A Magnificent Celebration: The 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ® Kicks off the Holiday Season

MACY’S FAMED GIANT CHARACTER HELIUM BALLOONS TAKE FLIGHT FOR THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE®

FROM DRILL TEAMS TO DRUMMERS, THE NATION’S TOP BANDS AND PERFORMANCE GROUPS WILL GET THE CROWD EXCITED AS THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® BRINGS IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON 

THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® FILLS THE STREETS WITH MAGICAL FLOATING STAGES

THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® MARKS THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE NATION’S MOST BELOVED SPECTACLE, FEATURING GIANT HELIUM BALLOONS, FLOATS OF WONDER, PULSE-POUNDING MARCHING BANDS, ENGAGING PERFORMANCE GROUPS, CELEBRITY APPEARANCES, AND THE ONE-AND-ONLY SANTA CLAUS

The nation’s most beloved spectacle returns for another year of magic as the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® kicks off the holiday season. On Thursday, Nov. 28 at 9 a.m., more than 8,000 participants will set down the streets of Manhattan at the sound of the time honored words Let’s Have a Parade™. Against a backdrop of more than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million viewers nationwide, the Macy’s Parade’s signature elements including its giant balloons, floats of fantasy, performers and the one-and-only Santa Claus, will ring in the holiday season with an unrivaled celebration.

From its modest beginnings in 1924 with only about a dozen elements to the grand spectacular we know today, the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® lineup unfolds each year with breathtaking pageantry. This year the lineup of wonder features 15 giant character balloons; 37 large- scale, novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons; 30 floats; 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers; 900 clowns; 11 marching bands; and a host of celebrity performers.

“I’m pretty sure the magicians at Macy’s Parade Studio have once again made it onto Santa’s nice list,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “As America’s best high school and college marching bands, hundreds of dancers, cheerleaders, clowns, and balloon handlers make their way down the streets of New York for our 87th march, they will be joined by four brand new giant character balloons, five new intricately designed floats and one spinning dreidel. These new entries join the already stellar grouping of balloons, floats, performers and adorable kids that will once again make Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade the perfect way for everyone to begin their Thanksgiving holiday.”

Each Thanksgiving morning, as part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a special group is invited to join Kule to lead the Parade down the streets of Manhattan. Often these groups feature exceptional individuals who are making a contribution to the city or nation. This year, students from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), along with specially-created robots designed by the selected students, will help kick off the march. FIRST is a nationwide organization that aims to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by building skills through a mentor-based program.

Enhancing the Parade’s signature entertainment will be the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® helping to kick-off the holidays, along with performances from Broadway’s best musicals including “Matilda,” “Motown” and more. In addition, the first hour of the national broadcast will feature a special appearance by Carrie Underwood and members of the cast of NBC’s “The Sound of Music Live!”

The 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will step-off at 77th Street and Central Park West. The procession will travel down to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South and march down via 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas to 34th Street. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square.

No Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade would be complete without star power coming from all sectors of the entertainment arena. Joining the festivities this year are the Big Apple Circus; Kristin Chenoweth; Cherokee National Youth Choir; Chica and the gang from Sprout; Cirque du Soleil®; Gavin DeGraw; Brett Eldredge; Fall Out Boy; Jimmy Fallon and The Roots with the cast of “Sesame Street”; Fifth Harmony; Florida Georgia Line; Goo Goo Dolls; Ariana Grande; Jack Hannah; Megan Hilty; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings; Sandra Lee; Cher Lloyd; Austin Mahone; Mannheim Steamroller; Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri; NFL legends Joe Namath, Bart Oates, Amani Toomer and Hines Ward; NHL legends Cam Neely and Mike Richter; Kellie Pickler; The Robertson family from A&E®’s hit series “Duck Dynasty®”; Debby Ryan; Richard Simmons; and The Summer Set.

Nationwide, Thanksgiving Day celebrations are never complete without tuning in to the national broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. Regularly one of the nation’s most viewed events, millions of families tune in every year to watch the revelry unfold. This year, the TODAY Show’s Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie will anchor the three-hour broadcast from 9 a.m. – Noon in all time zones. Enhancing the Parade’s signature entertainment will be the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® helping to kick-off the holidays, along with performances from Broadway’s best musicals including “Matilda,” “Motown,” and more. In addition, the first hour of the national broadcast will feature a special appearance by Carrie Underwood and members of the cast of NBC’s “The Sound of Music Live!”

BALLOON GIANTS SOAR

Let them take flight! On Thanksgiving Day, a new cast of balloon characters and some returning favorites will soar in the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. From a beloved beagle to a fearsome dragon, the Parade’s signature line-up of balloons are set to thrill millions of spectators.

The Parade’s signature giant character balloons are one of the procession’s most famous elements, each year drawing millions of cheers from spectators young and old. Joining the lineup this year are two returning favorites with brand new designs, and two never-before-seen characters set to take flight this Thanksgiving. Making their Thanksgiving Day debuts are pop culture sensations Adventure Time with Finn and Jake; the world-famous beagle Snoopy with his pal Woodstock; the eternal undersea optimist SpongeBob SquarePants; and the loveable night fury dragon Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Set to mark the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of OZ™, a 47-foot tall, giant hot air balloon emblazoned with the portraits of the characters from the classic film, will glide down the route carrying the Wizard of Oz™ himself! Along for the ride below will be Dorothy™ and special balloonhead characters of the Scarecrow™, Tin Man™, Cowardly Lion™ and the Wicked Witch of the West™. In addition, to celebrate the first time in the Parade’s history that Thanksgiving falls on the first night of Hanukkah, a special spinning dreidel balloonicle will delight spectators as it spins its way down the route.

Rounding out the ballooning line-up are returning favorites including Buzz Lightyear; Diary of A Wimpy Kid®; The Elf on the Shelf®; Hello Kitty®; Julius; Papa Smurf; Pikachu; Pillsbury Doughboy®; Ronald McDonald®; Sonic the Hedgehog™ ; and Spider-Man®.

New “Zensational” Air Allowance With Crystal’s Asia Cruises

Low Single Supplements and Third Berths Add Value to Expanded Asia Season

Ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises announces an airfare allowance of up to $800 on select Asia cruises that enables worldwide guests to fly for less, whether air is purchased through Crystal or independently.  Available in conjunction with “Book Now” savings, the special offer expires January 3, 2014. The air credit is available with eight 12- to 15-day Spring and Fall cruises that depart from Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney, Bali and Bangkok, several of which are completely new Crystal itineraries.

Crystal Symphony in Hong Kong. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

Additional value promotions are set for many of the diverse Asia cruises. Depending on the sailing, these special offers include:

Reduced Single Supplements – Guests can enjoy sole occupancy accommodations for only a 10% surcharge, the lowest in the industry.

Kids Sail Free – Enabling junior cruisers (age 17 and under) to sail for free when sharing a third berth accommodation with two adults.

“Book Now” Fares – Offering savings up to $2,500 off the cruise fare for voyages booked by January 3, 2014.

Complimentary Hotel Programs – 3-day inclusive land programs in Beijing and Angkor Wat/Thailand.

Crystal Family Memories – Enabling families/friends to enjoy perks and even free berths for groups.

Fourteen 12-22-day cruises aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are available in China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei in early and late 2014. Cruise fares begin at just $3,165.

“Crystal’s itineraries were meticulously crafted to combine a diverse selection of Asian regions that are steeped in history, beauty and culture,” says Edie Bornstein, Crystal’s president.  “For history buffs to foodies to photographers to spa enthusiasts to even shopaholics, Asia provides a veritable feast for the senses.  And, whether traveling solo or with loved ones, with this range of promotions, everyone can find a way to save on a most exotic and luxurious Crystal journey.”

For more information on the various Asia promotions and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

AIDS Memorial Quilt to Be Proudly Displayed At the City College of New York In Honor of World AIDS Day

Six hundred panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, will be on display at The City College of New York (http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/).

History of the Quilt

In June of 1987, a small group of strangers gathered in a San Francisco storefront to document the lives they feared history would neglect. Their goal was to create a memorial for those who had died of AIDS, and to thereby help people understand the devastating impact of the disease. This meeting of devoted friends and lovers served as the foundation of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Today the Quilt is a powerful visual reminder of the AIDS pandemic. More than 48,000 individual 3-by-6-foot memorial panels — most commemorating the life of someone who has died of AIDS — have been sewn together by friends, lovers and family members. This is the story of how the Quilt began…

Activist Beginnings

The Quilt was conceived in November of 1985 by long-time San Francisco gay rights activist Cleve Jones. Since the 1978 assassinations of gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone, Jones had helped organize the annual candlelight march honoring these men. While planning the 1985 march, he learned that over 1,000 San Franciscans had been lost to AIDS. He asked each of his fellow marchers to write on placards the names of friends and loved ones who had died of AIDS. At the end of the march, Jones and others stood on ladders taping these placards to the walls of the San Francisco Federal Building. The wall of names looked like a patchwork quilt.

Inspired by this sight, Jones and friends made plans for a larger memorial. A little over a year later, he created the first panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt in memory of his friend Marvin Feldman. In June of 1987, Jones teamed up with Mike Smith and several others to formally organize the NAMES Project Foundation.

Public response to the Quilt was immediate. People in the U.S. cities most affected by AIDS — Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco — sent panels to the San Francisco workshop. Generous donors rapidly supplied sewing machines, equipment and other materials, and many volunteered tirelessly.

The Inaugural Display

On October 11, 1987, the Quilt was displayed for the first time on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., during the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. It covered a space larger than a football field and included 1,920 panels. Half a million people visited the Quilt that weekend.

The overwhelming response to the Quilt’s inaugural display led to a four-month, 20-city, national tour for the Quilt in the spring of 1988. The tour raised nearly $500,000 for hundreds of AIDS service organizations. More than 9,000 volunteers across the country helped the seven-person traveling crew move and display the Quilt. Local panels were added in each city, tripling the Quilt’s size to more than 6,000 panels by the end of the tour.

The Quilt Grows

The Quilt returned to Washington, D.C. in October of 1988, when 8,288 panels were displayed on the Ellipse in front of the White House. Celebrities, politicians, families, lovers and friends read aloud the names of the people represented by the Quilt panels. The reading of names is now a tradition followed at nearly every Quilt display.

In 1989 a second tour of North America brought the Quilt to 19 additional cities in the United States and Canada. That tour and other 1989 displays raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for AIDS service organizations. In October of that year, the Quilt was again displayed on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.

By 1992, the AIDS Memorial Quilt included panels from every state and 28 countries. In October 1992, the entire Quilt returned to Washington, D.C. and in January 1993 The NAMES Project was invited to march in President Clinton’s inaugural parade.

The last display of the entire AIDS Memorial Quilt was in October of 1996 when The Quilt covered the entire National Mall in Washington, D.C. The 1,000 newest blocks – those blocks received at or since the October 1996 display – were displayed the weekend of June 26, 2004 on The Ellipse in Washington D.C. in observance of National HIV Testing Day.

The Quilt Today

Today there are NAMES Project chapters across the United States and independent Quilt affiliates around the world. Since 1987, over 14 million people have visited the Quilt at thousands of displays worldwide. Through such displays, the NAMES Project Foundation has raised over $3 million for AIDS service organizations throughout North America.

The Washington, D.C. displays of October 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1996 are the only ones to have featured the Quilt in its entirety.

The Quilt was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and remains the largest community art project in the world. The Quilt has been the subject of countless books, films, scholarly papers, articles, and theatrical, artistic and musical performances, including “Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt” which won the Academy Award as the best feature-length documentary film of 1989.

The Quilt has redefined the tradition of quilt-making in response to contemporary circumstances. A memorial, a tool for education and a work of art, the Quilt is a unique creation, an uncommon and uplifting response to the tragic loss of human life.

Bang & Olufsen Receives Two International CES Innovations 2014 Design And Engineering Awards For Newly Launched Products

Bang & Olufsen (www.bang-olufsen.com) today announces that it has received the honorary International CES Best of Innovations 2014 Award in High Performance Home Audio for its newly launched BeoLab 18 wireless speaker and has also been named a CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its BeoLab 17 compact wireless speaker. Both speakers embody extreme craftsmanship, innovative design, superior wireless technology and robust sound experience. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 29 product categories.

BeoLab 17 Compact Wireless Speaker

Bang & Olufsen’s new all-digital active loudspeakers leverage the new WiSA standard for multi-channel wireless sound to provide a very robust acoustic performance coupled with impeccable design and flawless craftsmanship.  BeoLab 17 is an extremely flexible, compact speaker with very large sound reproduction and the BeoLab 18 is the latest incarnation of Bang & Olufsen’s sculpturally iconic audio columns for walls or floor. Both speakers were just introduced this month and are the first speakers to launch under Bang & Olufsen’s new Immaculate Wireless Sound concept. With Immaculate Wireless Sound, Bang & Olufsen provides acoustic authenticity into the wireless age for the first time ever.

BeoLab 18 Wireless Speaker

“As the first manufacturer to be WiSA certified Bang & Olufsen is proud to receive these prestigious awards“, says CEO for Bang & Olufsen Tue Mantoni. “Bang & Olufsen introduced the WiSA certified BeoLab18 and BeoLab 17 wireless speakers only three weeks ago, so receiving these awards are a huge acknowledgement of our leadership in sound innovation.”

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the producer of the International CES, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since

Immaculate Wireless Sound by Bang & Olufsen – LOGO. (PRNewsFoto/Bang & Olufsen)

1976.

Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 18 and BeoLab 17 loudspeakers will be displayed in The Venetian at the 2014 International CES, which runs January 7-10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Honorees will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: The Official Media Event of the International CES from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 5 in the South Seas Ballroom C at Mandalay Bay.

Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on www.CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL. For more information on Bang & Olufsen, please visit www.bang-olufsen.com.

Lord & Taylor Unveiled Its Annual Holiday Windows With A Performance By Fifth Harmony

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

Lord & Taylor unveiled its annual world-famous holiday windows last night, with Fifth Harmony performing on Fifth Avenue at the retailer’s flagship store. During the holidays, over 250,000 people pass by the Lord & Taylor windows daily and between Thanksgiving and Christmas, over 8 million customers will visit the store. The windows are created by a team of over 50 people over the course of nine months. The windows sets weigh up to 2,000 pounds and are the only department store windows on hydraulics and are created in a workshop underneath the Fifth Avenue sidewalk and are then moved onto street level.

“The annual holiday windows are our gift to New York City and I’m thrilled to share this special time of year with our customers” said Liz Rodbell, incoming President of Hudson’s Bay Company Department Store Group, parent company of Lord & Taylor. “Next year marks the 100^th anniversary of our iconic Fifth Avenue building and as a New York City landmark, it’s fitting that this year’s holiday windows celebrate the city.”

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: A holiday window display at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: A holiday window display at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Detail of a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

The story begins with all of the excitement surrounding the holidays, from the celebratory preparations to the festive decor, including a scene from Lord & Taylor of customers shopping for gifts and getting ready for their holiday parties. Within the animated scene of the store, the classic, holiday shopping experience is brought to life, with aisles gleaming in enchanting ornamentation and an abundance of holiday gifts overflowing from the shelves. As you travel through the magically decorated store to the main floor, you will find Santa Claus interacting with children and families as they share their holiday wish lists. Men and women are fitted in their new holiday attire just in time to celebrate what was once a Lord & Taylor tradition of a leisurely afternoon lunch or teatime in the store’s famous restaurant. Following lunch, the shoppers then head to the opera or theatre to be regaled by the arts. The final window concludes the story with a couple celebrating a holiday evening together, exchanging gifts, and sharing a good night kiss after putting the children to bed.

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Yumako and Leamiyu look at holiday windows at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Shoppers look at a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Shoppers look at a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Holiday shoppers walk past a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Shoppers look at a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Yumako and Leamiyu speak to the media while they look at holiday windows at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Yumako and Leamiyu look at holiday windows at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Leamiyu looks at a holiday window at the Lord & Taylor Flagship Holiday Window Unveiling on November 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Lord & Taylor)

Fifth Harmony joined the retailer in unveiling the windows and performed two traditional holiday songs as well as two songs from their recently released EP, Better Together. The talented group of women were assembled by television producer and music industry executive Simon Cowell, and have quickly become one of the most-talked about acts in pop music. Following their performance, Fifth Harmony made an in-store appearance, where they took photos with customers and handed out signed copies of their new EP.

Authentic Apparel Group Launches Apparel Line with Partner Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Authentic Apparel Group announces the launch of a premium line of army style clothing that is officially licensed by the U.S. Army (www.usarmyapparel.com).  International film star and 10x former WWE champion, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, will partner with Authentic Apparel Group to celebrate the U.S. Army’s rich heritage.

Authentic Apparel Group launches apparel line with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The army style clothing is officially licensed by the U.S. Army. Tracy Paul & Company, Inc. represents the initiative. (PRNewsFoto/Authentic Apparel Group)

The apparel and footwear created for U.S. Army soldiers has influenced designers and fashion for centuries, bringing forth some of the most iconic looks of all time. The collection of jackets, pants, sweaters and shirts takes the heart and soul of classic military apparel and tailors it with an eye toward modern fashion and cutting edge performance. Bomber jackets, khakis, cargo pants, henleys, and field jackets are just a few of Authentic Apparel’s takes on contemporary classic Army heritage pieces. Tailoring integrity and fine details such as side panel cuts and wicking material allow for optimal fit and style. Kevlar® threading and double stitching also allow for durability and longevity of the product through the rigors of day-to-day wear.

As an advocate of personal achievement and an active lifestyle, Dwayne Johnson is an inspiring role model who

Authentic Apparel Group, Officially Licensed By the U.S. Army. (PRNewsFoto/Authentic Apparel Group)

mirrors the values and inherent characteristics of Authentic Apparel’s collection. “Authentic Apparel Group is about legacy, performance and innovation. I am proud to represent a company that supports and honors the everyday heroes that inspire me,” explains Dwayne Johnson.

“Authentic Apparel is honored and privileged to be licensed by the United States Army and to bring to consumers a truly military inspired line. Utilizing historic archives spanning 238 years, our team of designers have created a collection that not only stays true to Army style but Army standards and quality as well,” says Ronnie Reuben, Chairman and Founder of Authentic Apparel.

Purchase of officially licensed U.S. Army merchandise aids the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Program, which benefits the lives of Soldiers, Retirees, and their Families. By federal law, licensing fees paid to the U.S. Army for the use of its trademarks provide support for the Army Trademark Licensing Program, and net licensing revenue is devoted to U.S. Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs.

Select styles from the men’s collection are available exclusively on www.Zappos.com, a leading destination in online apparel and footwear sales.  “We’re very excited that Zappos has been chosen as the exclusive online retailer for the launch.  We support and respect the efforts of Authentic Apparel and its program under the license from the U.S. Army. We are thrilled to be a part of this unique opportunity,” said Galen Hardy, Head of Clothing for Zappos.

LILY’S SWEETS Introduces Exclusive Stevia-Sweetened, Fair Trade Holiday Chocolates

Responding to growing consumer demand for holiday-themed healthier chocolates, Lily’s Sweets offers first-of-its-kind suite of dark chocolate treats and gift boxes.

Just 18 months after a successful national launch of its stevia-sweetened, four flavor dark chocolate bars, Lily’s Sweets introduces a suite of healthy and delicious, fair trade certified, no-sugar-added holiday chocolates available

LILY’S SWEETS LOGO – 25 percent fewer calories. 100 percent indulgence. (PRNewsFoto/Lily’s Sweets)

exclusively at Whole Foods Markets this holiday season. Co-founded by Cynthia Tice and Chuck Genuardi, veterans of the natural products industry, Lily’s introduced the first Fair Trade Certified stevia-sweetened chocolate to the U.S. market in 2012. Lily’s uses only the finest all-natural ingredients, and is committed to preserving the planet’s natural resources. 

As the top-selling producer of stevia-sweetened chocolates, Lily’s Sweets is particularly popular with consumers wanting to avoid sugar and those interested in non-GMO and fair trade products.  Now, Lily’s Sweets has created both foil-wrapped and gift box holiday-themed chocolates.

“We received an overwhelming positive response from our customers about our dark chocolate bars,” said Tice, co-owner of Lily’s Sweets. “Our charge from Whole Foods Market was to create holiday-inspired, elegant gift items with our same natural ingredients, indulgent tastes, and fair trade standards—that would retail for under $10.”

“We looked to Lily’s to create one-of-a-kind holiday chocolates that our sugar-conscious shoppers could feel great about enjoying,” said Dwight Richmond, global grocery purchasing coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “With responsible sourcing, wholesome sweetness without the added sugar and a value price, they really delivered!”

All of Lily’s Sweets holiday products are 55% dark chocolate, fair trade certified, non-GMO, and stevia-sweetened with no sugar added. Products include:

— Dark chocolate Hanukah-themed pops, 2.29 ounces, Star of David and Menorah shapes. Suggested Retail Price $5.69

— Foil-wrapped Christmas-themed stocking stuffer treats, 1.41 to 1.76 ounces, in the shape of Christmas trees, lights, and stars. Suggested Retail Price $3.99 to $4.99

— Hanukah and Christmas chocolate-filled gift boxes, filled with 12 bite-size squares, 4.2 total ounces. Suggested Retail Price $8.99

The packaging is environmentally-friendly, including the use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper, water-based soy inks, natural raffia ribbon, and Nature-Flex biodegradable film.

“Our motto is 25 percent fewer calories, 100 percent indulgence.  We hope our customers who shop at Whole Foods Market enjoy our newest holiday treats — and share them happily, healthfully, and abundantly with the people they love,” said Tice.

For more information, visit www.lilyssweets.com.