Dance like Michael Jackson at the Grammy Museum

If you can't get your fill of Michael Jackson from the new documentary "This Is It," a new exhibit at the Grammy Museum in downtown L.A. may do the trick.

The museum, located next to Staples Center in the L.A. Live entertainment complex, unveiled the "Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy" exhibit this week as a follow-up to two previous Jackson exhibits.

Since his death in July, visitors to the museum have been moonwalking to the Jackson exhibit. The latest collection includes the king of pop's clothing, gloves, a hat and original lyrics.

But museum officials believe the most exciting element will be the interactive floor tiles that light up when visitors dance on them, mimicking a scene from Jackson's "Billie Jean" music video.

Eight video monitors will also show footage of Jackson's previous appearances at the Grammy Awards show.

Until Dec. 31, tickets to the museum are $10. Starting next year, admission for adults jumps to $14.95.

-- Hugo Martin

Photo: Visitors to the Grammy Museum look at a display of Michael Jackson's clothes. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Get Michael Jackson memorabilia while it lasts!

Everyone knows that the best time to find bargains on celebrity memorabilia is right before someone dies, and Michael Jackson is no exception.   

But perhaps you wish to start your own Michael Jackson memorial site now? Look no further than EBay, where domain names such as michaelthekingofpopjackson.com or touchedbymichaelsmusic.com are up for the low, low price of $10 million apiece.

But why stop with a website? Share your love of the gloved one with everyone on your buddy list with the unique AOL screen name KingPopMJ. With a starting bid of only $5,000, you can't afford not to buy it.

Are you a controversial third-world dictator? Or perhaps a Colombian drug lord? Maybe you're just really unpopular. Now you can protect yourself in style with this one-of-a-kind Michael Jackson bulletproof vest!  Supposedly worn by the King of Pop himself, this vest can be yours: Bidding starts at a mere $10,000.

As you know, the L.A. Times usually prints the newspaper only once a day, which means that if you missed today's paper chronicling Jackson's death, you're pretty much out of luck. But don't fret. Fortunately for you, some readers are willing to part with their copies of the paper. You might even be able to snag one for as little as $10,000!

For the more frugal fan, there are plenty of tasteful T-shirts and stickers. This memorial shirt is running for slightly less than $20.

-- Brendan Bigelow

Photo: A screen shot of a Michael Jackson memorabilia auction on Ebay.

Kentucky Derby Barbie makes her debut -- huge hat and all

She already has a dream house, a hunky boyfriend and a wardrobe filled with clothes. Now Barbie is getting dolled up for the Kentucky Derby.

Toy maker Mattel Inc. and Churchill Downs, the racetrack that hosts the legendary horse race, said today that they had launched Kentucky Derby Barbie. In true Derby fashion, the doll is dressed in a floral sundress, faux pearl necklace, sandals -- and a huge white hat with flower accents.

And there's more: Collectors have a chance to buy a life-size replica of the hat that Kentucky Derby Barbie wears. For more information, go here.

"Barbie and the Kentucky Derby have come together to celebrate a legendary American sporting and fashion event," said Stephanie Cota, a senior vice president at Mattel. "As a fashion icon, this gorgeous collector doll and replica hat pays tribute to Derby fashion and is sure to excite Barbie collectors, Kentucky Derby fans and fashionistas alike."

-- Andrea Chang

Photo: Barbie goes preppy chic for the Kentucky Derby. Credit: www.thederbystore.com

Barbie hits 50

At age 50, Barbie is no longer what you’d call a spring chicken. But she’s still trying her hardest to stay hip.

To celebrate the five-decade mark, Mattel announced today that it is launching a massive logistical operation to stuff the next year with parties, partnerships and products talking up the iconic doll.

“There’s never been a brand like Barbie,” said Richard Dickson, senior vice president of the brand. “This anniversary gave us a moment in time to unite all our preexisting relationships and more with an epic marketing platform that truly will be unprecedented for us and the toy world. The 50^th will be the trophy year.”

Among the kickoff events, El Segundo-based Mattel is compiling a list of more than 50 top designers, including Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Sui and Vera Wang, who will present the first Barbie runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Valentine’s Day.

On March 9, event planner Colin Cowie is throwing Barbie a pink-splashed Malibu Dream House party at an actual beachfront residence decorated by interior designer Jonathan Adler. DJ AM is set to spin music for a roster flush with famous friends like supermodel Heidi Klum.

The 11.5 inch doll for years held an almost freakish grip on the imaginations and aspirations of young girls across the country and provided endless fodder for feminist sociologists and Burning Man artists.

The brainchild of Ruth Handler, mother of Barbara and Kenneth and wife of Mattel co-founder Elliot, Barbie made her debut at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. Since then, the doll has evolved through thousands of incarnations and 110 careers. On average, three Barbies are sold each second.

Read on for more events ...

Santa's Little Helper: gifts for vintage film and TV buffs

Looking for the perfect gift for the vintage film or TV series fanatic? Here are 10 suggestions that should warm the hearts of any entrenched couch potato. Prices can vary, so check out sites such as Kino.com, Criterion.com, Amazon.com and, of course, shop around.

"Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh." Baby boomers who grew up in the 1960s watching the series “The Wonderful World of Color” hosted by Walt Disney himself will be in heaven with this two-disc set featuring the rousing 1964 three-part series about a Robin Hood-esque hero who operated in the south east coast of England. Patrick McGoohan of “Secret Agent” and “The Prisoner” fame stars.

"The Mickey Mouse Club Presents Annette." Annette Funicello was the golden Mouseketeer on the legendary 1950s ABC daytime kids’ series. She appeared in several of the show’s serials including “Spin and Marty.” Then in 1958, she was given her own series about a country girl who comes to live in the big city with her cousin. The two-disc set features all 20 episodes of the charming, nostalgic show.

Wardrobe pieces from 'Boston Legal,' 'The Practice' and 'Ally McBeal' on sale

Those whose sartorial sense swings toward a more legal look can now stuff their wardrobes with fashions from some of TV's best-known courtroom dramas.

Entertainment memorabilia store Premiere Props and David E. Kelley Productions are selling off every wardrobe piece from the shows "Boston Legal" -- which ended its run last night -- "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 50,000 pieces, including suits and casual wear from labels such as Marc Jacobs and Boss, as well as purses, shoes and belts will be heavily marked down at Raleigh Studios, at 1600 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach.

Among the deals: a Gucci suit that normally retails for about $3,500 is going for $200 and a $120 Armani tie is marked down to $20, said Dan Levin, executive vice president of marketing for Premiere Props.

The sale was extended from two weeks ago, when the event drew 1,000 people a day, Levin said. Part of the proceeds go to the charity organization Entertainment Industry Foundation.

"People, they walk out with huge smiles on their faces," Levin said. "They scream -- literally -- when they get ahold of this stuff."

This weekend's sale also has free parking and admission.

--Tiffany Hsu

What to buy the Tikiphile

In most instances, buying someone else a Tiki mug is like buying them underwear: a deeply personal choice that might not be a good fit. But few Tikiphiles wouldn't appreciate unwrapping a rare or limited-edition mug on Christmas morning. So if someone on your shopping list has a dog named Mai Tai and answers the phone "Aloha," you might want to click over to Trader Vic's L.A. on Monday morning and put in your order for one of the 700 mugs celebrating the new downtown outpost slated to open next year (there were originally 1,000 but 300 already have been pre-ordered).

Read more on what to buy the Tiki lover at All the Rage.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo courtesy Trader Vic's: This limited-edition Trader Vic's L.A. Tiki mug, $14.95, goes on sale Dec. 15.

Hey, wanna buy a Picasso? No? How about a Matisse?

Few throw a fundraising auction the way they do in Malibu. From the online catalog for the silent auction being sponsored by the Malibu High PTSA:

—A guitar autographed by Tom Petty, above
—A saxophone autographed by Kenny G.
—An autographed tennis shoe by Serena Williams
—A couple of Picassos, Matisses and Chagalls
—A dinner party for 50 of your closest friends
—And a vacation aboard a luxury yacht in the British Virgin Islands — valued at $6,000

There are hotel stays, cooking lessons, a personal trainer, massages and several offers involving Botox.

Click here to bid online. The online portion of the 26th annual luncheon, boutique and tennis classic closes today.

—Ann Brenoff

Photo: Karl Walter / Getty Images