This Lego Home Alone house features Little Nero’s pizza, a swinging paint can, a blow torch, and other adorable Easter eggs that any Kevin McAllister stan will recognize
LEGO loves paying homage to the classics—and this set is perfect for the holidays! This year, LEGO has brought back the Home Alone house in brick form, complete with tons of tiny details—like Kevin’s booby traps and other Easter eggs from the movie—that make this set both realistic and an absolute blast to play with.
The box packs in 3,955 pieces and five minifigures: Kevin, his mom, robbers Harry and Marv, plus “Old Man” Marley. In an extra fun twist, the set is split into 24 bags, Advent calendar style, so you can build along to the film’s plotline. LEGO Fan Designer Alex Storozhuk created the concept and watches Home Alone every holiday season from his home in Ukraine.
Once the entire house is put together, the front opens up to reveal all the rooms (and booby traps) inside.
LEGO
There’s the very ’90s bathroom, where you can recreate Kevin’s screaming scene in the mirror after he tests out his dad’s aftershave.
LEGO
There’s also the festively decorated holiday table where Kevin enjoys his highly nutritious meals of microwavable macaroni and cheese and Little Nero’s pizza.
LEGO
Then, once the Wet Bandits arrive on the scene, the real fun begins. The back door includes the doggy door and blowtorch that Kevin uses to torch Marv’s head when he tries to break in.
LEGO
The set also comes with accessories, like the crowbar the Wet Bandits use to break into homes, and Buzz’s tarantula. Just make sure he doesn’t get lost in the house…
LEGO
The set includes Kevin’s treehouse and, of course, a zipline to help him get there from the attic window. The details in this set are next-level and sure to absolutely delight any fan of the Home Alone movies.
Retailing at $300, the Home Alone set is available online and in LEGO stores. We can’t think of a better seasonal present for the ’90s fan in your life!
You can vacation in some pretty sweet homes thanks to Airbnb, but it will be hard to top this booking. Now you can stay in the real life Home Alone house and let your inner child run wild! The overnight stay is up for grabs on Dec. 12 to celebrate the release of the latest movie in the popular franchise.
The McAllisters are headed on their holiday trip and that means four guests have the opportunity to enjoy the stay of a lifetime in Chicago. The home will be perfectly decorated for Christmas and feature plenty of booby trap opportunities. You’ll get to meet the pet tarantula and enjoy plenty of pizza and Kraft Mac n Cheese. At the end of the stay, you’ll get to take home the new LEGO Home Alone set for the perfect souvenir!
Now for the best part: all of this is only $25 if you’re lucky enough to book. Set your reminder for 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 7 and make sure you’re on http://airbnb.com/homealone. The guests who book are responsible for their own travel, but it’s a small price to pay for these bragging rights.
Does your pooch like to get into mischief when they are left home alone? BarkBox and Super Chewer are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic film Home Alone with limited-edition boxes. Timed with the release of “Home Alone” on Disney+, pups can join in on family movie night.
The boxes are filled with BARK original toys representing iconic characters and items from the movie, such as plush Marv and Harry, a crinkly tarantula, and a squeaky paint can. Starting today, the boxes are available for new and current subscribers on BarkBox.com and SuperChewer.com, while supplies last.
Every box is filled with two themed toys, two bags of all-natural treats and a chew. This week is also Cyber Muttday (11/16 – 11/22) where subscribers can receive a Double Deluxe box (double the toys, treats and fun) for the price of a standard box ($22/a month).
Think you’ve seen it all on the National Mall? Think again! There is more to see and do than visit the Hope Diamond for the millionth time. Whether you’re a DC native or a tourist who wants to veer off the beaten path, these insider secrets will make your museum visits memorable. Scroll on for our favorite hidden gems on the National Mall—and discover something new.
This museum is the most visited in the U.S., and second-most in the world. Don’t let the crowds deter you, though. Instead, head to the lesser-known Phoebe Waterman Haas Observatory, where your tiny stargazer can use a variety of telescopes to view the sun, moon, double planets and more. Plus, the Observatory has evening hours a few times a month for night sky viewing.
National Air and Space Museum
655 Jefferson Drive SW
National Mall
Online: www.airandspace.si.edu
Whether the main attraction for your munchkins is the gunboat Philadelphia or the flag that inspired “The Star Spangled Banner,” there’s another more modern attraction to stop at first: the lockers by the Constitution Avenue entrance. Only a few museums have lockers, but these are the closest to the soon-to-open National Children’s Museum! Whether you have armloads of souvenirs or just don’t feel like lugging the diaper bag all day, stash your stuff at this museum so you can totally immerse yourself in the exhibits.
National Museum of American History
Constitution Avenue, NW, Between 12th and 14th St.
National Mall
Online: www.americanhistory.si.edu
Rainbows are beautiful, and little ones love them. But without the right weather conditions, finding one can be a tricky. Unless, that is, you head to the National Museum of the American Indian. Between about 11 a.m. and 2 p.m during the summer, when the sun reaches its highest point, its light will hit eight prisms set in a large window in the museum’s atrium and create a gorgeous rainbow on the floor. Though the light passes through the prisms year-round, they are at their most spectacular during the Summer Solstice.
National Museum of the American Indian
Fourth St. & Independence Ave. SW
National Mall
Online: www.americanindian.si.edu
If you’ve ever been in the Peacock Room, you know it’s beautiful and filled with incredible art. But what you might not know is that once a month, they open the shutters and let in the sunlight which offers a completely different view of this room. See incredible jewel tones of blue, green, and gold that resemble a strutting peacock’s tail.
National Museum of Asian Art
Jefferson Dr. at 12th St. SW
National Mall
Online: www.asia.si.edu
Dinosaurs and gemstones are the main draw here, but budding entomologist won’t want to miss the live tarantula feedings on the second floor (located in the Insect Zoo). Held three times daily, you’ll get a closeup view of a tarantula being fed and get a chance to ask questions about all the creepy crawlies housed in the zoo.
Future bonus: when the new Gilder Center expansion opens (slated for 2022), it will feature a 5,000 square foot insectarium!
National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW
National Mall
Online: www.naturalhistory.si.edu
National Museum of African American History & Culture
If you’re at the museums, you’ll need a break for lunch eventually. The Sweet Home Café offers tasty dishes by culinary ambassador Carla Hall. You may recognize the name as former co-host of The Chew. Sweet Home Café offers authentic African American cuisine, made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy traditional foods like skillet cornbread, buttermilk fried chicken and pickled green beans. And if you’ve got picky eaters, there’s a core menu with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders, too. Meals are reasonably priced between $8-18, but seating is on a first-come, first served walk in basis, so make sure you get there early.
National Museum of African American History & Culture
1400 Constitution Ave. NW
National Mall
Online: www.nmaahc.si.edu
If your little ones are in need of some peace and quiet, head to the renovated courtyard of the Old Patent Office Building. This courtyard is between two museums, the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. It has a glass and steel roof; people gravitate to this hushed space for a quiet lunch or just a moment to themselves. It’s often described as a place to feel alone in a crowd. It’s the perfect sanctuary to give an overwhelmed kiddo a few minutes to chill without having to head home or back to the hotel.
Many people start their museum journey at the Smithsonian Castle’s visitor center to plan their outing and take a peek at the collections. And many know about the Enid A. Haupt Garden tucked away behind the castle, but what they don’t know is that there’s a garden within the garden. Getting to the secret Moongate Garden requires going through one of two tall, pink granite “moongates” which resemble keyholes. Pass through the keyhole and enter another world filled with peace and tranquility. It’s the perfect way to start or finish your museum day with a little zen.
Smithsonian Castle
1000 Jefferson Dr. SW
National Mall
Online: www.si.edu
The Hirshhorn is a donut-shaped museum known for contemporary art and culture and offers a national platform for current-day art and artists. Most of its windows face the inside of the donut, but there is one outward facing window and boy, and it’s a good one! Check out the incredible view of DC with nothing to distract from the vista but ome black rectangles painted in ink on the walls (conceptual art by Cuban artist Reynier Leyva Novo). Leather couches offer a cozy place to rest while your mini museum-goer points out the National Museum of Natural History, the National Archives and the National Gallery of Art.
Bonus: the Hirshhorn is also the perfect place for your little dance-lover to take in their first ballet performance. The Washington Ballet frequently offers free performances.
Hirshhorn Museum
Independence Ave. at 7th St. SW
National Mall
Online: www.hirshhorn.si.edu
If you’re planning to navigate your day at the museums by looking at the buildings, you might miss out on the National Museum of African Art. There’s only a tiny portion of this museum visible to help you find the underground museum directly across from the Sackler Gallery entrance. It’s worth hunting for this secretive museum, though, because the art is outstanding. And, if it’s a particularly hot and muggy DC day, it’s also one of the coolest spots on the Mall. Because of its underground nature, you’ll find it a few degrees cooler than other museums. On the flip side, if your little ones often complain of being cold, you may want to bring some sweaters or jackets to layer.
Your kids stream what they want when they want. But back in the ’70s, kids’ TV shows were anything but on demand. We were the first generation to experience Sesame Street, and we seemed to have a penchant for unassuming heroes and successful spin-offs (and the toys we played with prove it). Want to know exactly what our generation was watching? Keep reading to take a walk down memory lane.
1. Sesame Street
'70s kids were the first to meet Oscar, Big Bird, Grover and more on this long-running show. Back in the day, you could still find Mr. Hooper manning his store on Sesame Street, and kids were in the joke—that Mr. Snuffalupagus was Big Bird’s imaginary friend. 70’s kids spent their sunny days learning the alphabet from Bob and Susan and relied on Gordon to help them learn to count to ten.
Whether you came from a big family or a little one, every kid wished he or she was part of the Brady Bunch in the '70s. They lived in that cool house their dad designed, and housekeeper Alice always doled out sage advice in the kitchen when you needed some. Plus a trip to Hawaii, even if it did involve a creepy tarantula, was every kid’s dream back in the day.
Kids marveled at Underdog, shoeshine boy turned superhero, in the '70s. Not only could he turn a mean couplet, but his “There’s no need to fear, Underdog is here!” cry lifted us up and reassured us that all was right in the world ... especially for Polly Purebread.
Jinkies! Kids sure did love watching Shaggy, Scooby and the gang solve mysteries on this Hanna-Barbera classic. Sure, we always knew it was some masked character behind all the shenanigans, but we didn’t care. The only thing we couldn’t figure out was why Scooby and Shag were always so hungry.
As kids, we probably didn’t appreciate the genius of Robin Williams’ groundbreaking performances in this silly show. But we were hooked at his first burst of, “nanu nanu,” and tuned in once a week to catch his screwball antics through all four seasons.
We did a lot of learning from each other while Fat Albert and the Cosby kids did their thing every time we’d sit down to watch this classic. Kids loved the life lesson that accompanied each story—na, na, na it was a good time!
Because who wouldn’t want to go on exotic adventures with your famous scientist dad, bodyguard Race Bannon and mystic sidekick Hadji every week? Jonny Quest did just that while kids in the '70s dreamed of tagging along. Don’t forget to bring Bandit!
Who knew that future stars like Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno and Mel Brooks were part of our after-school entertainment lineup when we were kids? We were way more interested in the funky graphics, silly sight gags and humor that made watching The Electric Company one of our favorite ways to learn.
Speed Racer was every '70s kid's introduction to the world of anime. And his hi-tech racecar, the Mach 5, prepared us to love K.I.T.T. in the next decade. This short-run series will live forever in our hearts.
After 120 episodes and five seasons, kids never got tired of this half-hour comedy show. They’d tune in each week to watch the Swedish Chef cook up weird dishes, Gonzo get shot out of a cannon and Kermit politely put off Miss Piggy’s advances. And our parents? Well, they loved the antics of Statler and Waldorf.
Recommended ages: 4 & up.
Season 1 and select episodes available on disney.com
11. The Partridge Family
Because kids dreamed of being in the Jackson 5 or sibs with Donnie and Marie back in the '70s, it’s only natural that a show about a singing family would take center stage. Widow Shirley Partridge and her talented crew took to the road in their colorful bus throughout the show’s four-season run. And we can thank the Partridge kids for recognizable sing-along classics like, “C’mon Get Happy” and “I Think I Love You.”
In the '70s you either wanted to be Fonzie or be his best friend. Who else could start a jukebox with the smack of an elbow or rock the James Dean look better than James Dean? And that’s how it was for many years … until Arthur Fonzarelli jumped the shark.
From noshing on a wax moth larvae taco to exploring a tiny house completely covered in butterflies, if your little one loves creepy crawlies of all shapes and sizes, then this list is for you! There are loads of spots from SF down to Pacific Grove where you can get up close and personal with bees, butterflies, beetles and more. Learn all about these amazing invertebrates and how they keep our plants growing and planet healthy. Read of for all the creepy, crawly details!
Photo: Oakland Museum of California
East Bay
Oakland Museum of California
Learn more about honeybees and the role they play in our ecosystem at OMCA’s Gallery of California Natural Sciences where you can check out the Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact exhibit through October 22. Make sure you stop by the bee hotel in the OMCA garden and plan your own bee-friendly garden. You can also help with the research on this fascinating animal by becoming a citizen scientist and counting the honeybees in your backyard.
Bay Area Children’s Theatre – Berkeley Center The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show will be on stage in Berkeley from September 1 – October 29 to the delight of fans of this beloved Eric Carle book. Puppets galore will bring to life this story that’s perfect for bug lovers of all ages.
Coyote Hills Regional Park – Fremont
Right next to the visitor center is a beautiful bird and butterfly nectar garden that’s open to the public Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. While the best time of year to view a butterfly is the winter, you can usually spot a few of these winged beauties throughout the year.
Lindsay Wildlife Experience – Walnut Creek
There are tons of bugs to examine up-close at Lindsay Wildlife. One of the most popular exhibits is Hive Alive! – a beehive fully-enclosed in plexiglass and connected to the outside world by a bee corridor. This fully visible hive is a constantly changing window into the life and work of thousands of bees and their queen. Also, enjoy Critter Cab every hour where animals like dessert millipedes and Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are brought out for everyone to enjoy.
Don Bugito – Various locations
Step out of your comfort zone at Don Bugito where bugs aren’t just for admiring from a distance, they are for eating! At their Ferry Building stand you can try a wax moth larvae taco, salted cricket tostadita or toffee-covered mealworms over vanilla ice cream. You can even grab a bag of crickets to up your school lunch game and your kid’s protein intake.
Conservatory of Flowers
Get eye-to-eye with over 20 species of butterflies at the Butterflies and Blooms exhibition in Golden Gate Park. The Butterfly Bungalow at the entrance of the gallery lets you observe the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. You might be lucky enough to catch the moment when one of these transformed and winged beauties emerges. Open through January 7, 2018.
CuriOdyssey – San Mateo
This science and wildlife center at Coyote Point is home to some very unique invertebrates like a Bay Area Blonde Tarantula and a Rose Hair Tarantula (don’t they sound friendly?). Learn fun bug facts like how the Giant Vinegaroon excretes acetic acid that smells like vinegar when it is threatened.
Bug Club at Portola Valley Library
Join Beetlelady for this free one-hour class that meets on select Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The topics range from metamorphosis to insect mouthparts to how bugs defend themselves. Each class includes a craft. Check the schedule here for upcoming classes.
Hidden Villa – Los Altos Hills
Kids of all ages will enjoy learning about bees, how they survive and what they do inside and outside of the hive at the monthly class offered on the farm called the Big Buzz About Bees. See the innards of a real, working bee hive and taste the fruits of the bees’ labor.
Monarch Preserve – Natural Bridges State Beach – Santa Cruz
Thousands of Monarch Butterflies make their winter home at Natural Bridges State Beach and you can visit these beautiful winged creatures from October through February. Celebrate their arrival with Welcome Back Monarchs Day on October 6 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This annual festival includes crafts, music and monarch (pumpkin) ice cream.
Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary – Pacific Grove
Nicknamed “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.”, this town near Monterey hosts thousands of overwintering Monarch Butterflies each year. In an effort to protect these creatures, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary was opened and you can visit to learn all about the monarch life cycle and why they cluster together on trees.
While you are in Pacific Grove, swing by the P.G. Butterfly House—so named as one of its owners decorated every surface of the colorful house with butterflies as a gesture of love for his wife who was going blind. Location: 9th Ave. and Laurel Street.
