Lisa Mateo follows style expert Nicole Young takes she takes two PIX Morning News producers shopping. One is looking for the perfect pair of jeans. The other is looking for a flattering top that shows her arms. Nicole offers tips on shopping for their body type and what they are best suited for.

For more on Young, visit www.nicoleyoungstyle.com.

Our Lisa Mateo learns just what it takes to hype up the crowds when your team is losing.

Professional hype man Marco G has the tough job of motivating crowds during New Jersey Nets games and this season has been rough. He shows and tells Lisa just how its done. He even gets our newsroom hyped up during a mid-morning meeting.

For more on the NJ Nets and Marco G, visit www.nba.com/nets.

Our Lisa Mateo hits the slopes of Hunter Mountain, one of the many New York ski resorts offering up sweet deals until the end of the season.

For more on Hunter Mountain, visit www.huntermtn.com.

Our Lisa Mateo visited the Property Room of Long Island.

Property Room is an online auction marketplace that works in conjunction with police agencies around the country (including New York) - 1,600 and counting.

At any given time, somewhere in America, a thief is stealing valuables. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were 13 million thefts of property during 2005 alone. What's more, property crimes account for nearly 75 percent of all crime committed in the country. Of those burglaries, 84 percent of the time the offender gained entrance into the victim's home or other building. While much of that merchandise finds its way back to the original owner, quite a bit of it never does. And because of this, consumers can bargain shop for the recovered merchandise through a company called PropertyRoom.com.

The site has so many interesting things from electronics, jewelry, designer fashions, power tools, cars, land, recreational supplies and the list goes on. Founded in 1999 by Tom Lane, a retired NY detective who's mission was to help law enforcement agencies solve the problem of what to do with recovered goods. There are some businesses that are thriving during a recession; as consumers are looking for ways to save money on just about everything.

For more information, visit PropertyRoom.com.

If you're looking for a gym that's easy on your wallet, you don't have to look further than your neighborhood rec center. Lisa Mateo has found a great deal for 2010.

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to make it easy for New Yorkers to be active. They've launched a week-long open house called Be Fit NYC 2010 and it just may be the best workout value in town.

The Chelsea Recreation Center's annual memberships $75 for adults, $10 for seniors and free for children under 18.

You can check out the Center's for free every Monday until the end of the year. For more information, visit www.nycgovparks.org.

Forget about pimping your ride! Now guys are pimping their beds.

Lisa Mateo takes a look at some of the features like built-in flat screen TVs and surround sound to beds with secret compartments and mattresses that keep you cool.

For more on the Magniflex Mattresses or Hollandia Beds and Loungers, visit www.hollandiainternational.com.

If you are one of the may people who made a resolution to get back in shape for 2010, David Barton Gym has the answer.

PIX's Lisa Mateo heads to their latest location on Astor Place to get tips from the owner, David Barton, and a tour of the new 40,000 square foot facility. He gives her tips of cardio and shows her moves for the upper body, lower body, back and abs.

For more information, visit davidbartongym.com.

With the approach of the New Year, its time to reflect on 2009. Our Lisa Mateo was certainly busy, keeping us updated on the latest happenings around town. She’s covered it all from working out and eating out to broadway and dance. But there's more to come in 2010 so stay tuned!

If you're stressed out about the high cost of this year's holiday gift list, the answer to your problems can be found inside your home...All you have to do is turn your clutter into cash!

Whether it's double appliances, unused picture frames or a stack of books---just remember, your trash is someone's treasure!

Lisa Mateo finds out how your unwanted junk can be used to pay for those pricey presents.

Many holiday street vendors are finding success selling their products outdoors on the streets of New York. Lisa Mateo visited two holiday markets to find out why New Yorkers and tourists alike are forking up the cash for the many unique items.

Bryant Park's Holiday Market runs through January 3rd and the Columbus Circle Market runs through December 24th.

Newest Victoria's Secret Angel Kylie Bisutti takes our Lisa Mateo on a lingerie shopping spree. Plus, as the winner of this year's model search, she gives Lisa tips on posing and walking the catwalk like a true VS Angel.

The encore presentation of Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airs tonight at 9pm on WPIX.

For more information, visit www.victoriassecret.com or www.vsallaccess.com.

Lisa Mateo takes a backstage tour of the Tony Award nominated musical "Irving Berlin's White Christmas." It is currently playing at Broadway's Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway) this holiday season throught January 3rd - guaranteeing New York another white Christmas!

The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and find their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" is a merry and bright theatrical experience for the entire family.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets prices are $66.50, $91.50 and $121.50 (including $1.50 facility fee), and available by calling Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For group sales details and pricing call The Group Sales Box Office at 800-223-7565 or visit www.bestofbroadway.com.

If you missed out on 'Black Friday' sales don't despair. Lisa Mateo explained this morning how tardy deal seekers still have a second chance to save a bundle on Christmas gifts--they can still pull out their laptops and take advantage of 'Cyber Monday.'

Lisa has all the tips for you, including sites such as cybermonday.com and couponwinner.com that scour the Internet for the hottest deals, putting them all on one convenient homepage. Not only do the websites direct you to some of the hottest deals, but they also have coupons for savvy shoppers to save on shipping costs.

While some folks chow down on pumpkin or apple pie on Thanksgiving, others prefer a different flavor. Lisa Mateo gets a couple of secret pie recipes from a popular chef in Brooklyn -- Chef Shakoor of Shakoor's Sweet Tooth. He shares his rags to riches story.

Shakoor's Sweet Tooth is located at 305 Halsey St in Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.shakoorssweettooth.com.

Thanksgiving is just two days away and from the PIX family to yours, we want to celebrate with you by sharing special family recipes.

Lisa Mateo and her son Jaron showed us how to make Pumpkin Pie (see the recipe after the jump).

CLICK HERE FOR MORE THANKSGIVING TIPS.

Disney fans don't have to travel far to see Mickey, Minnie and friends. They're hitting the ice in our area for their latest show. Lisa Mateo strapped on her skates to talk with a few stars of "Let's Celebrate." Lisa spoke to Tetona Jackson, who plays Princess Tiana and Bonard Muck, who plays Prince Eric on ice.

You can catch "Let's Celebrate" at Newark's Prudential Center through November 22 then it heads to the IZOD Center from November 24 to November 29.

For mroe information, visit disney.go.com/disneyonice.

Learn the hottest dance moves straight from the NFL sidelines!

Follow the Jets Flight Crew as they combine crowd-favorite cheer routines with aerobic and plyometric moves for a high-energy, fat-burning, heart-pumping cardio workout.

Just like the players, these cheerleaders are athletes and need to be in top
condition to do their job and stay on top of their game. And they’ll turn up the heat with kicks, stretches, strength training and choreography to get you fit and fabulous...you'll be ready to hit the night clubs with new found confidence & moves!

The classes are offered at New York Sports Club. For class schedule, go to www.nysc.com.

Our Lisa Mateo cooks up some good old comfort food macaroni and cheese at new SoHo restaurant Macbar that specializes in the side dish.

Macbar, a new restaurant fully dedicated to gourmet macaroni & cheese, opens today in the bustling shopping district of SoHo. Tucked within a macaroni shaped nook behind big sister Delicatessen on Prince Street, Macbar adds high style to comfort food.

The visual impact of Macbar is as bold as the idea itself. With a staff outfitted in custom Vans sneakers, bright yellows and dark browns set the scene for 12 gourmet flavors served in custom created, macaroni shaped packaging including custom designed interlinked forks and knives.

Lisa Mateo got a chance to hang out at The Third Annual Cook.Eat.Drink.Live festival.

She was joined by the Food Network's Chef Micheal Symon and wine expert, Marnie Old.

Chef Micheal Symon cooked a delicious meal while promoting the event. The culinary expert has a new book that will help turn any cooking newbie into a master chef. His book, Michael Symon's Live To Cook is available now.

She's the '80s pop icon whose beats moved you from head to toe. With 29 years in the business Lisa Lisa has proven herself to be the queen of the latin hip-hop.

Our Lisa Mateo caught up with the singer to find out what she's been up to and talk about her new album Life n' Love, which is in stores now.

Lisa Lisa also gave us a tour of her old stomping ground of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen. It's the place where she would get into trouble with her nine brothers and sisters and it was the place where at just 13-years-old, Lisa Velez would become Lisa Lisa.

You can meet Lisa Lisa in person when she performs tonight, November 5 at the Lord and Taylor on 5th Avenue for it's "Love At First Sight" fashion event from 6pm to 9pm. For more information, visit www.lordandtaylor.com.
You can also catch her at KTU's freestyle "Free For All" concert in Atlantic City on November 13th. For more information, visit www.ktu.com.

Could you work with your mom or dad everyday? Well, for one mother-daughter writing duo, it's a winning combination. Their mutual passion for vampires lead to the creation of the popular House of Night series, which consists of published six books so far. Our Lisa Mateo sat down with mother-daughter authors P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast to talk about their special relationship.

The Casts' latest book House of Night: Tempted is in bookstores now, and they're adding the finishing touches to a seventh book which will come out next spring. For more information, visit www.houseofnightseries.com.

And if you're still hungry for more, you can catch The Vampire Diaries tonight at 8pm on WPIX. For more information, visit www.cwtv.com.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HALLOWEEN TIPS

Alton DuLaney, the Director of Creative Services for Kate’s Paperie, and Do-It-Yourself Crafts Extraordinaire – who was also crowned the Most Gifted Wrapper in the Scotch 3m Gift-wrapping competition last year – demonstrates creative Halloween projects that are fun for the whole family, as well as cost saving tips and décor ideas for the ultimate Spook-tacular Halloween!

Learn how paper and ribbons can be transformed into a bewitching Halloween mask, or try your hand at party bags to transform your humble home into a haunted house.

For more info on obtaining the stencils, you can go to your nearest Kate's Paperie store or log onto www.katespaperie.com.

And if you're up for some cool Halloween makeup, check out Mehron Makeup, www.mehron.com. Mehron has created Character Kits to simplify Halloween shopping. Each Character Kit contains all the professional performance makeup, makeup applicators, makeup removers, accessories and step by step instructions to create a Halloween character.

Mehron has teamed up with 24 Prince Restaurant to celebrate The Legacy of Michael Jackson at 24 Prince’s “Neverland”

Michael Jackson’s life is encapsulated by a mélange of characters, costumes and performances. What better holiday to commemorate and celebrate his life than the one known for guises and get ups. This Halloween weekend, 24 Prince (24 Prince Between Mott and Elizabeth, 212-226-8624) will transform their space into a Haunted Neverland, paying tribute to MJ with a variety of enticing events - fit for a King.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HALLOWEEN TIPS

With everything becoming green and eco-friendly, more and more couples are opting for green weddings.

On October 22, a one-of-a-kind wedding will take place, an outdoor, eco-friendly solar powered wedding in New York’s Foley Square. From the band to the lighting to the chilled refreshments, every element will be solar-powered. Dozens of couples are applying to exchange – or renew – their vows in this town-hall style wedding, and will be selected through mid-October.

The event is sponsored by Sun Crystals, the perfect union of stevia and cane sugar to form a 100% natural low-calorie sweetener. Through its alliance with 1% For The Planet, Sun Crystals is donating 1% of its sales to the American Solar Energy Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in the U.S.

Sun Crystal's Jen Minder gave our Lisa Mateo a tour of the space and eco-friendly wedding planner Danielle Venokur showed her some simple and affordable green wedding ideas.

For more information, visit www.suncrystals.com.

Jon Koga, the master mind behind the Koga workout, showed our Lisa Mateo the art of the brand new fitness routine that combines Yoga and Kick-Boxing at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center.

The Manhattan Movement & Arts Center is 18,000 square feet of studios, theaters and performance space all with top of the line sound, floors and lighting. This one-of-a-kind center on the Upper West Side hosts everything from aerial circus and hip hop dance classes to charity events and birthday parties.

For more information, visit www.manhattanmovement.com.

Professional organizers Amanda Hill and Judy Crabtree from So Simply Organized show Lisa Mateo how to keep your family organized through the school year. They say it doesn't take too much time to put these ideas into place.

Their five simple steps to organize your children are:

1. Create a Command Central
2. Control the Paper
3. Give Everything a Home
4. Establish Good Habits
5. Operate at Peak Performance

Lisa and the organizers spent about 20 minutes at The Container Store and found just about everything they needed.

For more of their organizational tips, visit www.sosimplyorganized.com and check out The Container Store for more items to get you organized.

PeopleJar is a free directory platform that helps you make new connections in any field through specific characteristics. You can create a free profile in virtually any occupation with pertinent information to make yourself available to the world.

PeopleJar is user contribution driven. If you don’t see an interest or characteristic to find someone by or that better describes your profile available yet, you can suggest it.

PeopleJar is not a social network. PeopleJar does not map out your existing relationships, nor does it help to maintain them online. It does not search other sites and does not import profiles from them.

PeopleJar is a utility to help establish a new connection with another person by a particular interest or skill in any field (be it filmmaking, nuclear physics, design, etc.) and take the benefit of that connection outside the platform (perhaps working together on some project, etc.).

For more information, visit peoplejar.com.

Lisa Mateo gets a preview of Grand Central Oyster Frenzy. It's an all day free event with free food and plenty of contests. It takes place this Saturday, October 3rd from 12pm to 6pm at the Grand Central Oyster Bar.

Pro shuckers from across the country including four-time champion Luis Iglesius will vie for the championship and the public will square off in the Slurp Off professional eating competition.

The Grand Central Oyster Bar is located at Grand Central Terminal, Lower Level (42 St. btw. Lexington-Vanderbilt Aves.). For more information, visit www.oysterbarny.com.

Being fired, layed off or reassigned, doesn't have to be a bad thing. Turn getting layed off into a positive experience. Time off from the grind of the work world does not mean you're stuck laying about your house or frantically searching for any job. You can use your time wisely and think of it as a "sabatical."

Lisa Mateo learned what to do while you're on sabatical from work from The Sabbatical Sisters. Their teachings, life experiences and research can be found in an upcoming book Reboot Your Life.

For more information on the Sabbatical Sisters and their book, visit www.rebootyourlife.us.

Lisa Mateo discovered the world of versatile make-up and spoke to Karen Robinovitz, the creator of Purple Lab Double Duty Beauty products.

Purle Lab products are designed to add a daily dose of glam while providing a service to the body, soul and confidence. Robinovitz's debut product is Huge Lips Skinny Hips, a collection of lip gloss that contain Hoodia, the all natural appetite suppressant, as well as plumping Vitamin B3 for pouty lips. The shades are also great for women of all ethnicities.

For more on Purple Lab, visit www.purplelabnyc.com.

Baseball season is coming to a close and football season just got underway. But according to our Lisa Mateo, neither of those sports are as "cool" as hockey.

Lisa went to Madison Square Garden, where the staff is gearing up and icing up for the new hockey season. She spoke to Jack Durkin, of the Rangers ice crew, who explained to us what sort of preparations are needed.

Lisa also got a chance to speak to New York Ranger legend Rod Gilbert, who gave her a preview of the new season. Gilbert is also involved with Madison Square Garden's "Garden of Dreams Foundation," which makes dreams come true for kids in crisis. For more information, log onto gardenofdreamsfoundation.org.

The New York Rangers home opener is on Saturday, October 3. Lisa is giving one lucky viewer the chance to win two free tickets to the game. All you have to do to win is be the 11th caller to (866) 414-2911. Good luck!

Click here to read the official rules.

For more on the New York Rangers and to purchase tickets, visit rangers.nhl.com.

Want to know what you'll look like as red-head or brunette, short hair, bangs? A website allows you to do just that. Plus, it can show you how you'd you look wearing some of your favorite celebrity styles. Our Lisa Mateo checked out the site and discovered what she'd look like as blonde!

Aiming to change how women discover, try and even buy beauty products, Daily Makeover, a leader in virtual reality try-on technology, today introduced the next generation of its virtual makeover application, Makeover Studio, disrupting much of the traditional marketing relationships for large beauty industry brands, online publishers catering to women and customers themselves.

Featuring the industry's most advanced rendering capabilities, Makeover Studio offers women a new online connection with beauty products and gives beauty brands a new channel to increase consumer awareness and product trial, as well as drive e-commerce transactions.

That same compelling experience is also driving online media publishers to deploy Makeover Studio as a tool to engage visitors, incorporate innovative contextual advertising units and build customer loyalty.

Makeover Studio is currently licensed to more than 60 major beauty brands and web media publishers, and is featured on Daily Makeover's flagship editorial website, makeover.dailymakeover.com.

Thousands turned out Saturday at St. Mary's Park in the Bronx for food, fun and to learn more about diabetes!

Our Lisa Mateo was on hand to host the American Diabetes Association's "Feria de Salud" for Hispanic Heritage Month. The free event included live musical performances, educational workshops, cooking demonstrations, and a variety of service booths offering prizes and giveaways.

Diabetes is a serious illness that disproportionately affects Latinos; one in eight Latinos has diabetes in comparison to one in twenty non-latino whites. Diabetes is an incurable disease and is an urgent health problem in the Latino community. As a result, it's important to educate the community about the seriousness of diabetes, proper management and its risk factors and to provide materials in an effort to assist individuals impacted by the disease.

To learn more about the American Diabetes Association, visit www.diabetes.org.

There are only a few more days left in the US Open as New York's biggest tennis event comes to a close this Sunday

Lisa Mateo takes a look at what's going on off the court. She spoke to John Wolfson about the American Express Challenge A Pro Booth.

Special thanks to New Balance for hooking Lisa up with her tennis gear. For more information, visit www.usopen.org.

Thursday may be the official kickoff to the NFL season, but Pop Warner Football is already in high gear.

Lisa Mateo takes a look into the history of Pop Warner and visits a local Pop Warner team in New Jersey-- the Washington Rock Pop Warner. She talks with team officials, players and cheerleaders, and suits up in full gear to run a few drills with the team.

For more on the Washington Rock Pop Warner team, visit www.wrpw.org.

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. But what about all the other delicious fruits out there? Surely, they're good for something. You might want to throw in an orange or mango or perhaps even some berries into your meals each day.

According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, 90% of Americans don't get the recommended daily amount in their diet. But here's hope and its easier than you think.

Our Lisa Mateo spoke to Registered Dietician Lisa Drayer and author of, The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious about the healthiest fruits to eat and innovative ways to incorporate them into their diet and Fruit2Day, which has 2 servings of fruit in each bottle.

For more on the Fruit2Day, visit www.fruit2day.com. For more on Drayer, visit www.lisadrayer.com.

School will be back in session soon enough. It's time to get your children back into the habit of getting plenty of sleep and eating right. And if you're looking for suggestions for healthy meals and snacks, our Lisa Mateo has a few ideas.

She went to her local Stop and Shop to get a little expert advice from dietician Christine Palumbo on what your kids should be eating and the secret to a good breakfast.

For more healthy meal and snack ideas, visit www.stopandshop.com.

The Chelsea Piers Sports Center and BlueStreak have joined forces to create the ultimate boot camp.

Sweat it out three days a week with the newest fitness program at Chelsea Piers BlueStreak. The brainchild of BlueStreak Program Director Shane Palahicky and Sports Center trainer Gerald Moore, The Beast is the ultimate boot camp for motivated adults who want to take their training to the next level.

Participants get two days of squat thrusts, suicides, lunges, obstacle courses and 150,000 square feet of space for innovative, heart-pounding fitness fun. On the third day, BlueStreak serves as home base, where athletes train on Olympic-caliber equipment, taking advantage of Dartfish video analysis, Super Treadmills and the state-of-the-art Plyo Platform.

Small groups, individualized attention and dynamic training yield concrete results in an environment conducive to the most versatile training available in New York City

For more information on Chelsea Piers BlueStreak and The Beast, visit chelseapiers.com.

Six months, nine months or 12 months? When should you start feeding your baby solids? Super Mom Lisa Mateo's got an age-by-age guide to taking your baby from liquids to solids with Baby Talk magazine.

Keep in mind: mealtime isn't just about the food. It's recommended you sit and eat alongside your baby at least once a day. Just like adults, your child will enjoy the socializing that comes with mealtime, and they'll start to look forward to it.

For the latest on health and nutrition for your little one, check out the September issue of Baby Talk on newsstands or visit www.parenting.com/babytalk.

Playtime is becoming a little more colorful for children in Brooklyn. One local artist has donated her time to turn a dingy brick wall of St. Andrew's Playground, into a brilliant new mural.

Whether they're on the swings or the slide, playing basketball or baseball or just cooling off by the sprinkler, children at St. Andrew's playground have a colorful new backdrop. The best part about the new facelift lead by artist Halima Cassells -- the kids pitched in to add their own creative touch. Lisa Mateo also joined in and helped with the big makeover. The complete mural will officially be unveiled later this afternoon.

Special thanks to Brooklyn Weinstein Paint and Home Center for donating 15 gallons of paint to make the wall what it is today.

For more information about artist Cassells, www.halimacassell.com. For more information on St. Andrew's Playground, visit www.nycgovparks.org.

I say tomato, you say…Whatever the answer, Barbounia will be celebrating tomatoes in all forms for its Third Annual Tomato Festival kicking off on Sunday, August 19.

Executive Chef Efraim Nahon will be creating a specialized $35 three course Tomato Festival Menu served from August 19th - August 30th. Patrons will be able to enjoy dishes and cocktails that incorporate the juiciest, sweetest and flavor-filled tomatoes from local New York farmers.

Chef Efraim Nahon has created an original tomato-inspired menu, selecting eight of his favorite dishes: 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 desserts.

Ever had a bag of lettuce or a tomato go bad less than a week after you bought them? Teri Gault, founder and CEO of www.thegrocerygame.com knows just how you feel! The problem is shoppers don't know the proper ways to store food in a way the will keep it fresh and flavorful. During these tough economic times, there is no room for waste, especially when it comes to feeding your family. The less food you toss out, the more money you'll save!

Teri showed Lisa Mateo some simple and easy ways to keep your food fresher and last longer - saving you time, money and those additional trips to the grocery store:

• Lettuce – The pre-washed bags of lettuce for salads wilt in just a couple of days, since their water content speeds up oxidation. To keep leafy greens crisp for a week longer, take them out of the bag as soon as you get home and without rinsing them – WRAP them in a clean dishtowel. This will whisk away the moisture that causes them to go limp!

• Yogurt – Buy some extra when it’s on sale, but get the ones with a far off expiration date. Usually, yogurts can last up to 5 weeks and you can even try freezing them and putting them in a blender to make a pure yogurt smoothie. HINT: Larger yogurt containers spoil more quickly, so stick with the smaller packages!

Lisa Mateo goes to the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel and orders up some picnic fun and tries out their new picnic basket service.

The Oak Room at the Plaza offers three different picnic basket choices ranging in price from $40 to $65.

Lisa also found another service that prepares picnic baskets. It's called ThatPicnicPlace.com. They're New York City's only all-inclusive picnic basket delivery service. Check them out at ThatPicnicPlace.com.

The Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel is located at 10 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019. For more information, visit www.oakroomny.com or call (212) 758-7777.

The awesome power of plants is on display this summer with Wicked Plants at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, through September 6.

Although plants have nourished and succored, seduced and delighted humans throughout history, this summer, BBG highlights a rogue's gallery of the most nefarious, troublesome, and even potentially deadly members of the plant kingdom.

Wicked Plants at Brooklyn Botanic Garden introduces visitors to over 50 plants in the Garden whose capacity to injure, poison, or perhaps just irritate humans is a powerful reminder to tread lightly in the plant world.

Fashion styles come and go each season and keeping up with them could cost you a pretty penny.

Lisa Mateo has the style 411 for this summer and you don't have to spend too much. Updating your wardrobe does not mean you have to go on a shopping binge. In fact, you can find some of the hottest trends right in your very own closet.

It's all about combining the old and the new to make you a style star. Lisa spoke to style expert Susan Redstone to get the scoop on getting looks for under $50.

GO GRECIAN:
What you have: White pants, gold jewelry, a tan! (optional)
What you need: Drapey top by Allen b J C Penney $44 (or Gladiator Sandals $29 Famous Footwear and more gold cuffs)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit consumers.quickstarttennis.com.

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

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

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

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

Lisa Mateo is taking a cruise right here in the Big Apple. Like everything else, travel and live jazz have suffered the economic downturn in New York and beyond. Fortunately, this summer New Yorkers don't have to go any farther than their own harbor every Wednesday night for great jazz and beautiful city views.

For the 10th year in a row, The Smooth Cruises are back and setting sail along the scenic Hudson River.

This 10-week series features some of the world's premier jazz artists. Marquee Concerts, New York's biggest jazz promoter, transforms the Shttp://www.spiritofnewyork.compirit of New York Cruise Ship into a floating jazz club each summer.

Each cruise is a one-of-a-kind live show and lifestyle evening on the water. Starting July 1 and running every Wednesday night until Labor Day, there is a sunset cruise (6:30pm) and a moonlight cruise (9:30pm).

This year's featured artists include Spyro Gyra, Alex Bugnon & Paul Taylor, Bobby Caldwell, The Rippingtons, Jonathan Butler, Najee, Peter White & Mindi Abair, Marion Meadows & Shilts, Phil Perry and Pieces of a Dream.

For more information, visit www.spiritofnewyork.com.

Lisa visits a high school that is involved in the PENCIL program and talks to award-winning fashion designer Norma Kamali. She's a long time supporter of NYC schools and holds teachers in the highest regard.

As one of the noblest professions Kamali believes that if teachers are going to inspire confidence and command respect, they need to exhibit professionalism just as a CEO might in a boardroom. So she has designed a line of suites that are functional and fashionable so as to be affordable for teachers around the country.

Lisa visits a high school that is involved in the program. Its the same high school which Norma attended. Now she's giving back by providing an internship for students. Norma also designed work clothing for the teachers and other faculty members at the school.

For more on PENCIL visit pencil.org and for more on Kamali, visit www.normakamalicollection.com.

This season, the fragrant aromas and dazzling colors of magnificent edible flowers are showing up in some unexpected places. Roses, hibiscus and chamomile are blooming and appearing in mouthwatering cocktails. Lisa Mateo took a trip to Beekman Bar & Books to learn how to make a few of the libations.

The birds are chirping, the sun is finally shining, and Bombay Sapphire offers a exciting new libation to give your mouth a little pop! The Lavender Collins is a fragrant cocktail made with lavender syrup and fresh lemon juice. The spirit's 10 botanicals such as lemon peel, juniper and coriander will add a blossoming kick to your palate.

Check out their recipes for Lavender SAPPHIRE® Collins, VeeV Treetini and Flor de Caña Flip Flop Punch.

Beekman Bar & Books is loacted at 889 1st Avenue (at 50th Street) in Manhattan. For more information, call (212) 758-6600 or visit barandbooks.cz/beekman.

New building Twenty9th Park Madison has teamed up with Gabarron Foundation to create an art gallery in one of the apartment units in its buildingm which will feature up and coming Latino artists.

Puerto Rican artist Miguel Trelles gives Lisa a tour of his pieces and his exhibit at Twenty9th Park will be on display through July 20. After the, a new artist is selected to showcase their work.

For more information, visit www.fc-gabarron.es.

Our Lisa is not the straight-haired girl you think she is. Her natural roots are actually curly and to maintain those curls takes a little work especially during the summer.

She visits Christo's Fifth Avenue Salon for some tips on how to show off her ringlets.

On his website, Christo states, "Cutting curly hair is an art. You have to make sure that you work individually according to the texture of the hair and the structure of the face, since curls have a mind of their own. Everyone should be able to achieve the hairstyle they feel their best in. This is why my goal is to maximize the potential of each individual’s best possible hair.”

For more information on Christo and his salon, visit curlisto.com.

The Tom Tom Crew, an acrobatic troupe comprised of Australia's hottest high-flyers and a trio of beat-boxing, drumstick-wielding, record-scratching musical prodigies, will blitz The New Victory Theater from May 29 through June 14. This one-two punch of hard-core aerial antics and hip hop rhythms can best be described as "daredevil theater."

For more on ticket and show information, visit newvictory.org.

Lisa visits Christo Fifth Avenue Salon as they makeover a women from Iris House.

For the third year in a row, it is Christo's pleasure to host Spa Day, an event to benefit Iris House-A Center for Women Living With HIV/AIDS. It will take place here at the salon today, Monday June 8 from 4pm to 8pm.

Proceeds will support an array of programs and services for women with AIDS and their family members, as well as prevention education throughout the community. With more individuals and families than ever before turning to Iris House for food, housing, counseling and connections to health care, your participation can make a significant difference.

For more information, visit www.irishouse.org.

Lisa is learning how to make authentic Paella at Solera, plus discovering the history of the dish. She is also gearing up for the big Paella Parade at South Street Seaport.

On Sunday, June 7 from 11am to 3pm, the first annual Paella Parade will take place outdoors at the new South Street Seaport location of New York Water Taxi Beach. Spanish chefs and restaurateurs from the tri-state area will unite for this first-of-its-kind event to showcase and highlight their Paella making skills accompanied by wines from Spain’s leader, El Coto de Rioja. Tempranillo and Spanish food fans are expected to turn out in droves to witness Paella making at its best!

The ticket price will be $25 and available for purchase at watertaxibeach.com will allow aficionados to taste every Paella presented as well as a selection of Rioja wines from the Baron De Ley Group (El Coto, Baron de Ley, Museum and Maximo wines), imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons.

A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization committed to eliminating world hunger, and the Wine Course at the Department of Hospitality Management at New York City College of Technology.

Whether you want to fly like an aerialist from Cirque du Soleil or take a ballet class, the new Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (MMAC) has what you seek. It is a comprehensive facility for dance instruction and performance, located on Manhattan's Upper West Side near the Lincoln Center.

MMAC's combined 18,000 square feet of column-free studios and its state-of-the-art 160-seat theater serve as a creative hub for adult open classes in all dance disciplines as well as fitness; a children's program of dance, movement and rhythm, fitness, music, art and martial arts for ages 6 weeks to 16 years; dance workshops and performances.

MMAC is the home of the Manhattan Youth Ballet (formerly Studio Maestro), a not-for-profit pre-professional ballet school and company, founded in 1995 by Rose Caiola.

For inquires about classes or about studio and theater rentals please call 212.787.1178 or visit www.manhattanmovement.com.

In the quest to get our bodies fit for summer, many of us hit the gym taking classes, lifting weights, doing cardio and that's definitely the right step.

But what do you do if you're bored with your regular workout? Our Lisa Mateo has found something that both men and women are getting a kick out of.

• WATCH: Full-length CKO Kickboxing Workout

If you're looking to sweat away the pounds and you're not afraid of putting some muscle into, then gear up and try kickboxing. Lisa learned the fundamentals of CKO Kickboxing (Check out the full workout after the jump).

For more on CKO Kickboxing, visit www.ckokickboxing.com.

Featuring a stirring tribute to our armed forces, a trio of classic rock tribute bands and a spectacular fireworks display, North Hempstead's 2009 annual Memorial Day weekend celebration promises to maintain bragging rights as arguably the best beachfront bash around.

A prelude to the town's summer season of exciting concerts and events in our parks, the May 23rd festival at North Hempstead Beach Park on West Shore Road in Port Washington starts at 6 pm. The rain date is Sunday, May 24.

For more information, visit www.northhempstead.com.

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Written by best friends, Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz, Flirtexting: How To Text Your Way To His Heart is the guide to the most important form of communication in today's dating world-texting.

Debra and Olivia show Lisa all she needs to know about wooing the modern way and getting the most out of our textual communication and how to react to classic flirtexting situations that occur in all stages of a relationship.

Flirtexting: How To Text Your Way To His Heart is available in stores now.

He had a passion for music, art, film and politics. Now a new exhibit showcases John Lennon's years in New York City.

Lisa Mateo got an inside look at the show, which reflects the spirit of the era where he created some of his best work.

Today you can see some of the songwriter's personal items, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC.

Yesterday, she was able to get a sneak peek of the exhibit it personifies the true essence of John Lennon, New York City and rock and roll.

"John Lennon: The New York City Years" opens today. For ticket information, visit www.rockannex.com/lennon.

Workout in the Park 2009 is a transformative total-body experience that brings SELF Magazine to life by offering exciting workouts, beauty consultations, fashion tips, nutritional advice and tons of freebies.

SELF will demo the hottest new exercise trends at Workout in the Park, including: Prana Power - this fusion class blends the flow of Vinyasa Yoga with the power of Kundalini Yoga; Movieography - workouts set to the hit music from old favorites including Flashdance, Footloose and Dirty Dancing; and this year, Workout in the Park has increased the Rebounding area to accommodate more guests to this ever popular class!

A one-year SELF Magazine subscription is included with every Workout in the Park ticket.

For more information, visit www.selfworkoutinthepark.com.

Kmart will be ushering in summer fashion with its first-ever trunk show. The show will showcase it's summer fashion looks and personal shopping style tips along with in-store special appearances and trend presentations.

Kmart is offering up one of their creative stylists to perform a "Kmart Style Makeover" on a deserving mom this morning. They will be decked out in the hottest Kmart fashions including Attention, Jaclyn Smith, Route 66, Joe Boxer, Piper & Blue and Wonderkids.

For more information, www.kmart.com.

Former American decathlete, Dan O'Brien and has been deemed one of the best decathlon athletes of the 1990s, winning an Olympic gold medal after winning three consecutive world titles. He's mastered countless athletic challenges, but now, he's facing a new test -- the game of hopscotch! To kick-off National Physical Fitness Month, O'Brien is jumping at the chance to add the Guinness Hopscotch Record to his list of achievements.

This attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest game of hopscotch is part of a nation-wide effort called the "Outdoor Challenge" created to encourage parents and children across the country to participate in creative outdoor play this Summer. Parents are being asked to take the Outdoor Challenge Pledge, committing time each day to creative outdoor play. The goal of the campaign is to reach one million hours of pledged time.

O'Brien is holding a practice session today, May 5 at Chelsea Piers. You can join him this morning at Pier 61 at 23rd Street and Hudson River Parkway.

For more information, visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com and www.chelseapiers.com.

The New York Mets will hold their annual Mets Anthem Search this Monday, May 4 at 11am at Citi Field for the opportunity to sing the National Anthem prior to a 2009 Mets home game, and our Lisa Mateo is heading to the tryouts.

Finalists from Monday's event will advance to the final round of auditions at Citi Field in the weeks ahead. Five singers will be selected from the final group and will each perform the National Anthem at five games later this season.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

It's Carvel's 75th anniversary and to celebrate, participating locations are giving away 8-ounce icebergs on April 30 from 3pm to 7pm for free!

Icebergs are Carvel's newest frozen drink blending signature vanilla ice cream flavoring with Fanta Orange, Barq's Root Beer or Coke-a-Cola and ice, topped with premium soft serve.

You can join Lisa Mateo at PIX Plaza (42nd Street and 2nd Avenue) to get some free ice cream and say good morning to Fudgie the Whale, himself.

Today, Carvel has over 185 locations in New York and over 500 locations nationwide. For more information and to finad a location near you, visit www.carvel.com.

Saddle up! It's opening day at Belmont Park in Queens and our Lisa Mateo is gearing up for the famous Triple Crown. She'll learn how to make the Belmont Breeze, the signature drink of the Belmont Stakes (Saturday, June 6) from its creator Dale Degroff the "King of Cocktails."

DeGroff is the founder and president of the Museum of the American Cocktail and author of The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks. The drink is a nod to the 19th century tradition of serving whisky and mint drinks at the racetracks. DeGroff’s version uses bourbon as the base spirit and Dry Sack, a versatile medium dry Spanish sherry that imparts a soft fragrant nutty flavor. A mixture of orange, cranberry and lemon juices provides refreshing fruit flavors. (Check out the recipes after the jump).

The road to the Triple Crown of horse racing may start in Kentucky on May 2nd but the finish line is in New York with The Belmont Stakes on June 6th. If you don’t have tickets for the track, just throw your own "Day at the Races" party at home. Lisa will then learn how to throw a great Triple Crown Party and get a tour of the Winner's Circle.

You can watch the races at Belmont Park, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003. For more information, visit the New York Horse Racing Association at www.nyra.com.

Whether you're having a bad hair day or you're running late, ponytails are a fast fix to get you out the door in the morning.

On top, to the side or with a hat. There are mounds of ways to put your tresses into a ponytail and this casual look is going high-end.

Backstage at Pamella Roland Fashion, hair stylist Paul Labrecque took it to new heights.

For more on the Paul Labrecque Hair Salon, visit www.paullabrecque.com.

H&M, Hennes & Mauritz, the international fashion retailer known for stylish and affordable fashions, launches their newest high-fashion collaboration, a limited-edition, exclusive collection designed by Matthew Williamson.

Lisa Mateo got a preview of the collection which includes a clothing and accessories line for women featuring Williamson's signature design aesthetic and prints at affordable prices. Only eight stores in the U.S. will carry the collection. A second collection will arrive in all stores on May 14, for both men and women.

The Matthew Williamson for H&M collection will be available at the following New York City store locations:

- H&M Fifth Avenue (640 5th Avenue at 51st Street)
- H&M Lexington Avenue (731 Lexington Avenue at 59th Street)
- H&M Broadway (1328 Broadway at 34th Street)

Today is Earth Day and Sylvania is putting a new twist on the day by taking over a Mister Softee ice cream truck and handing out free soft-serve ice cream which conveniently resembles the shape of a compact fluorescent light bulb! In addition, we’ll be handing out product coupons to encourage New Yorkers to switch to compact fluorescent lamps!

Our Lisa Mateo is live in PIX Plaza (42nd Street and 2nd Avenue) handing out the bulb-shaped ice cream to kick off a bright (and tasty) Earth Day! There'll also be a Sylvania representative talk about the benefits of CFL technology and Living Spaces CFLs.

Click here for Earth Day Facts.

CLICK HERE FOR TIPS ON GREEN LIVING.

HipChicas.com is a new website for tween girls with a green mission to help improve the planet.

The Hip Chicas are five animated Latinas in a popular band on tour. They each have unique passions, skills and interests they use to solve issues they encounter at each of their stops along the "Help Improve the Planet" Americas Tour.

Our Lisa Mateo speaks with the creator of the website, Lazaro Fuentes, who takes her on a tour of the site.

Between bottle feedings and diaper changes, new moms are always pressed for time. So what's the best way to squeeze in a little workout while still bonding with your little one?

Our Lisa Mateo explores a new workout class called "Pilates Together" at the New York Sports Club. It's a mom and baby workout where you use your little one as resistance. Lisa spoke to "Pilates Together" instructor Jen Hunter.

The "Pilates Together" class schedule is:

• Thursdays: April 23, April 30 and May 7 11:30am and 2pm
• Wednesdays: April 29, May 6 and May 13 at 11:30am and 2pm

Be sure to get your doctor's permission before you sign up. A new series will begin at the end of May. Classes are at the New York Sports Clubs at 113 East 23rd Street (at Park Avenue). For more information, visit www.mysportsclubs.com.

"Kooza" is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil that combines two circus traditions -- acrobatic performance and the art of clowning.

The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor. Our Lisa Mateo learns the tricks of tightrope walking.

For ticket and show information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Since 1975, BMW has shown its commitment to art and innovation by commissioning renowned artists to create BMW Art Cars. These extraordinary “rolling sculptures” have been displayed in the world’s major museums.

For the past two years, the BMW Art Car World Tour has visited museums around the globe. Now the tour has come to New York City for a limited engagement. We invite you to visit and view BMW Art Cars painted by four of the greatest artists of the 20th Century.

In this exhibition BMW also presents “An Expression of Joy” – a collaboration by artist Robin Rhode and filmmaker Jake Scott. Using the all-new BMW Z4 Roadster as his inspiration and paintbrush, Rhode’s vision as “creative navigator” eloquently captures the joy of driving.

You can check out the cars until Monday, April 6 in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall (87 E. 42nd St.).

Since 1975, BMW has shown its commitment to art and innovation by commissioning renowned artists to create BMW Art Cars. These extraordinary “rolling sculptures” have been displayed in the world’s major museums.

For the past two years, the BMW Art Car World Tour has visited museums around the globe. Now the tour has come to New York City for a limited engagement. We invite you to visit and view BMW Art Cars painted by four of the greatest artists of the 20th Century.

In this exhibition BMW also presents “An Expression of Joy” – a collaboration by artist Robin Rhode and filmmaker Jake Scott. Using the all-new BMW Z4 Roadster as his inspiration and paintbrush, Rhode’s vision as “creative navigator” eloquently captures the joy of driving.

You can check out the cars until Monday, April 6 in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall (87 E. 42nd St.).

Lisa Mateo went one-on-one with fitness model and competitor, Grace Rivera, is today's Latin Beat. Rivera was born in Puerto Rico, living in Brooklyn. She's a single mom who became interested in fitness after her son's father told her she was looking square from behind and was getting too fat. (Needless to say, she's not with the guy anymore.)

Rivera began as a fitness instructor, went to college for physical education where she also instructed people with Multiple Sclerosis. From there she went into fitness modeling, became a ring card girl and started entering fitness competitions. Her next competition is coming up in June.

Grace is also a trainer at New York Sports Club in Brooklyn. She took Lisa through a quick workout routine that she does when getting in competition shape. For more information on Riviera, visit gracerivera.com and for more on New York Sports Club, log onto mysportsclubs.com.

In celebration on the 9th Annual New York Flamenco Festival, Lisa Mateo got an inside look into the history of the dance and learned a few basic steps in the process at at the Ballet Hispanico Studios.

Flamenco Dancer Nelida Tirado taught Lisa the basic steps in the dance. Nelida will be providing free flamenco lessons to all ticketholders prior to a few of the performances at the NY Flamenco Festival. For more info on Nelida Tirado, log onto www.nelidatirado.com. The beautiful flamenco wardrobe in the piece was provided by Menkes.

The NY Flamenco Festival, brought to you by the World Music Institute and Flamenco Festival Inc., is taking place Feb 13-22nd here in the city. For ticket information log onto www.wminyc.org

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Listen up guys! Are you stressing over what to get your lady for Valentine's Day? Well, you may want to pass on the flowers and chocolate.

Today's modern woman is high tech. Lisa Mateo explores some top gift ideas for couples who have just started dating or have been married for years. She finds that there's a different item for every stage in your relationship. Lisa spoke to Rachelle Friedman, president and CEO of J&R.

To see all of Rachelle's Valentine Picks, visit www.jr.com.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Harlem Globetrotters players Wildkat Edgerson and Buckets Blakes will be cooking breakfast for 25 kids from PS 175 Henry H. Garnet (grades 1-5) at the IHOP on 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. beginning at 7am (though the players would obviously be there earlier for you).

The kids selected (by their principal) have perfect attendance and have demonstrated great character over the first half of the school year-both of which are key components of the Globetrotters C.H.E.E.R. program, which encourages Cooperation, Healthy mind and body, Effort, Enthusiasm and Responsibility.

Our own Lisa Mateo is with players this morning talking about the C.H.E.E.R program and show us how to make Globetrotter-style pancakes. She'll also talk to the young kids about how what motivated them to maintain perfect attendence.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

A new restaurant hits the Big Apple -- At Vermillion. The eatery combines the best of Indian and Latin cuisine into delicious fare. It’s the brainchild of female entrepreneur Rhoni Dey who has been cooking up food for years in her native Chicago.

For more information, visit www.thevermilionrestaurant.com/ny/index_ny.htm.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The PIX Morning News' Lisa Mateo is live John F. Kennedy Elementary School in East Islip, Long Island where the students are having a Holiday Visit.

The Holiday Visit is how they celebrate their last day of school before their holiday vacation. The students have fun events to kick off the Kids' Christmas Holiday. Santa, carolers, an orchestra and the school band will be there. Lisa will talk to the school's principal Aileen O'Connor about this tradition.

For more information about the school, visit www.eischools.org.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

With 20 schools in the city being closed down due to poor academic performance, Lisa Mateo takes a look at one special school that is making it despite the odds.

She visits P.S. 57 in Spanish Harlem, a school that was on the brink of being closed down, but through donors and special programs the school has turned around.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Puerto Rican lawyer turned author Daniel Serrano recently released his first novel, Gunmetal Black; It's the story of an ex-con whose dreams of starting over are cut short by corrupt cops and the gang life of his past.

Daniel grew up in Brooklyn and Chicago and now lives in Spanish Harlem. We walked around the Bronx couthouse where he used to work as a lawyer and around the streets of Spanish Harlem where he now lives.

We talked about how he became a lawyer and his transition to becoming a crime fiction author, his rough life growing up hanging out with gang-bangers on the streets of Chicago, and how the book almost didn't exist. In fact, the only copy of it was lost in Tower 2 during the World Trade Center attacks.

Click here for more on Serrano's book Gunmetal Black.

In the second part of Lisa Mateo's special two-part series on the Dominican Republic, she enjoys the good life. From night life to eating to loads of activities (volleyball tournament, swimming with dolphins, encounters with sharks and stingrays, kite boarding), she experiences all that the island offers.

And guess what? She wants to share the fun with you! Teaming up with Caribbean Travel, she's giving away the ultimate luxurious getaway, which includes:

- 3 nights accommodation in a junior suite, all inclusive for two at the Victoria Golf & Beach Resort
- 1 spa treatment
- 1 green fee at Playa Dorada Golf Course
- Entrance for 2 to Ocean World Adventure Park
- 2 round-trip airline tickets

Click here for your chance to win this FREE Carribbean getaway! Tune in tomorrow when Lisa announces the winner of the getaway!

Click here to see part one of the series.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Lisa Mateo hit the road with the Liberty H.O.G.'s for their 10th Annual Charity Toy Run. The toys went to children at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

For more info on the Liberty H.O.G's, log onto libertyhog.net and for the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital log onto bmsch.org.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Our own Lisa Mateo took a brief vacation from Air 11 to hop a flight to the Dominican Republic to learn more about the island's rich history and culture. She soaked up some some sun, the sights and all of the fabulous activities this island nation has to offer. In part one of her two-part special series, she visits the cities of Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Playa Dorada.

And guess what? She wants to share the fun with you! Teaming up with Caribbean Travel, she's giving away the ultimate luxurious getaway, which includes:

- 3 nights accommodation in a junior suite, all inclusive for two at the Victoria Golf & Beach Resort
- 1 spa treatment
- 1 green fee at Playa Dorada Golf Course
- Entrance for 2 to Ocean World Adventure Park
- 2 round-trip airline tickets

Click here for your chance to win this FREE Carribbean getaway!

Click here for the official rules. Participants have until 5pm EST today, Monday November 17 to enter. Tune in tomorrow for part two of Lisa's special on the Dominican Republic and to see if you've won the vacation!

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The CW11's Lisa Mateo visits Talay -- a new restaurant in West Harlem that blends Latino and Thai cuisines. She also speaks with Food & Wine magazine about the growing trend of fusion cooking.

Individually their tastes are somewhat similar, but together Thai-Latin cuisine is a culinary treat. Just listen to the menu: ropa vieja with asian root vegetables, churrasco with sweet, sour and salty dipping sauces and pineapple shrimp fried rice. If that caught your attention then "talay" is the place for you. They also have a great late night lounge area upstairs with live music.

Lisa's also providing a bonus how-to demo to CW11 viewers. She'll teach you how to make pan-seared scallops with red coconut curry sauce.

Talay is located at 701 W 135th Street (btwn Broadway and aRiverside Drive), New York, NY 10031. For more information, visit talayrestaurant.com or call (212) 491-8300.

HOW-TO DEMO, ON-AIR SEGMENT AND PICTURE AFTER THE JUMP...

Move over Pharrell, there’s a new producer in town and he's just 15-years-old. Cuban producer Miguel "Migs" Baeza already produced tracks on Ashanti's new album The Vault which is being released today, Tuesday, October 14.

The CW11's Lisa Mateo sat down with Baeza at his studio to find out the secret behind his success. She also spoke with his father, Mario Baeza, who is the founder of AJM Records, the studio which first found Ashanti and brought her to Irv Gotti of Def Jam/Murder Inc Records. Lisa also talks with upcoming artist Erika De Luna, who Miguel is currently producing tracks for.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...