New York State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) visited the PIX studio today. Jeffries was one of the plaintiffs that filed a lawsuit against Cathie Black being appointed the Education Chancellor of New York City. A judge ruled in favor of Black.

Jeffries and other critics say Black does not have any educational experience for the position nor is she in touch with the public school sector.

A new year has started and it's time for a new you. Resolve to get a 6-pack this year with Diezel Abs.

This workout will trim your waistline just in time to show it off at the beach. New York Health And Racquet Club's Jermaine Baily was at the PIX studio to help us get cut. He showed us some of his Diezel Abs moves that will help chisel the fat away.

Governor Andrew Cuomo took office over the weekend. He could soon be facing his first political showdown in Albany. His fiscal plan calling for a pay-freeze may not go over well with union leaders.

Political consultant Basil Smikle was here live to talk about the challenges the governor faces in his first year in office and what lies ahead.

Nearly 50% of adult Americans make resolutions at the beginning of the year. At the top of that list is weight loss. Weight loss may be a time consuming process, but making your weight loss goals is about to get a little easier.

Brad Lamm, intervention specialist and author of Just 10 Pounds was here to give us a fresh eye to weight loss.

Billy Baldwin is taking up a new role in the Lifetime movie, The Craigslist Killer. He stopped by talk to us about his character.

The movie is about Phillip Markoff, the man who killed himself in a Boston jail cell in August 2010, just months before his trail for the murder of a masseuse he met on Craigslist. Baldwin plays the detective investigating the woman's murder.

With the holiday season behind us, we could all use a little pick-me-up. But our piggy banks are tapped from all that gift-giving. Polly Blitzer, founder of the No. 1 online beauty magazine, BeautyBlitz.com, found the best ways to jump-start a gorgeous new year - on a budget with multi-tasking beauty products

• Conair Infiniti ProStyler Tool - $49 at drugstores
Whether you want this season's sleek ponytails or textured curls, this high-tech tourmaline tool transforms from curling iron to hairbrush to flatiron. Its ceramic plates smooth and polish hair, and the two-sided brush slides on and off for easy styling.

• Benefit Prrrowl Mascara Lash Top Coat and Lip Gloss Wand - $28 at Macy's
Make 2011 the year to get noticed! Statement lashes and shiny lips are the hottest beauty trends, and you can get both with this multi-tasking magic makeup wand.

Mummenschanz are playing a special three-week holiday engagement in New York City up to January 8 at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, located in Greenwich Village. They stopped by the studio to give us a taste of their show with their Toilet Paper Performance and Mr. and Mrs. Masks trick.

For nearly four decades, Mummenschanz has captivated audiences worldwide with its groundbreaking and transformative visual theater. The troupe creates a playful and uniquely memorable experience through an inventive use of forms, shadow and light, and inventive manipulation of sculptural, expressive masks.

In the surreal, comic, wordless universe of Mummenschanz, the ordinary becomes extraordinary when common materials and everyday objects--such as wires, tubes, boxes, and even toilet paper--all spring to life as fantastical characters. Abstract shapes and forms also interact in surprising ways to reveal some timeless truths about human connections and relationships. The result is a wonder-filled, visually stunning spectacle and family entertainment that sparks the imagination and transcends cultural barriers.

To buy tickets or for more info, visit mummenschanzNYC.com.

It can happen anywhere. The supermarket, the mall, even at the park. You turn around to grab your child's hand and they're not there. Now there's a new GPS tracking device from SecuraTrac, that let's you know exactly where your child is at all times.

SecuraPAL Guardian is a small Personal Automated Locator that can be placed in a child's pocket, backpack or attached to a belt. The device is tracked via a cell phone or laptop. There's also an SOS button, which when pressed, sends a text message or e-mail to the parent, with the child's exact location. Each SecuraPAL Guardian can also be setup with SecuraFences, a virtual boundary. If the child enters or leaves this boundary, an alert is sent to the parents via text or e-mail.

SecuraPAL Guardian is not only for children. It can also be used for the elderly, people with dementia, and for pets.

The lastest model, LifeTrac Mobile Protector, includes all of the same features, but can also be used to make and receive emergency calls with up to four preset buttons.
For more information on how to purchase or rent a device, log onto www.cmstelehealth.com.

Written by Lisa Mateo

Exercise, makeup and even caffeine are part of a daily routine for most women - but could those habits be doing more harm than good to our aging process? Dr. Neil Sadick stops by with five surprising things women do everyday that may be aging their skin.

• High impact exercise - Can lead to sagging skin and loss of volume
• Birth control pills - Can give you Melasma, resembling age spots
• Makeup application
• Caffeine and alcohol
• Hormone replacement

Actor Ron Perlman stopped by to talk about his new movie Season of the Witch in which he stars alongside Nicolas Cage, which opens in theaters on Friday.

Perlman (Hellboy, Hellboy II, Sons of Anarchy) stars as Felson in this supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader named Behmen (Cage) and his closest friend who return home after decades of fierce fighting, only to find their world destroyed by the Plague.

The church elders, convinced that a girl accused of being a witch is responsible for the devastation, command the two to transport the strange girl to a remote monastery where monks will perform an ancient ritual to rid the land of her curse.

They embark on a harrowing, action-filled journey that will test their strength and courage as they discover the girl's dark secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.

Season of the Witch opens on Friday, January 7.

Time to get on track for that New Year's Resolution to get in shape for 2011. CKO Kickboxing in Brooklyn has just what you need. They just opened their new second level addition, complete with a new advanced kickboxing class and TRX Suspension Training class, the hottest new workout craze.

Lisa Mateo spoke to owner CKO Kickboxing Joseph Virga.

The weather outside, may be cold and harsh. But did you know it can also wreak havoc on your skin? Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Arthur Perry and the co-founder of Fresh Lev Glazman stoped by with tips on how you can give you an extra boost, which included:

• Drink plenty of water
• Use a humidifiers
• Exfoliate
• Use winter sunscreen

Home Remedies
• Heal With Honey
Indulge in an at-home revitalizing facemask of pure Manuka honey. Rich with natural enzymes, honey gently exfoliates the skin. This specific kind is made by bees in New Zealand and has additional anti-bacterial properties that do wonders for your skin. Because honey is a popular allergen, be sure to test it first on the side of your neck to make sure you don't experience any burning sensations or itch before using it as a mask.

• Sugar Face Polish
Sugar face polish utilizes sugar with real strawberries. You can use this as a mask and an exfoliator.

Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szohr stopped by to talk about her stripping off her clothes to model the second SoBe skinsuit, which was shot in Costa Rica.

Along with the SoBe shoot, Jessica will also be featured in the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, which is on newsstands on Febriary 15th. She also spoke about her upcoming movies Love, Wedding, Marriage in whcih she co-stars with Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz, as well as the indie film Art Machine.

New episodes of Gossip Girl return on Monday, January 24 at 9pm on PIX11.

Many know him from his role as Nick Sabotka from HBO's The Wire. Now with many upcoming projects, actor Pablo Schreiber is definitely making a name for himself and staying away from big brother Liev's shadow.

Pablo topped by to talk about starring in the upcoming FX show Lights Out; and starring in the Sundance hit happythankyoumoreplease (directed by How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor) which will be released February 18 and the off-Broadway show "Gruesome Playground Injuries" at Second Stage , which goes into previews in January and opens January 31.

Pro Bull Rider Shane Proctor stopped by to give us the forecast for this weekend's Professional Bull Riding Madison Square Garden Invitational. Shane was last year's MSG Invitational Winner.

The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) is headed back to New York for the fifth annual Madison Square Garden Invitational, January 7-9, 2011. This is also the first stop on the 2011 Built Ford Tough Series. Tickets are on sale now starting at $15, and can be purchased online at www.Ticketmaster.com, at the Madison Square Garden box office, or by calling (800) 732-1727.

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

Actor/comedian Paul Mooney one of the most influential,successful and well respected comedians around.

He used to write jokes for Richard Pryor and was a regular on Chappelle Show. One of his memorable characters on Chappelle Show was "Negrodamus" -- a character that could supposedly see into the future.

Mooney will channel that character to give us his 2011 predictions on everything from politics to pop culture and his take on hot topics in the news today.

Dubbed one of "New York's Top Fitness Gurus" by the New York Daily News, Personal Trainer and Fitness Consultant Robert Brace took us through the importance of intervals. As the founder of NYlean25 workout system (an intense 25 minute interval training workout), Robert says intervals are the KEY to get the optimal workout in minimum time.

For more on NYlean25 and Robert's workout class, log onto www.NYlean25.com.

A modern-day Dr. Doolittle, Marc Morrone really knows how to talk to the animals -- and about them, too. He is Martha Stewart's go-to guy in the world of four-legged and winged beasts, from dogs to cats, rabbits to ferrets, parrots to canaries, and he is bringing his wisdom to Hallmark Channel for a new season of Petkeeping with Marc Morrone, which premiered in January 3.

Marc’s 30 years of experience combined with his quirky and charming approach to taking care of his friends in the animal kingdom makes this subject informational and highly entertaining. Joined by top animal behaviorists and veterinarians along with his trademark menagerie of pets, the show is filmed in Parrots of the World, Marc’s pet shop, in Rockville Centre, New York. Customers and their family pets stop by seeking Marc’s advice on every topic from common cat/dog myths and misconceptions to how to keep children and pets safe and happy while living under the same roof.

Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons stopped by to talk about the release of his new book Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All.

The book is not about being "Super Rich" in the monetary sense. Rather, it explores how being 'super rich' is rooted in consciousness something much deeper than money and show.

Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All hit stands this week and fans can meet Russell at a book signing tonight at Borders Penn Plaza between 6pm to 8pm.

No need to sacrifice style or comfort this winter. The season's best clothing and gadgets marry fashion with function. Prevention Magazine's Fitness Editor Jessica Cassity show us how to conquer the cold from head to toe. Today's featured items included:

• Saucony Ult-Mitt II, $40
• The Original Buff, $27
• Point6 Socks, $13 to $21.99
• The YakTrax Pro, $29.95
• Run-Phones, $50
• New Balance Windblocker Jacket, $130.00
• Columbia Sports Women's Black Diamond Dash Parka, $270

For the latest in health and fitness, check out the february issue of Prevention Magazine or visit www.Prevention.com.

Actors Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Pooch Hall stopped by to talk the revival of their hit show The Game, which was cancelled two years ago but was brought back on air on BET due to the outpouring of fan support and protests.

The Game stars Tia Mowry-Hardrict as Melanie Barnett, who is thrust into the world of professional football when her boyfriend becomes a wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers. The series follows Melanie as she struggles with the ups and downs of having a "famous" other half and a new group of friends - the other players' wives. The Game also stars Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez, Brittany Daniel and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

The Game airs Tuesdays at 10pm on BET.

Oprah Winfrey proclaimed her "a force to be reckoned with in the new millenium" and comedienne Sommore stoped by to show us why she is a Queen of Comedy.

Sommore will be performing at Carolines on Broadway this weekend. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.carolines.com.

Essence Magazine's Senior Finance and Careers Editor Tanisha A. Sykes will be here to provide a blueprint to bring your finances back to life in the new year.

FOR EVERYONE:

IGNORING YOUR MONEY STYLE
Are you a saver, spender, hoarder, planner or a little bit of all of them? If one week you have more than enough money, but the next, you don't have any, then figure out your money style.
To Do: Take the Moneymax Personality Profile at www.finpsych.com . It's a brief questionnaire that will help you determine your goals and objectives as well as how you manage money.

Makeup myths debunked! Today, we once and for all, separated fact from fiction when it comes to your beauty routine. Celebrity Makeup Artist and Founder of Sue Devitt Beauty, Sue Devitt, stopped by with the scoop.

• BEAUTY MYTH:Test foundation on your hand first.
THE TRUTH: Test foundation on your jawline for perfect match

• BEAUTY MYTH: Foundation should always be worn all over face.
THE TRUTH: Foundation can be worn just on the T-Zone. Apply to forehead, nose and chin and blend out for natural look

He moved up through music and dance, and even after his sudden death, Micheal Jackson's legacy continues. Rabbi Shmuley was here live to talk about the King of Pop. He told us about his new book Honoring The Child Spirit - Rabbi Shmuley Boteach In Conversation With Micheal Jackson.

Honoring The Child Spirit - Rabbi Shmuley Boteach In Conversation With Micheal Jackson is available on Amazon.com.

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand spent some time in the hospital with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

Giffords was one of the victims of the Arizona massacre. Gillibrand, along with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi emerged from that hospital visit very optimistic. Senator Gillibrand joined us this morning to fill us in on the details including the big strides Congresswoman Giffords has been making.

The Youtube video that shows a rat in a running around in a New York City subway car before jumping on a sleeping man was has everyone talking. It was posted on Youtube less than 24 hours ago and has already had gotten more than 100,000 page views.

The video is sure to make your skin crawl. It was shot by Jeff Forbes. He was riding the subway when he noticed the large rat running around. Forbes was in our studio to talk to us about that day. He tells us what made him pull out his camera and answer the question we all want to know: Is it real?

Seven princesses are in search of "Happily Ever After" and so are we!

Whether it's true love, a life above the sea or simply to discover a whole new world, Disney on Ice will help you believe. Lisa Mateo was live at the Prudential Center in Newark to check out some of the performances.

We all dread doing housework, but it can be a little fun if you have the right tools...or at least easier. Nia Ready from The Container Store, was here to show us new gadgets and gizmos for indoor and outdoor cleaning. They're guaranteed to make any chore more enjoyable.

Tip 1:
The first thing we should do before starting housework is to put a cleaning schedule in place and create a cleaning command center. This will prevent housework from overwhelming you and your family. After you make a schedule, find one place in your home for all your cleaning solutions. This will be you command center. It you live in a tiny apartment, create a portable center by using a caddy.

Products:
Magnetic Monthly Calendar Lime
elfa Mesh Laundry Storage White
Rectangular Cleaning Caddy
Grook 5-Hook Tool Holder Black

Bethany Huang of Croton-on-Hudson, New York stopped by as today's Friday Forecaster. Bethany is an 11-year-old author. She's published "The Eiffel Tower's Daughter."

"'The Eiffel Tower's Daughter' is a story about love, compassion, family, and life. A girl who has to face it all with no one to help her. She runs away from home the day after her divorced Mother unknowingly marries a spy. Swanilde has to deal with rivalry and vengeance on her way to warn her father and ask for help. Swanilde thinks she's on a quest for truth, but her family reveals all of the secrets and lies they have been hiding from her for years. As Swanilde's world crumbles under her, she realizes how precious life is and how short it is. She tries to deal with all of the obstacles in her way to find who she really is-until disaster strikes and she's running again."-Goodreads.com

For more information, visit www.bethanyhuang.com.

For six seasons, we watched Tatyana Ali grow up before our eyes on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. But she's a child no longer, she deals with major life issues on her new show >Love That Girl.

Ali was just nominated for two NAACP Image awards this year. One for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Love That Girl and the other for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for The Young and the Restless.

For more information, visit www.lovethatgirltv.com.

The New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is set to launch Black History month on February 1 with two incredible exhibitions: one on exquisite quilts created by quilters of African descent based in India; the other centers around views of Harlem from the perspective of 25 photographers -- emerging and established.

Howard Dodson, chief of the Schomburg Center since 1984, is a specialist in African-American history and a noted lecturer, educator and consultant. He stopped by to explain more about the exhibit.

The world-renown Schomburg Center was founded 85 years ago. It is named after Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, a Puerto Rico-born historian and lifelong-collector of artifacts, books, documents, art related to the African Diaspora and African American experience.

For more information on the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, visit www.schomburgcenter.org.

This 30-minute Crunch class utilizes Smart Bells to perform sport-specific exercises, targeted mostly towards tennis, golf and other rotationally-focused activities. Exercises are delivered in a dynamic and fun format to create functional movements that focus on core engagement, rotation and stability.

For more information, visit www.crunch.com.

Hollywoodlife.com's Bonnie Fuller stopped by to talk about the highs and lows of the Golden Globes and what those wins or losses mean for the nominees come Oscar night.

Former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi stopped by the studio to talk about her involvement with the kick off of the 2011 Folgers Jingle Contest that will award an aspiring artist $25,000, a private mentoring session with Kara and the chance to appear in a future commercial.

Kara also spoke about her life after American Idol and her continued work as executive vice president of talent development for Warner Bros Records. She also has an upcoming song-writing competition show on Bravo tentatively titled Going Platinum.

Kara's production company, Arthouse Entertainment, writers and producers just received 11 Grammy nominations this year including two nominations for Record of the Year.

Chef Alton Henry shared with us his recipe for The Perfect Jerk Roasted Chicken and showed off other tasty dishes. He and friend David Rooney helped us kick off PIX 11's Jamaican Your January vacation contest.

Fred Armisen has made us crack up with his uncanny impersonations of Governor Paterson, Joy Behar and most recently Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Now, the SNL star is here with his co-star and co-creator to talk about their new show Portlandia.

Portlandia is an original short-based comedy series executive produced by Lorne Michaels, and created, written by and starring Armisen and Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist). Each episode draws viewers into Portlandia, the creators' dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon.

Guest stars include Kyle MacLachlan (Sex & The City), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Selma Blair (Hellboy), Heather Graham (The Hangover) and Jason Sudeikis (SNL).

Portlandia irs Tuesdays at 10:30pm on IFC.

We've all commited "shoe-i-cide" at some point in our quest to step out in style, but no need for all the foot pain. Some sole comfort is here! A recent New York Times article showed how brands like Naturalizer, Aerosoles and Geox are at the forefront, implementing comfort technology without sacrificing style. Style Expert Maura Duggan was here to show us how these shoe companies are incorporating comfort technology with the latest trends.

• GEOX - Breathable Sole with a patented membrane
• Camper- P87 Cushioning System
• Aerosoles - Comfort Heel Rest, Scored Sole and Extended Calf Room
• Kenneth Cole Shoes with Memory Foam
• Naturalizer - N5 Technology (insole, lightweight, ergonomic, cushion, breathable) - showing ballet flat $75

For today's Neighborhood Bites, Chris takes you to Dunellen, New Jersey to a place called Planet Chicken -- and the name's right on point because this chicken will put you into orbit!

Planet Chicken is located at 107 North Washington, downtown in Dunellen, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.planetchickenrest.com.

To tell Chris about your favorite hole-in-the-wall place, email him at cburrous@wpix.com or hit him up on Facebook. Be sure to include the name of the place, and what your favorite dish is.

http://kaufman-center.org/merkin-concert-hallThree local competitors from the 2011 New York USA Yoga Asana Championship, hosted by Bikram Yoga NYC stopped by to talk about the competition.

On Sunday, January 23 yogis will flock to the Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center to test the boundaries of balance, strength and flexibility. Three minutes, seven poses, and a slew of unwavering yogis are the makeup of an intense Yoga Championship competition.

The championship, now in its eighth year, welcomes New York City's own famed cabaret performer, actor and comedic pianist, Mark Nadler, as M.C. and Rajashree Choudhury, teacher at Bikram's Yoga College of India and wife of Bikram Choudhury, as one of the judges.

As Americans, we all share something -- we all have to file taxes. As special guest for "It’s Your Money," we have Kathy Pickering from H&R Block with essential tips for the road to Income Tax Day 2011.

• Don't wait to file
The IRS may be delayed until mid-February in processing forms for up to 50 million taxpayers. Of the forms, the three most common delays are for itemized deductions, $250 educator's expense deduction, and the tuition and fees deduction.

• Taxpayers get a 2-percent raise in 2011 thanks to the Tax Relief Act of 2010
This means workers who earn $50,000 a year will have an extra $1,000 in their paychecks -- or $600 more than they received from the Making Work Pay Credit. Taxpayers can put this to work for them by contributing to IRAs and 401Ks, paying bills or funding a college savings account.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and six-time Pro Bowler Terrell Owens and a six-time Pro Bowler stopped by to talk about his football predictions, his TV shows and his charities.

Off the field, Terrell is involved in many charities including The National Alzheimer's Project Act. He will host Terrell Owens Speakeasy Soiree in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association.

The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) has been one of the top legislative priorities for the Alzheimer's Association for some time and at the end of this legislative session it passed both the House and the Senate and its was signed by President Obama just after the first of the year.

For more on Terrell's event and the National Alzheimer's Project Act, visit www.terrellowens.com and www.alz.org/NAPA.

Dr. Linda Meyer, executive director of Autism New Jersey stopped by to discuss NJ Gov. Chris Christie's proposal to create a school in each of the state's 21 counties that specializes in educating children with autism.

For more on Autism New Jersey, visit www.autismnj.org.

Actress Lucy Lawless stopped by to talk about her role as Lucretia on Spartacus: Gods of the Arena which premieres January 21 at 10pm on Starz.

Before Spartacus struck down his first opponent in the arena, there were many gladiators who passed though the gates onto the sand. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, the highly anticipated prequel to Starz' hit series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, tells the story of the original Champion of the House of Batiatus.

Gannicus (Dustin Clare) in a more ruthless time before Spartacus’ arrival where honor was just finding it’s way into the arena. As the prequel begins, Quintus Batiatus (John Hannah) is the acting Lanista while his father Titus (Jeffrey Thomas) is on an extended visit to Sicilia.

We regret to inform you that brunch as you know it is gone, possibly forever. The good news is its replacement brought some serious DJ chops and something a whole lot stronger than your typical Bloody Mary.

Introducing Daytime Deviation @ The West Five Supper Club, brunch's more outgoing evil twin, currently living it up once a month on the Corner of 5th and Madison in Hoboken. Find your way to the West end of Hoboken and look for the window front with a tree silhouette. Walk through the front doors into a place where mimosas flow like water, dancing is expected, and there's a lot more champagne than orange juice.

Brunch 12pm - 6pm. Reservations needed for dining Bar space available without reservation

Formerly Hugh Hefner's girlfriend and star of Girls Next Door, Holly Madison has definitely made her mark in Las Vegas as a headlining entertainer, but this season she takes her professional and personal life to a whole new level when Holly's World premieres Sunday, January 23 at 10:30pm on E!

The hit series follows the blonde beauty and her group of off-the-wall friends as they live, work and play in Sin City. This season, Holly reveals intimate details of her budding new romance with her singer/boyfriend Jack Barakat from the band All Time Low.

Professionally, Holly is at the top of her game, but is thrown for a loop when a mandate comes down from the Peepshow producers for her to lose weight, prompting the star to go to battle against the choreographer about promoting a healthy body image to her fans.

For more on Holly, visit www.hollymadison.com.

Actress Sarah Shahi, the star of the new USA Network show Fairly Legal, stopped by to talk to us about the show's series premiere and her character Kate Reed, a legal mediator.

Says USA of the show: "Kate Reed (Shahi) is a firm believer that justice can always be found-even if it's not always in the courtroom. Once a lawyer at her family's esteemed San Francisco firm, Kate's frustration with the legal system led her to a new career as a mediator. Thanks to her innate understanding of human nature, thorough legal knowledge, and wry sense of humor, Kate is a natural when it comes to dispute resolution. Except, it seems, when it comes to conflicts in her own life.

It is her smile that we will never forget. It is her fight to conquer the challenges before her, that we will always remember. Eleven-year-old Shannon Tavarez's fight against leukemia inspired thousands to register as a bone marrow donor.

When we asked PIX Morning News viewers to "get swabbed" for Shannon and others in need, you rose to the occasion. Now, we are asking you again to help honor Shannon's legacy on what would have been her 12th birthday.

Dr. Steve was joined by Shannon's mother Odiney Brown, who was in the studio to talk about Shannon and the efforts to honor her with a new charity named in honor of her daughter -- Shannon S.H.A.R.E.

For more information, visit shannonsshare.org and getswabbed.org.

Our Tamsen Fadal caught up with Star Jones to talk about the newest career move she's taken as editor-at-large of Uptown Magazine.

Star also opens up about her failed marriage, upcoming book and her experience shooting Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump.

With an emphasis on delicious living, Crazy Sexy Diet offers a prescription for anyone who wants to feel and look better-and be better to the planet, too.

Carr, subject of the TLC documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer (which she also wrote and directed) and best-selling author of Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips and Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor, is living an exceptionally active, healthy, and happy life seven years after being diagnosed with a rare and incurable Stage IV cancer.

In her new book, Crazy Sexy Diet: Eat Your Veggies, Ignite Your Spark, and Live Like You Mean It!, Kris details her diet and lifestyle renovation plan that will transform your life and help keep you going and glowing, inside and out.

For more on Carr and Crazy Sexy Diet, visit crazysexylife.com.

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. Footzyrolls is giving away a free pair
2. Zen Palate is offering free tastings of their Sweet and Sour Sensations to celebrate their Grand Opening, NYC

The search for younger looking skin is never ending for some. We took a look at a popular procedure that is getting results, without surgery.

If you want more information about the CO2 laser and Dr. Bruce Katz's Juvaskin and Laser Center, visit www.juvaskin.com.

It was a story that tugged at our heart strings. More than a dozen dogs rescued from a house of horrors on Long Island. Hempstead Animal Control officers pulled 17 abused and neglected dogs from a home in Rockville Center last week.

They were in pretty bad shape and rushed to the Hempstead Animal Shelter where they've been getting around the clock care. The dogs look a lot different now thay they've gotten some much needed TLC.

Kate Murray, Hempstead Town Supervisor, told us how we can adopt these dogs and give them a proper home.

For more information on adoption you can log onto the Town of Hempstead website at www.toh.li or you can call (516) 489-6000

The stars of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Taylor Armstrong and Adrienne Maloof stopped by to talk about the season finale and their upcoming explosive reunion.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills offers a glimpse inside the world of luxurious wealth and pampered privilege, where being seen and who you know is everything. These women are in the center of it all and they have the mansions, the cars, and the diamonds to prove it. From heiresses to entrepreneurs to a family of child actresses – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills deliver the star power and the drama.

For more information, visit www.bravotv.com.

Five West Supper Club in Hoboken is hosting a party where the staff will bring awareness to food allergies and the dangers of dining out.

The event takes place on Saturday, but we're going to get a preview from the restaurant manager. Also onboard is the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI).

This leading advocate for food allergies awareness will give tips on how to eat out and order safe.

In honor of National Mentoring Month, Brian Malone and Austin were today's Friday Forecasters!

Brian and Austin participate in Tuesday's Children Mentoring Program which pairs children, six to sixteen years old, that lost a loved one on September 11th, 2001, with adult role models.

To learn more about Tuesday's Children, log onto TuesdaysChildren.org.

To learn more about National Mentoring Month, log onto NationalMentoringMonth.org.

Home sweet home is getting hooked up! Lisa Casey-Weiss was here with gadgets and gizmos from the 2011 International Home and Housewares Show.

• CityKitty Automatic Training Kit, $29.99
• Folding Cane with Glow-In-the-Dark Handle, $24.99
• The Dipr
• Zoku Quick Pop Maker, $49.95
• Spectroline CellBlaster, $97.50
• Nespresso Pixie
• Kids Line Baby Chef Food Center, $149.99
• Ultimate Gym Towel, $19.99
• The RakaStaka
• One Less Can, $9.99

For more on the 2011 International Home and Housewares Show, visit www.housewares.org.

Will taxpayers have to foot the bill for the CityTime payroll management system, which is now besieged by fraud and scandal and costing the City $722 million?

Comptroller John Liu says the payroll system is overly complicated and hasn't even been completed so he stopped the final payment of $32 million for the system until the completed version is delivered in June.

An independent report warns that the city is too dependent on this payroll system. The company that created the CityTime payroll management system is now the focus of an $80 million federal corruption case. Last month, one of the directors at the company resigned.

Comptroller Liu will also take his audit bureau on the road for a series of borough town hall meetings to give New Yorkers a chance to learn about the power of the auditing process. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to suggest an audit to the Comptroller’s award-winning audit team.

New Jersey native Ali Stroker warmed the hearts of our entire studio this morning with her courageous story and million-watt smile. She is playing the lead role of Olive in Paper Mill Playhouse's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"... and she is in a wheelchair.

Ms. Stroker says she, "may be the first actress in American Musical Theatre to have a leading role in a professional musical." She is a graduate of Paper Mill Playhouse's Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory, and has long been a champion for the Christopher Reeve Foundation. "As a kid growing up in New Jersey, it has been my life long goal to perform at Paper Mill Playhouse," said Ali Stroker. "Now my dream has come true."

Paper Mill Playhouse's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" runs through February 13th with the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30pm, Thursdays at 1:30pm & 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 1:30pm & 8:00pm and Sundays at 1:30pm & 7:00pm. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 - $2. Tickets may be purchased by calling (973) 376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org.

The New York City Parks Department program Shape Up NYC offers free fitness classes every week at dozens of locations across the five boroughs.

Shape Up NYC classes are taught by expert fitness instructors who know how to make fitness fun. Class offerings are varied and include aerobics, yoga, pilates, Zumba and IntenSati. No pre-registration is required, so just find the location in your neighborhood and start to Shape Up today! We'll be doing IntenSati with the creator of IntenSati, Patricia Moreno.

IntenSati is a revolutionary high-energy cardio workout created by Patricia Moreno, author of The intenSati Method, 7 Principles to Thinner Peace. This method of training is based on the teachings of mindfulness, positive psychology and the law of attraction. She has radically combined aerobics, martial arts and endurance principles with positive affirmations. The result is an unprecedented practice which is empowering physically and mentally.

For more on Shape Up NYC, visit www.nycgovparks.org.

Actor Matthew Settle stopped by to talk about his role as Rufus Humphrey and the return of Gossip Girl from their holiday haitus.

New episodes of Gossip Girl air tonight at 9pm on PIX 11. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl.

For most of us, lost money is what's under couch or in a coat pocket, but there are much larger unclaimed assets out there waiting to be recovered! Vera Gibbions of WalletPop.com stopped by to tell us just how much.

Money in old banks accounts you've forgotten about, wage checks, dividend checks you never cashed, rent deposits, tax refunds, savings bonds etc. There are billions out there waiting to be claimed! Do you have "lost" money? We'll tell you how to find out.

MISSINGMONEY.COM
FIND: old bank accounts you forgot about; stock dividends; insurance refunds; annuities, customer overpayments. 1 in 8 Americans have some missing money. Average amount is $800-$1,000

We constantly keep up with what's in and out for fashion, technology, but never for food. Well, that's about to change. The folks at Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine will share some of the food trends that are out and whats in for 2011.

Out: Vacations
In: Foodcations
Keep the skis and bathing suits at home and pack your kitchen knives and apron. We’re all becoming food-crazed and enrolling in cooking classes in exotic places is something that families and spouses are sure to be doing more and more.

Out: Junk Airport Food
In: Gourmet airport food
We love what JFK has done with the JetBlue terminal and even some of the best chefs in the country are realizing there’s a hungry and deserving customer base in the country’s airports that have been underserved for far too long!

Parents, ask yourself: Where do you keep all the prescription medication in your home. Is it left unattended on your night table or your kitchen counter? Well, you should know that 69-percent of emergency room visits for children 5-years-old and younger were because of accidental ingestion of drugs.

And it is not the toddlers, who you have to watch out for. There was a 76-percent increase of calls to the poison-control centers where made because of teenagers misuse of prescription drugs. That is the reason behind the Rx DrugSAFE-- a prescription pill lock box, created to keep family safe. Dr. Mary Ellen Renna, a pediatrician, was here to explain more.

The Rx DrugSAFE is the only field-proven medical safe that offers the security and durability of a lightweight, 17-gauge steel safe with fingerprint access.

Each safe can store up to 12 medication bottles and can recognize 120 unique users, making it possible to enroll other responsible family members, or professionals, in the event that medications need to be accessed in an emergency.

Child actress Kelsey Chow is all grown-up and attending Columbia University. She currently stars on Disney XD's Pair of Kings, but is best known for her role on the CW's One Tree Hill.

Kelsey took Tamsen to her favorite coffee shop near school and talked to her about what she's studying and how's she's coping with dorm life.

For more on Kelsey, visit kelseychow.com.

One person will win five days of customized meal planning from Lori K Wellness ($1,025 value). Start the new year off right!

To enter to win, click here.

Also, text "WELLNESS" to 77944 for weekly health tips from Lori K!

More than 11,000 girls and young women visit Brooklyn every weekend for six weeks in December and January, from all over the East Coast. Many travel from Philadephia, Delaware and Virginia all the way up to Boston.

From elementary school through college and beyond, these girls compete for ribbons and medals and the chance to compete at Madison Square Garden for trophies and educational grants in aid. The Games have produced 22 Olympians, hundreds of age/grade national champions, but more importantly, countless changed lives! Participants are also some of the most heavily recruited college athletes in the nation.

Lisa Mateo interviews a spokesperson from the Colgate Women's Games as well as 3 athletes. The finals take place Jan 29th at Madison Square Garden.

Stretch a dollar a bit further! Diaper bags shouldn't weigh you down anymore that they already do! Melissa Foss of Fit Pregnancy magazine will share their favorite products that will surely lighten your load while proving useful to both you and baby!

• Yes to Baby Carrots Wipes, $6
• Aveeno Baby Moisturizing Wash, $5
• Noodle & Boo Baby Soap, $12
• Burt's Bees Baby Powder, $9
• Poo-pourri Little Stinker Odor Eliminator, $12.95
• Mustela Sunscreen for Baby, $15
• Zulilly.com offers up to 70% off
• Sock a Bye Baby, $40

For the latest in health and nutrition for mom and baby, check out the February issue of Fit Pregnancy.

Actress Shay Mitchell returns to ABC Family's hit series Pretty Little Liars this January as the bi-sexual teenager, Emily Fields.

This coming season Emily has come to terms with her sexuality and has decided to come out of the closet as a lesbian. With the continued coverage in the media on teen suicide due to bullying and the lack of outlets where young adults feel comfortable discussing this, the show is hoping to open up a controversial subject that will reach out to those in the same position. Pretty Little Liars earned the Teen Choice Award for "Choice Summer TV Show" and has become the newest teen indulgence on the small screen.

Pretty Little Liars airs on ABC Family.

Monster Jam Freestyle Mania Set To Roll Into Long Island and New Jersey For Car Crunching Excitement!
Kids Tickets Priced At An Incredible $15!
Preshow “Party In The Pits” Provides Amazing Chance To Meet The Monsters and Their Drivers Up Close!

Feld Motor Sports announced today tickets are now on sale for a new, explosive and action packed version of Monster Jam® titled Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Freestyle Mania. Monster Jam Freestyle Mania will be at Nassau Coliseum from January 28 – 30, 2011 and IZOD Center from February 4 – 5, 2011.

This show will feature some of the most popular monster trucks ever assembled to compete at Nassau Coliseum and IZOD Center, including the legendary Grave Digger®, Spider-Man®, Aftershock, Krazy Train, and Samson among others.

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Freestyle Mania combines an array of mind-blowing freestyle competitions, featuring Monster Jam Freestyle, Quad-FMX, Freestyle Super Bike, Freestyle Motocross and Freestyle BMX during an action packed two-hour show.

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam Freestyle Mania will feature the following show elements:

* Monster Jam Freestyle Mania Wheelie Competition - Unlike the traditional power wheelie, where the driver uses the engine’s power to transfer up onto the back wheels, this Freestyle Mania wheelie competition is where the driver will be tested by how the he manipulates the unyielding obstacle course in an attempt to pull off the perfect Freestyle wheelie.

* Monster Jam Freestyle Mania Maniac Challenge - Drivers will be time challenged as they skillfully navigate their way through an obstacle course that includes cars, trucks and more barriers positioned on the track in an attempt to slow down the 10,000 pound trucks.

* Freestyle Mania Jam Session
Integrated into the program will be the first-ever ‘Jam Session,’ where Quad-FMXers, Freestyle Superbikers, Freestyle Motocrossers, and Freestyle BMXers perform simultaneously at one time on the course.

* Monster Jam Donut Competition
Performing a donut while driving has been around for a long time, but through the defiance of monster truck drivers, a regular donut was just not enough. Enter the cyclone, a move where the driver creates enough speed while performing a regular donut that the truck’s rear tires gyrate so rapidly that the truck appears to be nailed to the floor.

* Monster Jam Freestyle Competition
Bigger, better and badder than ever before, this competition will feature fan favorite Monster Jam Freestyle. No rules, no restriction as the trucks pogo-stick their way around the course in an effort to deliver the most entertaining run possible.
A special “Built Ford Tough” Party In The Pits will take place at Nassau Coliseum on Friday, January 28 from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM and Saturday, January 29 from 11 AM – 1 PM. At IZOD Center, the Party In The Pits will take place on Friday, February 4 from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM and Saturday, February 5 from 11 AM – 1 PM. The incredibly popular Party In The Pits events give fans a chance to get a view of the trucks up-close and personal and meet the drivers of the 10,000 pound behemoth monster trucks. Pit Passes are $5.00 and are available at the arena box offices and Ticketmaster while supplies last. Pit Pass holders must also have a ticket for the performance for entry.
Tickets are available at the Nassau Coliseum and IZOD Center Box Offices, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 800-745-3000. Advance ticket prices are $70.00 (VIP Front Row) and $40.00 (Gold Circle), and Super Value tickets available for $30.00 (adults) and $15.00 (children 2-12). Tickets are $2.00 more on the day of the performance. Additional facility fee and taxes may apply.

NASSAU COLISEUM (Uniondale, NY) – January 29-31, 2011:
Friday, January 28 7:30 PM
Saturday, January 29 2:00 PM 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 30 2:00 PM
IZOD CENTER (East Rutherford, NJ) – February 5-6, 2011:
Friday, February 4 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 5 2:00 PM 7:30 PM

# # # #
For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit monsterjam.com or ticketmaster.com

New York, NY- On January 27, 2011 the creators of Belief Net’s new web series, www.ProphetorMadmantv.com, will open the stage version of “the lighter side of higher consciousness” with their performance of The Ice Cream Man Cometh at the historical 13th Street Theatre in Greenwich Village.

God, a Seinfeld Character, and an Ice Cream Man

When: January 27 and 28 at 7:30 Where: The 13th Street Theatre
January 29 at 3:30 and 7:30 50 West 13th St., NY, NY 10011
212.675.6677

Both the play and the web series involve real life Bruce Adams, an ice cream man from Fort Meyers, Florida. After a life-altering conversation with God, Adams wrote the book Prophet or Madman, and then enlisted the help of publicity guru Steve Allen, head of www.SteveAllenMedia.com, whose team brainstormed a one-of-a-kind PR campaign. “Let’s not only create a web series around Bruce, let’s write and produce a play in New York, film it, and include it in the web series.” Allen, who just happens to be a former actor and Seinfeld alumnus (the Father of the Ugly Baby), combines his acting and publicity skills by sharing the stage with Adams in The Ice Cream Man Cometh and promoting the play… hence, this release. (Sounds like the makings of a Seinfeld episode)

In The Ice Cream Man Cometh, Adams plays himself as he interacts with Allen as Sunshine Steve, a cynical TV reporter, who is interviewing Adams for the local morning news in Fort Meyers. Sunshine Steve has pressing problems of his own that bubble to the surface during the interview, and he grudgingly turns to Adams for advice. A third character lends comic and cosmic relief with an unexpected appearance….the cherry on top. The play and the making thereof will be filmed and included in the footage for the on-going web series, www.ProphetorMadmantv.com, which is featured on BeliefNet at http://blog.beliefnet.com/prophetormadman/.

In www.ProphetorMadmantv.com, the web series, Allen resurrects his old character from Seinfeld days, the Father of the Ugly Baby. Together with Adams, he launches a road trip in his ’89 Honda Civic. Along the way, Pa (Father of the Ugly Baby/a.k.a. Steve Allen) and Scoop (the Ice Cream Man/a.k.a. Adams), encounter family, friends and acquaintances of Adams, as well as celebrities of all types, such as TV star Tony Denison and rock star Mickey Avalon, all of whom dish on his authenticity and attempt to answer the question, “Would God speak to an ice cream man?”

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. Pig Heaven is celebrating the Chinese New Year on Monday so today they're giving free tastings of some of their dishes, NYC

Kiante "The Sneaker Mann" Young is leaving his famous sneakers at home and showing off some trendy boots for the weather. He showed them right in the snow with John Muller.

• Timberland Washington Summit, $140
• Mountrek Lisa Boot, $100
• Nike Air Max Posite Bakin, $215
• Diesel Olsen Boot $130
• Rampage Abigail, $49.99
• North Face Women’s Alycia, $125
• Nike Air Force 1 Duckboots, $165

For more on The Sneaker Mann, visit www.kiante.com.

Village Pourhouse is ready to bring the Pourhouse to YOUR house, all you have to do is show off your end zone victory dance! Send in your most creative end zone victory dance video (20 seconds or less) by January 31st to enter to win a Village Pourhouse-catered Superbowl party featuring burgers from the brand NEW burger menu!

We check out the dishes at Village Pourhouse and ask members of the PIX crew to do their best end zone victory dance.

Enter to win at www.facebook.com/village.pourhouse.

"Real Housewife of Atlanta" Nene Leakes PKG -

As the third season of the Real Housewife of Atlanta comes to an end, Nene Leakes met up with our Tamsen Fadal to talk about the feuding housewives and facing off with "the Donald" in the boardroom on Celebrity Apprentice.

The Real Housewife of Atlanta airs Sundays at 10pm on Bravo.

This week's Friday Forecaster Sal Del Rosario, a Staten Island resident who just retired from the NYPD after 41 years on the force.

Click here to view past Friday Forecasters.

Have you ever thought that your dog bears a striking resemblance to Jerry Seinfeld? Or perhaps, in the right light, your cat could be confused for Mayor Bloomberg or Sarah Jessica Parker?

If so, then bring your pet to a celebrity look-alike contest, hosted by the new Banfield Pet Hospital in NoHo, on Saturday, January 29th.

Dr. Seth Vredenburg of the Banfield Pet Hospital explained all pets and pet parents are welcome to attend and participate. A panel of judges will select one winner who will receive a year's worth of free veterinary care.

Regardless of whom your pet may or may not look like, this event promises to be a purrfectly good time, so come on out and see these howl-arious celebrity look-alikes!

For more on the contest and Banfield Pet Hospital, visit www.banfield.net.

This dazzling, diamond engagement ring could be yours if you enter Bridal Guide's Race for the Rock. This annual scavenger hunt takes contestants throughout New York City to find the ultimate grand prize...a diamond engagement ring. ....And it is no ordinary piece of jewelry, it is a Gelin Abaci tention-set diamond valued at over $7,000. The winner will walk away with the sparkler, plus the opportunity to propose live on the PIX11 Morning News.

So if you're thinking about getting engaged, this is the way to do it on the cheap. Enter now until 11:59pm, January 30th. Stay tuned to watch the live proposal on Valentine's Day on the PIX11 Morning News.

Click Here: Enter the Bridal Guide's Race to the Rock

Superbowl Champion and MVP Kurt Warner stopped by our studio to talk about his work with Duracell to support volunteer fire departments. We also talked about his Super Bowl predictions, the NFL labor situation, and all things football.

There are 23,000 volunteer fire departments in the U.S. Half of the departments don’t have enough personal alert system devices and 65 percent don’t have enough portable radios to equip all responders on a shift*.

The Power Those Who Protect Us battery donation program was created by Duracell, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council, to provide batteries to volunteer firefighters to help power the life-saving devices used by them throughout the year in their communities.

We're trading in our snow boots for cowboy boots! We're learning the "Scoot These Boots" routine from Amy Blackburn of the workout DVD Dance off the Inches: Country Line Dance Party.

We learned the Hoppin' Grapevine, Sweep Step, Crack That Egg and Scoot Those Boots.

Dance off the Inches: Country Line Dance Party is available in stores now.

While New York may be a Mecca for quick and convenient cuisines, it's not always easy to find a healthy food choice. Mary Hartley, RD, MPH and Director of Nutrition for CalorieCount.com shares the fact that she actually "lives" on takeout food, without compromising her healthy lifestyle.

Hartley says to be sure to: 1. Order Vegetables First; 2. Order Low-Fat Protein Next; 3. Make One Meal into Two; 4. Augment the Rest. Hartley also recommends whole grain products, and warns against ordering anything fried, crispy, cheesy, creamy or saucy.

Chinese
- Stir fry that is mixed with heavy sauces
- Order brown vs. White rice whenever possible.
- Broth-based soup and a Buddha’s delight (rice and veggies)

Japanese
- Miso, hot and sour and other broth-based soup
- Sushi and sashimi
- The best dipping sauces and condiment choices include low-sodium soy sauce with wasabi paste, ponzu, grated fresh ginger, shiso or shredded daikon radish

To keep everyone's spirits high about our Jamaica Trip Giveaway, we're showcasing the music of the island with a performance by New Kingston.

For more on New Kingston, visit www.myspace.com/newkingstonband.