jazz Comedian' for his smooth improvisational comedic style and his musical skills as a clarinet player, Brooklyn-born Ajayea rose to fame in the 1970's, making television appearances on "The Flip Wilson Show" and "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Ajaye, who recorded five comedy CDs, worked as an actor appearing in the films "Car Wash," "Hollywood Shuffle," and received Emmy nominations for his writing on such programs as "In Living Color" and "Politically Incorrect." He recently appeared in the HBO series "Deadwood." and is also the author of "Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-Up Comedy"

It's the Wedding Dance Workout! Ever go to a wedding and not get up and dance?

Your days as a wallflower are over. This workout is a fun, cardio workout that teaches you basic moves while you work up a sweat. Groove to wedding staples like disco, swing, basic waltz, foxtrot, tango, and country line dancing.

Classes begin with a 5-7 minute warm-up and stretch followed by standing exercises. Next is a 30-minute dance floor section focusing on across-the-floor moves. We wrap up with a final stretch and a "Going to the Chapel" finale. You may not be ready for Dancing With the Stars but your aunt from Miami will be impressed.

The Nets Kids Dancers stomped their way into our studios to show off their moves and give kids a look at how much fun it can be to be a Nets Kids Dancer.

Nets kids Audtions are being held this Tuesday, August 17th at the PNY Center.
Located at 390 Murray Hill Parkway, East Rutherford, NJ

Registration begins at 5:30PM & dancers must arrive by 6:00pm to participate.

The Nets Kids Dancers are seeking boys & girls ages 6-13 with at least two years of technical dance training. Dancers must demonstrate their ability to learn & perform choreography. Tumbling and break-dancing skills are a plus, but not required.
Participants should wear dance attire and non-marking sneakers or dance shoes.
Pack drinks & snacks as finalists may be kept until 9:00pm.

One parent must be present at registration to sign a participation waiver, and
only those auditioning will be allowed into the gym. There will be TV, web & print media coverage Plus all positions are paid.

Having a healthy imagination is an important part of a child's life. One local playground is making it their number one priority. Imagination Playground Park incorporates movable objects, and a manipulable environment to encourage child-directed, unstructured free play. Features include a sandpit, cascading water channel, slide, rope climbing structure, masts and pulleys, and a listening forest.

The park is located at Burling Slip in the South Street Seaport, and is open from 9 am to 7 pm daily for the summer and from 2:30 pm to 7 pm daily during the school year.

Imagination Playground Park is a collaboration between the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and Rockwell Group. For more information, and to find out how you can make a donation, log onto imaginationplayground.org.

Chris stars as the lead alongside Horatio Sanz (SNL), and Chris Parnell (30 Rock, SNL) in the upcoming Comedy Central show BIG LAKE produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay and Chris Henchy that premiere's on August 17th!

Gethard plays the earnest, sometimes awkward character of Josh, a young man who ends up being forced to move back in with his parents due to trouble at work. He spends much of his time with his two friends Glenn (Sanz), who was recently released from prison, and Chris (Parnell), their inappropriate, burned out high school teacher.

We women will do just about anything to look our best! But, where do we draw the line? At breast milk soap? Snail slime cream? Joanna Douglas, Beauty Editor of Yahoo! Shine stopped by bizarre beauty finds.

They included:
-Breast Milk Soap, $6
-Ta-ta-toos, $12.95
-Hask Placenta Hair Treatment, $1.59
-Revlon Scented Nail Polish, $5
-Halka Baba de Caracol
-The Cleavage Caddy, $29.95

You know Gbenga Akinnagbe from intense dramas like The Wire and The Good Wife, but he’ll definitely have you laughing in Lottery Ticket. Gbenga stopped by PIX Morning News today to chat about his latest flick, which hits theaters this Friday.

Gbenga plays Lorenzo, a thug who just got out of prison and wants a piece of a winning lotto ticket worth $370 million. The ticket’s holder, Kevin (Bow Wow), needs to evade Lorenzo and his other greedy neighbors until he can cash in his winnings. Gbenga’s fellow Lottery Ticket stars Naturi Naughton and Brandon T. Jackson (http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/local/morningnews/blogs/2010/08/brandon_t_jackson.html) have also appeared on PIX Morning News.

After graduating from Bucknell University and working for the federal government, Gbenga decided to pursue his passion for acting and began performing onstage. He starred in the hit HBO series The Wire for three seasons and appeared in a range of TV shows, from the Showtime sitcom Barbershop to drama mysteries like Numb3rs and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He now plays Pastor Isaiah Easton in The Good Wife, which will return to CBS for its second season on September 28.

You can see Gbenga in Lottery Ticket starting this Friday, August 20.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey continue to heat up the summer with The Coney Island Illuscination. The fantasy-filled show features eye-popping illusions, thrilling circus acts and exotic animals. Illuscinator, David DaVinci will host this all new Gold edition of The Greatest Show on Earth.

The show runs through September 6th, in an air-conditioned tent on Surf Avenue and West 21st Street. Tickets start as low as $10. For ticket information, log onto Ringling.com/ConeyIsland.

On average, college students spend $900 a year on textbooks. But, luckily there are deals to be had, you just need to know where to fine them! Scott Gamm, Founder of HelpSaveMyDollars.com stopped by to tell us how to save big on books.

Scott's tips include:
1. Use promotional codes for discounts from website such as PromotionalCodes.com. Check out CouponWinner.com to find money saving coupons for back to school!

2. Rent textbooks at website such as Chegg.com.

3. Compare prices at website such as HelpSaveMyDollars.com. It finds the retailer that sells a particular textbook for the lowest price.

4. For mobile coupons check out iPhone apps for mobile coupons Yowza!!, SaveBenjis and MobiQpons. A barcode appears on the screen of the iPhone that the cashier can scan.

As part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act:
1. Universities must give students a price list of all the textbooks required and the book's ISBN number, at the time students enroll for classes. This will give students time to shop around and compare textbook prices among different retailers.
2. Most textbook publishers bundle textbooks with CDs and additional workbooks. 65% of professors say that they don't need these extra items. This law requires publishers to sell each item separately, allowing students to only buy what they need.

From battered women to prison inmates, from troubled youth to long-suffering parents, Doris Buffett has given her millions to people from nearly all walks of life. Doris stopped by PIX Morning News today to chat about her memoir, Giving it All Away: The Doris Buffett Story, where she describes her lifelong philanthropic mission.

Sister to billionaire Warren Buffett, Doris weathered an abusive childhood, depression, and shaky family relations, but when her mother died and left her an inheritance worth millions, Doris decided to devote her life to giving all the cash to people in need. According to her website, Doris’s ultimate goal is for the last check she writes to bounce due to insufficient funds. Doris founded the Sunshine Lady Foundation in 1996, where she receives letters seeking her contribution. So far, Doris has donated $100 million through this “retail philanthropy.”

Giving It All Away is available in bookstores now.

Eli Roth’s horror flicks have featured foes like flesh-eating bacteria and murderous surgeons, but his latest, The Last Exorcism, takes on the Devil himself. Eli chatted with PIX Morning News today about the upcoming film and his love for scary movies.

The Last Exorcism, which Eli co-produced, portrays “found footage” of a documentary about a Protestant minister, who agrees to exorcize a farmer’s daughter. He originally intends to expose the lies behind his previous 47 “exorcisms,” though he learns that this final one is the real deal.

Eli broke into the horror genre with Cabin Fever, which he directed, co-wrote, and produced. His next film, Hostel, hit number one at the box office its opening weekend. Eli caught the attention of director Quentin Tarantino, who called him the next big name in horror and invited Eli to direct a fake trailer for the film Grindhouse. Eli also appeared in Tarantino’s most recent movie, Inglourious Basterds, where he played Brad Pitt’s right hand man, the “Bear Jew.”

The Last Exorcism opens August 27. Watch the trailer here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmrSR5O9QXc) and learn more by visiting its website (http://www.thelastexorcism.com/index.html).

Ever been called ma'am outside the deep south? or pulled the skin back on your face to see what you'd look like with a facelift? or perhaps, still think "hook up" means "let's meet up for a drink?"
well then ladies, brace yourselves...you're officially, a "formerly!"

Stephanie Dolgoff, author of My Formerly Hot Life sat down with Suki to talk about life and how it changes as we grow.

You can pre-order the book at Stephanie's blog page formerlyhot.com

Actor John O'Hurley sat down with our very own Tamsen Fadal as the two share something in common.

O'Hurley, an emmy award winning actor is remembered for his astounding role on America's number one syndicated show, "Seinfield". Which now airs in 85 countries.

O'Hurley has made a return to Broadway's hit Chicago, and can be seen jazzing up the stage with his co-stars until August 29th.

For Tickets and information be sure to check out the Chicago Website.

It is time for the ladies to chime in on a new study about the emergence of cougars. For over 10 years, there has been talk about cougars, who are not just in the jungle, but also in the world of dating. Cougars are defined as women, usually over 40, who hunt younger men, or cubs, and shower them with a tantalizingly experienced kind of love — and lots of ABBA music, according to Time.com.

Some celebs are defined as cougars including 47-year-old Demi Moore who is married to 32-year-old Ashton Kutcher. Plus, there are shows like Cougar Town and countless websites.

But, according to Time.com, Michael Dunn doesn't agree. The researcher at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff, Dunn has just released a study that he insists renders the cougar craze a "myth." He says there is no sizable number of women seeking younger men, and in fact it's just the opposite, that women wanted men their own age or older and richer.

Let us know what you think about cougars: Myth or Reality?

It's the city that never sleeps, and PIX Morning News is always looking for new events to keep you out and about. There's a Mickey Magic Show, Justin Bieber, WWE, Elmo and The Gang, the Jonas Brothers and many more!

Continue reading for the rules on the "Jonas Brothers Ticket Giveaway."

Beauty expert Polly Blitzer discusses a range of new anti-aging products to help you look youthful from head to toe. With a few slight tweaks to your regimen, you can knock years off your appearance. By now, everyone knows about wrinkles on the face. But the rest of our body shows obvious signs of aging, too. These products help you beat the clock and restore a youthful glow in your hair, smile, hands, legs, neck - even your scent!

New York City officials released a scathing press release on local supermarkets and the numerous ways that they are taking your money, sometimes without you even knowing it. For more information on what you should watch out for and what you can do if you find a violation, read the press release or visit the Department of Consumer Affairs website.

Madame, the irrepressible, irreverent and oh-so-irreplaceable diva, best known for her appearances on television's Solid Gold, Hollywood Squares, countless prime-time specials, as well as her own syndicated series Madame's Place, returns to Feinstein's at the Regency in her nationally acclaimed show "It's Madame with an E!", with a new man on her arm - co-star Rick Skye - and musical direction by Ricky Ritzel on Thursday, August 19th at 8:30 pm.

Check the Nassau State of Mind - Cody Milch, Tyler Gildin, Evan Krumholz and Keith Gould describes what it's like living on the South Shore and North Shore of Nassau County, Long Island, all set to Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind."

The daughter of famed comedian Richard Pryor dropped by the studio to talk about her father, her career, Dr. Laura Schlessinger latest gaffe, and how she has created her own niche in the comedy world.

Matthew Finley, known to many simply as "Mdot", stopped by the studio this morning. Mdot is an American R&B recording artist, musician, songwriter, actor, dancer and record producer. He is best known for his lead role as Luke Williams in the upcoming sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam coming out September 3, 2010.

DJ Lance Rock and his buddies from the hit show Yo Gabba Gabba -- Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee and Plex -- dropped by the studio today to perform for a crowd of excited young fans.

Unlike most educational children’s shows, “Yo Gabba Gabba” was not developed by network executives. Instead the show was developed by two Southern California dads with no previous experience writing for television, let alone children’s broadcasting. They simply shared a mutual disappointment in kids’ television. They both wanted to design a kids' show that was both educational and entertaining while featuring real artists and real performers. The pair first started working together as teenagers, producing and directing skateboarding videos. After doing some odd jobs here and there, Jacobs and Schultz decided to try something different.

Retired FBI agent Don Adams claims that Lee Harvey Oswald did not assassinate President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, and Adams says he has the documents to prove it. The fateful date was November 22, 1963, and John F. Kennedy was traveling in Dallas.

The events that transpired that day have been recorded on thousands of reports and records, many of which bear Adams' name, and the ex-agent has been collecting them in his Akron, Ohio home for years. Many, however, are missing.

Adams says he can prove from the records that the assassination was carried out by another man, a KKK and States Rights Party member by the name of Joseph Adams Milteer. In the recorded interview, Milteer describes him as one of the most violent men in the country at that time.

Jill and Lisa kick off the weekend when the Backyard BBQ moves to East Brunswick, NJ. With Linda off, Lisa fills in to help Jill fire up the grill and start up the party. ...And what a party it was. Radio station 103.5 KTU provided music while broadcasting live from our BBQ.

Ray Venezia, the master butcher at Fairway Market, grilled away. He showed Lisa the correct way to grill chicken, burgers and ribs. As the master butcher at Fairway Market, he gave the inside scoop on picking the best meats and how to marinade them to perfection.

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. Performance by Chrisette Michele, Mario and Tamia in Central Park, NYC 2. Performance by Sean Paul in Wingate Field, BK

The men who brought the world the headcrusher are debuting their smashingly funny miniseries in the U.S. tonight. The Kids in the Hall stopped by PIX Morning News to chat about "Death Comes to Town" and their quirky, Monty Python-esque comedic style.

Uncomfortable and downright awkward! Today, we asked those offbeat questions we're all too embarrassed to ask our doctor. Dr. Roshini Raj, author of "What the Yuck?: The Freaky and Fabulous Truth About Your Body " was live to answer them.

Questions from the book we covered include:
- What's the worst thing you can catch from your thong?
- Why do some farts smell and others don't?
- How many days can you forget to take the pill without getting pregnant?
- What is this gunk in my belly button, and why does it smell so bad?
- Why would i suddenly start getting facial hair?

She's landed roles in some of the most watched shows on TV, and now, you can catch her in two. True Blood and The Good Wife star Carrie Preston stopped by PIX Morning News today to chat about her latest ventures.

11-year-old Trevor McNamara of New Jersey stopped by as today's Friday Forecaster! He's a Board Member and Youth Ambassador of Liam's Room , which creates inpatient pediatric palliative care rooms and services for families whose children are suffering from chronic, potentially life-limiting, conditions.

Do you remember Garanimals with the fun animal tags? Well, the clothing company is still making cool clothes for children. This morning the vice president of design for Garanimals, Lori Rej, gave us a peek at fall looks for toddlers with a full-blown fashion show. For more information, check out the Garanimals Clothing website.

In our "Garanimals for Week Giveaway," PIX11 Morning News viewer Leena Fadel called in and won a week's worth of clothing for her son. Tune in....you just never know what we're going to giveaway next.

When 23-year-old Brendan Marrocco left to serve his country in Iraq, he never thought he would be coming home like he did . . . a quadruple amputee.

During the early morning hours of Easter Sunday, the vehicle that the Staten Island native was travelling in took a direct hit. Brendan was lucky to escape with his life but lost all of his limbs. He has been recovering at Walter Reed, but the one thing he wants most is to get back home. The young man's attitude as absolutely inspiring, despite his injuries he is upbeat and optimistic about the future.

And, with the help of his community, Brendan's wish will come true. He will be returning to a new, state-of-the-art home thanks to the generosity of the Building Homes for Heroes and the Stephen Siller Foundation. The money, $500,000, is still being raised but the goal is to get him into his new home by Christmas.

To find out how you can help Brendan's wish come true go to the Active Giving website.

John Muller sat down with Tchicaya Missamou, author of In The Shadow Of Freedom: Heroic Journey to Manhood and Liberation. This former US Marine grew up in the Congo and was pushed into being a child soldier when his country erupted into civil war. When a second uprising began an older Tchicaya resisted and paid dearly. He was badly beaten, and his family also suffered abuse at the hands of a militia group.

Tchicaya escaped the Congo for Belgium and made it to the USA where as a non-citizen joined the Marines rising to the rank of Sergeant and serving in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq and become one of the men responsible for the rescue of Jessica Lynch.

Through an executive order issued by President George W. Bush in 2002 that allowed legal permanent residents actively serving in the U.S. military to become immediately eligible to apply for citizenship, Missamou became a proud American citizen on August 1, 2003.

Tchicaya is now a citizen and lives in LA where he owns a successful fitness center in Los Angeles. His book "In the Shadow of Freedom" tells the story of his heroic journey. He will be signing copies of his book on Wednesday, August 25th at the Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Square.

Heroes star Greg Grunberg stopped by to talk about his role in the new dramatic Lifetime original movie Bond of Silence

It is inspired by the true story of Katy Hutchison (Kim Raver, Grey's Anatomy, 24) whose husband was mysteriously killed when trying to quiet a neighborhood teenage New Year's Eve party. Greg portrays the police investigator who helps Katy find her husband's killer.

Bond of Silence airs at 9pm tonight, August 23 on Lifetime. For more information, visit www.mylifetime.com.

Few fitness activities can instantly transport you to a place reminiscent of care-free childhood days. Hoopnotica hoopdancing provides an incomparable total body workout while you have fun and hoop away the stress of your day. Hoopdancing is perfect for those interested in adding something new and exciting to their current exercise routine, as well as anyone who is looking for an activity that will help keep them motivated to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

We learned the Basic Forward Stance (slims waist), Side Stance (defines core,legs and glutes), and 360 Spin (increases heart rate).

Fitnotic is hosting a free Sunset Hoopjam on Friday, August 27 at 6pm at Pier 62 in Chelsea for anyone who wants to learn. For more information, visit www.fitnotic.com.

Forbes Riley is an internationally recognized health and fitness expect. Known as "the Queen of the Infomercial" because she is in such demand, in her 10 year career, she has sold more than two billion dollars worth of products on the air. She likes to say, "I don't sell products. I sell my word."

Earlier this year, she was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. She is the CEO and creator of the Spin Gym and its fitness programs. Forbes believes that Fitness is the new "F" word. Her personal philosophy is that health and fitness is a lifestyle not a fad.

Forbes is 49, the mother of 7-year-old twins and is in great shape. She shared with us her Six Secrets of Success Some of the celebrities who Spin Gym are Ed O'Neil, Diedre Hall, Gilles Marini, Christopher MacDonald, Chris Harrison ("The Bachelor" host) and Ted McGinley.

For more on Forbes Riley, visit www.forbesriley.com.

Actress Alyson Stoner stopped by to talk about her role as Caitlyn Geller in the new Disney Channel movie Camp Rock 2.

"The campers Mitchie (Demi Lovato), Shane, Jason, Nate (Jonas Brothers) they soon learn that a new state-of-the-art music/performance camp, Camp Star, has opened across the lake and has lured away many of Camp Rock instructors and campers -- putting the future of Camp Rock in jeopardy. And when Camp Star's hotshot performer, Luke Williams, challenges Camp Rock to a musical showdown to see which camp really has the stronger musical talent, everyone prepares for the ultimate battle of the bands. Meanwhile, in a classic "Romeo and Juliet" twist, Nate falls for the daughter of the owner of the rival camp," says About.com of the movie.

As if acting, singing and dancing is not enough, Alyson is currently partnering with Crest/Oral-B to get the word out on good hygiene and oral health. The company has a new line of products designed to get tweens brushing and flossing regularly. The line is called Crest & Oral-B Pro-Health For Me and it is a complete collection of oral care products for kids 8-12, with rinse, brush, floss, and toothpaste made just for them.

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam airs on the Disney Channel on September 3 at 8pm.

The Air Force Drill Team stopped by to show us their skill and synchronization this morning with a demonstration just before Air Force Week's kick off.

Starting today, New York City will honor the fine men and women of the United States Air Force. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly will present a proclamation on behalf of New York City declaring Aug. 24 – 29 “Air Force Week.”

Weather permitting; the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will conduct an aerial demonstration over the Intrepid around 10:30 this morning. Air Force Week New York will feature numerous events throughout New York City’s five boroughs.

Events will include a Flyover, Color Guard, Swear-In and Airman Recognition at Citi Field on Thursday and movie night at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on Friday at sundown.

For event details, check out www.airforceweek.af.mil.

Almost six months ago, Lisa Mateo introduced us to a total body training program that claims to get you in tip-top shape without picking up a weight. It's called Insanity and a few PIX employees got a brief introduction to the workout last March, but they decided they wanted to really commit. Lisa takes on their 60-day journey to get fit, and talk to one of the workout's success stories.

For more information on Insanity, visit www.extremefitnessplans.com/Shaun_T/Insanity.html.

It's hard to keep up with the ever-changing trends. But Brooke Jaffe, fashion accessories director of Bloomingdale's is here to help us with a sneak peek into fall trends.

MILITARY-INSPIRED
Vena Cava for Aqua Military Jacket, $178
Vena Cava for Aqua Army Green Skirt, $138

RED
Lauren by Ralph Lauren Red Dress, $129

CHUNKY KNITS
Free People Chunky Knit Cardigan, $108
Portolano Chunky Scarf, $68

Last night season two of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" came to an end with high drama: a showdown between Caroline Manzo and Danielle Staub. And this morning, Danielle came in to chat about the finale, plus perform her new song.

It was a PIX11 exclusive. For the first time on live TV, the reality star performed the dance remix of her song "Real Close." She was joined by dancers and her musical partner Lori Michaels.

However, one of the biggest topics of discussion--is Danielle getting her own show. She hinted to PIX 11 Morning News' Sukanya Krishnan that we'll be seeing more of her. Apparently, Danielle has been instructed to keep her spin-off plans hush-hush, but she gave enough hints. And it is safe to say the friendship between Danielle and Kim G are over. Ms. Staub shared with Sukanya the disappointment she felt with Kim's betrayal.

Watch the interview and performance after the jump...

Actor Christopher Gorham stopped by the studio to talk about his role as Auggie Anderson on the USA Network's Covert Affairs

"A former CIA special operative, Auggie was blinded during a mission. He is now heading up the tech ops department within the DPD. Auggie understands the intricacies of the massive bureaucracy of the CIA in a way that few others do. He immediately picks up on Annie's (Piper Perabo) intelligence and takes her under his wing to help her navigate the system [of the CIA nad leading a double life]. He sees Annie for who she really is and because of that, is willing to follow her instincts," says USA Network.

Covert Affairs airs Tuesdays at 10pm on the USA Network.

Former New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Marshall won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants and played in the NFL for 12 years, so he knows what it's like to be in the spotlight and have the admiration of thousands of fans. So what happens once an NFL career ends? He talks about in his new book When the Cheering Stops, reflects on the 1990 New York Giants season and explores what happens once players start their lives outside of football.

Leonard will be in New York area for three book signings: Wednesday, 8/25 at 6pm at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ; Tuesday, 8/31 at 6pm at Barnes & Noble in Livingston, NJ; and Wednesday, 9/1 at 12:30 PM at Borders located at 100 Broadway in NYC.

When the Cheering Stops: Bill Parcells, the 1990 New York Giants, and the Price of Greatness is available in stores now. For more information, visit www.triumphbooks.com/whenthecheeringstops.

The world's top tennis players and chefs are set to serve up the US Open's hottest pre-tournament action at the 11th Annual BNP Paribas Taste Of Tennis. Chef Mario Pagan showed us how to make Sea Scallops, over 5 Spiced Sweet Potato & Tamarind and Bacardi Gold Rum Glaze with Green Papaya.

This year's lineup includes tennis superstar Andy Roddick, Wimbledon marathon man John Isner and Wimbledon finalists Tomas Berdych and Vera Zvonareva. The star-studded charity event produced by AYS Sports Marketing and benefiting the New York Junior Tennis League, is set for Thursday, August 26th, 7-10pm at the W New York.

For more information and tickets call 877-282-7100 or visit www.bnpparibastasteoftennis.com.

Actress Maria Canals Barrera, who plays mom Theresa Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, stopped by to talk about her role as Connie Torres in the upcoming Disney Channel Movie Camp Rock 2.

"The campers Mitchie (Demi Lovato), Shane, Jason, Nate (Jonas Brothers) they soon learn that a new state-of-the-art music/performance camp, Camp Star, has opened across the lake and has lured away many of Camp Rock instructors and campers -- putting the future of Camp Rock in jeopardy. And when Camp Star's hotshot performer, Luke Williams, challenges Camp Rock to a musical showdown to see which camp really has the stronger musical talent, everyone prepares for the ultimate battle of the bands. Meanwhile, in a classic "Romeo and Juliet" twist, Nate falls for the daughter of the owner of the rival camp," says About.com of the movie.

Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam airs on the Disney Channel on September 3 at 8pm.

WATCH THE VIDEOS AFTER THE JUMP

Read the full story: "
Bloomberg comes out in support of rival skyscraper near Empire State Building."

Actor Stephen Lang stopped by the studio to talk about the release of Avatar: Special Edition in theaters August 27, a limited engagement exclusively in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D. Lang played Colonel Miles Quaritch.

Avatar centers on a paraplegic ex-marine war veteran who’s sent to establish a human settlement on the distant planet of Pandora, only to find himself battling humankind alongside the planet's indigenous Na'vi race. Lange's co-stars include Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington , Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore and Giovanni Ribisi.

This version of Cameron's history-making and groundbreaking epic will include more than eight minutes of new footage. Since -- and largely as of result of -- Avatar's release last December, the number of available digital 3D screens has exploded, and moviegoers who missed experiencing the film in 3D will now have that opportunity.

Lang is a native New Yorker whose acting credits include movies The Men Who Stare at Goats, Public Enemies, From Mexico With Love and TV shows D-Tox and The Fugitive.

Avatar: Special Edition will be in select theaters on August 27. For more information, visit www.avatarmovie.com.

Our Ojinika Obiekwe checked out the Cooler Cleanse to find out what the buzz was all about. And the brains and body behind it is none other than Oscar nominated actress Salma Hayek. yes, that Salma Hayek.
Co-founded by Hayek and Juice Generation owner Eric Helms - the cleanse consisting of 6 bottles of fresh squeezed juice and vegetables, can be delivered to any zip code in the country and will give you the jumpstart you need to live a better and healthier life.
For more, log onto www.coolercleanse.com or www.juicegeneration.com

Swore off the latest trends because you thought they'd look horrible on you? Think again! Shape Magazine's Executive Style Director Jacqui Stafford is here to show four women how to stay fashion-forward.

Skinny Jeans
Tank top: RACHEL Rachel Roy ($59; macys.com)
Jacket: RACHEL Rachel Roy ($149; macys.com)
Jeans: BCBGMAXAZRIA ($128; macys.com)
Contrary to popular opinion, women of all sizes and shapes can rock these super-slim-cut jeans. For the most flattering (and confidence boosting) silhouette, juxtapose "jeggings" with a narrow, thigh-grazing top. A waist-nipping jacket creates bombshell curves, while platform peep-toes add extra inches.

Romper
Romper: BCBGeneration ($108; macys.com)
Blazer: BCBGMAXAZRIA ($178; macys.com)
When accessorized properly, there's nothing remotely juvenile about this onesie. Add some statement jewelry-like this super long necklace-and eye-catching heels, and you have a chic and easy alternative to the little black dress.

THE WINNER
• Who Steals Axe? - http://www.thesmokinggun.com/time-waster

THE RUNNER-UPS
• Erotic Tennis - http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/29/magazine/womens-tennis.html
• Crazy Clouds - http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/07/stormy_skies.html

Note: The video gets good at 2:17 mark

The Container Store has great storage ideas--including nifty ways to store your lunch. Whether you're kids are preparing to go back to school or you need something to transport you lunch to work, we're showing off the lunch bags, boxes, thermos BOT, food containers. Nia Reddy from The Container Store was here to help.

The Right Lunch Bag
Choose a durable, reusable lunch bag that's the right size for you and your child. The Insulated Lunch Sack is a great size for elementary-aged kids and the Insulated Lunch Carrier is a little roomier for older kids and adults with bigger appetites. Also, don't be afraid to brighten your lunch by using fun colors and patterns for your lunch bag.

The New York Liberty are in the WNBA Playoffs and their first Eastern conference semi-final game is tonight. Our team needs us to cheer them on!

Tickets are currently on sale for the playoffs, but we have even more to get you in the spirit. The Lil Torches were there to help us get hyped up for the game.

The first game of the East Conference Semifinals takes place at 7pm at Madison Square Garden, when the Liberty will take on the Indiana Fever. And one lucky PIX viewer has the chance to win two tickets to the game. All you have to do is wait for the on-air cue and call (866) 414-2911 and answer this question correctly: Who was the Liberty's top scorer this season? Good luck!

For more on the New York Liberty, visit www.wnba.com/liberty.

Sure, we want our children to look cute as they head back to school. But their clothes must also be practical! So, here with fashionable and functional clothing for kids is Fashion Expert Kevin Lennox. He showed us some A+ fashions for kids kindergarten to 5th grade.

Look 1: Dylan (First Grade)
This season boys' tops are taking cues from vintage sportswear, but are still built to last with
reinforced seams that add long-lasting durability. Down below, Dylan has a pair of jeans
from Lands' End's newly designed collection of denim that have four individual fits and five
washes. This one is the Straight-leg fit that is cut straight through the hip, thigh and leg with a
5-pocket style that are just like Dad's favorite pair. On his back we've got the lightweight,
super durable Featherlight 100 backpack to lug around everything he needs this school year.

Fleece Track Jacket- $26.50
Graphic T-shirt- $14.50
5 Pocket Classic Straight Jean- $25.50
Desert Boot- $49.50
Featherlight 100 Backpack- $29.50
All from Lands' End, www.landsend.com

Rolling Stone released their first-ever list of the 100 greatest Beatles songs as part of a special interest collectors edition publication that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Beatle's final album, Let It Be. Here is their Top 10 Greatest Beatles Songs:

1. "A Day in the Life"
2. "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
3. "Strawberry Fields Forever"
4. "Yesterday"
5. "In My Life"
6. "Something"
7. "Hey Jude"
8. "Let It Be"
9. "Come Together"
10. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Do you agree? Which songs would be in your Beatles Top 10 list? Tell us and we'll play those songs on our air tomorrow!

Read the full story: "'Rolling Stone' Selects Top 100 Beatles Songs."

Back to school 2010 is here. And for kids that are not too keen on going back, Brian Balthazar, editor of popgoestheweek.com, is here with some fun and trendy school supplies.

• Building block calculator ($16, Pylones)
• Pirate pencil sharpeners ($7 - $10, Pylones)
• Robot pencil sharpeners ($7 - $10, Pylones)
• Robot/farm pencil cases ($9.95, MXYPLYZYK)
• Light up finger pens ($2.95, MXYPLYZYK)
• Big mistakes eraser ($7, Pylones)
• Frog tape dispenser ($12, Pylones)
• Frog stapler ($15, Pylones)
• Skull stapler ($49, Pylones)
• Wordlock padlock ($8.99, Target/Bed, Bath & Beyond)
• Snake bike lock ($24, Pylones)
• Electro-man multi outlet ($20, Urban Outfitters)
• Voltaic solar powered messenger bag ($199.95, AC Gears)

You don't have to break the bank shopping for new clothes. Fashion Expert, Jorge Ramon, stopped by with clothes from JC Penney . teens and parents will love . He also showed us how to decorate and furnish a girl's and boy's bedroom with some unique decor.

The looks included:
For her: Decree, $85.00 for look
For him: Arizona, $65.00 for look
For her: Olsenboye, $80.00 for look
For him: Decree, $110.00 for look

Bedroom for her:
Decree Comforter, $69.99
Decorative Pillows, $24.99
Little Miss Matched Jewelry Box, $19.99
Little Miss Matched Pencil Cases and Backpack, $4.99 to $19.99

Bedding for him:
JC Penney Home Bed-in-a-Bag, $49.99 to $59.99

Former WNBA star Lisa Leslie and her husband Michael Lockwood stopped by to talk about Lockwood's new book Women Have All The Power...Too Bad They Don't Know.

Vivica A. Fox says: "This book has given me encouragement, an insightful perspective on men, and a renewed sense of purpose…The lessons here are life altering and long overdue."

Topics covered in the book include:
• How to spot a player
• Ten things to never do on a date
• The techniques men use to get women into bed-and away from the altar
• The red flags that signal trouble in a relationship
• Why men live for the 'thrill of the hunt'
• How women regain their rightful position of power in a relationship

Women Have All The Power...Too Bad They Don't Know: Secrets Every Man's Daughter Should Know is available in bookstores now.

Calling all Jay-Z and Eminem fans! Here's your chance to see them in their September 14th concert for FREE!

But, there is a catch...you've got to sing live on the PIX Morning News! It's called the "PIX Hip-Hop Karaoke Contest."

Two viewers will come on the show on September 2nd and compete in a karaoke contest, performing their favorite Jay-Z or Eminem song live. And then our viewers will choose the performer who walks away with the tickets.

To submit your name and info, visit wpix.com/hiphop.

If you're looking for a job, Long Island is the place to be tonight. New York Sen. Kemp Hannon is hosting a job fair at East Meadow High School in East Meadow, New York. Their is a preview at 3:30 followed by the job fair from 7pm to 9pm

East Meadow High School
101 Carman Ave.
East Meadow

This event will bring job seekers and potential employers together and will be geared towards assisting individuals seeking employment by identifying businesses and organizations that are hiring.

To register, log onto www.kemphannon.com. You can also contact Sen. Hannon at (516) 739-1700

Read the full story: "Ozzy Osbourne Concert Video Spoofs Jersey Shore."

For this week's edition of Neighborhood Bites, we were tipped off to a place called Jack's Cafe, and if you drive by and dismiss this place as just another diner, you're truly missing out. Jack's Cafe is located at 325 Broadway in Westwood, New Jersey.

Chris would love to check out your favorite hole-in-the-wall place to eat. E-mail him at morningnews@wpix.com.

Ety Rybak, co-founder of Inside Sports & Entertainment Group, stopped by to talk about the hottest tickets in town! He also helped us give away two tickets to the US Open in Queens.

Inside Sports & Entertainment Group is offering the following tickets for under face value:
Jimmy Buffet
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Tuesday, August 31st

Aerosmith
Mohegan Sun
September 4th

On sales today include:
Mary J. Blige
Pre-Sale Today
Radio City Music Hall
Code Word for Pre-Sale is: He Blige

Elton John
On Sale Today
Beacon Theatre

Inside Sports & Entertainment Group gave away two tickets to the US Open. The winner was Kathleen from West Creek, New Jersey. Click here to read the rules.

The director of the fun-packed day stops by to talk about the festivities planned for the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kid's Day.

According to the USTA, singing sensation David Archuleta, rising star Shontelle and tennis great Roger Federer have been added to an already star-studded line-up that includes chart-topping pop superstars Jonas Brothers, TV and recording sensation Demi Lovato, tennis world # 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess Saturday, August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Quddus, the show will feature special celebrity guests including Nick Cannon. The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families - including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics - will also feature performances from Allstar Weekend and School Gyrls. More musical acts and tennis stars will be announced in coming weeks.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2010 US Open, which runs from August 30 - September 12.

Miss Universe Jimena Navarrete, 22, from Mexico stopped by the studio to talk about her amazing win. She shared with us her goals as Miss Universe and how she plans to spend her year.

For more information, visit www.missuniverse.com.

Chef Joudan ChaTaun will be here to demonstrate a quick and affordable healthy meal, that not only tastes great but helps lower blood pressure and regulates diabetes.

She'll be making a Cilantro Sea Bass Lettuce Wraps & Sweet Corn Tomato Salad.

For more on Chef Joudan ChaTaun, visit twitter.com/jourdanchataun.

Actor Michael Ealy stopped by the studio to talk about his new movie Takers, which hits theaters today, and is about a group of bank robbers who find their $20 million plan interrupted by a hard-boiled detective.

Ealy also has an upcoming role on the hit CBS series The Good Wife -- and his appearance in Californication when it returns to Showtime in January.

For more on Takers, visit WhoAreTheTakers.com.

HGTV has done it again. The top cable lifestyle network behind the hugely popular HGTV Dream Home and HGTV Green Home annual giveaway events is offering the chance to win a stylish city dwelling in a grand prize package valued at approximately $1.5 million, and including a 2011 Acura ZDX.

Custom-designed by popular HGTV designer Vern Yip (HGTV Design Star), the contemporary, fully furnished 900-square-foot apartment is located at the breathtaking Residences at W New York-Downtown, newly built in downtown New York City. It includes one bedroom, a luxurious bath, gourmet kitchen, bright living room and sweeping views of the city skyline. (Giveaway period runs September 1-October 20, 2010.)

To see more of this luxurious, Manhattan apartment, you can check out the HGTV Urban Oasis special. It airs on Monday, September 6, 2010 at 8 pm ET/PT on HGTV. And starting this Wednesday, September 1st, you can go online to enter daily for a chance to win the grand prize package.

For more information HGTV Urban Oasis 2010 sweepstakes, visit www.hgtv.com.

Vera Gibbons from walletpop.com gave us advice on which consumer products you can go generic and when not to go generic.

Always Buy Generic
Cereal, pantry staples, produce, skincare/beauty products and over-the-counter medications

Never Buy Generic
Condiments, spaghetti sauce, cheese, beer, paper products, diapers or garbage bags

For more of Vera's consumer tips, visit walletpop.com.

By heeding the lessons of Hurricane Katrina the Insurance Information Institute says you stand the best chance of weathering the next storm Hurricane Katrina was a powerful storm that packed some powerful lessons.

While hurricanes are not preventable, the Insurance Information Institute says there are 4 important steps you can take to protect yourself and your property:

STEP #1: Review Your Insurance Coverage
Be sure you have the right kind and amount of insurance, enough to rebuild your home and replace your belongings. Ask about flood insurance, which is not covered under a standard homeowners policy. Learn more about flood insurance at www.floodsmart.gov.

The winner is Amazing Asteroids! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

Women's Health Contributor Tara Stiles is the author of the upcoming book Slim Calm Sexy Yoga, which will be available wherever books Tuesday, August 31st. Tara was here with killer poses that will tone you up and slim you down.

In this routine, your body will move through challenging positions that call upon all of your muscles to work in novel ways so that you burn the most fat. Holding these poses isn't easy, but it does wonders for building strength and focus. Hold each pose for five deep inhales and exhales, unless noted otherwise, then repeat the entire sequence on the other side. Practice this routine four times a week and watch the fat melt away. Keep a towel by your side-you will sweat!

Competing for $50,000, the largest Chopped prize to date, 16 previous winners return to battle in a fierce five-part Chopped Champions event hosted by Ted Allen.

Beginning Tuesday, August 31st at 10pm, the contestants go head-to-head in four intense semi-final rounds to determine who will square off in the grand finale. Along with Amanda Freitag, other notable Chopped judges like Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian, Marc Murphy and Chris Santos will determine which talented chefs advance, and which chefs go home as first-time losers.

Amanda also judged Chris Burrous and Tamsen Fadal and selected a "PIX Chopped Champion." They had two minutes to create a dish mince garlic, dice an onion, slice a tomato, julienne a carrot and chiffonade mint.

The five-part series Chopped Champions premiere's tomorrow night on the Food Network.

She's got the look and it'll be proudly displayed on billboards and posters everywhere for the latest guess campaign ads. The new face of Guess, Alyssa Miller, revealed her fall must-have trends from the clothing brand and told us she'll be ringing the opening bell at the NYSE this morning.

TREND #1 : GUESS Seductive
-Launching this fall, this new scent for women embodies the unique magnetism and playfully captivating style synonymous with the GUESS brand; $52

TREND #2: GUESS Power Skinny Jeans
- The cotton and spandex blend make these jeans universally flattering. They can be easily paired with over the knee boots, sexy heels or cute ballet flats for day; $79

The New York International Salsa Congress Dance & Music Festival (NYISC), the world's largest multicultural music and dance extravaganza, celebrates its 10th Anniversary with 20,000 people from around the world at The New York Hilton Hotel (1335 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan) from Thursday, September 1st to Monday, September 6th.

Joseph Rivera from the International Congress has all the details and has brought a few dancers from Baila Society to show us their moves.

Chef Don Pintabona, who launched several successful eateries, among them Tribeca Grill with Robert De Niro, was here to prepare an easy, healthy dish -- Whole Wheat Angel Hair Pasta with Teardrop Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Lemon Oil.

He also spoke about his new restaurant Valentino's on the Green, which is making its grand opening next week. Chef Pintabona also have other healthy dishes on set, including Escarole, Tomato & Bean Soup and Steamed Prosecco Mussels.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE

Nigel Barker, famed photographer from America's Next Top Model, who is doing this amazing charity initiative with Nine West and launching a self-confidence book!

To kick off Nine West's Runway Relief Program, will photograph the 40 models from Elite, IMG, Next and Marilyn modeling agencies in the iconic Meatpacking District to capture fashion giving back on camera.