Boardwalk Ballyhoo

Paradise Pier is definitely a land in transition. Certain key elements of the district have already evolved toward the new, Victorian period look, while others still retain the styling in which they debuted a decade ago.

The Games of the Boardwalk on the Midway have undergone one of the more dramatic changes thus far. Originally, these games of skill had a more modern look to them and bore wordplay names, referencing places and things in California: Cowhuenga Pass, New Haul Fishery, San Joaquin Volley, Angels in the Outfield, etc.

The new Games of the Boardwalk combine some of the more classic challenges with a period look... and a dash of Disney character. There's Casey at the Bat (toss a softball into the catcher's mitt), Dumbo Bucket Brigade (aim a stream of water to get your clown to climb a ladder), Bullseye Stallion Stampede (roll balls into a series of holes to make your horse run for the finish line) and Goofy About Fishin' (dip your line in and catch a fish - every one's a winner!).

Perhaps best of all, the new Games of the Boardwalk now feature appropriately-themed Disney character plush for prizes. It's perhaps the only place in the world where you can actually get a doll of Casey, the "pride of them all."

A little further down the Boardwalk is a series of shops original to Disney California Adventure. While this stretch has yet to receive its makeover, it has a certain tongue-in-cheek humor about it that's a lot of fun. At Point Mugu Tattoo, a tattoo parlor where "All Tattoos Are Temporary & All Sales Are Final," the strongman on the marquee is adorned with quite the selection of body art. There are tributes to his mother and America, reminders of his left and his right and a mark on his heart, showing his affection for Lady Beard.

Just who is Lady Beard? Why, she's one of the stars of the Sideshow, of course! Sideshow Shirts proudly promotes her, along with other Absurdi-Tees and Oddi-Tees such as Incindiere the fire breather, Swalli Baba the sword swallower and Vipera the snake charmer (whose serpent looks an awful lot like Kaa from Jungle Book).

Inside (where they actually do sell T-shirts), the Sideshow story is continued with such details as a tented roof, larger-than-life carnival barker and ticket stand. Note the numbers on the oversize ticket displayed near the register - 012001 - a reference to the date the store opened for previews in January 2001.

Man Hat N' Beach, a play on Manhattan Beach near L.A., sells hats, of course, although a sign at the entrance offers a warning: "Some Hats Contain Rabbits!"

Inside, there's even more fun with signs, like this play on the title of the 1965 Hayley Mills and Dean Jones comedy, That Darn Cat. Then, there's the offer for "Free Hats Tomorrow." Really? I'm coming back!