Author: Francine Brokaw

Downtown Disney is changing and expanding in 2018

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks (Disneyland and Disney California Adventure) as well as Downtown Disney where guests can explore a variety of shops, restaurants, see movies, and enjoy entertainment and nightlife. Walt Disney once said that Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) will never be complete, and as the theme parks are adding their own new attractions and lands, Downtown Disney is also being updated to bring even more fun to guests. And, the best part, this place does not require an admission.

So, what’s going to be changing in 2018? First of all, World of Disney is going to be reimagined into a new Disney shopping experience. Almost any Disney product you can imagine is available in this store. Even if you don’t buy anything, just looking around is an adventure. From jewelry to toys to clothing to artwork, this is the place to find your Disney items.

(Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)


Disney Home is taking over where the D-Street store was located. The Disney-themed home goods will change with the seasons, so make sure you check back whenever you are in the area.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes is a great place for families to eat and enjoy a game of bowling. The location in Walt Disney World is always a favorite of mine, so now that there is going to be one in Disneyland, well, you can imagine how excited I am and how much the guests will enjoy this updated twist on the old bowling alleys of the past. This is not your father’s bowling alley. This is a fun, hopping, delicious place for food, activities, and drink.

Ballast Point is coming to Orange County. This popular restaurant pairs good food and drinks. This is Downtown Disney’s first on-site brewery with a tasting room and outdoor beer garden. It’s going to be the busiest place on hot summer days.

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer is going to be serving up shakes, beer, and burgers all in a modern setting.

Star Wars fans can get completely immersed in the galaxy far, far away courtesy of The VOID, which was opened earlier. And, in Downtown Disney, Jazz fans can enjoy New Orleans food and music at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, and good Italian food is served at Naples Ristorante. There are plenty of things to do, see, experience, and a lot of choices to shop, dine and drink in this one locale.

(Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)


Downtown Disney doesn’t charge an entry fee, and you get 3-hours of free parking with a $20 minimum purchase. A validation from a table-service restaurant (as opposed to a quick bite take-out like Starbucks) or the AMC Downtown Disney 12 Theaters will get you five hours of free parking.

“Our guests are constantly looking for unique experiences, which is why we’re refreshing familiar spaces and unveiling new locations around every corner of the Disneyland Resort,” said Michael Colglazier, president, Disneyland Resort. “Innovative venues such as Ballast Point, Splitsville and The VOID are just a few great examples of the transformation taking place in Downtown Disney this year.”

So, if you’re in the mood for some fun and food, not to mention Disney related products of all kinds, and you’re not in the mood for a theme park, think of Downtown Disney. And, if you do go to one of the theme parks, why not stop in for some additional fun in Downtown Disney?

(Scott Brinegar/Disneyland Resort)


The Downtown Disney District is over 300,000 square feet of family fun. And whatever you do, don’t forget to stop in to Marceline’s Confectionery for some delicious caramel apples and other sweet treats. That’s my personal favorite!

About the Author

Francine Brokaw writes about products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

More clips from DreamWorks ‘Trolls: The Beat Goes On!’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



It’s Troll time!!!!

Time for all-new stories and music featuring everyone’s favorite TROLLS! Picking up where the cheerful, glitter-filled hit movie DreamWorks Trolls left off, the Netflix original series DreamWorks Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, brings back Poppy, Branch, King Peppy, Smidge and the rest of the film’s beloved characters for more whimsical, musical adventures as they go about day-to-day life in Troll Village.

Skylar Astin and Amanda Leighton voice Branch and Poppy.

Music and clips from ‘Trolls: The Beat Goes On!”

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



With original songs in each half-hour episode and immersive hand-drawn 2D animation, Trolls: The Beat Goes On! offers a unique musical and visual treat for all ages. The series features compositions by acclaimed songwriter and producer Alana Da Fonseca (the Pitch Perfect films, Alvin and the Chipmunks) as well as the voice talents of Amanda Leighton, Skylar Astin, Ron Funches, Gary Cole, David Koechner, and others.

Trolls: The Beat Goes On! comes from DreamWorks Animation Television. All six episodes of the animated series’ first season will become available to Netflix users on Friday, January 19, 2018!

Thumper theme for babies

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



These days young moms and dads select specific themes for their nurseries and their babies. Here is an idea that incorporates a cute character an makes your little bundle of joy a little snuggle bunny. Thumper is an ideal character for a nursery theme.

There are plenty of wall stickers to decorate the room. Thumper and Bambi wallpaper and wall stickers are abundant. Just check Amazon for what you need. A soft paint palette and a couple stickers instantly transform your plain nursery into a sweet little bunny patch.

Now, for your own little snuggle bunny, Disney has a large assortment of items to dress your baby and accessorize your new addition to match his nursery!

Baby Shower Gifts

The Thumper Gift Set includes a romper, slippers, hat (with bunny ears), and a plush carrot. This is a great gift for a baby shower even if the nursery isn’t Thumper-themed. The romper features a cute stitched image of Thumper with the words “Hello little bunny.” It comes complete in a box ready for gifting. ($34.95)

Another cute idea is the Thumper Bib Set. This set includes two bibs, one with Thumper hopping around, and one with his adorable little face. ($12.95) And anyone who loves bunnies cannot go wrong getting a Thumper Plush Blankie. This is so sweet with a soft blanket with a soft plush head and arms attached right onto the snuggly blankie. ($12.95) And a Thumper Plush Rattle ($9.95) will not only entertain baby with the adorable soft bunny, but also delight him with the soft jingle jangle.

The Thumper Plush Musical Pull is a cute way to dress up a crib. Under the plush bunny’s head is a plush carrot that can be pulled down. After being pulled, the music box inside softly plays “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” It just might be the perfect way to put baby to sleep. ($19.95) And a set of three Thumper Soft Blocks for Baby each incorporate different sounds: crinkle, bell, and rattle. This set will probably be one of those items that baby holds onto (literally and figuratively) for a long time. ($19.95)

After his/her bath, wrap baby in a soft velour and terry towel with a plush hood. ($24.95) And a larger hooded bathrobe is just what baby needs for evenings before going to sleep. ($29.95) This robe fits over the Thumper Pajama set. Baby will be snuggly and cuddly in the PJs and robe for evening with the family. ($26.96) The robes, like many of the items, can be personalized with baby’s name. And add the Thumper Plush Slippers ($14.95) and baby has the perfect nighttime ensemble.

Dressing Baby

Disney also has plenty of outfits for your little bunny. The Thumper Overall Set includes a cute onesie with screen art images of Thumper and a separate jumper with a plush Thumper applique on the front bib pocket. In a sense, this is two outfits in one. The onesie bodysuit can be worn by itself, and then the overalls can easily be added for this fashion ensemble. After all, why can’t baby be as stylish as his mom? ($29.95)

A simple bodysuit features Thumper peeking out behind a row of stripes. ($14.95) This is a separate item, however it matches perfectly with the jumper set, so you can have two onesies to go with the romper. Add the matching two-pack Thumper Socks ($7.95) and baby will be coordinated from head to toe.

A one-piece Hooded Romper makes dressing baby for a stroll in the park easy and stylish. If it turns a little breezy, simply pull on the hood and baby’s ears will be protected from the wind, not to mention with the ears on the hood he will be your own little bunny. ($19.95)

Playing around the house, baby will be comfy in the Thumper Character Romper, made of soft plush. The hood features little Thumper’s head and with the attached footies baby is as snug as a bug in the rug. ($29.95)

The Thumper Two-Piece Knit Set is a soft and warm outfit for cooler days. Images of Thumper adorn the top and pants of this sweet outfit. ($34.95)

Little Extras

A super soft plush Thumper makes a great first friend ($14.95). And add the cute resin figure to a shelf along with some Thumper themed books ($5.95-$8.95) and your baby is set.

This is just one way to encompass a theme for baby’s first years. Thumper is an adored character that has been loved by generations of fans. If you prefer another character, check out the Disney website for more ideas to make a themed nursery with matching ensemble.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Napping Princess’ on Blu-ray + DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



From Studio Ghibli, Napping Princess is an imaginative Anime film combining magic, mystery, and a little mayhem. It’s also a film about family.

The year is 2020 and Tokyo is preparing for the Olympics. Kokone is supposed to be preparing for her senior year of high school but this adorable and adventurous girl has a secret. She nods off quite frequently, and when she sleeps she enters a mysterious kingdom with a princess who uses her tablet for magic.

Kokone’s father is a mechanic and inventor. He has been caring for his daughter since the death of his wife. As far as Kokone knows, he is her only living relative. But there are secrets that bubble up in real life as well as in her dreams. And when she finally puts the pieces together, her life and her family’s history is revealed.

What this film does is infuse magic into the real world. When Kokone’s dream world meets her real world, things happen – magic happens.

Her father is arrested for stealing technology from a powerful corporation that is one of the largest automobile companies in the country. But Kokone knows her father would never do that. So, with the help of her childhood friend Morio, they set off on a magical adventure to Tokyo to save her father and in doing so, ultimately uncover the family secret that has been kept from her her entire life.

What is behind the stolen technology? This technology is the ultimate blueprint for a true self-driving car. The cars are supposed to be the highlight of the Olympics opening ceremony, but this family’s secrets might put an end to that. By following the clues in her dreams, Kokone merges her dreams with her life and everything unfolds in this somewhat emotional family story.

This imaginative movie also brings up the idea that what we dream might not be all fantasy. Our dreams could be based on reality. Metaphysics might not have been at the forefront in the minds of the filmmakers when the story was written, but it definitely has a part in it.

Napping Princess is a fun fantasy film. Bonus features include backgrounds with the Japanese cast and filmmakers.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Have a Trolls party!

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



With the new DreamWorks Animation series Trolls: The Beat Goes On! streaming on Netflix, kids are once again enthralled by the furry haired little guys. And rightly so. They’re adorable and the series is filled with imaginative, musical, and entertaining storylines. So it’s no wonder kids will want Troll-themed parties this year. Here are some great ideas to make your Trolls party unique and fun for all.

Everyone can get in the spirit with his or her own Trolls wig. Pink is of course for Poppy and blue for Branch. (This is also a fun idea for adults going to costume parties.)

Creating a Poppy-inspired headband is a crafting idea that is sure to be popular among young girls. All you need is a plain headband, ribbon, and some felt flowers. Kids can glue on the flowers and ribbon to create their personal Poppy headband. (This is also another fun idea for adult costume parties.)

Poppy loves her scrapbook. Why not let kids create their own scrapbooks? It’s fun and inspires individual creativity. Start with a small blank book, preferably hard covered. Get plenty of Troll stickers, glitter, flat-back crystals, felt pieces, and other fun items. Making sparkly Poppy-like scrapbooks will be a fun and entertaining activity for everyone.

And what party would not be complete without a gift bag? Fill the bag with goodies and a little take-home troll doll and this party will be a memorable one.

A trip to the craft store for the items, some decorating with colorful streamers, and party favors of Troll items combine to make a Troll party the talk of the neighborhood.

Thanks DreamWorks for the free DreamWorks Trolls: The Beat Goes On! Activity Set and Hasbro toys. They are the perfect inspiration for a Trolls-themed party or simply fun activities for a rainy day. Go Trolls!

DreamWorks has more info and ideas. Check out their creative ideas website.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

The Tuscany Gardens is the place to dine in Las Vegas

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



While many visitors to Sin City spend most of their time on the Strip, it’s worth venturing a block away to The Tuscany Suites and Casino where you’ll find one of the best restaurants in the city. The Tuscany Gardens is not only a beautiful setting for a nice dinner, but the food is delicious and the presentation is perfection.

Chef Jose has created some of the most mouth-watering selections for guests, and the sommelier pairs the perfect wine with every dish, or of course, you can select your own.

So, what should you order? Honestly, everything looked delicious so it was hard to select. Our party started with a Hearts of Palm Salad, which included avocado, sweet onions, Mozzarella, capers, and vinaigrette. This combination is amazing. We also tried the Caprese with tomato, Burrata cheese, and fresh basil drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Tasty is not a strong enough word for these. I could have made an entire meal out of this delicious antipasto and the salad.

With three of us, we decided to each try a different entree: Veal Piccata, Halibut, and Eggplant “Lasagna.” The Eggplant “Lasagna” does not include any noodles, hence the quote marks. This is a delicious dish with layers and layers of thinly sliced eggplant with ricotta, parmigiano, and mozzarella. It’s basically carb-friendly. I highly recommend this to vegetarians. I am definitely going to order this again when I get back to Las Vegas. The Veal and Halibut also received rave reviews by my tablemates. Each of them included broccolini as a side dish.

For dessert lovers, there is a nice selection to finish your meal. Unfortunately, with only three of us we couldn’t order them all. Darn it! We had spumoni, lemon sorbet, and the Torta Al Cioccolato, which is a molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. How can you go wrong with any of these? Next time we’ll try the Nutella Cheesecake, the Tiramisu, the Crème Brulee, or the Cannoli. I’ll have to remember to leave room for dessert, but the eggplant was so wonderful I couldn’t stop eating it.

The staff is equal to the food. If you get a chance, request Hilda. She provides service and suggestions unequal to many others in the business. What a treat to enjoy a relaxing dinner undeterred by the haste of the goings-on on the strip.

The Tuscany has been named as a Top Dining Choice by “What’s On Magazine, won the Award of Excellence by “Wine Spectator,” and the #4 Most Romantic Restaurant in Las Vegas by “Open Table.”

Whether you want a romantic dinner or simply just good food in a relaxing environment, The Tuscany Gardens is one place I highly recommend. With Italian selections, fish, and meats, there’s something for everyone.
Note: Since this article was originally published, I went back to Las Vegas and while there I made a beeline to this restaurant. The eggplant lasagna was just as good as I remembered!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Family Guy’s 300th Episode

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The adult animated FOX series Family Guy is about to hit a milestone. The 300th episode will air January 14, 2018.

The episode is titled “Dog Bites Bear” and centers around Stewie, the baby with a football-shaped head and a British accent. His faithful teddy bear, Rupert, has been his companion since, well, as long as he can remember. This little bear is his best friend.

Feeling a little jealous, Brian, the talking dog that walks on two legs, rips the bear apart like a chew toy. What happens next sets the groundwork for the relationship between Stewie and Brian. No spoilers here.

As a reviewer, I was sent a preview copy of the episode, along with a cute little Rupert for my own. Along with the items came a letter from little Stewie who applauds his performance in the episode. He says it is being hailed as his best performance to date. You can be the judge.

Family Guy began airing in 1998 and has a cult following. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the wackiness of this completely dysfunctional and very odd family has remained a staple on FOX Sunday nights. The show has won seven Emmy Awards.

Seth MacFarlane voices Pater Griffin (Stewie’s dad) as well as Stewie and Brian, Alex Borstein voices Stewie’s mom Lois, Seth Green is the voice for his brother, and Mila Kunis voices his sister. Besides Family Guy, MacFarlane created and stars in the FOX sci-fi series The Orville.

Family Guy is rated TV-14. It’s definitely not for young kids.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

‘DreamWorks Trolls: The Beat Goes On’ comes to Netflix

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



From DreamWorks Animation, Trolls: The Beat Goes On will engage viewers and immerse them in the world of the colorful and endearing characters. The series dives into life in the Troll village and their friends in Bergen Town. The series picks up where the feature film ended. The Bergens and the Trolls are now living peacefully because the Bergens no longer search out Trolls to eat! Whew. They have forged a fun and funny friendship.

Queen Poppy is filled with effervescence and wants everyone to have fun, fun, fun, while Branch is the outsider misfit of the group and supplies some grounding for the peppy Poppy.

Poppy and Bridget the Bergen are good friends. Combining life in the Troll Village with that in Bergen Town is part of the fun viewers will see throughout the series.

During a recent press visit to the studio, members of the media were introduced to all aspects of this adorable new series. The series is geared toward kids, but adults will undoubtedly enjoy it as well. After all, we have all grown up with the Trolls.

The attention to detail in the animation is amazing. As the animators discussed, the texture of the scenes and specific features (grass between feet, etc.), plus the lush backgrounds add warmth to this 2D show. There are plenty of visual jokes to look for and the music adds an important element to the episodes. As writer Matthew Beans explained, “Music has created an identity for the show.”
One additional specific detail that was pointed out is the fact that there are no lines delineating the Trolls’ hair and ears. This was a creative decision to add a little more refinement to the characters and they blend in better with the backgrounds, giving the scenes a seamless look of scenery and characters.

The biggest pressure the team had when creating the series was maintaining the quality. And, having seen what the finished product is, they have done an excellent job. This is definitely a well-crafted and entertaining show for all ages, even though the target age is 3-10. While kids will enjoy watching the series, there is an added sophistication for adults.

Amanda Leighton supplies the perky voice for Queen Poppy and Skylar Astin voices Branch. There is plenty of merchandise to go along with the delightful characters and the soundtrack is also available.

With the vast assortment of toys and products as well as this new series, Trolls are taking over – in a good way. And on those cold, wintry nights or after an afternoon sledding down the hill, warm up your kids with some hot chocolate in a colorful DreamWorks Trolls mug. And tuck them into bed with their very own soft and cozy DreamWorks Trolls blanket. Send your smaller kids off to dreamland with the delightful DreamWorks Trolls Little Golden Book. And who says Trolls are only for kids? There’s a fun DreamWorks Trolls “It’s Color Time” Adult Coloring Book.

DreamWorks Trolls: The Beat Goes On premieres January 19, 2018 on Netflix.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

‘The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar’ on DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Join Kion and the rest of The Lion Guard in five music-filled and exciting episodes on this new DVD. Kion, Bunga, Beshte, Fuli, and Ono look out for all creatures in the Pride Lands, and even in the Outlands, as viewers see.

“The Rise of Scar” has the group out to save Kira who has been taken by Janja and his group of hyenas. They want to stir up the anger within Kion so he will use his roar that will ultimately summon Scar. But can his roar be used to talk to evil lions or just to connect with his grandfather Mufasa and the good lions who came before? Unfortunately, Rafiki’s new and young, not to mention overly enthusiastic apprentice Makini is a bit too talkative and gets everyone into some trouble.

In another episode, “The Trouble with Galagos”, a leopard who has left the Back Lands, is taught to stand up for himself by Kion and the guard. He had been kicked out of his home and willing to share the Galagos’ tree with them, but they want their tree back so it is up to Kion and The Lion Guard to escort him back to his rightful home and teach him how to be tough and stand his ground.

Then in “Janja’s New Crew” Kion and his team again are on guard to maintain the Circle of Life. In “Baboons!” The Lion Guard helps a baby baboon while avoiding some pitfalls along the way.

“Lions of the Outlands” once again summons up the past with Scar. Although he is not part of this story, his evil history is. Scar’s girlfriend Zira and her mangy family and friends are living outside of the Pride Lands. Zira is the Queen of this area. They are the Outsiders who were banished by Simba years before. As cohorts of Scar, they are evil lions and not willing to maintain the Circle of Life. Zira attempts to win Kion over to her point of view, but that isn’t going to happen. Good wins over evil.

With plenty of music and all the fun of The Lion Guard, there is a lot of viewing in this new DVD. The movie, aka an extended episode, The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar is filled with characters, color, and conflict as danger looms all around The Pride Lands. But with Kion, Bunga, Beshte, Fuli, and Ono, there’s no need to fear. “’Till the Pride Lands’ end, Lion Guard defend!”

The DVD is rated TV Y for everyone. It’s a “must have” for fans of the TV series.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter