Open, Sesame!

Find out about snot, muscles, poop and healthy eating at the Sesame Street Presents: "The Body" exhibit, now occupying the child-friendly space across from the California Pizza Kitchen at Hollywood and Highland.

Jack and I took a Sunday afternoon trek over with L.A. Parent graphic designer Terresa Burgess and her energetic 1-1/2-year-old daughter Teagan.

The pair played in the obstacle course, learned about the journey of food through the intestines and got sprayed with "snot" from the giant nose at the mucous display. Teagan and Jack really liked Baby Bear's Mini Mart and Mr. Hooper's Store, where they practiced putting together their own well-balanced meals.

Teagan also liked the calm Elmo's World room, where she found a comfy bean-bag chair to watch Elmo videos. Jack spent a significant amount of time at the Rub-A-Dub Tub, where Ernie and Rubber Ducky show why cleanliness is important (a good lesson for little boys!).

Elmo arrived in time for photos with both Jack and Teagan before we headed out for lunch. Kevin Clash, who portrays the voice of Elmo, was scheduled to appear, but both kids had tuckered themselves out on the exhibits. So we headed to the outdoor fountains, where the kids played and cooled off – discovering that being outside and playing is good for your body, too!

Sesame Street Presents: "The Body" is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends through April 26 (with additional spring break hours on April 8-9 and 15-16). Tickets cost $10 per child and include one adult admission (additional adult ticket is $5).

Photos by Terresa Burgess

Hola, Sesame Street Fans

This will make you feel old: Sesame Street turns 39 this season.

But tune in, and guaranteed, you'll feel young again.

Rosita, Sesame Street's blue bilingual monster, took some time out of her busy Sesame Street day to chat with me about what's new in the neighborhood. (Carmen Osbahr, the person behind the puppet, also got on the phone to talk about her history with Sesame Street. The Mexico City native chatted about how, as a mom to 8-year-old Alex, she values the presence of the show and the part she gets to play in it.) 

LAP: So, what's new on Sesame Street?

Rosita: Everyone is talking about mathematics! 

[This season, while focusing on math and literacy, includes several celebrities, who are not only lending their faces but are showing up to teach kids about octagons and other great new concepts and words.]

Rosita: We had this really cool guy that came to Sesame Street. I think his name was David Beckham? My mom said he is cute. Do you think he is cute?

LAP: Oh, yes.

Rosita: Well, he taught me the word "persistence." And Jack Black, he taught us "disguise." He was really funny.

[This season also introduces new regulars to mix it up with the muppets.]

Rosita: We have a new neighbor – she opened a laundromat. Leela (see photo) is from India. She has a British accent.

LAP: Is she a monster or a person?

Rosita: (Giggles...) No, she is a human being! She is silly. We're having fun with her.

[The show will feature a few new segments this year, including one starring the monster Murray in "Murray Has a Little Lamb." His lamb Ovejita ("little lamb" in Spanish) speaks only Spanish, so Rosita enjoys spending time with her.]

Rosita: Ovejita told me she leaves some clues for Murray about different types of schools they're going to visit. He has to guess where they're going. They went to one for karate.

[I surveyed a few kids to see what they'd like to know about Rosita, too.]

LAP: Why are you blue?

Rosita: My mommy says I look like my daddy. ... My mom is bluey and my dad is bluey yellowy. I'm a combination of both. My hair is from my grandmother.

LAP: You play the guitar and sing on Sesame Street. Is it hard to play with furry fingers?

Rosita: I just use persistence, that David Beckham word (my mom still think he's cute).

The 39th season of Sesame Street begins on Aug. 11 on PBS. Sesame Workshop will also be launching its newly redesigned Web site on Aug. 11.