Alive and pretend, three-dimensional and painted on canvas, animals offer fun and wonder this summer for kids and families throughout LA. Youngsters can interact with fanciful giraffes, adults can thrill to life-size portraits of celebrity beasts, and everyone can ooh and aah at spiders.

Noah’s Ark at the Skirball – This innovative destination opens June 26 as a permanent exhibit for children and adults. Five years in the making, visitors brave a storm, then climb aboard a gigantic wooden ark - inspired by the ancient flood story of Noah’s Ark - to interact with handcrafted animals. From life-sized giraffes and elephants to snow leopards, flamingos and iguanas, the fanciful puppets and figures represent 186 species. The adventure culminates outdoors, under a real rainbow. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the Skirball Cultural Center, including Noah’s Ark, is $10 general; $7 seniors and full-time students; $5 children ages 2 to 12. Children under 2 are free. Tickets to Noah’s Ark are not yet available, so call 310-440-4500 for updated information. www.skirball.org

The Getty – When Oudry’s Painted Menagerie debuts May 1 at the J. Paul Getty Museum (at the Getty Center), two life-size 18^th century animal paintings will be unveiled for the first time in 150 years. Painted during the reign of Louie XV, when exotic animals were celebrities for an adoring public, the enormous artworks, Rhinoceros and Lion, have languished in storage in a German castle-museum until now. On display through Sept. 2, the Getty Center is open Tuesday through Sunday; closed Monday and major holidays. Admission is free. Parking is $8. No reservations are required for parking. www.getty.edu

Los Angeles Zoo – Enter the amazing world of spiders in “Spider City,” opening May 3 through Oct. 31. Spider-Man, the Marvel comics’ red-suited character, will be on hand to welcome visitors during the opening weekend. Set in the former Koala House, the exhibit is crawling with more than 20 species from gigantic jumping tarantulas to delicate micro spiders. The zoo is open daily except Christmas. Admission is $10 ages 13 and up, $7 seniors 62 and up, $5 children ages 2 to 12, children under 2 are free. For general information, guided tours and discounts for groups of 15 or more, call 323-644-4200. www.lazoo.org

Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and Janice Hahn, citing a decline of 17% of the number of international tourists who annually visit the United States, recently introduced a council motion urging the formation of a Presidential Advisory Council on Travel and Tourism to counter this trend. The announcement was made at a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce media forum for national and international press that was held in conjunction with the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. They were joined by Mark Liberman, president and CEO of LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, that has expressed its support for such an effort.

Both Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor Water Park in Los Angeles have announced that they will remain part of the Six Flags family. Both parks will be fully open and operational for business in 2007 and beyond. Six Flags Magic Mountain is currently open weekends and school holidays. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Water Park reopens for the season May 5, 2007. The newest thrill ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain is being touted as the world’s tallest, fastest and longest flying roller coaster. Tatsu suspends riders beneath its track in a horizontal flying position. It launches from atop Samurai Summit and traverses a 263-foot elevation change spanning four separate areas of the park at speeds topping 62 miles per hour while completing a series of spirals, banked turns and zero gravity drops, among other thrills. Six Flags Magic Mountain offers the “limited run” premium pass option - the Xtreme Play Pass - for guests who want a Six Flags VIP experience. In addition to all the benefits of the Play Pass, the Xtreme Play Pass includes, FREE “Flash Pass” front of the line privileges, FREE parking, 25% off all Six Flags Magic Mountain merchandise purchases and a 25% discount at all Six Flags operated food locations (except carts). The Xtreme Play Pass is $125. www.sixflags.com

It is a proud day for Minnesotans. Or as I like to refer to them, the Minnetonkanites.

Al Franken, the proverbial spokesman for laughter, put his hat in the rink to represent the state. Franken, or if you prefer — Senator Franken – announced his bid today.

From spouse abusing sports superstars (Kirby Puckett) to body-wrangling governors (Jesse Ventura) and “real” booze cruisin’ Vikings, Minnesota is not green to the limelight.

I would like to thank the state for providing us with a periodic smile. To be honest, I just think Minnesotans get bored in the bitter winter months and pay a PR agency to highlight the state. If so, I am going to have to find out if that agency is accepting suggestions, because I have a few.

Thanks for the “cheese” Minnesota!

Join in the birthday fun - from special offers to Web activities - as LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau celebrates LA’s 225th anniversary through September 2007. LA INC.’s Web site features 225 special offers and discounts to restaurants, retailers, activities and services throughout the region. In addition, find lots of information about LA’s 225 years, including movie locations you’ll recognize from the big screen and tunes you can sing while cruising our scenic streets. There’s something fun for all ages, including historical facts like this one: In 1781, a group of 11 families comprising 44 Mexicans settled in Los Angeles. Felipe de Neve, Governor of Spanish California, named the settlement El Pueblo Sobre el Rio de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles del Río de Porciúncula. The name was shortened rather quickly.

www.losangeles225.com

Several upscale hotels are emerging on the LA scene, including the ultra-hip Montage Beverly Hills, as well as the swank Terranea Resort and the Mandarin Oriental.

Slated to open in Fall 2008, the Montage Hotel Beverly Hills will occupy the north side of Wilshire Boulevard between Beverly and Canon Drives. Last spring, the Montage Hotel Beverly Hills received final approval through a citywide vote for its Spanish-Colonial revival, 200-room hotel and 21 private residences being built on prime real estate in Beverly Hills.

The Spanish Colonial-style resort in Palos Verdes, Terranea Resort, will occupy the 102-acre site of the former Marineland. Terranea Resort will be situated on a breathtaking bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and will feature a 25,000-square-foot spa and a nine-hole golf course.

And in summer 2010, the Grand Avenue project in Downtown will feature the unveiling of the 275-room Mandarin Oriental. The property will occupy the first 20 floors of a 48-story tower designed by Frank Gehry and will have luxury for-sale residences on the upper floors.

LA’s vibrant restaurant scene is always nurturing ambitious and promising chefs. Kris Morningstar has taken over the position of Executive Chef at Blue Velvet, a hip Downtown restaurant in a residential building. An LA-nurtured talent, the 27-year-old chef was chef de partie and chef tournant at the famed Patina before moving on to the role of Head Chef at Casey’s Bar & Grille in Downtown. At Blue Velvet, Morningstar presents a sophisticated and ambitious menu.

Pastry chef David James was studying dance when a part-time job led him to fall in love with creating pastries. He has developed his skills at some of LA’s best restaurants, including Downtown’s Water Grill. James is now the pastry chef at The Lobster, one of the hottest restaurants in Santa Monica.

Drew Sayes has been named chef de cuisine at the highly-regarded Jer-Ne Restaurant + Bar at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey. Before coming west, Sayes was chef de cuisine at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan, where he was awarded numerous honors from the American Culinary Federation.

Nationally renowned chef Kerry Simon has opened SimonLA in the newly renovated Sofitel hotel in West Hollywood, opposite the Beverly Center. Simon, who has won the Iron Chef competition, was dubbed the “Rock n’ Roll Chef” by Rolling Stone Magazine. Simon is known for his adventurous American cuisine with touches of Mediterranean and Asian influences.

Downtown Los Angeles is becoming the nightlife destination of choice. Already established bars mingle with new to create a popular, community-like feel encouraging Downtown visitors, residents and workers to stop in for a drink at happy hour or to stick around until last call. A fine dining sports bar? Trifecta has managed to make this dream a reality. Enjoy a meal on leather seats in a modern, comfortable environment while catching the game on the 25-foot video wall or one of twelve plasma screens. If literature is more your style, the Library Bar is a sophisticated neighborhood bar with books lining the walls. A non-obtrusive jukebox and a wide selection of drinks make this is an excellent locale to unwind. Step outside at J Restaurant & Lounge to enjoy an exotic cigar or head in for a cocktail at the bar with a cracked glass backdrop absorbed in red glow. J’s holds a vivacious, modern atmosphere with a flair for the European with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Aptly bridging the divide between romantic and social, Blue Velvet offers a contemporary, eclectic menu. Whether you are lounging by a fireplace, staring at the stars or meeting new friends at the granite communal table, you’ll be sure to have a memorable time.
www.trifectalounge.com
www.librarybarla.com
www.jloungela.com
www.bluevelvetrestaurant.com

Current exhibits in LA range from contemporary art of the American West to 19th century English landscape, and a fabulous costume design exhibit of this year’s Academy Award-winning designs is now on display at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Downtown.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens: A landmark exhibition of large landscape paintings by English painter, John Constable (1776-1837), will include six of his masterpieces. For the first time, the paintings will be paired with their full-size oil sketches. Because of the monumental effort involved in gathering the works from numerous lenders, it’s unlikely “Constable’s Great Landscapes: The Six-foot Paintings” will ever be repeated. The show will be open to the public from Feb. 3 to April 29. www.huntington.org

Autry National Center: The annual “Masters of the American West fine Art Exhibition and Sale” will be on view between Feb. 3 and March 4. Artists included in the exhibition are picked a year in advance. This year, 72 nationally renowned contemporary Western artists will have works on display. On Feb. 3, there will be a chuck wagon lunch and auction. www.autrynationalcenter.org

The California Science Center: “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” opens on Feb. 11. This exhibit, sure to thrill the whole family, will include numerous artifacts from the Star Wars movies; including costumes, props and a never-before-seen life-size replica of the cockpit from Episode IV’s Millennium Falcon spaceship. www.californiasciencecenter.org

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM): FIDM presents its 15th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition. The show will present costumes from the 2006 Academy Award® winner for Best Costume, “Memoirs of a Geisha.” Admission is free. The exhibit will be on display from Jan. 29 through April 5. www.fidm.com

The Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM): From Jan. 21 through April 15, CAFAM will present an exhibit of ritual art objects and symbols used in the curing of disease. Tribal cultures from around the world will be represented. The exhibit aims to demonstrate universal patterns of belief related to healing. www.cafam.org