National Geographic Kids Announces Grand-Prize Winner of International Photography Contest for Kids

North Carolina 13-Year-Old Awarded U.S. Grand Prize; Dutch 13-Year-Old Takes Worldwide Title

With his photo titled “Bridge of Mystery,” 13-year-old Logan Wagner has captured the grand prize in the U.S. competition of the National Geographic Kids International Photography Contest, winning an eight-day National Geographic Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks Family Adventure. (natgeokids.com/contests/ipc-winners)

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids: U.S. GRAND PRIZE: Logan Wagner. Title of photo: Bridge of Mystery. Description: A foggy day on the Mile High Swinging Bridge of Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. DOB: 1-21-2003 (12 years old) City/State: Cornelius, North Carolina

National Geographic Kids teaches kids about the world and how it works, empowering them to succeed and make it a better place. It inspires young adventurers through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.

Wagner’s photo was selected from nearly 3,000 U.S. entries from young photographers across four categories: Amazing Animals (photos of pets, zoo animals or wild animals); Dare to Explore (photos of outdoor scenery); Weird But True (photos that capture something odd or funny); and Wild Vacation (photos taken during vacation travels).

Open to children ages 6 to 14, the four category winners in the U.S. competition were:

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US Competition): AMAZING ANIMALS 1st Place Winner’s name: Kathryn Kovacic Title of photo: Green Tree Snake. Description: A green tree snake wraps itself around a tree. DOB: 4-7-2006 (9 years old) City/State: Kennesaw, Georgia

Kathryn Kovacic, 9, Kennesaw, Georgia — Amazing Animals

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids: U.S. GRAND PRIZE/Dare to Explore 1st Place Winner: Logan Wagner. Title of photo: Bridge of Mystery. Description: A foggy day on the Mile High Swinging Bridge of Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. DOB: 1-21-2003 (12 years old) City/State: Cornelius, North Carolina

Logan Wagner, 13, Cornelius, North Carolina — Dare to Explore

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US Competition): Weird But True 1st Place Winner’s name: Chase Rodi. Title of photo: Thermal Pool Of Yellowstone. Description: This photo shows the weird and mystifying colors of the thermal pool in Yellowstone National Park. The colors are actually made up of very old bacteria boiling water. DOB: 4-23-2002 (13 years old). City/State: San Diego, California

Chase Rodi, 13, San Diego, California — Weird But True

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US Competition): Wild Vacation 1st Place Winner’s name: Henry Downing. Title of photo: Over Our Heads. Description: N/A DOB: 1-5-2005 (10 years old). City/State: McCamey, Texas

Henry Downing, 11, McCamey, Texas — Wild Vacation

The photos from each of the four U.S. category winners, along with the worldwide grand-prize winner, will be featured in the May 2016 U.S. edition of National Geographic Kids magazine, reaching approximately four million U.S. readers.

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US Competition): AMAZING ANIMALS 2nd Place Winner: Anna Henderson. Title of photo: Peaceful Praying Mantis. Description: A green praying mantis with a blue background, standing there waiting for a snack. DOB: 5-2-2003 (12 years old). City/State: Crozet, Virginia

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US Competition): DARE TO EXPLORE 2nd Place Winner: Emily Crofoot. Title of photo: Motorcycle at the Lake. Description: N/A DOB: 1-1-2003 (12 years old). City/State: Sacramento, California

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US Competition): Weird But True 2nd Place Winner’s name: Madison Raymo. Title of photo: Airplane Over the Moon. Description: N/A DOB: 3-7-2002 (13 years old) City/State: Emmett, Michigan

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (US): Wild Vacation 2nd Place Winner’s name: Madison Bell. Title of photo: Sunset Ride. Description: A kite surfer rides the waves at Huntington Beach, CA. DOB: 12-8-2000 (14 years old). City/State: Smyrna, Georgia

“Photography is an excellent way for people — and especially kids — to show their perspective on the world. What they produce is eye-catching, inventive and sometimes surprising, and we continue to be impressed by the contest entries,” said Rachel Buchholz, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Kids magazine (U.S.). “This year, we not only expanded our contest to Australia/New Zealand and Portugal, but we also received the largest number of entries in the worldwide competition. It’s encouraging to see kids actively participating in photography and engaged in the world around them.”

2015 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids (International): Grand Prize Winner / 1st Place Amazing Animals: Senne Mensink Age: 13, Netherlands. Title: Grasshopper on Sunflower Leaf. Description: This grasshopper is eating a leaf. I took this photo in the garden, there was the grasshopper eating.  He had eaten a hole in the leaf.  The sun was shining, that’s why you can see the body through the leaf.  I took the picture with my mother’s phone. This was in the summer.

In the worldwide contest, 13-year-old Senne Mensink from the Netherlands won the 2015 International Photography Contest grand prize for her close-up portrait of a grasshopper peeking through a leaf. She has won a five-day, four-night trip to Washington, D.C., and a tour of National Geographic headquarters.

One Night Only: The Light in the Piazza 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert

A Gala Benefit For Lincoln Center Theater At The Vivian Beaumont Theater

Book by Craig Lucas

Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel

Directed by Bartlett Sher

with Victoria Clark, Matthew Morrison, Kelli O’Hara and other original cast members of the Tony Award-winning musical

Tony-Award winners Victoria Clark and Kelli O’Hara in The Light in The Piazza. THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA opened at Lincoln Center Theater in April 2005 and enjoyed a long run of 540 performances.

On Monday, April 4 at 6:30pm, the sun-drenched piazzas of Florence will return to the Vivian Beaumont Theater stage for one night only when members of the original cast of Lincoln Center Theater’s Tony Award-winning musical THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA gather for a 10th anniversary reunion concert which will also serve as LCT’s Annual Benefit.

Based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is set in the summer of 1953 and tells the story of a mother (Victoria Clark) and daughter (Kelli O’Hara) traveling through Italy, the daughter’s romance with a handsome, high-spirited Florentine (Matthew Morrison), and the mother’s determined efforts to keep the two apart.

Clark, Morrison, and O’Hara will be joined by their fellow original cast members Michael Berresse, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Patti Cohenour, Beau Gravitte, Mark Harelik, Felicity LaFortune, and Joseph Siravo for the evening. The concert will be conducted by original musical director and co-orchestrator Ted Sperling.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA opened at Lincoln Center Theater in April 2005 and enjoyed a long run of 540 performances. The musical won six 2005 Tony Awards including Best Actress (Clark) and Best Score (Adam Guettel), as well as Tony Awards for its orchestrations (Ted Sperling and Adam Guettel), sets (Michael Yeargan), costumes (Catherine Zuber) and lighting (Christopher Ackerlind).

This one-night-only event is a benefit for Lincoln Center Theater, with proceeds supporting LCT’s productions and education programs. Eric and Stacey Mindich are the Gala evening’s Co-Chairs.

For information about benefit tables and tickets, which include best orchestra seats to the concert and dinner with the company, please contact Karin Schall, Manager of Special Events, at schall@lct.org or 212.501.3251. Gala tickets start at $2,500. (At this time, concert-only tickets are sold out.)

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Announces “Grown-Up Spring Break,” April 13 through June 19, 2016

The Resort Invites Guests To Abandon The Daily Grind For A Well-Deserved Vacation In Paradise.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Starting this April 13 through June 19, Four Seasons Resort Maui will present Grown-Up Spring Break as the perfect escape for couples, friends, or single travelers. Grown-Up Spring Break is one of the special initiatives the resort has planned for guests as part of its 2016 “The Best Keeps Getting Better” campaign. Serving travelers for the past 25 years, the iconic luxury resort is eager to keep building on the foundation that has created its legendary status: intuitive service, understated elegance, and luxurious amenities. Grown-Up Spring Break promises all this and more.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea – SERENITY POOL SWIM-UP BAR

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea – OCEANFRONT LAWN

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea – Pool

Maui’s first and only Forbes Five-Star resort is offering the best rates of the year with no resort fee along with a busy schedule of activities, many of which are complimentary. And there’s more: guests who book the popular “Experience More” package can receive up to USD 200 in resort credit per night, which can be applied toward the renowned spa, upscale boutiques, or award-winning restaurants.

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The adult spring break calendar will include complimentary extras including local craft beer tastings, cooking classes, pool parties, snorkeling, outrigger canoe paddling, morning yoga classes and many other activities. The resort is offering its most popular fitness class, stand-up paddleboard yoga, on a complimentary basis exclusively for this time period. For those looking to discover more of the island, the concierge is standing by with recommendations from exhilarating helicopter tours to picturesque sunset sails.

2016 SAG Awards: ‘Spotlight’, DiCaprio, Larson Take Top Film Honors. Now On to The Oscars

Last night, the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® honored outstanding performances from 2015 in film and television, including the distinctive ensemble awards. The coveted Actor® statuettes was handed out at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center during a live simulcast on TNT and TBS.

Art Photo Credit ©- 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards, LLC

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2015 SAG Life Achievement Award to Carol Burnett. The comedic trailblazer, actor, singer, dancer, producer and author received the SAG 52nd Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. It is presented annually to an actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the acting profession.” The SAG Life Achievement Award joined Burnett’s record of preeminent industry honors, which includes a Peabody Award, the Television Critics Association’s Career Achievement Award, multiple Emmy Awards®, five Golden Globe Awards, five American Comedy Awards, 12 People’s Choice Awards, an Ace Award, a Horatio Alger Award, both Crystal and Lucy Awards from Women in Film, the TV Land Legend Award, the Jimmy Stewart Museum’s Harvey Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a special Tony®, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and both a Kennedy Center Honor and its Mark Twain Prize for Humor.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Honoree Carol Burnett poses in the press room during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_015 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner)

Previous SAG Life Achievement recipients include Debbie Reynolds, Rita Moreno, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Ernest Borgnine, Betty White, James Earl Jones, Charles Durning, Julie Andrews, Shirley Temple Black, James Garner, Karl Malden, Clint Eastwood, Edward Asner, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, Kirk Douglas, Elizabeth Taylor, Angela Lansbury, Robert Redford and George Burns, among others. A complete list of the 51 previous Life Achievement Award recipients can be found at www.sagawards.org.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, winner of the Male Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘The Revenant’ poses in the press room during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_015 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner)

HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: SPOTLIGHT (Open Road Films)

Cast: BILLY CRUDUP / Eric MacLeish; BRIAN D’ARCY JAMES / Matty Carroll; MICHAEL KEATON / Walter “Robby” Robinson; RACHEL McADAMS / Sacha Pfeiffer; MARK RUFFALO / Michael Rezendes; LIEV SCHREIBER / Marty Baron; JOHN SLATTERY / Ben Bradlee, Jr. and STANLEY TUCCI / Mitchell Garabedian

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: (L-R) Actors Billy Crudup, John Slattery, Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d’Arcy James and Rachel McAdams accept the Cast in a Motion Picture award for ‘Spotlight’ onstage during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_021 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / Hugh Glass – “THE REVENANT” (20th Century Fox)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Actress Brie Larson accepts the Female Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘Room’ onstage during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_021 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: BRIE LARSON / Ma – “ROOM” (A24)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series”: DOWNTON ABBEY (Masterpiece/PBS)

Cast: HUGH BONNEVILLE / Robert, Earl of Grantham; LAURA CARMICHAEL / Lady Edith Crawley; JIM CARTER / Mr. Carson; RAQUEL CASSIDY / Baxter; BRENDAN COYLE / Mr. Bates; TOM CULLEN / Anthony Gillingham; MICHELLE DOCKERY / Lady Mary Crawley; KEVIN DOYLE / Mr. Molesley; JOANNE FROGGATT / Anna Bates; LILY JAMES / Lady Rose; ROBERT JAMES-COLLIER / Thomas Barrow; ALLEN LEECH / Tom Branson; PHYLLIS LOGAN / Mrs. Hughes; ELIZABETH McGOVERN / Cora, Countess of Grantham; SOPHIE McSHERA / Daisy; LESLEY NICOL / Mrs. Patmore; JULIAN OVENDEN / Charles Blake; DAVID ROBB / Dr. Clarkson; MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham and PENELOPE WILTON / Isobel Crawley

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Actor Kevin Spacey, winner of the Male Actor in a Drama Series award for ‘House of Cards’ poses in the press room during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_015 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Actress Viola Davis, winner of the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for “How to Get Away with Murder,” poses backstage at the The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_014 (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Turner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: VIOLA DAVIS / Annalise Keating – “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: IDRIS ELBA / DCI John Luther – “LUTHER” (BBC America)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Actress Queen Latifah, winner of the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries award for ‘Bessie,’ poses in the press room during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_015 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: QUEEN LATIFAH / Bessie Smith – “BESSIE” (HBO)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 30: Actor Idris Elba, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for ‘Beasts of No Nation,’ and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for ‘Luther,’ poses in the press room during The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25650_015 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Turner)

Olivia Munn And Jason Segel To Host Academy’s Sci-Tech Awards

David Hill and Reginald Hudlin Announces First Slate Of Presenters And Performers For 88th Oscars®

Actors Olivia Munn and Jason Segel will host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation on Saturday, February 13, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. They will present 11 awards to 33 individual recipients and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers during the evening.

“The Sci-Tech Awards Presentation is one of our special events during Oscar® season, and we’re thrilled to have Olivia and Jason as this year’s hosts,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their humor and charm will be terrific complements to the brilliance of our colleagues and their outstanding scientific and technical achievements.”

Munn’s feature film credits include “Ride Along 2,” now in theaters, as well as “Mortdecai,” “Deliver Us from Evil” and “Magic Mike.” She also starred in the critically acclaimed series “The Newsroom” for three seasons. Munn will appear as Psylocke in the upcoming X-Men sequel “X-Men: Apocalypse.”

Segel currently stars in James Ponsoldt’s dramatic biopic, “The End of the Tour,” in which he plays David Foster Wallace. His other film credits include “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (writer), “The Muppets” (writer, producer), “Get Him to the Greek” (writer, co-producer), “I Love You, Man” and “Knocked Up.” On television, Segel starred in “How I Met Your Mother” and “Freaks and Geeks.” Additionally, Segel is an author for a children’s middle-grade fiction series titled “Nightmares!”

Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation will be included in the Oscar telecast. Popular Mechanics is a proud supporter of the Scientific and Technical Awards.

Oscars® producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin also announced the first slate of presenters for the 88th Oscars telecast. The Oscars, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live Oscar® Sunday, February 28, on ABC.

The presenters and performers, including past Oscar winners and nominees, are: Benicio Del Toro, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Ryan Gosling, Kevin Hart, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Charlize Theron, Jacob Tremblay, The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams

“Each of these artists brings a wonderfully distinctive element to the Oscars stage,” said Hill and Hudlin. “Together they represent the many thrilling ways stories can be shared about the human experience, and we’re honored they will be part of the celebration.”

The House of Emanuel Ungaro Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary With the Launch of a new feminine fragrance, La Diva

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the iconic brand the House of Emanuel Ungaro, the Maison hosted a stellar group of celebrities and press from the fashion world (in town for the Spring 2016 Paris Haute Couture shows) to celebrate the launch of its new perfume “La Diva” at the famous Petit Palais (at Versailles) in Paris.

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Atmosphere at the Launch party of the New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/[SOURCE CREDIT for Emanuel Ungaro)

Fausto Puglisi, the Creative Director of the House, along with its President, Asim Abdullah, welcomed 600 guests to a party, with entertainment including a exhibition of the brand in images, from haute couture to prêt-à-porter, choreographed and created by Ali Mahdavi to an original score created by Monarchy.

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Leila Ndabirabe attends the Launch Of The New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary Of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Emanuel Ungaro)

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Zahia Dehar attends the Launch Of The New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary Of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Emanuel Ungaro)

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Bojana Panic attends the Launch Of The New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary Of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Emanuel Ungaro)

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Amanda Sthers attends the Launch Of The New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary Of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Emanuel Ungaro)

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Suzy Menkes attends the Launch Of The New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary Of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Emanuel Ungaro)

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Kristina Basan attends the Launch Of The New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary Of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Emanuel Ungaro)

Michele Norsa, CEO of the Salvatore Ferragamo Group, introduce the new elegant and voluptuous fragrance “La Diva” (licensed to Ferragamo Parfums) via a spectacular 3D projection on the facade of the Petit Palais, with the model Charlotte Free as the new face of the perfume .

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Atmosphere at the Launch party of the New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/[SOURCE CREDIT for Emanuel Ungaro)

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 26: Atmosphere at the Launch party of the New Fragrance ‘La Diva’ And 50th Anniversary of Emanuel Ungaro at Le Petit Palais on January 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/[SOURCE CREDIT for Emanuel Ungaro)

The French group LEJ and the DJ set of Marie-Amélie Seigner fired the dance floor until late in the night.

Fender® Announces The Launch Of First-Ever Pro In-Ear Monitor Series

Patented Technology Provides An Innovative, Immersive Listening Experience For Players At Every Level

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) has introduced a bold and innovative new category entry for 2016 with the launch of Fender Pro In-Ear Monitors (IEM’s). The innovative new product line features a unique patented technology, and is engineered for an immersive listening experience at every price-point. The 2015 acquisition of Aurisonics, Inc. has allowed Fender to enter this new category with a significant advantage with the use of the company’s technology and engineering capabilities.

Fender® Announces The Launch Of First-Ever Pro In-Ear Monitor Series

“The launch of the Fender In-Ear Monitor Series is an exciting step in the expansion of our product offering,” said Jim Ninesling, VP of Fender Amplifiers and Pro Audio.” “Fender is committed to delivering innovative products and services that accompany players at every stage of their musical experience. We believe serious players and discriminating audiophiles alike will appreciate both the design and performance of Fender IEM’s, setting the stage for further additions to this new line in the future.”

Designed and assembled in Nashville, Fender’s Pro In-ear Monitors build on the company’s legacy of creating great products for live performance and music production. Some of the premium features that the IEMs offer include 3D-printed Digital Hybrid Technology (DHT) ™ housings in the higher-end models that are derived by scanning thousands of ears to create a universal fit. . The DHT shells fit 95 percent of ears like an expensive custom-molded monitor. All models feature custom designed drivers and select models in the series feature a patented Hybrid-Dynamic tuned Balanced Armature Array (HDBA) for a rich, full frequency response with substantial bass and an overall stunning performance.

The 2016 Fender Pro In-Ear Monitor Series will be available in five models. Accompanying each package is a deluxe carrying case, SureSeal™ tips assortment, a cleaning tool and cable and will be available for consumer purchase in March 2016.

DXA1: The core of the DXA1 in-ear monitor includes a custom 8.5mm titanium micro driver, generating crisp treble and deep bass from 14Hz-22kHz to provide an accurate mix on stage and off. Highly sensitive, these monitors generate 116dB @1mW for crystal-clear, distortion-free audio reproduction, and the 16-ohm +/-10% @1kHz impedance means it can be driven by a smartphone, making it ideal for offstage listening. The 18dB noise reduction rating eliminates interference from ambient noise while simultaneously protecting a listener’s hearing from the strong transients that can occur in a live environment. The DXA1 is housed in a durable low-profile slimline shell that fits in 95 percent of ears and includes a detachable MMCXi™ silver-plated low oxygen cable that offers low signal loss along with square connectors. The model is offered in a translucent gray finish.

Delight You Significant Other This Year With A Delightful Sweet Treat From The Honolulu Cookie Company’s 2016 Valentines Day Collection.

Honolulu Cookie Company’s 2016 Valentines Collection a Perfect Gift Capturing the Passion of Paradise for the Love of Your Life

Whether courting a new love interest or re-igniting an old flame, The Honolulu Cookie Company offers the perfect gift that captures the passion of paradise for lovers this Valentine’s Day. Since 1998, the company’s premium shortbread cookies have been made from the original recipe using Hawaii’s freshest and finest ingredients. Baking begins every morning at 5 A.M. in Honolulu. Cookies are handcrafted, individually wrapped for freshness, and presented in beautiful packaging.

Returning in this year’s collection is the freshly baked and hand-crafted heart-shaped cookies in 6 wonderful flavors: Butter Macadamia, Chocolate Dipped Macadamia, Dark Triple Chocolate Macadamia, Dark Chocolate Lilikoi, White Chocolate Coconut, and Chocolate Chip Macadamia— all delivering the perfect level of sweetness to your loved one.

The 2016 Valentine’s Collection features 5 new items aimed at being the gift-of-choice for couples. The Valentine’s Heart Tin ($6.95, 5 cookies, 2 flavors) is a quick treat with the Honolulu Cookie Company’s pineapple logo embossed on a heart-shaped tin. The Valentine’s Pop-Up Box ($7.95, 8 cookies, 3 flavors) and The Valentine’s Window Box ($13.95, 12 cookies, 4 flavors) show off their delicious contents through windows on the packaging. For the classic, large, heart-shaped box of sweets, they offer the Valentine’s Red Satin Heart Box ($21.95, 16 cookies, 6 flavors). If shopping online, customers have access to buying the website exclusive Valentine’s Cube ($30.95, 44 cookies, 6 flavors), with an abundance of delicious cookies.

The ultimate gift of flavorful Valentine’s treats, the Valentine’s Cube delivers 44 heart-shaped cookies to your special someone, or serves as an excellent centerpiece for a Valentine’s Day party. Indulge in Butter Macadamia, Chocolate Dipped Macadamia, Dark Triple Chocolate Macadamia, Dark Chocolate Lilikoi, White Chocolate Coconut, and Chocolate Chip Macadamia. (Website Exclusive – not available in retail stores)

The Valentine’s Window Box proudly puts your love on display. Look inside to find 12 heart-shaped cookies wrapped up in a festive Valentine’s sleeve. Enjoy Butter Macadamia, Chocolate Dipped Macadamia, Dark Chocolate Lilikoi, and White Chocolate Coconut.

Give the traditional heart-shaped gift box with their unique twist. This lucious red satin box is wrapped in a beautiful ribbon. Inside, you’ll be delighted with 16 heart-shaped cookies in 6 wonderful flavors in Butter Macadamia, Chocolate Dipped Macadamia, Dark Triple Chocolate Macadamia, Dark Chocolate Lilikoi, White Chocolate Coconut, and Chocolate Chip Macadamia.

On Oahu, the Honolulu Cookie Company has seven retail stores in Waikiki, one at Ward Warehouse, another at a kiosk in the Makai Market Food Court at Ala Moana Center, and one on-site at their bakery in Kalihi. On Maui, the company has stores at Whalers Village and Front Street in Lahaina, and most recently at The Shops at Wailea. Honolulu Cookie Company can also be found in Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian | The Palazzo in Las Vegas, along with the new Grand Bazaar Shops location on Las Vegas Boulevard near Bally’s. The first international location opened in July 2014 in Seoul, South Korea.

In addition, Honolulu Cookie Company cookies are available at select retail partners: Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Tommy Bahama, and DFS stores; visit www.honolulucookie.com/store-locations for details.

To purchase online, please visit www.honolulucookie.com or call toll free at (866) 333-5800. Also available is the full range of the company’s products, available for shipping across the U.S. mainland as well as internationally. You can also find Honolulu Cookie Company on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/honolulucookie.

Fender® Unleashes Bassbreaker™, A New Series Of Amplifiers That Pairs Classic Fender DNA With Modern Attitude

A distinctive nine-piece all-tube series of electric guitar amplifiers expands Fender’s audio offerings in 2016

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) releases Bassbreaker, an all-tube nine-piece electric guitar amplifier series. The line blends the DNA of classic Fender cleans with aggressive tones, creating versatility for artists and players, leaving them searching for words to describe it’s depth.

“With a distinct grit and growl, the new Bassbreaker series differentiates itself as an entirely new family of sound from Fender,” said Jim Ninesling, VP & Category Manager Amps, Pro Audio. “Bridging the gap between the iconic 1959 Bassman amp and our current product lines, the Bassbreaker family truly meets the needs of every player regardless of their sound.”

Bassbreaker Family Shot

One of Fender’s most innovative amplifier series in recent years, the Bassbreaker creates the opportunity for Fender enthusiasts to add a whole new dimention of sound, with features including unique circuitry plus power tubes and speakers that have distinctively British flavor. Full of attitude and bite, this new charcoal tweed amplifier series delivers pure tube sound with modern design elements, continuing Fender’s legacy as the number one guitar amplifier company in the world. The Bassbreaker is available to consumers now.

BASSBREAKER 45: A powerful beast, the Bassbreaker 45 is the 45-watt flagship model that is based on the ’59 Bassman and leads a first-rate lineup of lower-wattage models, all with pro-level tone and performance for today’s rock players. Features include dual EL34 output tubes, an output level knob that scales the power from 45 watts to a single watt, Normal and Bright inputs, plus BOTH input for achieving legendary “channel blend” tonal variations without a patch cable and two 12” Celestion® V-Type speakers in the combo version.

BASSBREAKER 18/30: The Bassbreaker 18/30 model packs two amps into a single chassis for bell-like clean tones and warm crunch when driven. Channel One is a 30-watt version of the Blackface Fender Deluxe™ amp, and Channel Two’s circuit is based on an 18-watt ’61 brown Deluxe, offering plenty of power amp overdrive with easily controlled dynamics at “real world” volume levels. Also included with the 18/30 is a footswitch that allows easy selection between both channels and four EL84 power tubes that add a distinctive midrange punch. Two 12” Celestion V-Type Speakers can be found in the combo version.

BASSBREAKER 15: The Bassbreaker 15 is the go-to for performing and recording. This model creates its magic with a trio of 12AX7 preamp tubes feeding into two EL84 power tubes for 15 watts of modern tone. The recording-friendly features include an XLR line output with switchable speaker emulation and Power Amp Mute. A single 12” Celestion V-Type speaker is also included in the combo version.

BASSBREAKER 007: The Bassbreaker 007 is great for the home or studio. Fueled by a pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes and a single EL84 power tube for 7 watts of true Class-A amplification, the Bassbreaker 007 Combo features traditional gain and tone controls along with a switchable vintage-style treble booster. Other features include onboard 1/4” line output for use with recording equipment or a larger amp and a single 10” Celestion Ten Thirty speaker in the combo model.

BASSBREAKER 112 AND 212: The Bassbreaker 112 and 212 speaker enclosures are engineered to match and enhance Bassbreaker combos and heads. Features on both include a semi-closed back for full, rich lows and 12-inch, 8-Ohm Celestion V-Type speakers. The BB-112 includes total impedance of 8 Ohms and fits neatly under the Bassbreaker 15 combo/head and the Bassbreaker 007 head. The BB-212 has a total impedance of 16 Ohms and fits well under the Bassbreaker 45 combo/head and the Bassbreaker 18/30 combo.

For more information on Bassbreaker, visit www.fender.com/there-are-no-words. For more information on Fender and to find a Fender Premium Showcase Dealer, visit www.fender.com.

Woodford Reserve Unveils Latest Distillery Series Expression: Frosty Four Wood

Woodford Reserve’s Innovation Shines Through Latest Distillery Series Release

Woodford Reserve has announced its latest Distillery Series expression, Frosty Four Wood. Unveiled in July 2015, the Distillery Series is Woodford Reserve’s latest line of complex offerings available for purchase at the Woodford Reserve Distillery and select Kentucky retailers. The series showcases Woodford Reserve’s continued commitment to providing an unmatched whiskey experience and leading the spirits industry through innovation and craftsmanship.

Woodford Reserve announces the latest expression in its Distillery Series, Frosty Four Wood, available at the distillery and select Kentucky retailers. (PRNewsFoto/Woodford Reserve)

Following the 2015 release of Double Double Oaked and Sweet Mash Redux, Frosty Four Wood brings to life Woodford Reserve’s creativity and dexterity. Developed and perfected by Master Distiller Chris Morris, Frosty Four Wood is a unique batching of mature Woodford Reserve bourbon, aged in American Oak and finished in barrels made from Maple Wood, Sherry Wood and Port. The original Four Wood whiskey, the 2012 Master’s Collection release, was exposed to record-low temperatures during the 2013 Polar Vortex, resulting in flocking, or mineral precipitation. Filtration techniques produced a more fruit-forward whiskey with maple hints.

“Frosty Four Wood is the last of a historic whiskey specialty, as the original Four Wood was the first of its kind to touch four different barrels,” said Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris. “It represents a rare moment that extends beyond bourbon and amplifies current flavors found in Woodford Reserve.”

Frosty Four Wood is presented at 90.4 proof with a suggested retail price of $49.99 for a 375ml bottle. The Distillery Series expressions are small-batch offerings ranging from finished whiskies to straight bourbons and other unique spirits.

Tasting Notes for Frosty Four Wood:

Color: Rich orange honey.

Aroma: Full, with rich holiday spice notes and a dried fruit medley (fig, raisin, dried cherry, dried apricot) character with hints of maple syrup and coffee.

Flavor: Warm and full-bodied with dried fruit character that layers over a nutty, spicy range of honeyed oak and maple syrup.

Finish: Long, warm, and spicy.

To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us www.woodfordreserve.com or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodfordreserve.

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Matured in Oak and Finished in Maple Wood and Wine Barrels , 45.2% Alc. by Vol., produced and bottled by the Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2016

Inspired by the Blue Skies and Dazzling Colors of North Texas, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas Debuts Its Transformed Interiors

The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas has released images of its recently-unveiled interior transformation. The late 2015 remastering adds even more contemporary features than in prior years, with finishes inspired by current art and design and by the dazzling skies, landscapes and perspectives of north Texas. Created in collaboration with Patty Xenos Design Inc., the $9 million Ritz-Carlton, Dallas interior transformation addresses the hotel lobby, guest rooms, corridors, Ritz-Carlton Suite and Club Lounge.

The transformed lobby at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas features a fresh infusion of tonal light colors enhanced by modern Lobby design accents of violet and rich blue.

A One-of-a-Kind Lobby: A contemporary deconstructed chandelier plays homage to the Texas past, while carpets are hand-drawn and translated into Texas petal arrangements in deep layers of 12 colors of blues and golds. A fresh infusion of tonal light colors is enhanced by modern Lobby design accents of violet and rich blue, complementing the lobby’s Impressionist artwork and legendary floral arrangements.

Vibrant Corridors: Common areas are bolder to appeal to a young, dynamic market. Guests experience a natural transition from elegantly vibrant corridors to light, bright, soothing guest rooms.

Re-imagined hotel guest rooms reveal peaceful shades of taupe and soft blues, with added features in soft-off whites and elegant platinum and bronze.

Soothing, Fresh Guest Rooms: Reinvented Southern Revival Texas graphics introduce peaceful shades of taupe and soft blues, with added features in soft-off whites and elegant platinum and bronze. Flooring accents are inspired by the beloved Texas Bluebonnet state flower. Guest bathrooms are upgraded with new wall coverings and enhanced tile flooring in showers, along with innovative electric vanity mirrors and advanced make-up mirror technology. Guest room Internet TV provides individual access to streaming web-based content from Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu Plus and Crackle.

The Ritz-Carlton Suite master bath has been enhanced, and all guest room baths now feature new wall coverings, upgraded tile flooring in showers, innovative electric vanity mirrors and advanced make-up mirror technology.

(Video: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Dallas/Rooms/Rooms/Deluxe-Room.htm)

The Beds: Oversized contemporary headboards are framed in wood and upholstered in leather. The bed becomes an island, creating the feeling of a room within a room. Linens are fresh whites.

The re-imagined Club Lounge at the Uptown Dallas hotel presents daily complimentary breakfast, lunch, tea service, cocktail and cordials for guests of The Club Level.

The Club Lounge: The most transformed space is the Club Lounge, fitted with a new executive kitchen and generous space to expand the venue’s Friday Night Flights and Texas/Southwest culinary offerings. The Club Lounge presents daily complimentary breakfast, lunch, tea service, cocktail and cordials for guests of The Club Level, with regional beverage highlights which include Texas wines, local craft beer by the half-keg and local sodas. The Lounge area ceiling emphasizes the distribution of light, lifting the ceiling visually. Deep plums and complementary lavenders, embossed leathers, plush crushed velvets and accents of mother of pearl create the ambience of a VIP club, while still reflecting a Southern Revival Texan heritage.

(Video: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Dallas/Rooms/ClubLevel.htm)

The transformed Ritz-Carlton Suite features a master bedroom with private bath, in-mirror bathroom television, dining room, kitchen area, and access to the Club Lounge.

The Ritz-Carlton Suite: The living room is entirely transformed. Floor coverings are replaced with all new wood flooring, the ceiling with gold leaf, and windows with contemporary treatments made of three layers of wall-to-wall materials and concealed motorized screens. The room is adorned with custom-made antique bronze screens serving as jewelry for the space. Artwork is from local artists, adding the present and future of Texas to the room, while the master bedroom displays a dramatic mother-of-pearl wall treatment.

(Video: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Dallas/Rooms/Suites/The-Ritz-Carlton-Suite.htm)

Featuring 218 recently transformed luxury guest rooms and suites, The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas is conveniently located in Uptown Dallas, close to shopping, dining, arts venues, sightseeing, concerts and professional sporting events. The hotel and its signature restaurant, Fearing’s, have both received #1 rankings for North America by the Zagat U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas Survey. Ranked the #1 business hotel in north Texas by Travel + Leisure magazine and featuring award-winning spa and dining experiences, The Ritz-Carlton is located at 2121 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201, and may be reached directly at 214-922-0200. For further information, please visit www.ritzcarlton.com/Dallas.

Vanessa Williams Premieres Exclusive Fashion Collection on EVINE Live

EVINE Live Inc., a digital commerce company (www.evine.com) that offers a compelling mix of proprietary and name brands directly to consumers in an engaging and informative shopping experience via television, online and on mobile, announced that multi-platinum recording artist and star of film, television and the Broadway stage, Vanessa Williams, will premiere V. by Vanessa Williams, an exclusive fashion collection on EVINE Live. Designed by Williams and launching March 19, the collection is an interpretation of the pieces she loves most from her own wardrobe.

Vanessa Williams to debut new clothing line on EVINE Live March 19. Photo Credit: Gilles Toucas.

“America has grown to love Vanessa through her many accomplishments in music and on television and on stage but few know about her passion for fashion,” said Russell Nuce, EVINE Live’s Chief Strategy Officer. “This collection which will be available only on EVINE Live will offer our viewers yet another choice to fulfill their fashion needs. We are excited to welcome Vanessa to the EVINE Live family and add her new line to our ever-expanding assortment of ‘brands with fans.'”

V. by Vanessa Williams will includes jackets, dresses, tops and bottoms and feature soft colors and patterns in the season’s most on-trend palettes. A brilliant, drop-dead collection of mix-and match pieces, V. by Vanessa Williams is an elegant reflection of Vanessa’s iconic and timeless style.

“I’m thrilled to introduce EVINE Live’s viewers to my new fashion collection,” said Williams. “Fashion has always been a huge part of my life, from being a model and former Miss America, to my career as a singer and an actress, and of course, being a mom. My line is a perfect reflection of what I love to wear the most — pieces that feature a combination of timeless, flowing silhouettes, feminine patterns and sultry fabrics.“

Vanessa Williams is one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today. Having sold over 7 million records worldwide, Vanessa has scored numerous #1 and Top 10 hits on various Billboard Album and Singles charts: Pop, Dance, R&B, Adult Contemporary, Holiday, Latin, Gospel and Jazz.

Fender® Launches The Paramount™ Series Acoustic Guitars

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) reaches the passionate performer through its new Paramount Acoustic Series acoustic guitars. The U.S.-designed Paramount Series acoustic instruments are finely crafted and specially voiced to bring a player’s personal artistic vision to life and marks the first guitars in Fender’s growing line of performance acoustics.

The Paramount Series Deluxe Dreadnought

The series includes Dreadnought, Parlor and Triple-0 models in both Standard and Deluxe versions. Each of the all-solid wood guitars in the Paramount Series reflects Fender’s great tradition of craftsmanship and blend both legacy design elements and modern features across each model in the series, at an affordable price.

“Fender recognizes a modern musician’s need for an all-purpose instrument that takes them through the entire musical journey, from writing and recording to performing on stage. This product reflects the best of Fender’s DNA,” said Richard McDonald, EVP of Fender and SVP Fender Marketing.

In addition to solid top and sides crafted from premium tone woods, each guitar offers many legacy design elements of the classic ‘60s Fender models. These features include checkerboard purfling and rosette, pickguard shape and abalone and mother-of-pearl “Concert Tone” fingerboard inlays on Deluxe models. All-new Fender- and Fishman®-designed PM preamp systems are specifically voiced for each body shape in the series, ensuring complete tonal control and variation. The series will be available to consumers in February 2016.

PARAMOUNT DELUXE DREADNOUGHT, PARLOR AND TRIPLE-0

The Paramount Series Deluxe Dreadnought Sunburst

The Paramount Series Deluxe instruments feature vintage appointments with craftsmanship players expect from true high-performance acoustic guitars. Crafted from solid East Indian rosewood back and sides and Sitka spruce top and equipped with quartersawn scalloped “X” bracing, the Deluxe models are designed complex, resonant tone in mind. The models also feature a “C”-shaped mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard. The Deluxe Dreadnought, Parlor and Triple-0 models are available in Natural and Vintage Sunburst and each includes a humidifier and hardshell case.

The Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection Fashion Show Returns to New York Fashion Week

 

Entertainment, Media And Fashion Celebrities Raise Awareness Of Heart Disease And Stroke In Women At Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2016 Fashion Show Presented By Macy’s

Celebrities on the runway to include: Florence Henderson, Debbie Gibson, Candace Cameron Bure, Kit Hoover, Madison Beer, Monica, Skylar Diggins, Ta’Rhonda Jones and Vanna White

The American Heart Association announced today that the Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection 2016 presented by Macy’s will return to New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016 Shows at Skylight at Moynihan Station on Thursday, February 11, 2016. The fashion show begins at 8 p.m. ET and is slated to feature more than 20 celebrities in couture gowns by top fashion designers.

American Heart Association Go Red For Women logo (PRNewsFoto/American Heart Association)

The Red Dress Collection was founded in February 2003 and is a fashion show now produced by the American Heart Association‘s Go Red For Women movement and features couture red dresses from the industry’s elite designers worn by top celebrities in entertainment, media, and fashion. The fashion show aims to drive significant awareness and action — in an expected place like New York Fashion Week — for one of the greatest health threats facing women today: heart disease. The Go Red For Women Red Dress Collection is presented by Macy’s, the movement’s national sponsor.

Red Dress Collection 2015 Models

In an effort to amplify the message of heart health nationwide, the runway show will be preceded by a Livestream pre-show that will feature live interviews with celebrities and designers from the red carpet, take viewers at home behind-the-scenes, and even offer some tips for staying heart healthy, too. The Livestream will air on www.GoRedForWomen.org as well as www.Macys.com.

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — the two leading causes of death in the world. The organization team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. (To learn more or to get involved, call \1-800-AHA-USA1 FREE, visit heart.org or call any of their offices around the country. Follow on Facebook and Twitter.)

Walking in this year’s Go Red For Women’s Red Dress Collection presented by Macy’s are: Candace Cameron Bure (Full House, Fuller House), Debbie Gibson (musician/producer), Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch), Fran Drescher (The Nanny, Happily Divorced), Gail Simmons (Top Chef); Gigi Gorgeous (model/social media personality), Kit Hoover (co-host of Access Hollywood Live); Lele Pons (social media personality), Madison Beer (musician), Marilu Henner (actress), Monica (singer), Olivia Culpo (Miss USA 2012), Skylar Diggins (WNBA basketball player), Soleil Moon Frye (blogger/Punky Brewster), Ta’Rhonda Jones (Empire), Tamron Hall (NBC’s TODAY & MSNBC’s NewsNation), and Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune).

Celebrate Black History Month at the Smithsonian Museums

The Smithsonian invites the public to celebrate Black History Month in February through a series of vibrant performances, lectures, family activities and exhibitions at various museums around the Institution. All programs are free unless otherwise indicated.

Feature Event

March!, the Smithsonian’s kickoff celebration of Black History Month, will be a Family Day hosted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to take part in a series of guided family activities focused on the history of the civil rights movement in the National Museum of American History. Between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Shane Evans will discuss and give a musical performance based on his children’s book We March. Congressman John Lewis will discuss his award-winning graphic novel trilogy March, based on his experiences as a young leader of the movement from 2–4:30 p.m. in the museum’s Warner Bros. Theater. Although free, registration for the discussion is strongly encouraged, though walk-ins will be welcome. Visit www.NMAAHC.si.edu for more details.

Lectures

The Anacostia Community Museum will host discussions with Patsy Fletcher, author of Historically African American Leisure Destinations, Saturday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m., and with Keith Clark, author of The Radical Fiction of Ann Petry, Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m., Information and registration are available at www.anacostia.si.edu or 202-633-4844.

Daniel Black will sit down with Gregory Carr, professor of African American studies at Howard University, to discuss Black’s third novel, The Coming, in the National Museum of the American Indian’s Ramuson Theater, Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. Books will be available for signing. The lecture is free, but registration is strongly encouraged. For more details, visit www.NMAAHC.si.edu.

Films

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will present a special screening of Ashes and Embers, by acclaimed film director Haile Gerima at the National Museum of Natural History’s Baird Auditorium, Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. The film follows an African American Vietnam veteran as he grapples with his turbulent past and as he tries to make a future for himself. The film played at the Berlin International Festival in 1983, where Gerima won the Fispresci Prize for new cinema. On the occasion of its restoration and re-release, the director is joined for a screening and discussion with Academy Award-nominated director Ava DuVernay. The program is free, but reservations are strongly suggested. Visit www.NMAAHC.si.edu for registration details.

The Anacostia Community Museum will screen Black Panthers, a documentary that tells the story of the Black Panther Party, Wednesday, Feb. 17, at noon. A discussion with a museum educator will follow the screening. Information and registration are available at www.anacostia.si.edu or call 202-633-4844.

First Annual Palm Springs Life Festival To Celebrate Music And The Arts, Fashion, Food And Wine With Today’s Leading Cultural and Culinary Luminaries

Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Midori, Cat Cora, Zandra Rhodes, Sarah Chang, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Nina Kotova and Marc Bouwer to Headline a Series Of Events From March 20, 2016 Through April 24, 2016

The Palm Springs Life Festival (www.palmspringslifefestival.com) today announced the launch of the first season of the premier cultural arts and lifestyle event in the Coachella Valley to be presented by Palm Springs Life magazine and IMG Artists and produced by Barrett Wissman, the Chairman of IMG Artists. The inaugural festival will feature a stellar lineup of some of today’s top artists, fashion designers and culinary superstars. Some of the stars to appear include opera legends Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming, violinists Midori and Sarah Chang, cellist Nina Kotova, pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet, guitarist Angel Romero, fashion designers Zandra Rhodes, Michael Costello and Marc Bouwer, and chefs Cat Cora, Gail Gand, and The Hearty Boys.

Last spring, the festival was launched in a one-day event at the Sunnylands Center and Gardens in Rancho Mirage. Performers and curators included producer Quincy Jones, opera star Renée Fleming, Ballet dancer David Hallberg, and conductor Philippe Jordan. Due to the event’s success, executive producers Barrett Wissman and IMG Artists decided to partner with Palm Springs Life to present the first full season of the Festival in 2016.

This year will bring together the Festival’s arts programming alongside two desert standouts, the Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival (www.palmdesertfoodandwine.com) and Fashion Week El Paseo (www.fashionweekelpaseo.com), giving the Coachella Valley an unprecedented array of talent across multiple disciplines.

“I think it’s a real opportunity for Southern California to have an independent festival that can bring many art forms together from music, to fashion, to the culinary world. To have a first season that includes luminaries such as Plácido Domingo, Cat Cora, Renée Fleming, and Zandra Rhodes is inspiring,” said Wissman, Executive Producer of the Palm Springs Life Festival and Chairman of IMG Artists.

The Festival will open with a gala concert at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa, featuring Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming and the LA Opera Orchestra and will continue with an array of music, food and wine and fashion events over the following four weeks. Concerts and events will take place at multiple venues in the greater Palm Springs area including the new Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, The Helene Galen Auditorium at The Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower and the Gardens on El Paseo. The Festival will be capped off on April 23 and 24 with a signature event “In Vino Veritas” at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage. The event will feature the greatest Italian wines, winemakers and chefs of today and will be presented in partnership with and curated by Gambero Rosso, the leading Italian guide to the best wines and restaurants of Italy (www.gamberorosso.it).

Said Maestro Plácido Domingo: “I am very much looking forward to coming to Palm Springs with the LA Opera Orchestra. The surroundings are absolutely spectacular and I can’t wait to perform for the audience there.“

The sixth annual Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival™ Presented by Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa takes place April 8-10, 2016 in Palm Desert, CA. Organized by Palm Springs Life, this festival features the brightest and most inspired chefs from across the country for three extraordinary days of culinary and wine tastings in the heart of the famed El Paseo shopping district. The event features a standout roster of celebrity chefs demonstrations and showcases the Coachella Valley as the ultimate culinary destination. In previous years, the event has featured well-known chefs such as Roy Choi, Cat Cora, Gale Gand, Ari Taymore and Brian Malarkay. The 2016 line-up will be announced shortly.

The festival begins Friday, April 8 with the four-course James Beard Gourmet Four-Course luncheon, expertly prepared by celebrity chefs and served in an elegantly-appointed tent. The luncheon is followed by two days of Grand Tastings, featuring delectable morsels from more than 40 restaurants, created by renowned chefs from all across California. More than 60 premium wines and champagnes will be offered as well, and participants will be able to interact with the vintners and chefs to discuss in detail about the offerings.

For full schedule (http://www.palmspringslifefestival.com/events/) and ticket information for the Palm Springs Life Festival, visit www.palmspringslifefestival.com.

Festival Partners and Sponsors include The Saxony Group, Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa, City of Palm Desert, City of Rancho Mirage, Indigo Auto Group Desert European Motorcars, Donna MacMillan/El Paseo, El Paseo Jewelers, The Gardens on El Paseo/El Paseo Village, John and Victoria Hill, Just Blow Drys, Lexus, Living Herbs, My Little Flower Shop, Performing Arts Live, Raymond James, Rigler-Deutch Foundation, Rum Chata, Tequila Alderete, The Island Hotel, The Resort at Pelican Hill, The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage Trio, VOSS, Whole Foods, Wink Lash & Beauty Bar, and Chef Works.

Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming Performing With the LA Opera Orchestra

March 20 @ 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 United States

Plácido Domingo will conduct Renée Fleming as she performs many of opera’s greatest arias and duets, in association with the LA Opera Orchestra. As a special treat, Maestro Domingo will perform selected duets with Ms. Fleming, offering an unforgettable concert at this one-night-only performance. Generously underwritten by: Rigler-Deutsch Foundation and James Rigler Tickets: Orchestra: $400 Box: (seats 12-14): $250 Loge: $175 Mezzanine: $100 Balcony: $65

Midori in Concert

March 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Helene Galen Auditorium at The Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower, 39000 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 United States. Tickets: $45-$60

Internationally acclaimed solo violinist Midori will showcase her stunning talent at The Helene Galen Auditorium at The Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower. Midori has played in venues around the world and has received numerous honors for excellence. She has commissioned new works from an impressive array of some of the most talented of today’s composers, which demonstrates her enthusiasm for playing and supporting the music of our time. Midori will be performing a solo recital exclusively featuring the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Sarah Chang with the Salastina Society Orchestra

March 26 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, 71560 San Jacinto Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 United States

Sarah Chang is one of the outstanding violinists of her generation. She has performed internationally with renowned orchestras, conductors and accompanists in a career spanning more than two decades. She was the youngest person ever to receive the Hollywood Bowl’s Hall of Fame award and was named Young Global Leader for 2008 by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the US Embassy’s Artistic Ambassador from 2011 Ms. Chang will be performing Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Piazzolla’s exciting iconic work for violin and orchestra that pays homage to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons while infusing it with his own tango compositional style and rhythms.

Tickets: $65 – Reserved seating; $50 general admission

Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Nina Kotova

March 31 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 pm

Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, 71560 San Jacinto Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 United States

 

Internationally acclaimed pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet and cellist Nina Kotova will come together for a spectacular duo recital featuring some of the greatest works written for both instruments. Hailed as “one of the best pianists in the world,” Jean-Yves Thibaudet continues to captivate audiences around the world with his thrilling performances, profound artistry, poetic musicality and dazzling technical prowess. Thibaudet has recently been elected to the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame. Russian-born cellist Nina Kotova has been hailed “passionate and inspiring”. According to Newsweek magazine, “she‘s a fantastically gifted cellist…..Very expressive, imaginative, and she has a powerful stage presence.” Ms. Kotova has toured the globe with orchestra and in recital and has collaborated as well across genres with artists such as Sting, Bobby McFerrin, Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich. Tickets: $50 – $65

Angel Romero, Classical Guitarist

April 1 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, 71560 San Jacinto Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 United States

Angel Romero, Classical Guitarist

Hailed for his superior artistry as an iconic master of the classical guitar, ANGEL ROMERO has an eminence in the music world as soloist and conductor that is heralded by audiences and critics alike. One of the most sought-after musicians on the concert stage, Angel Romero has appeared in the world’s major cultural centers. In February 2000 he was presented with the Grand Cross of Isabel la Católica, Spain’s highest national honor, and was knighted Sir Angel Romero in recognition of his astounding musical accomplishments. Maestro Romero will be performing a recital of solo works for guitar that feature works of his native Spain. Tickets: $50 – $65

“Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains” Offers Rarely Seen Historic Native American Masterworks and Unveils Contemporary Works by 16 Artists

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Exhibition Traces Evolution of the Narrative Tradition

Vibrant storytelling of society, war and peacetime, repression and expression is found within the historic narrative artworks of Native peoples of the Great Plains. “Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains,” an exhibition opening Saturday, March 12, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center (located at One Bowling Green in New York City), presents rarely seen works by some of the most important figures to have used this style, including Bear’s Heart (Southern Cheyenne), Zo-tom (Kiowa) and Long Soldier (Hunkpapa Lakota). Their narratives exist along a continuum that carries tradition through to artists working in this style today.

“Unbound” celebrates these narratives with the debut of nearly 50 new works by contemporary Native artists commissioned exclusively for this exhibition. Often referred to as “ledger art” because of the many Plains artists who illustrated ledger notebooks in the 19th century, narrative art employs a dynamic range of imagery to express the ‘now’ of generations of Native people—voices too strong to be bound to any medium.

Blackfeet elk skin robe with painted decoration depicting war honors of Mountain Chief, ca. 1920. Attributed to James White Calf (Blackfee, ca. 1858-1970). Elkhide, paint. Photo by Katherine Fogden, National Museum of the American Indian

The narrative tradition takes root in warrior artists of the 18th century who recorded visionary experiences and successes in battle on buffalo-hide tipis, robes and shirts. Artists also began pictorially recording significant events from each prior year; these became known as “winter counts.” As trade with settlers broadened in the 19th century, new media and tools became available to artists, including pencils, crayons, canvas, muslin and paper.

Bear’s Heart (Nock-ko-ist/James Bear’s Heart/Nah-koh-hist), Southern Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Cheyenne), 1851–1882), Cheyennes Among the Buffalo, ca. 1875. Paper, graphite, crayon. Drawing titled in pencil by Lt. Richard Henry Pratt, later the founder of the Carlisle Indian School. On view in “Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains,” opening March 12, 2016, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Photo by Carmelo Guadagno, National Museum of the American Indian

The beginning of the Reservation Era (1870–1920) saw a transformation in narrative content. As policies set by the U.S. government encroached upon the Native identities of people of the Plains, pictorial drawings became a crucial means of addressing cultural upheaval. Many Native artists recorded their experiences in surplus government accounting notebooks, leading the style to be referred to as “ledger art,” which today is used interchangeably with “narrative art.” This style was revived in the 1960s, burgeoned during the American Indian Movement of the 1970s and continues in various media to this day.

Terrance Guardipee (Blackfeet), Mountain Chief, 2012, depicting Blackfeet leader Mountain Chief. On view in “Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains,” opening March 12, 2016, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York. Photo by Ernest Amoroso, National Museum of the American Indian

Exclusive U.S. Viewing of Pierre Bonnard: Painting Arcadia at The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Pierre Bonnard: Painting Arcadia Will Offer a Fresh Interpretation Of Bonnard’s Repertoire, And a Reconsideration Of The Artist as One of the Foremost Practitioners of Modernism.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco will play host to Pierre Bonnard: Painting Arcadia (February 6–May 15, 2016, at the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue & Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121 ), the first major international presentation of Pierre Bonnard’s work to be mounted on the West Coast in half a century. The exhibition will feature more than seventy works that span the artist’s complete career, from his early Nabi masterpieces, through his experimental photography, to the late interior scenes for which he is best known.

Pierre Bonnard, “Self-Portrait”, ca. 1904. Oil on canvas. Private collection. All images provided by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. 

The exhibition celebrates Bonnard as one of the defining figures of modernism in the transitional period between impressionism and abstraction. Several themes from Bonnard’s career will emerge, including the artist’s great decorative commissions where the natural world merges with the bright colors and light of the South of France, where windows link interior and exterior spaces, and where intimate scenes disclose unexpected phantasmagorical effects.

Pierre Bonnard, “Dancers”, ca. 1896. Oil on cardboard. Musée d’Orsay, Paris; acquired in 2013, RF 2013-20. All images provided by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. 

Born just outside of Paris in 1867, Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947) was the son of a high-ranking bureaucrat in the French War Ministry. In 1887 he enrolled in classes at the Académie Julian in Paris, where he became a student and follower of Paul Gauguin. Gauguin’s teaching inspired a group of young painters known as Les Nabis (after the Hebrew words navi or nabi, meaning prophet), with whom Bonnard joined. By the early years of the 20th century, the Nabis had disbanded, and for the remainder of his career, Bonnard resisted affiliation with any particular school. Instead, he alternated between the themes and techniques of the Impressionists and the abstract visual modes of modernism.

Pierre Bonnard, “The Large Garden”, 1895. Oil on canvas. Musée d’Orsay, Paris; gift of Jean-Claude Bellier in memory of his father, Alphonse Bellier, 1982, RF 1982-58. All images provided by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. 

Bonnard worked in many genres and techniques, including painting, drawing and photography. From the domestic and urban scenes of his early Nabi period to the great elegies of the 20th century, Bonnard’s output is grounded in a modernity that was transformed by his knowledge of works from other cultures, including Japanese woodblock prints and Mediterranean mosaics.

Pierre Bonnard, “House among the Trees (“My Caravan” at Vernonnet)”, ca. 1918. Oil on canvas. The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. All images provided by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

“Bonnard’s arcadia is filled with poetry, wit, color and warmth,” said Esther Bell, curator in charge of European paintings. “This selection of highlights from his career will make clear the artist’s important role in the history of French modernism.”

Pierre Bonnard, “The Dressing Table”, 1908. Oil on canvas. Musée d’Orsay, Paris; Mr. and Mrs. Frédéric Lung Bequest, 1961, RF 1977-86. All images provided by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. 

Among the many significant paintings on view will be Man and Woman (1900, Musée d’Orsay), in which the artist has depicted his lifelong companion and one of his constant subjects, Marthe de Méligny. Also featured will be such masterpieces as The Boxer (Self-Portrait) (1931, Musée d’Orsay) and The Work Table (1926–1937, National Gallery of Art); and decorative panels and screens, including View from Le Cannet (1927, Musée Bonnard) and Pleasure (1906–1910, Musée d’Orsay).

Pierre Bonnard, “Woman with Cat”, or “The Demanding Cat”, ca. 1912. Oil on canvas. Musée d’Orsay, Paris; Baroness Eva Gebhard-Gourgaud Bequest, 1965, RF 1977-84. All images provided by The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. 

Elton John AIDS Foundation Presents Its 24th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party “Wonderful Crazy Night”

Event Sponsored By BVLGARI, MAC Cosmetics, And Neuro Drinks And Diana Jenkins

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) will present its 24th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party: “Wonderful Crazy Night” on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. Sir  Elton John and David Furnish will host the gala event. For a fourth consecutive year, award-winning Chef Gordon Ramsay will prepare the sumptuous dinner for party guests to enjoy while watching a live telecast of the 88th Academy Awards. DJ Johnny Dynell also returns to spin tunes for guests to dance the night away.

Following dinner and an exciting live auction, Elton and his band will perform various selections, including songs from Elton’s new album Wonderful Crazy Night, co-produced by Elton and T-Bone Burnett with lyrics by Bernie Taupin.

Elton John AIDS Foundation logo (PRNewsFoto/Elton John AIDS Foundation)

Sir Elton John created EJAF over twenty years ago, first in the United States in 1992 and then in the United Kingdom in 1993. Through hard work and with the help of a wide network of kind and generous friends and supporters, the two foundations together have raised more than $349 million over the past two decades to combat stigma, prevent infections, provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end AIDS. The U.S. foundation focuses its efforts on programs in the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean, while the U.K. foundation funds HIV-related work in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The Foundation’s Academy Awards Viewing Party is the most highly visible and successful fundraising event in Hollywood on Oscar night. Over the past 23 years, this annual event has raised more than $50 million, thanks to the generosity of EJAF’s supporters. These funds help the Foundation to make a real difference in the lives of people at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS, including urgently needed medical care in the Caribbean, innovative treatment and prevention programs in the Southern United States, and national initiatives addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States and Canada.

This year’s event co-chairs are Tim and Jane Allen, Beck, Boy George, Naomi Campbell, Jim Carrey, Ciara, Chris Colfer, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, John Demsey, Zooey Deschanel, Jennifer Kelly Dominiquini, Roland Emmerich, Stephane Gerschel, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Debbie Harry, Stephanie Horbaczewski, Samuel L. Jackson, Diana Jenkins, Caitlyn Jenner, Quincy Jones, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, Heidi Klum, Ryan Kwanten, Fred Latsko, Shelley Lazar, Sandra Lee, Rob and Sheryl Lowe, Eric and Janet McCormack, Joe McMillan, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Katy Perry, Tyler Perry, Adam Press, Andrew Rannells, Smokey and Frances Robinson, Zoe Saldana, Steve Sims, Britney Spears, Sharon Stone, Jeffrey Tambor, Steven Tyler, Denzel and Pauletta Washington, and Allison Williams.

Presenting Sponsors are BVLGARI, MAC Cosmetics, Neuro Drinks and Diana Jenkins. Audi, BBVA Compass, TheBLUEFISH, and StyleHaul have partnered with EJAF as the evening’s generous Co-Sponsors, and Fin Gray and Michael Melnick are Associate Sponsors. The Foundation is especially grateful to the City of West Hollywood for continued collaboration with EJAF on shared goals. American Airlines is EJAF’s official airline.

Official Frank Sinatra Centennial Exhibit Coming To Historymiami Museum In March

Sinatra: An American Icon Showcases the Life of the Legendary Performer and his time in the Magic City

Following its highly acclaimed stops at the New York Public Library and the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE, the multimedia exhibit exploring the life and career of Frank Sinatra (and what would have been his 100^th birthday anniversary) will start its run in Miami at the HistoryMiami Museum on March 4, 2016. This traveling exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Jack Daniel’s, Sinatra’s drink of choice.

Frank Sinatra. Photo by Ken Veeder © Capitol Photo Archives

As the official exhibit of the Frank Sinatra Centennial, Sinatra: An American Icon, presented in cooperation with the Sinatra Family, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, the Frank Sinatra Collection, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE, traces 100 years of Sinatra’s legacy, from Hoboken, N.J., through superstardom, chronicling the meteoric rise of his music career, his Hollywood success, personal life, and humanitarian work. The exhibit combines photos, family mementos, rare correspondence, personal items, artwork, and, of course, music, to offer a look into Sinatra’s legacy.

Throughout his career, Frank Sinatra performed on more than 1,400 recordings and was awarded 31 gold, nine platinum, three double platinum and one triple platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America. He extends his record to 57 for the most top 40 albums on the Billboard 200 with this year’s new Ultimate Sinatra release. Sinatra has had Top 40 hits on the charts for eight decades, which is as long as the Billboard charts have existed. He received nine GRAMMY Awards over the course of his career, including three for the prestigious Album Of The Year, and an Oscar. Sinatra demonstrated a remarkable ability to appeal to every generation and continues to do so; his artistry still influences many of today’s music superstars. He also appeared in more than 60 films and produced eight motion pictures.

Sinatra was awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Recording Academy, The Screen Actors Guild and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Sinatra’s story is told through items of his clothing, including his signature fedora and tuxedo, and pajamas, original artwork by Sinatra, and his golf clubs. Other items on display include:

• Numerous awards, including Sinatra’s GRAMMY Awards, Academy Award, and Golden Globe Award
• Archival video and audio recordings from Sinatra’s many TV and radio appearances
• Original audio from one of Sinatra’s recording sessions
• Revealing personal family photos, behind-the-scenes studio images, and Herman Leonard’s classic photographs of Sinatra

On view in the Museum’s Special Exhibits gallery on the third floor from March 4, 2016 – June 5, 2016, HistoryMiami will also present a special section that highlights Frank Sinatra’s connections to South Florida. During the mid-20th century, Sinatra not only performed at Miami venues, but also shot several movies and television programs in the region, including at the famed Fontainebleau Hotel. On display will be concert programs, movie and television memorabilia, and other items that tell Sinatra’s Miami story.

“Sinatra has a remarkable legacy performing, working and playing in Miami, and being able to bring the official exhibit of the Sinatra centennial to our museum is truly a treat for fans in South Florida,” said Stuart Chase, President and CEO of HistoryMiami. “This exhibit not only celebrates his iconic music legacy, but offers visitors a rare look into what it was like to know him personally.”

“By working together with the Sinatra family on this exhibit, we were able to provide fans a unique glimpse of what it was like to know the man behind ‘The Voice,’ said exhibition curator Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum. “Through this collection of photographs and mementos, the exhibit brings visitors into the life of Frank Sinatra.”

HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is the premier cultural institution committed to gathering, organizing, preserving and celebrating Miami’s history as the unique crossroads of the Americas. This is accomplished through education, collections, research, exhibitions, publications and city tours. Located in the heart of downtown Miami, HistoryMiami Museum is a 70,000 square foot facility and home to more than one million historic images and 30,000 three-dimensional artifacts, including a 1920’s trolley car, artifacts from Pan American World Airways, and rafts that brought refugees to Miami.

HistoryMiami Museum will host a Grand Opening party March 3,, 2016. Tickets cost $45 for members and $75 non-members. For more information visit http://www.historymiami.org/museum/exhibitions/details/sinatra/. For more information, call 305-375-1492 or visit www.historymiami.org.

The Beverage Tasting Institute & The Rum Lab Partner For Chicago Events

Tastings.com and TheRumLab.com Have Partnered To Offer Rum Enthusiasts An Exclusive Weekend Of Rum Events On April 30th, 2016 in Chicago

TheRumLab.com is celebrating the 2nd Annual MidWest Rum Festival. This year the event will be held in Chicago, Illinois. Last year, more than 20 Rum brands participated and over 600 people attended the inaugural event in Louisville, Kentucky. This year will the event will be enhanced by adding a Trade Program and some Tiki flair.

The USA is considered one of the most important countries in the entire rum industry. Before the American Revolution, rum was the most consumed spirit, and now an awakening is occurring. The Rum Lab – program focused on becoming the Official Rum Expo throughout the northern USA.

Tastings.com and TheRumLab.com have partnered to offer rum enthusiasts an exclusive weekend of rum events on April 30th, 2016 in Chicago. For the first time ever, Chicagoans can learn, be inspired and have fun at the Midwest Rum Festival featured at the Bottom Lounge. Rum fans, customers, trade, tourists and Chicagoans alike are invited to attend exclusive tastings, educational seminars, workshops and a distinguished award program. Tickets for the event can be purchased at: http://www.midwestrumfest.com/

“Rum has recently enjoyed a renaissance and a surge in popularity with bartenders and consumers using this versatile spirit in new ways. The goal of this partnership is to create a specific week during the year where those interested in rum can experience as many events around the rum industry,” said Federico Hernandez owner of TheRumLab.com. “Tasting competitions and rum festivals are key to educating the public and we want to drive awareness and interest in this spirit through our events.”

During the weekend of April 30th, attendees will taste, learn and enjoy new rums from craft and boutique distilleries.

Tastings.com has produced one of the most prestigious rum competitions for over 23 years, the International Review of Spirits. Producers submit their rum to Tastings’ expert judging panels to be reviewed and rated based upon high-quality, industry benchmark standards of excellence. Over 1,000 rums have been rated by the judges in blind tastings throughout its history. Attendees of this year’s event will be able to see and taste many expressions rated by the judges and learn how rums are differentiated by style, category, distillation, and blending. Tastings.com’s Director Jerald O’Kennard adds, “We’re excited to be able to help consumers find the best tasting rums through our reviews and now they can taste them for themselves this new showcase, the Midwest Rum Festival.“

The team are the producers of the Taste of Rum Puerto Rico official national rum fest, and also the California Rum Festival. All events attracting hundreds of people from, trade, rum aficionados, tourists & locals.

The event is divided in two sessions. (1) Spirit Industry (2) Rum Aficionado “General Admission”.

The Spirit Industry Session consist of a 2 hour program offering industry professional the opportunity to: (1) Network with brand representative, (2) attend training seminars, (3) taste a wide variety of rums (4) Mingle with industry colleagues.

The Rum Aficionado “General Admission” Session consist of a 3 hour program offering the attendees the opportunity to: (1) Taste new rums (2) attend brand seminars (3) enjoy pleasant music, (4) and 1 Complimentary Food Coupon to be redeem at venue restaurant.

Cover Charge includes*: (a) 2 oz. complimentary tasting snifter glass (b) 24 tasting tickets to redeem for spirit samples (c) 1 free food coupon to redeem at restaurant. Note: Each ticket is equivalent to .25oz. pouring of neat rum or 1.5 oz of a single cocktail blend your brand would like to offer at booth. / The Spirit Industry Session will run differently. Please contact us for more details.

After Party – Kupulau Hula Event consist of a 3 hour party offering the attendees the opportunity to: (1) Enjoy amazing surf music by bands &/or DJ’s (2) try “buy” a variety of tiki drinks punches made with a combinations of rums that are participating at the event (3) enjoy art work by a variety of craft artists.

Fashion Exhibition: Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective to Open at San Francisco’s Fine Arts Museum

All Images courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco) will present the world premiere retrospective of the late Oscar de la Renta’s work (March 12, 2016 – May 30, 2016, Herbst Exhibition Galleries) – the first major survey celebrating the life and career of one of fashion’s most influential designers. The exhibition is organized in close collaboration with the House of Oscar de la Renta and the designer’s family, and is curated by André Leon Talley, former American editor-at-large for Vogue and a lifelong friend of de la Renta.

“I am honored and excited to be the curator of the definitive Oscar de la Renta retrospective exhibition at the de Young museum,” said André Leon Talley. “This privilege is exceedingly important for me after years of close friendship with Oscar, as well as a strong working relationship during my life at Vogue. My goal is to highlight the extraordinary depth of Oscar’s creative aesthetic from his earliest designs for Jane Derby throughout the five decades of his remarkable career.”

Oscar de la Renta with Andre Leon Talley

Included are more than 130 ensembles produced over five decades. These garments are organized into several thematic sections: Early Work; Spanish, Eastern, Russian And Garden Influences; Daywear and Eveningwear; and Ball Gowns and Red Carpet Ensembles. The presentation traces the rise of de la Renta’s career in Spain, where he gained his first commissions; his formative years spent in the world’s most iconic fashion houses; and his eventual role as a designer for many of the most influential and celebrated personalities of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Ensembles in the exhibition will be drawn from the designer’s personal collection, the archives of the House of Balmain, public and private collections from around the world and the Fine Arts Museums’ costume collection. Viewers will see gowns worn by dignitaries and celebrities that include former First Lady Laura Bush, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Taylor Swift, Karlie Kloss, Nicki Minaj, Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Rihanna and Amy Adams.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Model Karlie Kloss at the Met Gala

Oscar de la Renta with Penelope Cruz

President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush

Former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush (in Oscar de la Renta)

Actress Amy Adams at the Oscars

Former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Superstar Opera Singer Renee Fleming

Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014) left his native Dominican Republic at the age of eighteen to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. While living in Spain, he became interested in the world of design and began sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses, which soon led to an apprenticeship with Spain’s most renowned couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Later, he left Spain to join Antonio Castillo as a couture assistant at the House of Lanvin in Paris. In 1963, he came to New York to design the couture collection for Elizabeth Arden. In 1965, Oscar de la Renta founded his signature ready-to-wear label and is among the world’s most prestigious fashion brands. (For more information please visit www.oscardelarenta.com.)

“Both our company and our family are proud that the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are organizing the first full-scale retrospective of Oscar’s work,” said Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta. “The Museums’ outstanding collections, augmented by open access to our archives, all viewed through the curatorial eye of Oscar’s dear friend André Leon Talley, will convey well the unique artistry that Oscar brought to the world of fashion.”

WNET Launches First Theatrical Imprint, American Masters Pictures

Documentaries Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, Richard Linklater – Dream is Destiny and Maya Angelou: Still I Rise World Premiere at 2016 Sundance Film Festival

At the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, WNET, parent company of New York’s public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, announced the launch of its first theatrical imprint, American Masters Pictures, for documentaries co-produced by the American Masters series, executive produced by Michael Kantor.

WNET, parent company of New York’s public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, announced the launch of its first theatrical imprint, American Masters Pictures, for documentaries co-produced by the American Masters series, executive produced by Michael Kantor. (PRNewsFoto/WNET)

The first three films under the banner have their world premieres at Sundance: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady‘s Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (Day One), Louis Black and Karen Bernstein‘s Richard Linklater – Dream is Destiny (January 26) and Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack’s Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (January 26). The three documentaries will have their exclusive U.S. broadcast premieres on PBS as part of the American Masters series with Lear and Angelou slated for fall 2016 (check local listings). Cinetic Media negotiated the deal on behalf of the Linklater filmmakers. Non-broadcast rights for all films are still available.

Additional American Masters Pictures documentaries currently making the festival circuit rounds or in limited theatrical release include Nancy Buirski’s By Sidney Lumet and Amy Berg‘s Janis: Little Girl Blue. Films in production include Hedy: The Untold Story of Actress & Inventor Hedy Lamarr (w.t.) directed by Alexandra Dean and Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me directed by Sam Pollard.

“When Michael approached me with the idea for American Masters Pictures, I thought it was a natural progression for the series, which has always worked with independent filmmakers,” said Stephen Segaller, vice president of programming at WNET. “Our commitment to the independent film community is real and we want it to continue to thrive.“

WNET is New York’s flagship PBS station. (PRNewsFoto/WNET)

“I’m thrilled to launch American Masters Pictures at Sundance Film Festival, the premier festival for indie films. There is a huge appetite for documentary films now, and we want to reach as many people as possible,” said Kantor. “Our goal is to support filmmakers and their films every step of the way. We can help them tailor their distribution strategies from film festivals to limited theatrical release, broadcast, online, DVD, VOD, OTT and everywhere viewers can see our incredible films.“

Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards — including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. The series’ 30^th anniversary season on PBS begins January 29 with Elaine May‘s Mike Nichols: American Masters and continues with Jon Brewer‘s B.B. King: The Life of Riley (February 12), George Scott’s Carole King: Natural Woman (February 19), Joe Lauro‘s Fats Domino and The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll (February 26), Yap Films‘ Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl (March 4), Berg’s Janis: Little Girl Blue (May 3) and Jim Brown‘s The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End (w.t.) (May 27). To further explore the lives and works of masters past and present, the American Masters website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters) offers streaming video of select films, outtakes, filmmaker interviews, photos, educational resources and more. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and is also seen on the WORLD channel.

Websites: http://pbs.org/americanmasters, http://facebook.com/americanmasters, @PBSAmerMasters, http://pbsamericanmasters.tumblr.com, http://youtube.com/AmericanMastersPBS, http://instagram.com/pbsamericanmasters, #AmericanMasters

The Asia Society New York Celebrates Japan in Special Season of Programs

This spring, The Asia Society presents Season of Japan, a celebration of Japanese culture held in conjunction with the exhibition Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan, on view at Asia Society Museum in New York from February 9 to May 8, 2016.

With over thirty rare masterpieces from the Kamkura period (1185–1333) from private and museum collections in North America and Europe, “Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan” is the first exhibition to look beyond the aesthetics and technical achievements of these remarkable sculptures, and specifically examine the relationship between realism and the sacred empowerment of these objects. The exhibition explores how sculptures are “brought to life” or “enlivened” by the spiritual connection between exterior form, interior contents, and devotional practice, reflecting the complexity and pluralism of the period. “Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan” marks the first major loan show of Kamakura sculpture in the United States in more than thirty years.

Head of a Guardian King. Kamakura period, 13th century. Polychromed Japanese cypress (hinoki) with lacquer on cloth, inlaid crystal eyes and filigree metal crown. H. 22 1/16 x W. 10 1/4 x D. 13 15/16 in. (56 x 26 x 35.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair B. Martin, the Guennol Collection, 86.21. Courtesy of Brooklyn Museum.

The exhibition also coincides with the 60th anniversary year of Asia Society, which was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd. The Museum is known for its Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of traditional Asian artworks, which was formed in earnest after the establishment of Asia Society in 1956. With the guidance of the noted scholar of Asian art Sherman Lee, John D. Rockefeller 3rd and Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller chose classical masterpieces of Asian art rather than building a historical survey. Although the collection comprises approximately 300 objects, it is nevertheless regarded as one of the most notable collections of Asian art in the United States. It includes objects from diverse nations such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam that date from the eleventh century BCE to the nineteenth century CE. It has particular strengths in Chinese ceramics of the Song and Ming periods, Chola-period Indian bronzes, and Southeast Asian sculptures.

Kōshun (active 1315–1328). The Shinto Deity Hachiman in the Guise of a Buddhist Monk. Kamakura period, dated 1328. Polychromed Japanese cypress (hinoki) with inlaid crystal eyes. H. 32 x W. 36 3/4 x D. 24 in. (81.3 x 93.3 x 61 cm). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Maria Antoinette Evans Fund and Contributions, 36.413. Photograph © 2016 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The collection was a promised gift to the Society and served as a primary impetus for the building of the Society’s headquarters at 725 Park Avenue, which opened to the public in 1981. The artworks were given to Asia Society upon the death of Mr. Rockefeller in 1978, and the collection now encompasses the original gift plus a number of objects bequeathed from the estate of Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller and subsequent acquisitions.

Zaō Gongen. Kamakura period, 13th century. Iron. H. 12 1/2 x W. 6 1/2 x D. 3 3/4 in. (31.8 x 16.5 x 9.5 cm). John C. Weber Collection. Photo: John Bigelow Taylor

In the early 1990s, Asia Society Museum became one of the first American museums to establish a program of contemporary Asian art. A recognized leader in identifying and fostering contemporary Asian and Asian American artists, the Museum announced the establishment of a Contemporary Art Collection in 2007, launched with a gift of twenty-eight works of video and new media art. The collection aims to represent the rapidly evolving field of contemporary art across Asia. The first phase of the collecting program is focused on video, animation, and new media works of art. In addition, Asia Society Museum was the first U.S. museum to organize solo shows of the now widely recognized artists Montien Boonma, Cai Guo-Qiang, Dinh Q. Lê, Yuken Teruya, Lin Tianmiao, and Zhang Huan.

“John D. Rockefeller 3rd’s first trip to Asia was to Japan, and he, like countless others, fell in love with the country. Later in life, he and his wife came to see Japan as a second home,” said Josette Sheeran, President and CEO of Asia Society. “It is fitting that in the year of our 60th anniversary, Asia Society is celebrating Japan and its dynamic culture.”

Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan is made possible by the generous support of The National Endowment for the Arts. Major support for this exhibition is also provided by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation, Etsuko O. Morris and John H. Morris Jr. Other generous underwriters includes The Kitano Hotel New York, the Japan Foundation, The Blakemore Foundation, Peggy and Richard Danziger, Japanese Art Dealers Association, Helen Little, Toshiba International Foundation, John C. Weber, and the Ellen Bayard Weedon Foundation. Additional support is provided by Sebastian Izzard, Leighton R. Longhi, Joan B. Mirviss, and Erik Thomsen.

Following is a list of confirmed programs and events. All events, unless indicated, take place at Asia Society in New York, 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street). Find out more about upcoming programs, including information about registration and ticket purchase, at AsiaSociety.org/SeasonofJapan.

POLICY DISCUSSION
Japan’s New Security Posture: Implications for Asia and the World
Wednesday, February 3 • 8:00-10:00am

Discussion with Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and Asia Society Policy Institute President Kevin Rudd about Japan’s role as a regional and global security provider.

LECTURE
Members-Only Exhibition Opening Lecture
Tuesday, February 9 • 6:30-7:30pm

Guest curator Ive Covaci gives members an inside look at Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan. Covaci is a lecturer in Art History at Fairfield University.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON OF JAPAN
Leo Bar Happy Hour
Friday, February 12 • 6:00-9:00pm

A night of fun and culture at a Japanese-themed happy hour. Free museum tours of Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan, music, specialty cocktails, shopping at AsiaStore, and origami demonstrations.

SYMPOSIUM
Keynote address and exhibition viewing at Asia Society
Friday, February 26 • 6:30-9:00pm

Interdisciplinary symposium (held at Columbia University)
Saturday, February 26-27 • All day

This interdisciplinary symposium will gather leading scholars of Kamakura period art, religion, and literature. On the eve of the symposium, Mimi Yiengpruksawan of Yale University will deliver a keynote address at Asia Society.

PERFORMANCE
Theater Japan / NOH and KYOGEN
Sunday, February 28 • 6:30-8:00pm

A rare opportunity to experience traditional Japanese theater in New York. Master performers of Noh and Kyogen will explain the form’s essentials: the stage, dance, music, costume, masks, and props. The evening includes a talk (in Japanese with English translation), a demonstration by the artists, and Q&A. Presented in conjunction with An Evening of Japanese Traditional Theatre, taking place on March 1 at Carnegie Hall.

FILM
Of Ghosts, Samurai and War: Classic Japanese Film
March 4-19

Japanese cinema has produced some of the most admired films that continue to enrich the world cinema discourse. The Asia Society and the Japan Foundation will screen rare 35mm prints of masterpieces by such greats as Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Kaneto Shindo from the Foundation’s Film Library.

Friday, March 4

Rashomon (1950) 88 min. B&W
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo and Masayuki Mori.

Saturday, March 5

The New Tale of the Taira Clan (1955) 108 min. Color
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, starring Raizo Ichikawa and Yoshiko Kuga.

Sunday, March 6

Kwaidan (1965) 183 min. Color
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi, music by Toru Takamitsu, starring Katsuo Nakamura, Keiko Kishi, Michiyo Aratama and Rentaro Mikuni.
Friday, March 11

Ugetsu (1953) 97 min. B&W
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, starring Machiko Kyo, Kinuyo Tanaka and Masayuki Mori.
Sunday, March 13

Miyamoto Musashi (1961) 110 min. Color
Directed by Tomu Uchida, starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Michiyo Kogure.
Friday, March 18

Brave Records of the Sanada Clan (1963) 90 min. Color
Directed by Tai Kato, starring Kinnosuke Yorozuya and Misako Watanabe.
Saturday, March 19

Onibaba (1964) 103 min. B&W
Directed by Kaneto Shindo, starring Nobuko Otowa and Jitsuko Yoshimura.

“Headed To The White House” Takes Visitors From The Campaign Trail To Inauguration Day

Timed To Coincide With The 2016 Election Year, Headed to the White House Is Uniquely Created To Engage Students, Teachers, And Families With The Election Season

On Friday, February 12, 2016, the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia will open Headed to the White House (February 12 – November 13, 2016), a timely new exhibit designed to engage students, families and visitors of all ages with the presidential election season. Headed to the White House was created by the National Constitution Center and uses artifacts, interactives, multimedia, and role playing opportunities to guide visitors along the campaign trail and into the Oval Office.

The National Constitution Center ( located at 525 Arch Street on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall) in Philadelphia inspires active citizenship as the only place where people across America and around the world can come together to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its Congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a non-partisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a center for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire, excite, and engage citizens about the U.S. Constitution.

The exhibit is timed to coincide with the 2016 presidential election and the National Democratic Convention taking place this July in Philadelphia.

“Every four years, Americans come together to debate the meaning of the Constitution and to elect the president of the United States,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “In this engaging exhibit, visitors can educate themselves about the history of presidential campaigns and the constitutional values that unite us in the electoral process.“

The Headed to the White House journey begins with Election History. Three historic elections – Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison in 1840, Franklin Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover in 1932, and Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey in 1968 – provide the framework for visitors to explore how presidential elections have changed, and still yet have remained the same, for over 200 years. Highlights include fun presidential facts and an introduction to how constitutional amendments have influenced the election process.

In Join the Race, visitors officially launch their campaigns and begin to discover if they are “presidential material.” Highlights include an interactive speech coach and a “craft your own campaign message” activity. National conventions then take center stage in Earn the Nomination. Visitors enter the floor of a convention featuring all 50 states to uncover the primary election and caucus process for winning a major party nomination. Highlights include a campaign manager interactive where visitors make the decisions to try to win a primary election, a “campaign worker chart” exploring who’s who on a candidate’s staff, historic footage from Democratic and Republican national conventions, and a “create your own campaign sticker” craft activity.

With the nomination secured, it is a sprint to Election Day in Win the Election. This section focuses on the general election, the Electoral College, debates, campaign finance, and of course, advertising. Here, visitors can “meet the masses” to practice their presidential handshake and create their own campaign commercials with the Center’s “Ad-o-Matic” interactive. Through a continued focus on the constitutional amendments, visitors also learn about voting rights and how the methods we use to vote have changed over time, culminating in a special election where visitors of all ages can vote for America’s best historic president.

The exhibit tour concludes on a celebratory note in Take the Oath. Here, visitors can discover what next steps lay ahead for the newly elected president, learn about the powers and duties of the president and what it is like to live in the White House, and enjoy a photo opportunity behind the desk in the Oval Office.

To complement the Headed to the White House experience, the Center will offer a wide variety of museum visitor programming, including an exciting new quiz show, “270 or Bust“, in which visitors compete to win electoral votes by answering election-themed trivia questions. “270 or Bust” and other visitor programming are included with admission.

In addition, the Center has designed presidential election themed packages for groups and will offer exhibit tours led by members if the museum’s education staff. The themed packages and educator-led tours are available with advanced reservations.

The National Constitution Center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Ticket Information: Adults $13.00; Children (4-12) $8.00 through March 31 with the Winter Warm Up sale. After March 31, 2016 Adults $17.50; Children (4-12) $11.00 and Free for Members. Includes general admission to the National Constitution Center (For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.)

Classic Car Culture Comes to Vibrant Life with Bellissima! The Italian Automotive Renaissance, 1945–1975, at The Frist Center for the Visual Arts

The upcoming exhibition, Bellissima! The Italian Automotive Renaissance, 1945–1975 (May 27–October 9, 2016), at Nashville’s The Frist Center for the Visual Arts celebrates the visual dynamism and spirit of innovation characterizing Italian coachbuilt cars, concept cars and motorcycles produced during the post–World War II economic revival. Returning to the Frist Center after the 2013 presentation of Sensuous Steel: Art Deco Automobiles, automotive authority and guest curator Ken Gross has chosen 19 automobiles and 3 motorcycles from private collections and museums that are among the finest examples of Italian automotive design, including vehicles by Alfa Romeo, Bizzarrini, Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Maserati. With the ultra-rare Alfa Romeo BAT models 5, 7 and 9 from the 1950s and a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, this all-star assembly offers surprises for even the most knowledgeable car aficionados. These powerful and extraordinary cars exemplify the sexy and streamlined Italian design language that propelled Italy to the forefront of automotive design internationally. The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated scholarly catalogue published by Rizzoli.

After World War II, Italian automobile designers began to create sleek, low-slung berlinettas (coupes) that would win postwar races and inspire a legion of stunning road-going cars. New companies like Cisitalia and Ferrari used the resumption of auto racing as a platform to begin producing stylish cars that soon caught the attention of wealthy glitterati, movie stars, and influential industrialists. These clients relished the idea of exclusive, often bespoke automobiles, with powerful engines and advanced styling. Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, and smaller Italian carmakers soon followed suit; with Ferruccio Lamborghini creating a grand touring Berlinetta that would rival Ferrari’s.

1950 Cisitalia 202 SC. Collection of the Revs Institute for Automotive Research. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

With their startling, often sensual designs, Italian cars from the mid-century had an immense influence on the automotive industry around the world. The successful racing efforts of Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo ensured that Italian automakers dominated international competition. Lessons from racing were applied to the design of road cars and Italy’s auto industry helped lead an international styling renaissance. In 1954, Road & Track declared, “The Italian influence leads the automotive design world. It remains consistent, commanding, spirited and graceful.”

1952 Lancia B52 Aurelia Spyder PF200. Collection of Linda and Bill Pope. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

Coach builders worked with carmakers in Italy as well as those in countries like England and Spain. In the United States, Italians designed and built bodies for production cars like Nash, Hudson and even Cadillac. Chrysler hired Italian designers to build a series of dramatically modern concept cars, including Firebirds and Firearrows. Their so-called “Forward Look” styling intrigued American buyers and influenced many later production models.

1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato. Collection of David Sydorick. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Pininfarina Series II Aerodinamico. Collection of Bernard and Joan Carl. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Collection of Bernard and Joan Carl. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

1963 Chrysler Turbine Car. Collection of FCA. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

Bellissima! The Italian Automotive Renaissance, 1945–1975 is broken into five distinct themes: Berlinettas, Aerodynamics, Advanced Mid-engine Cars, Wedge-Shaped Automobiles and Custom Coachwork Designs for Italian and American Automakers. And, in turn, each section showcases some of the best automobiles and handcrafted machinery ever to hit the road.

1953 Fiat Supersonic 8V. Collection of Paul Gould. Image © 2016 Peter Harholdt

1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano. Collection of James E. Petersen, Jr. Photograph © 2016 Michael Furman

Berlinettas: 1950 Cisitalia 202 SC, 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic, 1956 Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato, and a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

Travel: The San Francisco Travel Association Presents “What’s Coming to San Francisco in 2016”

If you are visiting San Francisco, what should you see, eat, enoy while you are in the City by the Bay? Never fear, the San Francisco Travel Association has all the answers. A Destination Marketing Organization providing expertise not only on San Francisco, but the entire Bay Area and with more than 30,000 hotel rooms and various convention facilities, San Francisco Travel works directly with meeting planners to book meeting space and hotel rooms, assists in referring venues and banquet facilities, provides promotional materials and marketing support. All services are complimentary. For 2016, the calendar is packed with events and happenings you should not miss if you are visitor or a resident.

San Francisco Arts Commission Opens New Main Gallery in War Memorial Veteran’s Building – Jan. 22, 2016

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) Galleries will celebrate the opening of a new and greatly expanded 3,000 sq. ft. gallery space in the historic War Memorial Veterans Building with the inaugural group exhibition, Bring it Home: (Re)Locating Cultural Legacy through the Body, curated by SFAC Galleries Director Meg Shiffler and independent curator Kevin B. Chen. The new Main Gallery located on the ground floor of the War memorial Veterans Building.
http://www.sfartscommission.org

The Bay Lights by Leo Villareal. Photo Credit: Leo Villareal

The Bay Lights – Jan. 30, 2016

One of San Francisco’s most beloved art installations becomes a permanent fixture in the new year. The Bay Lights, Leo Villareal’s monumental light sculpture comprised of 25,000 LED lights, will add shine and sparkle to the western span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from dusk to dawn, year-round. The return of The Bay Lights is in large thanks to the generosity of private donors, Illuminate the Arts and the State of California.
https://thebaylights.org

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archives Opens – Jan. 31, 2016

Visitors will experience innovative art exhibitions, film screenings and live performances in a cutting-edge building designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

Super Bowl 50 – Feb. 7, 2016

It’s the end of the NFL season and the most-watched sporting event in the nation. On Feb. 7, 2016, Levi’s Stadium will host Super Bowl 50. The game itself will be in Santa Clara, but all the action and celebration will be in San Francisco starting Jan. 30, 2016. From Super Bowl City at Justin Herman Plaza to the NFL Experience at Moscone Center, San Francisco will be the center of Super Bowl activity.  http://www.sfbaysuperbowl.com

Oscar de la Renta Retrospective – March 12-May 30, 2016

The world premiere retrospective of Oscar de la Renta’s work celebrates the life and career of one of fashion’s most influential designers. The exhibition, curated by André Leon Talley, will include more than 100 ensembles produced over five decades, and is presented in collaboration with the house of de la Renta and the designer’s family.  http://deyoung.famsf.org

Counter Pulse, Opens in a New Location – March 12, 2016

After 24 years at 1310 Misson St., CounterPulse, an incubator for grassroots culture and a stage for intrepid art, launched its inaugural season in November. The season culminates March 19, 2016 with their Grand Opening Celebration at the new location, 80 Turk St. Experience a packed season of gutsy, experimental performance from the Bay Area and around the globe.  http://counterpulse.org/new-home/

Minnesota Street Project Opens – March 16, 2016

Minnesota Street Project will offer affordable space for art galleries, artists and related nonprofits and retail, as well as a location in the heart of the historic Dogpatch district to put down roots and build a dynamic arts hub. Phase 1 of Minnesota Street Project will open March of 2016 at 1275 Minnesota St. in the city’s Dogpatch Neighborhood. While the first building is under construction, Minnesota Street Project will present rotating visual arts exhibits three blocks away at 2291 Third St., which will serve as Minnesota Street Project’s temporary headquarters.
http://www.minnesotastreetproject.com

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution – March 17-July 5, 2016

The first comprehensive retrospective about the life and career of legendary rock impresario Bill Graham (1931–1991) comes to the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Recognized as one of the most influential concert promoters in history, Graham launched the careers of countless rock and roll legends in the 1960s at his famed Fillmore Auditorium. He conceived of rock and roll as a powerful force for supporting humanitarian causes and was instrumental in the production of milestone benefit concerts such as Live Aid (1985) and Human Rights Now! (1988). As a promoter and manager, he worked with the biggest names in rock, including the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones.  http://www.thecjm.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum. Located in downtown San Francisco, the Contemporary Jewish Museum presents dynamic exhibitions and educational programs, exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history and ideas. San Francisco Travel Association/Scott Chernis

SF Giants 2012 World Series Parade. San Francisco Travel Association/Scott Chernis San Francisco Travel Association/Scott Chernis

San Francisco Giants – April 7, 2016

It’s an even-numbered year; could another World Series title be in store for San Francisco’s beloved Giants? Find out when the season gets started with the home opener at AT&T Park against the dreaded Dodgers.
http://www.sfgiants.com

In this view from Yerba Buena Gardens the facade of the Mario Botta-designed San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is in foreground; landmark Pacific Bell building rises in background. San Francisco Travel Association/Scott Chernis

The New SFMOMA – May 14, 2016

A major expansion is underway at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), which has embodied bold vision and innovation from its founding in 1935. With more than 30,000 works, the SFMOMA collection is internationally recognized and continues to grow. In spring 2016, SFMOMA will reopen with nearly three times the previous capacity for the presentation of art. The approximately 235,000-square-foot expansion will seamlessly join the existing building. One of the catalysts for the expansion is the addition of the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, one of the greatest private collections of contemporary art in the world. The new Pritzker Center for Photography will be the largest space in an American art museum dedicated to photography. The new outdoor sculpture terrace will include the biggest public living wall of native plants in San Francisco, with 16,000 native plants in a vertical garden. Nearly 15,000 square feet of art-filled free-access public space will more than double SFMOMA’s current capacity. The public galleries will open one hour prior to the museums and admission for those ages 18 and under will always be free.
http://www.sfmoma.org

Zappos Bay to Breakers – May 15, 2016

What was once a goofy local footrace has grown into a major international competition. In the Bay to Breakers race, runners traverse the city from the Financial District to Ocean Beach, passing through a number of San Francisco’s many neighborhoods. Floats may be forbidden, but you’re bound to still find some creative costumes on the route.
http://www.zapposbaytobreakers.com

Strandbeest: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen – May 27–Sept. 5, 2016

The first North American traveling exhibition of Strandbeests—giant, wind-powered, kinetic creatures by celebrated Dutch artist Theo Jansen—will be on view at the Exploratorium from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends in 2016. Jansen’s mesmerizing lifelike figures move as familiar, yet otherworldly beings, blurring the lines between machine and animal, art and science, sculpture and performance. The exhibition will feature Jansen’s most recently realized creations; a “fossil” hall revealing the evolution of his iterative process and artistic ingenuity; videos featuring the charismatic Jansen speaking about his 25 year endeavor; artist’s sketches; and compelling, large-scale images by renowned photographer Lena Herzog.
http://www.exploratorium.edu

Sites Unseen Developing the Alleys of Yerba Buena – Spring 2016

Sites Unseen, a new public art initiative, will activate seven alleyways in the downtown Yerba Buena neighborhood with dynamic installations of permanent and temporary artworks, performances, screenings and other events.
http://sitesunseen.org/

Living Innovation Zones “Block by Block” – Spring 2016

On Sept. 30, 2015, City leaders and non-profit and arts communities came together to “flip the switch” on Light up Central Market, a series of six interactive art projects including Block by Block, the latest Living Innovation Zone (LIZ). Also debuting that evening was the Central Market Showcase, a selection of prototypes that inspired connection and will serve their communities during the Market Street Prototyping Festival. http://www.sfliz.com/

Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei at the Asian Art Museum – June 17-Sept. 18, 2016: Meat-shaped stone (detail), approx. 1800–1900. China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Stone: jasper; stand: gold. National Palace Museum, Taipei, Guza 000178 Lü-413. Photograph © National Palace Museum, Taipei.

Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei at the Asian Art Museum – June 17-Sept. 18, 2016

Feast your eyes on a rare presentation of more than 150 imperial artworks, many of which are making their U.S. debut, from the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Thirty extremely rare masterpieces, some created by the emperors themselves will be on view who reigned from the early 12th through early 20 centuries. The exhibition will feature paintings, calligraphy, bronze vessels, ceramics, lacquerware, jades, textiles, enamelware and documents. See them all at the Asian Art Museum.  http://www.asianart.org

Opened in 1966 as part of the de Young museum in Golden Gate Park, the Asian Art Museum moved to the former Main Library building in 2003. San Francisco Travel Association/Scott Chernis

Spa Enhancements Arrive at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver

Colorado’s Top Spa Retreat Debuts a New State-of-the-Art Fitness Center, New Salon and More

The brand-new salon at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver features large windows that allow natural light to wash over the sleek furnishings, textural wall treatments and vast spaces.

Just in time for the New Year, the award-winning Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver has unveiled a dynamic renovation that will make keeping those resolutions a little easier. Whether guests arrive to relax or work out, they will discover a range of revamped spaces designed with health and wellness in mind. Among these are a brand-new fitness center, spacious new salon and updated spa reception area, all of which combine to create an inspired Denver spa that truly lives up to the AAA-Four Diamond rating achieved over the past eight consecutive years.

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver is a four-time recipient of the coveted AAA Five-Diamond award — the first and only in the Mile High City — and is ranked Four-Stars by Forbes Travel Guide. Situated in the heart of downtown, the hotel’s location offers easy access to the theater and business districts, Larimer Square, Coors Field and the famed LoDo area. The property boasts 202 guestrooms — the most spacious in the city — including 47 suites and 32 Club Level rooms, all of which are highlighted by a sophisticated, 3,000-sq.-ft. Ritz-Carlton Suite. The cosmopolitan destination also features the Forbes Four-Star Ritz-Carlton Spa, Denver and Elway’s Downtown, the hotel’s signature restaurant boasting USDA Prime steaks, an award-winning wine program and an outdoor terrace.

The spa enhancements are the latest in a series of improvements being made to the 8-year-old luxury hotel. The hotel’s guest rooms received a soft-goods renovation in March 2015, and both projects reflect The Ritz-Carlton, Denver‘s commitment to create a sense of modern elegance that reflects the surrounding landscape.

Experience the tranquility of our serene Ladies Relaxation Lounge.

The most dramatic change has been the addition of the new 2,229-sq.-ft. fitness center located on the hotel’s Spa Level. In this new facility, guests will enjoy state-of-the-art treadmills and elliptical machines featuring built-in televisions, as well as a variety of strength-training equipment. Complimentary touches like chilled bottled water and earphones enhance the experience.

Allow your troubles to melt away under the soothing pressure of our Vichy Shower treatment.

Feeling your best is often looking your best, and those arriving at this elegant Denver salon will be treated to a space as inspiring as the results of its services. The brand-new salon features large windows that allow natural light to wash over the sleek furnishings, textural wall treatments and vast spaces. Accents like wingback chairs evoke a lounge-like atmosphere, and the appointments, which include two manicure stations, two pedicure stations, two hair stations and a makeup station, imbue the space with unmistakable functionality.

Relax and Escape to The Spa

The spa itself also enjoyed an update during the renovations, and now welcomes guests with a new reception area featuring the latest retail offerings. In keeping with the hotel’s organic-inspired approach to design, the spa’s reception space showcases product lines like Sanitas, a Boulder-based skincare line, and Eminence, an organic line long enjoyed at the spa.

One of the best ways to experience the updated spa is through its popular weekday offerings, which include:

MARTINIS & MASSAGE MONDAY: Enjoy a complimentary martini and 20% savings on any 50- or 80-minute massage.

RETAIL THERAPY TUESDAY: Enjoy a 20% savings on all retail purchases, and receive a Spa bath ball with any purchase.

MID-WEEK SPICE UP: Revive your tired feet with a 50-minute Champagne Peppermint Pedicure on Wednesdays, and enjoy a 20% savings. Add a 25-minute manicure for just $35.

TREAT YOUR TOES THURSDAY: Indulge in a complimentary paraffin treatment with a 50- or 75-minute pedicure.

FACE-LIFT FRIDAY: Put your best face forward over the weekend after a 50-minute Nu Face treatment, which lifts and plumps the skin, for $115.

For guests’ convenience, the fitness center is open:

Monday to Friday: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For reservations, please call (800) 542-8680 FREE, or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/Denver.

Having A Baby? There’s An App For That

Being a new parent can be intimidating. There are so many things for new moms (and dads) to keep track of, from feeding and sleeping habits, to mom’s and baby’s doctor’s appointments and developmental milestones for baby. Intermountain Moms (from Intermountain Healthcare) is a great resource when you are at home, but a new app is now available for when you are mobile.

Baby Steps (available for both Android and iOS) has a variety of functions to help you in the next stage of your life. “Our society is increasingly mobile, so we wanted to help our moms wherever they were,” says Danielle Kurtz, RN, from Intermountain Moms.

Start with getting pregnant. Baby Steps has an ovulation tracker to help you know when you are most ready to conceive. “Many women don’t realize you really only have three or four days a month to get pregnant,” says Kurtz.

And what about finding a hospital or doctor? The app can help with that. It can even help once you get there. You know how you have a thousand questions, but as soon as the doctor walks in, you can’t remember a single one of them? The Baby Steps App has a specific area to write those questions down, so you don’t forget to ask.

“The Baby Names tool is so much fun,” says Kurtz. “There are thousands of names in there with the meaning.” She explains you can “star” your favorites, and then review just your top lists.

The app even helps you get ready to have your child with a preparation list of what you should take to the hospital. You can check things off from a list experienced moms helped to create, and add your own items so you don’t forget.

Then there are the other resources. Kurtz – an actual nurse in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center Labor and Delivery Department in Provo, Utah – responds to questions posted on Facebook and Twitter (also linked through the app) as well as records a weekly video chat. “We have thousands of videos with responses to follower’s questions.” In fact, Kurtz said it would actually take over 11 years to watch all the videos (provided you watched 24 hours a day, seven days a week). “And we are, of course, always adding more.”

There are also tips and tricks for the experienced parent – such as an immunization tracker for the whole family.

To find the app, simply search “Intermountain Baby Steps” in the iOS App store or Google Play Store. The app is free.

Baby Steps and Intermountain Moms is sponsored by Intermountain Healthcare. “We have followers from other states and even other countries,” says Kurtz. “Whether you are an expectant mother, new parent, grandparent or caregiver, our medical staff are here for your support.”

Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 22 hospitals, 185 clinics, a Medical Group with some 1,300 employed physicians, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. For more information about Intermountain, visit intermountainhealthcare.org

New for Valentine’s Day: The 2016 “Hugs & Kisses” Personalized 24K Gold Rose

LoveIsARose.com is known for their personalized gold roses with custom, loving messages like “I Love You” or “Will You Marry Me?” imprinted on the flower petals. These distinctive roses are carefully selected and picked at the peak of their beauty, then preserved and trimmed, or dipped entirely, in 24k gold, platinum, or silver. The roses are available in an array of colors to suit every occasion.

The “Hugs & Kisses” Rose is a new addition to the expanded line of personalized, gold-trimmed roses. XOXO, the “Hugs & Kisses” symbol, decorates the Heart Charm that is attached to this beautiful, 24K gold-trimmed rose. (The symbol dates back centuries and is used to express, in addition to “Hugs & Kisses,” sincerity, faith, love, and good friendship.)

The online web store also features a unique line of preserved real orchids, crystal flowers, Capodimonte porcelain flowers, and special occasion shadow boxes. The shadow boxes display the gold roses or orchids and can be customized to deliver a special message to celebrate a love relationship, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, anniversary, wedding, birthday, or even the new baby in the family. Laser-engraved onto bronze plates, messages of love adorn the rich, velvet lined, shadow boxes.

“The personalization that is available is giving people an opportunity to deliver their very own custom message. These distinctive gifts hold words that are spoken from the heart having them become cherished keepsakes,” stated Sid Fey, CEO of Sid Fey Designs, home of www.LoveIsARose.com. 

LoveIsARose.com is also home to Birthstone & Engraved Family Trees. Family names and birth dates are etched in brass or pewter, or displayed around three-dimensional, artfully created wrought iron trees. Vibrant birthstones then become the treasures decorating the branches. The family trees are given to parents, grandparents, husbands, wives, and employers. 

“Our mission has been, is, and will be to celebrate family and relationships. We love working with our customers to create wonderful, personalized gifts that become heirlooms and are loved forever,” concluded Fey.