The CW11's Larry Hoff was at the New Jersey State Fair today. The fair boasts a circus, concerts, delicious food and over 74 rides. He hung out with some tough tigers and made some magic. The fair runs through July 13. For more information, log onto www.njfair.com or call 973.450.1070.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Behind some of the biggest young stars are overbearing stage parent or parents who want the spotlight for themselves.

In Touch Magazine talks to us about the worst offenders. They include Dina Lohan, Joe Simpson, Jaime and Lynne Spears, Usher's mother Jonetta, David Archuleta's father Jeff , The Carters.

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Whether you're on the beach or at the pool, you can use gizmos. And now there's a host of products on the market built to withstand every variety of surf and turf mother nature throws at them. Steve Greenberg, the author of “Gadget Nation” presents his best bets for this summer. Items featured include: floating speakers, Briefcase that turns into a BBQ, Solar beach bag, Digital Camera Swim Mask, etc.

TO GET ALL THE GADGET INFO, WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Blueberries are more than just a delicious summertime treat; did you know that they can also help cure common ailments? July is “National Blueberry Month” and there are hundreds of alternative uses for the blueberry.

Known for its common use of baking and snacking, blueberries are also filled with tons of healthy nutrients and antioxidants which may have a role in reducing the risks of various diseases such as arthritis and cholesterol.

Executive Chef Phil Andriano from Chef's Diet prepared different ways of incorporating blueberries into your meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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Hotwire released their picks for the 50 best cities for vacation value. Check out http://www.hotwire.com/destination/travel-value-index2.jsp for more information.

Designer Sally Miller stopped by with tween fashions! Miller is committed to helping tween girls find and celebrate their unique selves through clothes designed to encourage independence and confidence. Her designs are trendy and contemporary yet age-appropriate.

Sally's first retail store is opening this month at 30 North Main Street, Milltown, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

For more information on her store, and for more on Sally Miller designs, log onto http://www.sallymiller.biz/Pages/Page.aspx.

VIDEO AND PICTURE AFTER THE JUMP...

Abigail Breslin plays the title character of the new movie Kit Kittridge: An American Girl, opening Wednesday, July 3. Abigail's co-star Madison Davenport also stopped by the CW11 studio to talk about the upcoming movie.

Set in Ohio, the movie follows Kit, an apiring young reporter, and her friends who try to solve a mystery while facing hardships of the Great Depression. Although there have already been three other American Girl movies, Kit Kittredge is the first American Girl movie to be released on the big screen.

WATCH THE VIDEOAND READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Ellianna Placas, Fashion Director of Life & Style Weekly stopped by with "splurge" vs. "steal" beach accessories, which included:

Sunglasses
Bling:
Miu Miu sunglasses, $245, Miu Miu boutiques nationwide
Celeb fans: Mischa Barton, Gwen Stefani
Bargain:
Guess by Marciano eyewear, $85, Guess retail stores nationwide
Celeb fans: Avril Lavigne, Jordin Sparks, Fergie

MORE ITEMS AFTER THE JUMP...

Chef Josh Tepperberg, a.k.a. Dr. Marinade, shows off some recipes for quick and easy marinades for different dishes for your BBQ. For more on his line of bottled marinade, check out his website www.drmarinade.com.

Recipes featured today:

1) Pomegranate Jerk Marinade (prepared on steak & grilled pineapple skewers)
Ingredients:
-Pama Liqueur
-Finely chopped hot peppers
-Fresh Thyme
-All spice powder
-Garlic
-Soy Sauce

MORE RECIPES & THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The two are starring in the latest Will Smith offering Hancock, the story of a down & out superhero who is just a little over it all. Theron & Bateman fill out a cast that has many familiar Hollywood characters & hopefully for Smith, the movie will be the blockbuster juggernaut that many of his past summer films have turned into. If your on the fence about this one, check out what Rafer Guzman of Newsday thinks since he's seen it and about a million other movies, and Rafer's usually on the ball.

Will Smith also spoke to the CW11's Emily Frances last week about his role in Hancock.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Comptroller Thompson stopped by to discuss a new audit his office conducted regarding the NYPD. His study found poor controls over weapons in its custody – with many of them initially missing. Not a great sign for cutting crime in NYC if one of the biggest problem we face is cops losing track of the confiscated guns.

In the press release about the audit, Thompson states: “It’s disgraceful that the NYPD has let its weapons go AWOL. We found a stunning lack of organization, order and control. When it came to storing weapons, the NYPD simply wasn’t up to the task.”

“After my auditors discovered an alarming number of guns gone missing, my auditors returned repeatedly – and the weapons mysteriously materialized. The fact that all of this took place at the NYPD’s main headquarters at One Police Plaza was even more disturbing.”

However, with the mayoral election is coming up in 2009 & with Thompson a likely candidate, one might find the timing of this audit suspiciously political, since it casts a shadow over Police Commissioner Kelly, who while claiming no interest, is still leading in mayoral polls.

WATCH THE VIDEO & MORE INFO AFTER THE JUMP...

Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson is wearing pin stripes this summer for his role as Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees. His co-stars include Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) and Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live).

"Damn Yankees is the story of Joe Boyd, the ultimate baseball fan, who sells his soul to the Devil (Sean Hayes) for the chance to help his team, the Washington Senators, win the pennant race against the Yankees. The Devil is aided by the sexy Lola (Jane Krakowski), who seduces Joe, but ultimately helps him outsmart the Devil and return to his beloved wife," according to The New York Theatre Guide.

READ MORE AND WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The CW11's Larry Hoff was hitting the waves with the Discover Boating Team. They brushed up on their waterskiing and wake boarding skills in preparation for the big Fourth of July boat weekend.

Discover Boating's company mission is to guide people through any type of water sports, boating, and fishing fun.

For more info, log onto www.discoverboating.com.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Style expert Nicole Young shares three patriotic drink recipes. She makes them live in our studio just in time for the Fourth of July.

RECIPES AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The host of Extra and Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath was here to talk about his new acting venue -- the internet!

McGrath is lending his celebrity to star in a webisode parody of a faux presidential election called, "Vote for Spraychel." McGrath stars as Mr. More, the brother and campaign manager of presidential hopeful, Spraychel who embodies an I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray bottle.

The weekly episodes started airing on June 23 and will run until July 27 and can be viewed at www.voteforspraychel.com.

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For the first time in 10 years, AAA predicts a decrease in travel over the Fourth of July. They expect about a 1.3% drop according to Travel Industry Association surveys. Those who do take road trips are likely to stay closer to home. They're not driving cross country and part of the reason is due to rising gas prices.

AOL.com's Regina Lewis has a few tips to help you save money on the road and in your home town.

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Tamsen gets some golf lessons from a real pro...who is featured in a new book on the game.

GOLF: The Best Instruction Book Ever! is filled with over 1,000 tips, drills and lessons from GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Teachers. These pros, renowned for their effective teaching methods, have produced more than 3,000 pages of instruction in GOLF Magazine.

MORE INFO AFTER THE JUMP...

Steve Schirripa is a judge on Last Comic Standing.

Schirripa is a native of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn and is best known for his character Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri in the hit TV show The Sopranos. But before going into acting, Schirripa was in the comedy business. "For over 20 years I've been in that world," he said, "Stand up comedy is a very under rated art form."

Along with Last Comic Standing, Schirripa also plays Leo on ABC Family's The Secret Life of An American Teenager, who is father to a pregnant 15-year-old teenager.

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Luke Perry, of 90210 fame, is starring in the new Hallmark movie A Gunfighter's Pledge, airing July 5.

In this Western, Perry plays Matt Austin, a sheriff whose wife and child are murdered by an outlaw whose brother was killed by Austin.

Perry played Dylan McKay on the hit TV show Beverly Hills, 90210 in the 1990s. This fall, the CW is bringing this show back as 90210 with a new cast and promises to create even more drama at West Beverly Hills High School.

Be sure to catch Perry in his new projects, Good Intentions, Recoil and A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride, all of which are in post-production and set to debut later this year.

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Nino Selimaj of Nino's Restaurant stopped by to kick of CW11's Dining PIX, in which we will highlight a great eatery every Thursday in July. Selimaj stopped by for a cooking demo and made a delicious tuna dish for us.

For Nino's Restaurant, viewers are given the chance to purchase two $50 gift certificates for the price of one!

For more information on Dining Pix log onto: http://wpix.tribunedeals.com/

View the Dining Pix PHOTO GALLERY here.

RECIPE & VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

It's that time of year again---time for the BBQ's, beer, and burgers! It's the Fourth of July and we've got the hookup on where you can catch the fireworks.

Of course you can go and check out the Macy's show, but if you want to avoid the crowds then check these out:

Hudson Valley and NYC

Long Island

New Jersey

Have a Happy Fourth!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The 4th of July is upon us and and Larry is getting ready getting ready for the big fireworks blast off. Larry was live in Patchogue, Long Island with the Gruccis, America's first family of fireworks, learning the ropes.

Grucci is the top name in fireworks in the world since 1850. They have been working full time 365 days a year and have been blasting off in New York City since 1983. Fireworks By Grucci provided the pryotechnics show at several US presidential inaugurations, Olympic Games and World's Fairs. In New York, they provided the fireworks program for the Statue of Liberty Centennial in 1986 and Brooklyn Bridge Centennial in 1983.

For more info about Fireworks By Grucci log onto www.grucci.com or call 631.286.0088.

Monica Reinagel of www.NutritionData.com stopped by with 4th of July BBQ This or That.
She shared the healthier choices of the following:
1. Spinach Dip vs. Guacamole
· Guacamole (23 calories and 2 g of fat per tablespoon)
· Spinach dip (27 calories and 2 grams of fat per tablespoon)
Winner: Guacamole

2. Hamburger vs. Hot Dog
· A 4-ounce hamburger with bun (423 calories and 22 grams of fat)
· A bun-length hotdog with bun (305 calories and 19 grams of fat)
Winner: Hot dog

3. Barbeque Chicken Thigh vs. Barbeque Chicken Breast
· Chicken breast - (246 calories and 8 grams of fat)
· Chicken thigh (206 calories and 10 grams of fat)
Winner: Chicken Thigh

4. Veggie Burger vs. Portobello Mushroom Sandwich
· Green Giant Harvest burger on a bun (258 calories and 6 grams of fat)
· Grilled Portobello mushroom brushed with olive oil on a bun (201 calories and 9 grams of fat)
Winner: In terms of calories, the Portobello mushroom is lower. But the veggie burger has 3 ½ times more protein.

5. Coleslaw vs. Potato Salad
· Coleslaw (94 Calories and 4 g of fat per cup)
· Potato salad (324 calories and 18 grams of fat per cup)
Winner: Cole Slaw

6. Chocolate Chip Cookie vs. Brownie
· 1 medium Cookie - 2 ¼ inch diameter (78 calories and 10 g of fat)
· Brownie - 2" square (112 calories and 7 grams of fat)
Winner: It's a toss up. For overall nutrition, lean towards the brownie. Although it has slightly more calories, it has less fat and you're getting more antioxidants and flavonoids from the chocolate. But if you're counting calories, reach for one chocolate chip cookie.
For more information on BBQ foods, or to look up the nutrition content of any food, log onto www.nutritiondata.com.

So there's really no need to stretch a dollar...how about not spending a dollar? Well, that's exactly what Free Friday is all about. Each week, we'll tell you about free concerts, shows, activities and giveaways happening in our area.

Apart from from the free Bon Jovi concert, this next offering will surely be music to your ears. Check this out, the New York Philharmonic will be hosting Concerts in the Park, a free series of performances in parks throughout our area. The first of their outdoor concerts will be this Tuesday, July 8th at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Staten island. Then they'll take stage at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey on Wednesday.
Concerts in the Parks link:
http://nyphil.org/attend/summer/index.cfm?page=parks

And for movie fans, there's the HBO Bryant Park summer film festival. Each Monday, a different classic film is shown right in the park. You can catch a screening of The Man Who Came to Dinner this Monday night. You should arrive around 5pm.
Bryant Park Film Schedule:
http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php

Larry was live at Sangria 46 Spanish restaurant celebrating Spain's running of the bulls. So head over for some spanish cuisine specials going on all week. For more information, log onto www.sangria46.com or call 212.581.8482.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

This morning's offering was Maroon 5 feat. Rihanna - If I Never See Your Face Again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK-H76JeFpA

Kurt turns into CyberGuy P-I to investigate how well two new sites are at spotting crimes in your very own neighborhood. Plus, how to turn your cell phone into an instant neighborhood alert system. Get more info >>>

The Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Championships will be visiting Brooklyn this week. The reigning NY Regional champ shows Patricia and a few interns how to air guitar like a pro and how to exude "Airness."

As you guessed, this competition features performers rocking out to their favorite songs without a guitar. Air Guitar sounds ridiculous, but the competitors take it seriously and each competitor is a total character - great interactive interview. Some call it a sport and others a unique art form, but many of the contestants go as far as having daily practices with trainers and work out routines to perfect their skill. The Tour features more than 20 regional events across the country and they always sell out in advance.

The tour stops in Brooklyn this Wednesday, July 9th. The National championships will take place in San Francisco on August 8th, The US Champion will represent our nation at the World Finals in Finland.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Josh Hutcherson is the new movie Journey to the Center of the Earth, which opens on July 11.

The movie is based on the Jules Vernes book of the same name. Hutcherson plays Sean, nephew to Brendan Fraser's Trevor Anderson, a science professor whose hunt to prove a hypothesis brings him on a wild, unimaginable adventure.

While taking breaks from filming the movie, he and Fraser had fun playing video games. "He [Fraser] showed me that no matter how established of an actor you are, how old you are, you can still act like a kid and play Xbox and have fun," said Hutcherson.

Journey to the Center of the Earth marks the first live-action film to be shot entirely in digital 3-D. Hutcherson has also starred in the movies Zathura and Bridge To Terabithia.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Spencer Breslin is the star of the new movie Harold, opening on Friday.

Breslin plays the title character, a high school student suffering from early male-pattern balding, opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. (Daddy Day Camp, Rat Race, Jerry Maguire), the school janitor who befriends Harold and helps him deal with his unfortunte situation.

Breslin said he channeled TV favorite George Costanza of Seinfeld for his role. He is going on to his junior year of high school and is also part of local rock band Red Agenda with co-star Evan Daves.

Spencer's little sister, Abigail (Kit Kittredge, Little Miss Sunshine) " was also on the CW11 Morning News last week. Both are native New Yorkers.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Sunny Anderson stopped by to give us some of her recipe magic. Her new show How'd That Get On My Plate? premieres tonight at 9:30pm on the Food Network.

View the PHOTO GALLERY here.

VIDEO AND SUNNY'S RECIPES AFTER THE JUMP...

Larry's having fun with the firefighters of Merrick, Long Island! He was at Four Towns Firemen's Training Center where Long Island's bravest are training for this weekend's old fashion firemen tournament -- a competition in firemen drills running events with ladders, hoses and water. Larry and the firefighters will race to the top of the town!

For more info on fun firefighter events log onto www.nysdrillteams.com, www.northbellmorefd.com or call 631.714.2142.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Master Art Forger John Myatt made a small foturne duplicating masterpieces and passing them off as original works of art. Ten years later, Myatt is using his experiences to bring a new appreciate to the art world and is opening up about his experiences. You can check out his work at http://www.johnmyatt.com/

The warm weather is here. Time to get your feet out in the open. However, there are a few things you'll probably need to do before you bare all...such as the perfect pedicure. Tamsen visits Jin Soon's Spa to learn how to pamper your feet like a pro, plus how to give yourself a waterless pedicure.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

From Diddy's right hand man, to actor, designer and even recording artist... Fonzworth Bentley does it all. Now he's guiding 14 men as they transform their lives, trading those gold chains for ascots and going from G's to Gents. G's to Gents premieres Tuesday July 15th on MTV.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

You may know him best as the vampire Deacon from the Wesley Snipes trilogy Blade or maybe as Cecil B. DeMented in the John Waters film of the same name, but Stephen is a veteran of both TV & film.

His newest offering is opposite of Val Kilmer in the new film Felon about a loving family man with a promising future who loses everything when he accidentally kills a burglar who broke into his home. Convicted of involuntary manslaughter, he is sentenced to 3 years in a maximum security prison. Pretty heavy stuff, but you can just tell this one's gonna be good from the clip we saw.

We also foun d out that Stephen has been in a lot of music videos, 35 is what Emily said, but Stephen thought it was more like 3, but Emily started mentioning names and he realized he had forgotten many of them - he quipped, "guess I have a lot of friends in the music biz."

VIDEO & MUSIC VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Danielia Cotton performed a couple songs from her second album, Rare Child, is available in stores now. For details on upcoming appearances and performances, log onto her official website, http://danielia.com.

Cotton, a native Hopewell, New Jersey, will be performing in her home state on July 25th at Dykstra Park in Sparta, NJ at 7:30pm.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Drew Lachey stopped by to talk about his latest role as Patsy in the Broadway sensation Spamalot.

Spamalot is based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). Both are parodies of the legend of Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Lachey's character, Patsy, is "King Arthur's faithful servant, providing companionship and much needed clip-clopping."

This is Lachey's second appearance on Broadway. He made his debut in Broadway's Rent and played Mark Cohen, a filmmaker and the show's narrator. Lachey was also the second season winner of ABC's Dancing With The Stars. He was also part of '90s boy band 98 Degrees.

For tickets and more information, you can log on to http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Larry was at Belmar Beach in New Jersey with the original sand man as he prepares for this mornings annual New Jersey Shore Sandcastle Competition which starts at 8am.

For more information, log onto www.njsandcastle.com or call 732.863.1900 EXT. 102

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

This morning, Gail Kasper tackled more workplace woes.

Today we asked Gail about:
1. Using email to correspond with coworkers
2. Noisy cubicle-mate
3. Punctuality
4. Coasting Co-workers
5. Overly friendly bosses

GET THE ANSWERS, WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

To get your questions answered by Gail, log onto www.gailkasper.com

Former Miss USA Susie Castillo has a new book out, Confidence Is Queen and is the new face of Neutrogena.

Castillo, a Massachusetts native, says of her new book, "For years random people, TRL fans, pageant fans, etc. have all asked me the same thing...'How did you get to where you are today?' Well, I wrote a book about it to hopefully answer your questions and inspire you to follow your heart and dreams just as I did and continue to do."

She also joins the ranks of Kristin Kreuk, Hayden Panettiere and Gabrielle Union, among many others, in her new role as Neutrogena spokesperson.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Cruising the high seas in style is the hottest way to see the world... and some lines are offering amenities that would put five star hotels to shame! Peter Frank of Concierge.com reveals the sickest ship suites.. and how you can be treated like royalty on the vacation of your dreams.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

You are what you eat. We hear that all the time. And for you to look like a hot chick, you have to eat like one -- that's according to authors Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent, who wrote the best-selling book How to Eat Like a Hot Chick.

Lipper and Vincent stopped by live to talk about teaming up with Mott's Plus to teach people how to eat what we love and love how we feel. They also shared some sexy snacks that will help you eat your way to a hot bod.

For more sexy snacks and meals, just pick up a copy of How to Eat Like a Hot Chick, now in bookstores.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Television, film and Broadway star Adrienne Barbeau, stopped by to talk about her new book, Vampyres of Hollywood.

She'll be signing copies today at 7pm at Borders Books in Columbus Circle and the Barnes & Noble on State Highway 35 in Hollmdel, NJ at 7pm tomorrow.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Dawn Yanek, editor-at-large of Life & Style Weekly stopped by with beauty on the go!

1. Frèdèric Fekkai Wash & Wear Instant Shampoo, $22, sephora.com
This product allows you to refresh and re-style limp, overworked locks. All you have to do is spray on dry hair focusing at the roots and brush the product through the hair.

2. CoverGirl Wetslicks AmazeMint, $5, drugstores.com
This three-in-one lip gloss experience – high shine, a boost of breath freshness with Crest Peppermint Oil and a brighter smile.

3. Philosophy the Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas SPF 15, $35, philosophy.com
For a flawless look in seconds, press the sponge right onto skin to apply this lightweight powder.

MORE PRODUCTS AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The creators of Guitar Hero, Kai Huang, left, and Charles Huang visited the CW11 studio to give a sneak peak of the forthcoming video game of the franchise, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which is available in stores now.

The game promises to bring players on a 41-song retrospective trip down memory lane with several songs highlighting Aerosmith's vast career "from their first gig at Nipmuc [Regional] High School all the way to their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and all of the songs in between," said Charles.

The Guitar Hero: Aerosmith song list includes classics like "Sweet Emotion," "Livin' On The Edge," "Dream On" and "Walk This Way."

View the PHOTO GALLERY and see Charles and Kai met a real rocker -- Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch at the CW11 studio.

READ MORE AND WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS AFTER THE JUMP...

Enter Here To Win A Free Perfect Pedicure!!
1 Grand Prize winner and 4 Semi-Finalists will be picked by random drawing and Grand Prize winner will receive one complimentary pedicure treatment and 4 Semi-Finalists will each receive one complimentary PedEgg.

WATCH TAMSEN'S SEGMENT AFTER THE JUMP...

The CW11's Larry Hoff is at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, Brooklyn, where the city meets the sea. It's also where local landlubbers can feel the creatures of the sea for free every Friday.

For more information, log onto www.nyaquarium.com or www.wcs.org or call 718.265.FISH.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Did you know that almost everything in your house has an expiration date? We're talking much more than milk here!

Your health and safety depends on the routine pitching of everything from your bedroom pillows (toss once a year) to your smoke alarm (every 10 years) and even your Neosporin (after 1 year). Also, save money on those items you might be surprised to learn you can keep forever (like your cutting board!) or almost forever (your air conditioner!).

Prevention Magazine's Rebbecca George takes us through their room-by-room guide, which outlines the expiration dates of 14 household items in the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom-get those trash cans ready! For more, check out the latest issue of Prevention on news stands now or you can log on to www.prevention.com

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream! And at Rosa Mexicano's Annual Ice Cream and Sorbet Festival (Festival de Helados y Sorbetes), New Yorkers will be able to do just that.

Tamsen is mixing up guacamole ice cream and diverse flavored frozen treats of the festival, which runs through July 20.

Rosa Mexicano will be celebrating with creative and refreshing scoops including antioxidant-packed Chia con Limón (lemon sorbet with chia seeds); a sweet-meets-heat Tascalate (combining cacao, achiote chile, pilloncillo and corn); and a decadent avocado ice cream sundae prepared tableside.

LOCATIONS OF THE FESTIVAL AFTER THE JUMP...

We learn how women can use Brazilian jiu jitsu as a way to defend themselves from an attacker. With Brazilian jiu jitsu size doesn't matter, because practitioners use leverage rather than strength.

Dr. Steve teams up with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt and Master Jose "Zed" Chierighini of Ikaika, BJJ Junior Team by Renzo Gracie. For more information on Zed's classes, log onto www.ikaikabjj.com.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Actor Adam Scott stopped by to talk about his new film August, debuting tomorrow July 11.

August is a drama about two brothers who are trying to keep their Wall Street dot-com company, LandShark, from collapsing during the stock market's decline in August 2001. Unbeknownst to them, it's an important time as it is one month before the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

Scott plays Joshua Sterling alongside co-star Josh Hartnett's (Black Hawk Down) Tom Sterling. The two play the dot-com entrepreneurs.

A native of California, Scott has been in several recent films such as The Aviator, Art School Confidential and Knocked Up. You can catch him in this summer's comedy Step Brothers (July 25), starring with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Dining PIX continues with Sofrito Restaurant, where Puerto Rican cuisine is their game. Ricardo Cardona shared his recipes for mini pernil, sofrito and pigeon pea rice with us.

Don't miss out on CW11's exclusive deal! Diners will receive two $50 gift certificates for the price of one! Supplies are limited. For information this and on all Dining PIX deals, log onto: http://wpix.tribunedeals.com/

Be sure to check back with us for next Thursday's Dining PIX, when the folks at Butterfield 8 will join us for a live cooking demo.

View the Dining Pix PHOTO GALLERY here.

For more on Sofrito Restaurant, log onto http://www.sofritony.com/.

RECIPES AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Gene Simmons, Kiss' bass guitarist, stopped by the CW11 studio to talk about his new book, Ladies of the Night.

"I would not call it the history of prostitution," said Simmons of his new book, "It's a historical and personal perspective of the oldest profession in the world. It's too easy for the men of the world to demean women and we continue to do that and I think it's mean-spirited and women deserve more."

He says that his inpsiration for the book came from his interest in the Puritan values ingrained in the United States. As a result, Simmons said, American culture is comparatively far more conservative than its European counterpart.

Kiss has been on a two year tour of Europe and the group is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The iconic New York band was founded in January 1973 and their black and white face paint was signature to their image.

Simmons will be at the Barnes and Noble on 5th Avenue and 46th Street tomorrow at 12:30pm for a book signing.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The CW11's Larry Hoff is live at Pier 46 for Women's Health Workout World. They're offering free workout sessions and prizes this Saturday at Hudson River Park and everybody is invited to get a taste of some crazy cardio exercises.

For more information, log onto www.womenshealthmag.com/areyougame.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The new HBO mini-series Generation Kill takes places under the backdrop of the Iraq war and explores the relationships young Marines forge under the most dire of circumstances.

British filmmaker Susanna White tells us how she's using her documentary background to take viewers onto the battlefield and into the world of war.

White's other TV credits include BBC's Jane Eyre and PBS's Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House.

You can check out Generation Kill this Sunday at 8pm on HBO.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Have you pigged out and want to get back on track? Are you sidelined with cramps? Have you debated over what to snack on before or after your lunch-hour workout?

Sara Wells, nutrition editor of Fitness Magazine, helps you power through these dilemmas and start fresh with advice on:

• What to do after you O.D. on junk food
• If you’re running on 6 hours of sleep or less
• If you’re going through a bad breakup
• If you have a long flight
• If you’re starving two hours before dinner

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

It's Free Friday at the CW11 Morning News! Each week we're going to tell you telling you about events, activities and items that are FREE. That's right! No money required. And you won't believe what we've got on our list this time around.

FREE JAZZ CONCERT SERIES

Bring a picnic lunch and listen to the sounds of cool jazz during the free Lunch at Lasdon concert series at Westchester County’s largest publicly owned arboretum, Lasdon Park, Arboretum & Veteran’s Memorial on Fridays, July 11, 18 and 25 and Aug. 1, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. On July 11 and 25, back by popular demand, the Kevin Callaghan Group will take the stage. The group’s musicians hail from Westchester and Putnam counties and Connecticut.

Lasdon Park and Arboretum, a 234-acre park and developing arboretum featuring many species of trees, shrubs and perennials, is a Westchester County Park. It is located on Route 35 in Somers, and can be reached via I-684, exit 6. Head west off the exit; the park is 3.5 miles ahead on the left. Or, take the Taconic State Parkway to Route 202/Route 35 exit and head east; the park is 3.5 miles ahead on the right.

RIVER FLICKS FOR KIDS

Pier 46 at Charles St.
The Wizard of Oz (G)
July 11

Join Dorothy and friends in this all time classic adventure while trying to explain what black and white film is to your perplexed children. Movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30 pm.) Free popcorn. Beverages and Snacks are for sale. For more info and a list of other films, see http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/events.asp

FREE EXERCISE CLASSES AT THE WATER

Yogilates Classes at the Water are created and led by instructors from Gold's Gym. Yogilates is a min/body workout that fuses elements of yoga with pilates to strengthen, tone and stretch the body. This program runs through September 6 and classes are scheduled for 7AM-8AM on Fridays and 10AM-11AM on Saturdays. In addition, the added bonus to these classes is that participants will be able to have a perfect vantage point to view all four of the falls that make up the celebrated New York City Waterfalls installation in the East River. More information is available at www.goldsgymnyc.com

FREE SLURPEES

Do you love Slurpees? How about a free one?

Well, 7-Eleven's participating stores are offering customers a free Slurpee to celebrate their 81st birthday on - when else? - July 11, 7/11/08, also known as 7-Eleven® Day!

As has been the tradition for many years, the company will celebrate July 11 with free 7.11-ounce Slurpee® drinks for customers visiting its U.S. stores. Special birthday cups will be available while supplies last.

FREE ICE FOR YOUR PARTY

Every Saturday night in July, the Baileys Shiver Truck will run an “ice belt” through Manhattan so no one has to leave a great get-together to run to the store.

People of legal purchase age can text “Shiver” to 69866 between 7pm and 10:30pm each Saturday evening in July.

The truck will text back asking the address of the party. If inside the ice belt, the Shiver Ice Brigade will send a confirmation and bike messengers over with ice.

July 12: Upper West Side
July 19: East Village
July 26: West Village

Also check out CW11's Finding Fun In NY.

FREE FRIDAY EVENTS AND VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Latina Magazine has kicked off their annual Get Glam Tour and they are hitting New York City with style on Saturday, July 12th.

Their Girl's Day Out is a free day of beauty and glamour for the ladies. It'll be at the Westin Times Square and activities will include:

• Mini-makeovers
• Dry hairstyling
• Mini-manicures
• Tarot card readings
• Mini-massages
• Music and raffles

RSVP is necessary with rsvp_newyork@latina.com.

Latina's Get Glam Tour is in partnership with Maybelline New York, Garnier Fructis, Armani Code, Rado Switzerland, Kmart and California Raisins. The tour includes San Antonio, Houston, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Do home remedies really work? Dr. Steve checks out these rumors:

1) Apples whiten your teeth
2) Eat local honey to relieve allergies
3) Vitamin E on skin relieves sunburn

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Brooke Hogan is the star of the new VH1 reality show Brooke Knows Best, debuting on Sunday, July 13 at 10pm EST.

The show will follow the 20-year-old's life in Miami as she lives on her own, away from her protective parents who did not allow her to date. According to VH1, the series' episodes include "Brooke considering getting a tattoo, helping her roommate find guys as a 'wingwoman,' and dating a guy who is into extreme sports."

Brooke is best recognized as the daughter of '80s pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan. Partly because of his VH1 series Hogan Knows Best, the entire Hogan family has been in the public eye. But all have stirred up tabloid controversy in their own right.

As it stands, mom and dad, Linda and Hulk, are undergoing a divorce. Linda has been dating a 19-year-old named Charley Hill. Hulk had an affair with Brooke's best friend Christiane Plante and now has a new girlfriend, Jennifer McDaniel.

Little brother Nick is serving an 8 month jail sentence for reckless driving (he was street racing) that "left his friend John Graziano with permanent physical and mental disabilities" and in a coma. As well, photos of Hulk rubbing lotion on Brooke's bikini-clad bottom raised a lot of eyebrows.

Comparatively, though, Brooke has shared less of this tabloid limelight. Though her career so far is in TV, she is on her way to breaking into the music business and become a pop singer.

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Tom Cavanagh stars in the off-Broadway revival Some Americans Abroad as Joe Taylor, a department chairman at an American college. This limited engagement opens its curtains on Saturday, July 24 at the Second Stage Theatre and runs through August 3.

Some Americans Abroad is about a group of American college students and their professors who go on a literary tour of England. "With a crammed itinerary and barely enough time to digest the sites, the students’ behavior devolves from appreciative to appalling while the professors confront the emptiness beyond their idealism in this comedy about what it means to make choices and stick with them."

READ MORE AND WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora is teaming with WPLJ (95.5 FM) to auction off a Bon Jovi concert package that will raise money for a New Jersey high school girl with a brain cyst.

Starting at 9am, WPLJ will be conducting a phone auction hosted by Richie Sambora and WPLJ’s Race Taylor. You can participate at that time by bidding generously at 1-800-321-WPLJ (9755).

For more information, you can log on to http://www.careforkelly.com/

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

This week we're featuring Alicia Keys’ “Teenage Love Affair."

Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCOiqMgYkKc

Batter up! The CW11's Larry Hoff is taking some swings and swigs at VitaminWater's "Homers On the Hudson" at Chelsea Piers' Lighthouse. You'll get the chance to hit a baseball off a tee 150ft over the water and hit a 25ft high inflatable bottle with a 5ft high baseball glove.

And if you succeed, you'll go home with a cool $1 million. Larry will be with Little Leaguers who are hoping for a homer.

You can take a swing at Homers On the Hudson" starting at 10am and going until 1pm.

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

We’re teaming up with Field and Stream Magazine's online editorNate Matthews in our search for Big Foot!

Bushnell Outdoor Products and Field & Stream magazine want you to find Sasquatch this year and they are providing a good reason to search - one million reasons to be exact - with the "$1,000,000 Sasquatch Photo Challenge" that runs through December 15, 2008.

It's pretty obviously that they will pay big bucks in order to solve the mystery. But, they are also offering a prize for the best attempt to cheat them out of the million!

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

The Apple iPhone 3G has made it's big debut - but did it live up to the hype it's first weekend on the market? CNET TV's Natali Del Conte stops by to break down this weekend's sales numbers and weigh in on the buzz surrounding the newest must-have gadget.

Despite long lines over the weekend & customer service reps working their kashtingy's off, unfortunately Apple's software & firmware updates weren't quite up to the task - in fact, some users have yet to make a call after 3 days.

For more information check out http://reviews.cnet.com/8300-13549_7-30.html?tag=slide_1

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP...

Butt-kicking now has a view! Brooklyn Bridge Bootcamp is an hour-long workout comprised of sprints and exercise stops that spans the Brooklyn Bridge. Ariane Hundt, a personal trainer and founder of the bootcamp, will lead us through some exercises.

For more informati