Spring into Fun! Tamagotchi Event at American Dream This Weekend

Source: Tamagotchi/Bandai

A day at the expansive American Dream Mall will sort your weekend plans, especially if you and your family are fans of Tamagotchi! 

Attendees will be able to have a photo moment with Mametchi in a Tamagotchi-inspired photo moment!

Beloved 90s nostalgia icon Tamagotchi is celebrating spring with its fans this weekend at the American Dream Mall. The Spring-themed celebration will bring fans together all weekend long with a slew of interactive and family-friendly activities, including a scavenger hunt, a themed portrait studio, an express yourself station, cotton candy treats, and a shop selling everything Tamagotchi. Save for the shopping, this event is totally free, so bring the whole family.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 from 12 PM to 5 PM. 

Here's the official invitation to make a plan!

Get ready for awesome! The Tamagotchi Spring Celebration is bringing a bunch of immersive experiences, like...

• Scavenger Hunt Adventure – Guests will follow a custom scavenger hunt map around the mall, collecting stickers and surprises along the way—bringing the Tamagotchi experience to life!

• Themed Portrait Studio – Fans can step into a Spring Tamagotchi-inspired photo station and snap a picture with fan favorite character Mametchi for a special keepsake.

• Cotton Candy – A sweet treat with a Tamagotchi twist! Guests can enjoy cotton candy shaped like your favorite Tamagotchi characters.

• Express Yourself Station – A vibrant stop for self-expression, where visitors can get Tamagotchi nail art, face painting and temporary tattoos.

• Tamagotchi Market – A dedicated space selling must-have Tamagotchi items, while also directing guests to the Bandai store at American Dream for even more Tamagotchi finds.

Let me know if you will be joining us and more Tamagotchi fans in the comments! 

American Dream Mall is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. To learn more about their events, check out their events page!

About Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. is a leader in developing engaging, quality toys that capture children's and collector's imaginative spirit and provide endless "Fun For All into the Future." Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in collectibles, children's toys and entertainment today, including Gundam, Tamagotchi®, Dragon Ball®, Vital Hero, Anime Heroes®, Tamashii Nations®, Bandai Hobby and MegaHouse. BNTCA is proud to be the official distributor in the US for Mr. Hobby, nanoblock® and official Studio Ghibli merchandise. For more information, visit bandai.com.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

WORLDS COLLIDE! LEGO Partners with POKÉMON! OFFICIAL!!!!

Get ready for some fantastic news, Pokémon Trainers! 

It has finally happened-- LEGO and Pokémon are officially partnering up with sets slated for release in 2026. The LEGO and Pokémon partnership is the perfect mash-up to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary of the Japanese debut. 

As LEGO fans,  this is a dream come true, but as life-long fans of Pokémon, it is hard to put into words the excitement we feel. Okay, we means, myself and my sons. My husband, eh, he's excited, but he is definitely worrying about how it's going to affect our bank account. Can you blame him? 

Oh, the possibilities for this collection are insurmountable! Here are some ideas below!

• Pokémon Center diarama with Chansey & Nurse Joy Minifigures 
• Brickheadz collection features all of the Kanto starter Pokémon - Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, also including Pikachu and Eeeve
• Minifigures collection in blind boxes featuring the first 25 Pokémon's first forms
• Pokédex build with sounds

According to the promo announcement, we have yellow LEGO bricks clicking together to create Pikachu's tail. This has my my mind racing and think of the Super Mario & Yoshi set mixed with the Running Pikachu MEGA set. 

I asked GEMINI AI to create some LEGO Pokémon sets for me. The results aren't too bad! 

Charizard doesn't look too bad!

Poor Chansey has two eggs to carry now! 

I asked AI to create a Pokémon a Pokédex, and this was the result!

AI LEGO BrickheeeeadZ

If we had Pokémon LEGO minifigures, I wouldn't mind them looking a little like this! 

Um, this would be epic! Not sure about that weird-looking Vulpix-style minifigure on the roof though. 

Last but not least, this actually looks awesome! 

The possibilities are endless for this collection. Let me know in the comments what you think should included in the LEGO x Pokémon release?

Here's a copy of the Pokémon press release:

The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International team up to bring the world of Pokémon to life brick by brick.

Billund, Denmark, March 18, 2025: Today, the LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International announced a new multi-year partnership that will bring LEGO® PokémonTM to fans for the first time from 2026.

Since the debut of the Pokémon franchise, fans have dreamed of becoming Pokémon Trainers, and now they can take that experience even further... one brick at a time. This new partnership will bring the world of Pokémon to life in entirely new ways, allowing fans to build beloved Pokémon in LEGO brick form.

Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, said: "We are thrilled to be working with a brand that has such a deep and passionate fanbase as Pokémon, partnering to give our joint audiences what they have been asking us for. We strongly believe that through the endless possibilities of LEGO play and the exciting adventures the world of Pokémon brings, this partnership will create a range of new possibilities for Trainers and builders alike.”

Gaku Susai, Chief Product and Experience Officer at The Pokémon Company International added: “The LEGO Group and Pokémon have strong shared values of imagination, creativity and fun, making this the perfect partnership to deliver unique, meaningful and engaging ways for Trainers to experience the Pokémon brand. Working with the best-in-class team at the LEGO Group and seeing their dedication and passion for the project has culminated in an innovative and groundbreaking collaboration that will surprise and delight fans. We cannot wait to see both LEGO fans and the Pokémon community’s reactions in 2026.”

The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company International both have a long history of pushing the boundaries of social play, which is at the core of this partnership. For the first time, the LEGO Group will be bringing the most loved Pokémon to life in a brand-new way, with play experiences that will delight new and existing fans alike.

Fans should keep their binoculars peeled and their Pokédex ready to experience the world of LEGO Pokémon, coming their way in 2026. For more information as it is revealed: https://www.lego.com/themes/pokemon/about

Pokemon Journey Together Newest Expansion of Scarlet & Violet

The highly anticipated Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Journey Together will be available in stores March 28, 2025. 

Journey Together revisits the trainers and their beloved Pokémon that aligns their characters in the Pokémon TCG lore. Trainers are nothing without their Pokémon, which is why this expansion is very special. The bond of a trainer and their Pokémon are celebrated in this 180+ card set. 

You can get the new Build & Battle deck early at select game and hobby shops on March 15; find the nearest store here. 

Smurfs The Complete First Season on DVD GIVEAWAY

Fans of The Smurfs will be excited to learn that 
The Smurfs: The Complete First Season is Available Now on DVD! 

                                        WIN The Smurfs Season One on DVD Giveaway!

The Smurfs: The Complete First Season is packed with more comedy and adventure than ever, featuring snappy dialogue, joyful anarchy, irresistable charm, and a healthy dose of magic, with the cast of characters the whole world knows and loves.

This repackaged series includes all three volumes from Season One in a slipcase. Season 3 is currently airing on Nickelodeon and the theatrical animated musical is set for release this summer! The Smurfs: The Complete First Season from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment is available now for the suggested retail price of $19.99.

Buy The Smurfs: The Compete First Season on DVD on Amazon now! You can also enter to win your own copy here. 

Nintendo & JetBlue Unveil The New Cloudtop Cruiser Airplane for MAR10 Day!

Nintendo and JetBlue unveiled their new Airbus A320 (tailfin number N561JB) featuring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, and Donkey Kong with its introductory flight from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to Boston's Logan Airport. The last time I was this excited for Mario taking flight was Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES! 

The fam.

Obligatory Airplane Selfie.

JetBlue's newest collaboration with Nintendo has every gamer feeling like they're on cloud nine. 

Our favorite Nintendo characters Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong are now playfully displayed on the sides of this gorgeous Airbus A320 making your flight a true adventure! Outside the plane, the backdrop is a bright blue with hints of orange and yellow making it feel like you've caught the ultimate power up. Inside the plane, passengers can see Mario and friends on the welcome screen of their seatback entertainment touchscreens. 

What's the cost?

You will find no hidden coins to shell out to fly this beauty! Just make sure your plane is the JetBlue A320 Airbus for a chance to fly the very friendly skies with Mario and friends! Yes, Bowswer is an ally for this collaboration! 

The boys posing with their favorite royal, Princess Peach, and also showing off the sweet swag from Nintendo. Thank you, Nintendo!

Rocco playing the new Donkey Kong Country HD for the Switch!

High five -- Italian style!

The star of the show, Mario Mario!

There was a Nintendo kiosk where you can collect free platinum points!

She's gorg!

We celebrated MAR10 Day in fine style by visiting the new Cloudtop Cruiser! 

You can also visit Mario.Nintendo.com for a full list of fun like entering the My Nintendo Universal Epic Universe SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ Sweepstakes. You can also check out great deadeals on titles like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Super Mario RPG, Princess Peach: Showtime! and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Also, Mario vs. Donkey Kong will be available for a suggested retail price of just $29.99! Participating retailers include Best Buy, GameStop, Target and Walmart. Wake up in style with a new Nintendo Sound Alarm Clock: Alarmo!

🛑 Verizon Wants You To Put Your Phone Down, But Not Until After Reading This!

Verizon wants you to put your phones away, and help celebrate Global Day of Unplugging! 

Verizon is spreading awareness about digital wellness through their new series of initiatives. The first ever Verizon Digital Summit in New York City shared collaborations with Sesame Workshop, Discovery Education, et. al, to help educate today's tech users and share informative ways to tackle technology overuse. 

Play games, collect coins, battle other families at Verizon Arcade Unplugged this weekend! 

Drew Barrymore with the Verizon appointed expert panel at the first ever Verizon Digital Wellness Summit in NYC on March 6, 2025. 

The Verizon Digital Wellness Summit was hosted by Hollywood royalty, Drew Barrymore, where she helped Verizon unveil a series of initiatives to promote healthy digital habits for families through new strategic partnerships and programs alongside a panel of experts.

• Discovery Education: Collaborating on a new Digital Citizenship Initiative to provide K-12 students with free tools, resources and skills needed to thrive in today’s digital world. Content is free on the website and to classrooms within the Discovery Education Experience, an essential K-12 companion for engaged classrooms. 
• Sesame Workshop: Conducting a research study with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center focused on digital well-being of children during key developmental ages of 8 to 12. The findings will address challenges families face with technology use and guide the creation of future digital wellness programs. 
• My Digital TAT2: Partnering to offer free workshops in select Verizon retail stores for parents and caregivers, providing tools to foster children's digital wellness and navigate emerging tech trends.
• Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP: Developing a new digital wellness course for older adults, delivered both in-person and virtually through SeniorPlanet.org, focusing on safe and effective technology use, privacy protection, and staying connected.

Verizon also helps provide families peace of mind through the Verizon Family app, which includes features like location sharing, Parental Controls, Safe Walk with SOS, Crash Detection and Roadside assistance to keep loved ones connected and protected. 

If your little one has no smartphone yet, then no problem! 

Verizon makes it easy to keep track of your children without the addition of adding an additional phone to your plan with the Gizmo Watch. 

The Gizmo Watch comes in a variety of fun colors to choose from and has an affordable price point, holds 8 GB of storage, it can take photos, connect to loved ones via the Verizon Family app, play games, and so much more -- all while staying off of a cell phone. The new Gizmo Adventure watch does not have a camera and is for more rugged play. 

Looking for something fun and free to do in NYC this weekend? Then check out the Verizon Arcade Unplugged! Book your appointment here. 

The Verizon Arcade Unplugged is going on the road starting in April. Families nationwide will experience this fun, action-packed head-to-head installation where your brains and brawn take precedence over your tech skills. Cities in California, Texas, and other major cities will start seeing Verizon Arcade Unplugged popping up!

Showcasing the importance of offline connections at the Verizon Arcade Unplugged:

• IRL Gaming: To coincide with the Global Day of Unplugging, Verizon is launching the Verizon Arcade Unplugged pop-up experience, transforming digital games into life-sized, interactive challenges to encourage screen-free family time. The activation will be open to select partners on Friday, March 7 and A Parently Kidding member families on Saturday, March 8. Limited general admission tickets are available here. 

  

Tools that help provide peace of mind in a digital world:

• All-in-One Protection with the Verizon Family app: With features like location sharing, Parental Controls, Safe Walk with SOS, Crash Detection and Roadside assistance to keep families connected and protected. The Verizon Family app is available for all Verizon mobile customers on postpaid plans through the App Store and Google Play. More information is available at verizon.com/verizonfamily and Parenting in a Digital World.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. Verizon’s world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores.

CODE YELLOW! Not One, But TWO EPIC SpongeBob SquarePants DVD Releases October 15, 2024

Who lives in a pineapple and is now on DVD? SpongeBob SquarePants! 

Time to SHELLA-BRATE with your favorite sponge and his deep sea pals on their aquatic adventures with newly released DVD collections available now. 

Sponge Bob Squarepants has graced our televisions for 25 years, where fans have followed the adventures in Bikini Bottom with their favorite characters from Sponge Bob to Patrick. To celebrate this epic milestone, there are two individual DVD collections for fans new and old to enjoy! 

You can also check out this great recipe for Pop-Kelp Popcorn, to munch on while you binge 400 episodes of underwater goodness! Buy the Best 300 Episodes Ever DVD collection at Walmart, Target, or on Amazon! You can also get Another 100 Episodes at Walmart, Target, or on Amazon!

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 300 Episodes Ever includes the complete Seasons 1-14 on 44 discs, and Another 100 Episodes features the complete Seasons 10-14 on 14 discs. 

If you're into the original seasons, then getting the Best 300 Episodes DVD collection is definitely worth it, because you get epic episodes 

Take a deep dive into Bikini Bottom and beyond with Special Features that include “The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants,” a music video, a special crossover episode, several animated shorts and much, much more!

Another 100 Episodes and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best 300 Episodes Ever are now available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment! You can buy each collection at the suggested retail price of $33.99 and $67.99, respectively.