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Omigosh Hannah Montana fans, the Hannah Montana Best of Both Worlds Concert Film in 3D opens at Rave Motion Pictures Friday. Fretting about not getting the Hannah Montana Live concert tickets is so yesterday. These are available and so much cheaper! The first show at North East Mall in Hurst is at 11:15 AM. The first shows at Ridgmar and Hickory Creek is at 12:30 Pm. It is only playing at 3D equipped digital screens.
OK kids! Here's the corncob pipe! The button nose! Two coal soon-to-be-eyeballs...all we need is, yes, snow. OK, and a bit of willingness. As it is now, two hours after the magic scroll-across-the-TV screen, the child who would be in science class now is lying in bed listening to his iPod without the slightest intention of going outside.
Who can blame him? Certainly not Mom, who sits here in an oversize sweatshirt reheating her coffee every five minutes or so, listening to HER iPod and trying to get some work done.
Still...her mind drifts back to the magic of childhood snow days...when you wake up and your feet are cold when they touch the floor. You look outside and see the slightest whisper of snow on the ground and have the teeniest of flashes thinking....what if? What if?
You're shivering a little -- with cold or optimistic anticipation, who knows? You smell almost-burned toast and go into the kitchen to eat your oatmeal and the radio is on and the announcer is calling out the school closings. They're in alphabetical order, and if you never paid attention to your ABCs, you can bet you do right now.
And then you hear it. Your school. Closed. All day long. You run into the living room and the good news is confirmed at the bottom of the TV screen.
You call your friend two doors down and you meet outside. You're freezing, but laughing like hyenas and trying to gather enough snow in your wet mittens to make a snowball to push down her turtleneck sweater.
By noon, after you've burned the roof of your mouth gulping Campbell's tomato soup and wolfing down a grilled-cheese sandwich, you rush back outside. There's still hardly any accumulation. Still, the snow falls. And you snatch it up, practically as it drops from the sky, determined to build a snowman. One that wobbles on the brown grass, one that will be gone by the time school would be let out.
But there is no school. Today's a snow day.
I'm usually pretty up to date on my kids' movies -- but with the holiday madness, I've fallen behind -- as my kids remind me frequently! This weekend we're thinking of checking out Eragon and Arthur and the Invisibles, maybe Happily N'Ever After. Arthur doesn't open until tomorrow, but has anyone seen Eragon or Happily yet? I LOVE the Eragon books so bad reviews notwithstanding, I'm really looking forward to that one. Anyone have anything else good to recommend?
A reader just wrote in response to my recommendation of Children of the Lamp:
Hi,
I have just finished reading the "Children of the Lamp" series and I have to say I think they are fun and I'm so thankful that the author sees fit NOT to include profanity. They are adventuresome, charming, witty, and pleasing to read. I am looking forward to the next one.
Marcia Vanderwood
Marcia, I'm so glad you liked it as much as I did. I'm currently reading the third book in the series and it's pretty exciting. I just wish I could ride a whirlwind instead of a car to work. If you're looking for another good series, try The Lightning Thief, a contemporary reimagining of Greek mythology by San Antonio writer Rick Riordan (it's also on the Bluebonnet Book reading list). I've just read an early copy of the third book in the series, The Titan's Curse, and I think it's the best one yet. Any other recommendations of good fantasy series out there?
Only 5 years old and Billy Olsson is already getting great shots. He's one of the winners of the Dallas Zoo photo contest, "Feathers, Fur, and Scales." Check out his winning photo and the photos of other kid winners in Kids Day tomorrow.
The Polar Express
Catch a free screening of The Polar Express at 6 p.m. It’s part of the free holiday
activities at Christmas in the Square in Frisco Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Festivities include a light show synchronized to holiday music through Jan. 2. Main Street and Coleman Blvd., Frisco. Free. 469-633-1721.
The Polar Express
Catch a free screening of The Polar Express at 6 p.m. It’s part of the free holiday
activities at Christmas in the Square in Frisco Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Festivities include a light show synchronized to holiday music through Jan. 2. Main Street and Coleman Blvd., Frisco. Free. 469-633-1721.
Visitors can walk through a giant snow globe that features scenes from Happy Feet as part of The Shops at Willow Bend Snow Globes. Pictures that add Happy Feet characters to your image are available, too. Friday and Saturday form 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Shops at Willow Bend, Dallas North Tollway at West Park Boulevard, Plano. Free. 972-202-4900.
Grapevine’s annual celebration features costumed characters, visits with Santa, carolers, holiday treats and more. Friday from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in historic downtown Grapevine. Free. 817-410-3185.
We've got the winning entries for this year's DMN and Children's Medical Center holiday card contest. Check out the best cards in today's Family section. Or see our slideshow of winners.
We've had a debate going all afternoon. If you create tiny Christmas "trees" out of ice cream cones and green icing, should they be eaten? Or are they merely for looks? Either way, they make fun placeholders for the holiday meal. Find out what your kids think. Directions here. You'll also find directions for decorated letters made from pound cake. Make one for each child's plate.
Wondering if Santa has left the North Pole and will make it to your chimney in time for Christmas? Starting today you can track Santa's progress on the DFW International Airport's SantaTracker Web site. The site includes kid-friendly travel tips, interactive games and Santa's landing at DFW's airfield.
A great kids' book series can be a wonderful thing for the holidays -- or even just to keep the kids amused on their way to the festivities. Assuming everyone knows Harry Potter, Charlie Bone, Eragon, The Lightning Thief and The Spiderwick Chronicles (all lots of fun), how about Children of the Lamp? The first book showed twins John and Philippa discovering they're descended from the djinn (genies) on their mother's side. And yes, finally we have fantasy heroes WITH siblings (who spar but love each other) AND parents! It's called The Akhenaten Adventure (Orchard Books, $16.95). The second one, The Blue Djinn of Babylon (Orchard Books, $16.99), came out this year and I'm really enjoying learning about a new game called Djinnverso with bizarre dice called astaragali (can a real life game be far behind?). The third one is due out in January so it could be fun to get the first two and reserve the third for a present to come in January.
I took my 7-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter to see Happy Feet and sat there the entire time wondering, "Why is this kid movie rated PG?" Then it hit me: it's all about sex and mating. Would my kids have any tough questions for me on the theme? Did they realize it was about sex and mating? It's no more provocative than the Cheetah Girls, right? I didn't get any questions from them. But my son was scared enough to pull his jacket hood over his face during the scary seal chase. Do you think this movie needs a parental guidance rating?
So I took my 13-year-old David to Theatre Britain's Cinderella, which he LOVED. Now like any ordinary 13-year-old boy, he wouldn't have liked it if they'd done it in the usual sweet way. But this was a British panto -- a British holiday tradition in which they fracture a fairy tale, cast guys as "dames" -- in this case the ugly stepsisters -- a girl as a guy (Prince Charming), they tell puns so bad they're good, make you boo the villain, cheer the good guys, sing along and spot the ghost. Of course this is only PARTIALLY why he loves going to the panto every year. The biggest reason is that they sell authentic British snacks which they let you eat in the theater. I had to buy him FIVE bags of crisps (British potato chips) which he thoroughly adored. All the plain kind, too. Next time I think I'm going to try to get him to buy the roast chicken crisps just so I can try one. Someone sitting next to me said they taste just like roast chicken!
So my kids finally wheedled me into taking them into seeing Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. The reviews were bad and the trailer looked silly, but they didn't care. And guess what? They loved it. Even I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, the Santa Clause franchise is a little frayed. But there are some nice It's A Wonderful Life moments as Scott Calvin gets to see what Christmas could have been like if he had never put on the big red coat. (And the kids loved the Harry Potter-like time travel moment when Scott goes back in time and sees himself). Also, I give credit to this series for never been mean-spirited about blended families. Scott is not only a devoted dad to his son by his first marriage and a good friend with his ex-wife and her husband, he is a beloved "uncle" to his ex's little girl with her husband. And Scott's second wife (played by Dallas' own Elizabeth Mitchell) feels the same way, too. The ribbon on the present? Even the bad guy warms up in the end and it's G. Really, the kids were smarter about this pick than I would have been.
If you're looking for a first play for your toddler or preschooler, Casa Manana Children's Playhouse is offering a brand-new family friendly musical, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, featuring reindeer and elves and falling "snow" as the reindeer pull Santa and the sleigh around the audience in the aisle behind Row H. Best of all for the younger set, it clocks in at just over 60 minutes (and that includes intermission). On Friday's opening night, the biggest applause went to Santa on his grand entrance. (Santa, it should be noted, is billed as being played by "Himself."). There's lots of stuff for sale -- light up Rudolph noses, sequinned Santa hats, etc. But kids can also get autographs from the cast in the lobby after the show for free and if you bring your own camera, they're very sweet about taking pictures with the kids, too. On opening night Santa took pictures with the kids in a separate room for $15 apiece.
Right about now, the people in your family for whom you desperately need wish lists from are saying "I don't need anything." We've been there. If they're the least bit tech-oriented, here's your guide.
Join tap-dancers at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on Friday, Nov. 17, to celebrate the opening day of Happy Feet: The IMAX Experience. The free event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and will feature special dancer performances as well as real penguins and science and art activities. You can also purchase tickets to see the movie which will show throughout the day. The theater is located at 1501 Montgomery St. For more information, check out the museum's Web site.
Yes, we know your baby is the cutest little munchkin who ever existed (well, except for mine, but I digress). Anyway, the folks at Lands' End , who now have a whole new line of baby togs, are going to help you prove that with their Memorable Moments Baby Contest.
Email a photo of your kiddo, ages from birth to two years and taken within the last 30 days, doing something adorable. It'll be posted on their website. Viewers vote on the cutest; the winner (OK, his or her parents) receive a $250 gift certificate; runners-up receive gift certificates, too. No professional photos, please and only one photo per baby allowed. Now get clicking; entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 26, 2006. Think of the potential inherent in the Thanksgiving feast -- bowls of mashed potatoes! Plates of squishy pumpkin pie! For more rules and other things that we of course forgot to mention, visit www.landsend.com/baby
The National Toy Hall of Fame is paying homage to the electric age. The Easy-Bake Oven and Lionel model trains have joined Mr. Potato Head, the Frisbee and 32 other classic - but watt-free toys - in the Strong-National Museum of Play’s eight-year-old hall of fame.
Associated Press
The publishers of Highlights is launching a new magazine for the preschool set. Highlights High Five is aimed at children ages 2 to 6. The new magazine will debut in January. For more info, log on to www.highlights.com.
Goldilocks Welcomes Vets
Know a vet who would like to take a kid to a fractured version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? The show begins Friday, but in honor of Veterans Day, veterans get free admission Saturday to this story about Goldilocks, a brown-haired girl who runs into some bears after escaping from the Enchanted Forest Kiddie Camp. For more savings, bring a new, unwrapped bear of any kind for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program, and get half-price tickets for any performance during the run.
The show is at the Cox Building Playhouse, 1517 H Avenue in Plano (parking off G Avenue), Plano. For more information call 972-849-0358 or log on to www.roverdramawerks.com.
For more family events, log on to our Family Calendar at dallasnews.com.
From the Associated Press:
It seems an unlikely pair — the trendy SpongeBob SquarePants teaming up with the aging Etch A Sketch.
Ohio Art Co. is banking that replacing Etch A Sketch’s familiar red rectangle case with Nickelodeon’s most popular cartoon characters will make the iconic baby boomer toy more appealing to kids and young mothers.
Other toy shelf staples also have gotten makeovers.
Monopoly is out with a new version that replaces the Atlantic City Boardwalk with Times Square. And who can forget when Barbie ditched her longtime beau Ken just two years ago.
Traditional toys have been losing ground to electronics in recent years — sales fell 4 percent to $21.3 billion last year, according to the market research firm NPD Group Inc. For the makers of classic toys, creating a new look is one way to compete against video games and the holiday season’s “must have” toys.
The Studio Movie Grill offers a free screening of Happy Feet to children with special needs on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. The Grill is located at 4721 W. Park Blvd. in Plano. Tickets for adults are $5. For more information call: 972-964-3789.
If you're a dinosaur fan, you're in luck! The Associated Press reports:
A dinosaur mega-attraction—Animal Kingdom meets science museum—will open its doors in the summer of 2008 in Montgomery County, north of Houston, officials announced today. Creator "Dino" Don Lessem says the attraction will house the world's largest dinosaur collection, a sand pit where children can "excavate" dinosaur bones and forest trails dotted with dinosaur replicas. Indoors, visitors will be able to walk through exhibits showing what the world would have looked like millions of years ago. An animal park will display creatures that roamed during the dinosaurs' era and remain on Earth today, like emus and tuataras.
If you enjoy contests — and who doesn’t? — there are some interesting ones going on right now for kids to enter. Someone has to win. Why not you?
Staples Invention Quest Kids
Write a short essay describing how your invention is the next must-have school or office product. First prize is $25,000; there are four $5,000 awards.
Who can enter: Ages 18 and younger (as of Nov. 27)
Deadline: Nov. 27
For more info: www.staples.com/IQ or visit any Staples store
National Geographic Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge
Take a photo of you as a hands-on explorer and write a short essay about something you have discovered. Tell why you want to explore in South Africa. The top 15 kids (and one parent/guardian for each) will go on a 10-day South African safari in August 2007.
Who can enter: Ages 9 to 14 (as of Aug. 15, 2007)
Deadline: Nov. 30
For more info: www.hands-onexplorer.com
International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment
Paint or draw a picture expressing your thoughts on climate change as part of this contest sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme. Grand-prize winner gets $2,000 and a trip to Norway in June 2007 for World Environment Day. Regional winners get $1,000 and the Norway trip.
Who can enter: Ages 6 to 14 (as of June 5, 2007)
Deadline: Dec. 31
For more info: www.unep.org/tunza/paintcomp
The Washington Post
Will you be trick-or-treating on Tuesday? Here are some sweet Halloween facts:
36 million Estimated number of trick-or-treaters
108 million
Number of houses and apartments (possible candy stops)
1 billion
Pounds of pumpkin produced
2,500
Number of costume rental places
26
Pounds of candy eaten per person in 2005
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
The Washington Post
Babies “R” Us is sponsoring a First Baby of the Year sweepstakes. The first registered mom to deliver on Jan. 1, 2007, will receive a savings bond worth $25,000, and the delivering hospital will receive a $10,000 pre-natal education grant. In addition, the first baby born at each registered hospital will receive a $100 Babies “R” Us gift basket. Expectant moms and hospitals have until Dec. 27 to enter. Sign up now. There’s no purchase necessary to enter.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Looking for a family-friendly way to go trick or treating this year?
Some community groups and churches are bring the fun to their parking lots where parents decorate cars trunks, trucks and minivans with tombstones, bones, jack-o-lanterns and lights. Oh yeah, they also have candy. Log on to the Family section to see some decked out vehicles.
And send us pictures of your jazzed up trunks to Family@dallasnews.com and we'll post them right here.
Check out some scary places to visit this weekend in Guide. There's the Hangman's House of Horrors, Fright Fest, Dungeon of Doom, and Haunted Forest. Oh yeah, and there's also a few haunted houses.
Pictured: Jack the Ripper gets ready to strike at the Chaos Haunted House in Arlington.
Take a hayride around the Arts District and watch an expert pumpkin carver at work during Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art. There'll also be yoga for kids, an art project and stories with Arturo (the museum's family programs mascot). Those who sign up to be museum members can get a sneak peak at the new exhibit "Van Gogh's Sheaves of Wheat" tonight from 6 to midnight at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood. 214-922-1200.. Free with museum admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 students with ID, free for children under 12.
For more events this weekend, check out the Family calendar.
Looking for a place that will get you in the Halloween spirit?
Six Flags hold Fright Fests on October weekend nights. The Six Flags over Texas in Arlington hosts a hunt for treasure with dead pirates.
Tribune Media Services
It’s Halloween night. The room is dark except for a candle flickering from behind the grotesque face carved into a jack-o’-lantern. There’s an eerie quiet in the room, and a chill is in the air.
Now it’s time for a ghost story.
Tess Gerritsen, author of The Mephisto Club (Ballantine Books, $25.95) shares her tips on how to tell a good ghost story:
“It all starts with ‘the chill.’ While reading the news, or listening in on a conversation, I’ll hear something that makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, and I know this will be my next plot.
“Reports of a corpse who woke up in the morgue inspired my novel ‘Vanish.’ Ancient accounts of demons described in the Dead Sea Scrolls launched ‘The Mephisto Club.’ Both books started with ‘the chill.’
“But no matter how outlandish the premise or ghoulish the monster, the threat must be something that readers believe could actually happen to them. Because what grabs us and pulls us into the story isn’t the ghost or the villain, but the victim — the most vulnerable character in the story.
“It’s the victim we identify with, and a truly scary story reminds us that we are all potential prey.”
Associated Press
It's Friday the 13th -- a day to decide if you're superstitious or not! There's a fun new book out (in addition to Lemony Snicket's The End -- more on that later!). It's called Oh, Yikes! History's Grossest, Wackiest Moments by Joy Masoff (Workman PUblishing, $14.95). On pages 94-95, it tackles the Friday the 13th question. Why don't most airplanes have a 13th row or apartments have a 13th floor? Why do people have paraskevidekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th)? It is essentially a religious battle. During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church didn't want people to honor the Norse goddess Freya, for whom Friday is named. Freya was the goddess of love and having babies. The church didn't want people getting lovey dovey on Fridays, so they told everyone Freya was a witch and Friday was the witch's Sabbath. Similarly, the church didn't like the number 13 because many pagan religions believed the number 13 to be special, too. But guess who wasn't superstitious? The Founding Fathers. Just think: They had 13 original colonies, 13 stripes on the American flag and 13 original signers of the Declaration of Independence!
As the weather turns cool, it's never too early to start thinking about the holidays. And what better way to enjoy the holidays then by making a gingerbread house with your kids?
Who can resist the smell of cinnamon and ginger wafting through the kitchen? But that's not even the best part. Remember how much fun it is to decorate the house? Okay, if construction in the kitchen is a bit daunting, Hotel Crescent Court is offering classes for you or the kids. Weekend classes for kids start Dec. 2. One adult class takes place Dec. 13. Class prices range from $55 to $75. To make reservations, call 214-871-3260.
Pictured: Tori Thorne takes part in a family holiday tradition at a relative's Grand Prairie home in 2004.
On the theory that it’s never too early to learn how to renovate a fixer-upper, the Disney Channel has created Handy Manny, a new cable cartoon with a do-it-yourself theme for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds.
Heartthrob Wilmer Valderrama of That ’70s Show fame is the voice of the main character, Manny Garcia, who owns a repair shop in the town of Sheetrock Hills.
Manny has a box full of talking tools that help him fix doorbells, repair treehouses and spruce up cribs. Of all the characters, we particularly like Kelly, the hardware store employee who can find the most arcane washers and screws in mere seconds, much to the amazement of the tools.
There are lots of life lessons and problem-solving themes — and a sprinkle of Spanish in the dialogue — to educate those preschoolers glued to the tube. The real message? Renovate, rehab and repair.
The Washington Post
Ever wonder who those cool kids are on Radio Disney? They could be yours! Radio Disney records right here in Dallas and they are looking for kids, ages 18 and under, to read, act and sound fun on the radio. Auditions will be held Saturday, October 7th from 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Cinemark @ Webb Chapel and LBJ. They will have material for kids to read, so there's no need to prepare anything. Radio Disney will audition as many kids as possible on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call the Kid Audition Info Line at (972) 448-3397.
Lemony Snicket is coming to town Oct. 20 and 21 -- and he'll be playing his accordion! Yes, the countdown has begun for the 13th and final book in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's coming out Friday the 13th -- of course. We'll have a Lemony Snicket story on the cover of Family Thursday the 12th with details on his local appearances. So catch up on 1-12 or reread them. We've gotten a glimpse at The End -- which is what the last book is called -- and you want to savor the flavor, you need to be prepared.
There's A Chef in My World, the newest kid-friendly cookbook from superchef Emeril Lagasse, contains recipes from around the world. They're not necessarily things kids would make by themselves. Emeril, who is the father of a 3-year-old son and a 22-month-old daughter, wants kids to be exposed to more than chicken nuggets. Check out his recipe for BLT Hot Dogs.
School lunches have undergone quite a makeover from the days of brown sauce and mystery meat. The School Nutrition Association is educating the public about the health value of school lunches by doing what else? Holding an election!
Is Pete Pizza or Ricky Chicken your choice for best school lunch? Or perhaps Sally Salad is more your speed. Kids can vote for their favorite school lunch as part of a School Nutrition Association campaign. The winner will be announced Oct. 11.
Not enough drama in your home this weekend? Then head to your local playhouse and check out the antics of a Frog and a Toad. For more family friendly theater events, check out what our Kids' Entertainment columnist Nancy Churnin has to recommend.
Do you yo-yo?
Well, so does David Bazan. And he loves every minute of it. The Bedford man has a shop where he teaches kids the joys of yo-yos. Check out the Family section to read his story and see him perform some really cool tricks.
The Coppell Farmers Market is the real deal. Every Saturday, farmers and other food producers line up in an empty lot at West Bethel Road at South Coppell Road. This is a good place to take the kids; they can meet the people who grew their fruits and veggies.
From 8 a.m. to noon -- assuming the goods hold out -- you can buy locally grown produce, including some organics. You'll also find jams and jellies, coffee, frozen Gulf seafood, Italian sausage, pasta and more. Bring a cooler, a bag for carrying your purchases, small bills, and a hat if it’s sunny. The market shuts down in November but will be open for special events on these days:
Oct. 28: Halloween/ Fall market
Nov. 18: Old Town Coppell Days
Dec. 9 and 16: Holiday markets
Kim Pierce
Have some Curious George-themed fun at Valley View Center on Sunday. There’ll be face painting, coloring stations and giveaways. The event is being presented by Universal Studios Home Entertainment in celebration of the DVD release of the movie Curious George. The free event takes place Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Valley View Center’s Center Court, 13331 Preston Road. 972-661-2426. shopvalleyviewcenter.com.
For more family fun this weekend, log on to the Family calendar.
Need a break? WineStyles in Rowlett is partnering with The Little Gym to offer a wine tasting for grown-ups while the children hang out and play. Stop in Friday, Sept. 29, 6 to 8 p.m. It's $5 per hour per child (ages 3 to 12). WineStyles is at 8301 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 103, Rowlett; 972-412-0004.
We've been testing four new comics in a rotation this summer. Now it's time to let us know what you think: One of them -- Brevity, Over The Hedge, Lio or Prickly City -- will win a permanent spot Monday through Saturday in The Dallas Morning News comics beginning Monday Oct. 2.
Log on at DallasNews.com/comics and see samples of all four, plus interviews with their creators. Then vote for your favorite. (Voting ends at noon Friday Sept. 29.)
Marsha Bux is 54 and wears contact lenses. But this isn’t about her; it’s about her late mother, Margaret Hill.
“My mom always had pairs of reading glasses with her,” says Mrs. Bux, who lives in Plano.
But one day, when she went into Wal-Mart to buy dog food, she realized she had left them in her car. Rather than go back, she asked a clerk to help her find the only flavor her dog would eat.
“She explained the situation to him, but apparently was not very convincing,” Mrs. Bux says about her mother, who died three years ago. “After helping her, he ‘showed’ her how to sound out the letters on the can. He told her if she learned to read, a whole new world would open up for her. She thanked him profusely and promised to do her best!”
Find advice on choosing reading glasses in Solutions.
McFarlane Toys is the master of intricate sports action figures and Julius Jones looks pretty cool in toy form. Young cowboy fans will love it. $16.95 at toyglobe.com
Rob Clark
See more great products on our Shopping Buzz blog.
The Baby Name Wizard web site is clearly targeted at soon-to-be parents, but it's a nifty time waster for anyone.
An interactive graph shows the popularity of various names over the course of the last 100-plus years.
Just type in a name and you can see, for example, that "Victor" was the 93rd-most-popular name for boys during the 1990s but has tragically lost some of its luster since then.
But I won't hold that against the site.
Victor Godinez
Read more from Victor in Personal Technology.
Once you've lined up the babysitter, there's not a lot of cash left. Our Guide staff has you covered. Check out our ideas for cheap dates in Dallas.
The Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs will host Fiesta in the Park 2006 from 1 to 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at Central Park, 1310 W. Ave. F. Sponsors, crafts vendors and volunteers are needed. The event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and will include food, music, games and prizes. Call Elvia at 972-272-9484.
