Travel leader also introduces Norway and Slovenia adventures, expands cycling and Grand Canyon collections
REI Co-op‘s adventure travel company has introduced its first active trips in Shenandoah National Park, along with new trips in Norway and Slovenia. The global leader in small group active travel also announced its first international backpacking trip in Patagonia and continued expansion of its Grand Canyon and cycling collections.
REI Co-op Logo (PRNewsFoto/REI) (PRNewsfoto/REI Co-op)
“We intentionally design every active adventure to connect with local communities in a meaningful way that only REI can offer,” said Mark Seidl, REI divisional vice president of Experiences. “By doing so, we want our guests to gain a broader perspective of the world and be transformed through the experience.”
National Park Expansion: Shenandoah and Grand Canyon Created in 1925, Shenandoah National Park was one of the first national parks in the eastern United States. Three REI itineraries are now available – a multi-sport Shenandoah National Park Adventure, Shenandoah Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking and Shenandoah National Park Weekend Cycling. All trips are four days in length with departures during spring blossoms through fall’s vibrant colors. Next month, REI will add a four-day Shenandoah backpacking trip to the collection.
Building on REI’s widely popular North America backpacking trips, the travel leader is introducing its first international itinerary to explore the undiscovered heart of Patagonia’s remote and rugged beauty. Pictured: Backpacking Patagonia – Fitz Roy and Los Glaciares National Park. https://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/latin/patagonia-argentina-backpacking.html
On REI’s multisport trip, guests hike to Shenandoah’s highest point and through deep caverns with streams and anthodite formations, zipline through the treetops, and float down the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Star-filled evenings at camp are complete with hearty meals to refuel guests. The company’s lodge-to-lodge itinerary hikes a section of the Appalachian Trail from the doorsteps of iconic lodges that boast unique histories. The company’s cycling weekend stays at charming inns and lodges, providing a welcome reward from vigorous daily rides of 40 to 60 miles along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Adding to REI’s postcard-perfect national parks adventures is its expansion in the Grand Canyon. The company recently added six itineraries for a total of 14 adventures Grand Canyon National Park that range from three to eight days of hiking, backpacking and cycling. With so many options, adventurers can confidently select a trip based on his/her available time, interests and ability.
Backpacking Patagonia – Where Nature Reigns Supreme Building on REI’s widely popular North America backpacking trips, the company is introducing its first international itinerary to explore the undiscovered heart of Patagonia’s remote and rugged beauty. On Backpacking Patagonia – Fitz Roy and Los Glaciares National Park, the eight-day adventure starts in the small outpost of El Chalten known as the region’s trekking capital. Guests hike through meadows and lenga forests, across moraines and glaciers, and up to breathtaking vistas. A trip highlight is a trek past iceberg-laden bays and over high passes to reach the unparalleled views of the second-largest non-polar ice mass in the world.
The co-op now offers seven itineraries in Patagonia ranging in length from seven to 13 days for hiking, cycling, kayaking and volunteer trail maintenance to protect the famous “W” trail.
New Europe trips: Norway and Slovenia Known as the “land of the midnight sun” because one-third of the country is in the Arctic Circle, REI is expanding its classic Norway offering with the launch of two more itineraries – Norway Lofoten Islands Hiking and Norway Fjords Cycling. The nine-day archipelago hiking trip offers unparalleled beauty as guests hike up glacier-carved mountains to the reward of epic views, kayak “little Hawaii,” and experience life in remote fishing communities. Highlights also include a cruise through one of the country’s steepest and narrowest fjords in search of Europe’s largest eagle, a visit to the outermost and wildest islands of Værøy, and plenty of opportunities for traditional cold-water swims.
On REI’s Slovenia Hiking – The Alps to the Adriatic trip guests venture into the quiet solitude of the Julian Alps and more. The rugged Julian Alps are just as awe-inspiring as their Swiss and French cousins, with a big difference: far fewer hikers. Over eight days, marvel at high limestone peaks and dense spruce forests; raft the Soča River and swim in its pools and waterfalls; take a private tour of the subterranean chambers of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Škocjan Caves; and discover the region’s wine, olive oil and local cuisine with visits to a prosciutto producer and local beekeeper farm. For such a small country, its beekeepers produce up to 2,500 tons of honey a year.
The Network’s Wild Look Ahead Includes Diverse Programming From Multiple Genres: Veterinary Profiles, Zoo Docs, Animal Rescue & Conservation and Sweeping Natural History
Beloved Australian Actress Naomi Watts to Narrate Franchise Series SECRETS OF THE ZOO: DOWN UNDER, Premiering March 1
Additional Key Announcements Include:
Next Season of Hit Series SECRETS OF THE ZOO (2/23)
New Series ALASKA ANIMAL RESCUE (4/11) and WORLD’S BIGGEST ZOO (Fall 2020)
New Natural History Special THE REAL BLACK PANTHER (Winter 2020) and Return of SAVAGE KINGDOM (Winter 2020)
New year, new decade, New “Roaring” ’20s — and Nat Geo WILD certainly has a lot to roar about. Celebrating its 10th year on the air, the fastest-growing network for animal lovers of all ages celebrates its wild achievements throughout the past decade by announcing its robust 2020 programming slate.
The network that made the Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan a household name has launched more than 200 series and 780 specials in its decade on air. Since the network first took to the airwaves on March 29, 2010, Nat Geo WILD has commissioned more than 2,000 hours of content and has grown by nearly 10 million households, reaching 59.3M in the U.S. Its global footprint delivers 247M international households in 131 countries in more than 40 languages.
“Nat Geo WILD has distinguished itself as the premier destination for viewers who love animals and the natural world as much as we do. Over the years, we’ve been incredibly successful in breaking through with passionate animal caregivers, experts and advocates who are the heart and soul of our biggest hit series. We’ve also transformed National Geographic into a world leader in the creation of awe-inspiring blue-chip natural history,” says Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Global Networks. “I couldn’t be more proud of our results; the real-world impact we’ve had over these past 10 years; the lives we’ve touched; and the trails we continue to blaze. This is all in service of National Geographic’s mission and commitment to inspiring family audiences everywhere to join us in making our planet a better place for all living things for generations to come.”
Following the success of network stalwarts like WILD’s top ranker and longest-running series, THE INCREDIBLE DR. POL, vet-based docuseries have developed into franchise series, including DR. K’S EXOTIC ANIMAL ER, DR. OAKLEY, YUKON VET and DR. T, LONE STAR VET.
Zoo programming has also taken off on the network with original hit series SECRETS OF THE ZOO, featuring the world-renowned Columbus Zoo in Ohio, leading to the greenlight of SECRETS OF THE ZOO: TAMPA — which is posting strong numbers after only two weeks on air. And now, we’re going bigger — MUCH bigger — to the only country in the world that’s also a continent. SECRETS OF THE ZOO: DOWN UNDER premieres Sunday, March 1, at 10/9c, and is narrated by Academy Award-, Golden Globe- and BAFTA Award-nominated Australian actress Naomi Watts (“Luce,” “Mulholland Drive,” “The Impossible”). Watts, who is recognized for her love and concern for all of Australia’s indigenous animals, especially in perilous times, will lend her voice to this 10-part series set within the one of the world’s most famous zoos — Taronga Zoo — which employs more than 240 keepers who care for 5,000-plus animals. SECRETS OF THE ZOO: DOWN UNDER provides rare, behind-the-scenes access while also bringing to focus the horrific wildfires that have killed more than a billion of the continent’s animals.
Nat Geo WILD is renowned for its cinematic, natural history portfolio, underscored by its “Wild” franchise, beginning with early titles, including WILD MISSISSIPPI, AFRICA’S GREAT RIFT and WILD ALASKA. The successful performances of these specials launched a total of nearly 70 additional titles. Looking ahead, the network sinks its teeth further into natural history with the return of the beloved epic SAVAGE KINGDOM and the premiere of THE REAL BLACK PANTHER, profiling Saya, the only black panther in India’s Kabini Forest. This saga, told in first-person narrative, builds drama around Saya and his rival, Scarface, the current king of the forest, and tells an astounding story that defies the laws of natural selection.
NAT GEO WILD UPCOMING PROGRAMMING SLATE
*Schedule and Titles Subject to Change*
VET SERIES
New Series:
CRITTER FIXERS: COUNTRY VETS
Premieres Saturday, March 7, 10/9c; 6×60
Dr. Vernard Hodges and Dr. Terrence Ferguson are two lifelong friends who own and operate Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital, located 100 miles south of Atlanta. Together with their loving staff, these physicians bring real heart, soul and a lot of humor to their treatment and care of more than 20,000 patients a year across their two locations. Between emergency visits to the office and farm calls throughout rural Georgia, this special team is constantly bombarded with unique cases. From a police dog with cactus thorns around her eye to a potbellied pig with life-threatening lacerations, for the Critter Fixer team, there is no such thing as “normal.”
See You Tomorrow will be available online and in the NYC Flagship store starting on Jan. 31
Nordstrom is proud to announce its latest creative projects initiative, See You Tomorrow, a new recommerce experience launching on January 31, 2020. Powered by Yerdle, See You Tomorrow offers customers both an online resale site and an in-store shopping experience in the NYC Flagship store.
(Courtesy of Nordstrom)
Curated by Olivia Kim, vice president of creative projects at Nordstrom, the resale shop will feature a thoughtfully edited, authenticated assortment of pre-loved apparel and accessories from highly coveted brands. The shop is another avenue for the retailer to encourage discovery and engagement with customers.
“We want to provide a unique and elevated resale shopping experience that encourages a sense of discovery and provides access to the brands our customers know and love, while giving them a convenient opportunity to participate in the circular fashion economy,” said Olivia Kim, “We want our customers to feel good not only about what they’re buying, but how they’re buying it.“
Nordstrom Incorporated logo. (PRNewsFoto)
At launch, the shop will be stocked with merchandise sourced from the Nordstrom Quality Center (NQC), the facility that receives and processes returned and damaged merchandise from Nordstrom’s full-price channels. All merchandise will be expertly cleaned, repaired and refurbished before it becomes available for sale at See You Tomorrow.
Customers can also participate by contributing their pre-loved items through a customer intake program in the Nordstrom NYC Flagship store in exchange for Nordstrom gift cards that can be spent at Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom Rack, NordstromRack.com, HauteLook and Trunk Club. Coming soon, Nordstrom will also launch an online intake program where customers will have the ability to mail in merchandise.
“In addition to providing customers more ways to engage with us, See You Tomorrow is another step we’re taking to actively support our commitment to sustainability,” said Pete Nordstrom, co-president at Nordstrom. “We’re excited to show our customers another way Nordstrom is striving to leave the world better than we found it and circular fashion is another piece to this puzzle.“
Nordstrom has partnered withYerdle, a technology and logistics startup company, to power the backend operations of the resale platform including cleaning and repairing of product, inventory processing and fulfillment, pricing and authentication of certain luxury designer items in partnership with Entrupy.
The merchandise assortment will include women’s apparel, women’s shoes, handbags, men’s apparel, accessories and shoes, children’s wear and a limited selection of jewelry and watches. Throughout the duration of the shop, See You Tomorrow will highlight special brand partnerships, starting with Ganni, a Coppenhagen-based contemporary fashion brand.
TheSee You Tomorrow shop at the NYC Nordstrom Flagship Store was designed and built in collaboration with artist and furniture designer Marc Hundley, who has previously collaborated with Kim on previous projects at the Nordstrom NYC Flagship store.
The shop will also feature a café space with food and beverage through an outpost of Bonberi Bodega. The offering will include sustainable market finds including fresh juices, salads, grain bowls, noodles and more.
Nordstrom NYC is located at 235 West 57th Street and open during store hours on Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
INDIgenesis: GEN 3, A Showcase of Indigenous Filmmakers and Storytellers, March 19–28
Presented over two weeks, the series INDIgenesis: GEN 3, guest curated by Missy Whiteman (Northern Arapaho and Kickapoo Nations), opens with an evening of expanded cinema and includes several shorts programs in the Walker Cinema and Bentson Mediatheque, an afternoon of virtual reality, and a closing-night feature film.
The ongoing showcase of works by Native filmmakers and artists is rooted in Indigenous principles that consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations. GEN 3 connects perspectives and stories from the past, present, and future to convey Indigenous truths, teachings, and values.
“Indigenous artists use the creative process of filmmaking for revitalization and narrative sovereignty,” says Whiteman. “Our stories tell us where we came from, re-create our truths, affirm our languages and culture, and inspire us to imagine our Indigenous future. We come from the stars. How far will we take this medium?”
Throughout the program, join conversations with artists and community members centered on themes of Indigenous Futurism, revitalization, and artistic creation.
Opening Night: Remembering the Future Expanded Cinema Screening/Performance Thursday, March 19, 7:30 pm Free, Walker Cinema
Missy Whiteman’s The Coyote Way: Going Back Home, 2016. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.
Combining film, a live score, hoop dancing, hip-hop, and spoken word, a collective of Indigenous artists led by curator Missy Whiteman creates an immersive environment that transcends time and place. Guided by ancestral knowledge systems, traditional stories, and contemporary forms of expression, the expanded cinema program features performances by DJ AO (Hopi/Mdewakatonwan Dakota), Sacramento Knoxx (Ojibwe/Chicano), Lumhe “Micco” Sampson (Mvskoke Creek/Seneca), and Michael Wilson (Ojibwe). Archival found footage and Whiteman’s sci-fi docu-narrative The Coyote Way: Going Back Home(2016), filmed in the community of Little Earth in South Minneapolis, illuminate the space.
Missy Whiteman’s The Coyote Way: Going Back Home, 2016. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.
Indigenous Lens: Our RealityShort films by multiple directors Friday, March 20, 7 pm, $10 ($8 Walker members, students, and seniors), Walker Cinema
This evening of short films showcases a collection of contemporary stories about what it means to be Indigenous today, portraying identity and adaptability in a colonialist system. The program spans a spectrum of themes, including two-spirit transgender love, coming of age, reflections on friends and fathers, “indigenizing” pop art, and creative investigations into acts of repatriation. Digital video, 85 mins
Copresented with Hud Oberly (Comanche/Osage/Caddo), Indigenous Program at Sundance Institute (in attendance).
Lore Directed by Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians)
Images of friends and landscapes are fragmented and reassembled as a voice tells stories, composing elements of nostalgia in terms of lore. 2019, 10 min. View excerpt.
Adam Khalil, Zack Khalil, Jackson Polys, and Bailey Sweitzer’s Culture Capture: Terminal Adddition, 2019. Photo courtesy the filmmakers.
Culture Capture: Terminal Adddition Directed by New Red Order: Adam Khalil (Ojibway), Zack Khalil (Ojibway), Jackson Polys (Tlingit), Bayley Sweitzer
The latest video by the public secret society known as the New Red Order is an incendiary indictment of the norms of European settler colonialism. Examining institutionalized racism through a mix of 3D photographic scans and vivid dramatizations, this work questions the contemporary act of disposing historical artifacts as quick fixes, proposing the political potential of adding rather than removing. 2019, 7 min. View excerpt.
Shane McSauby’s Mino Bimaadiziwin, 2017. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.
Mino Bimaadiziwin Directed by Shane McSauby (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians)
A trans Anishinaabe man meets a young Anishinaabe woman who pushes him to reconnect with their culture. 2017, 10 min. View excerpt.
The Moon and the Night Directed by Erin Lau (Kanaka Maoli)
Erin Lau’s The Moon and the Night, 2017. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.
Set in rural Hawaii, a Native Hawaiian teenage girl must confront her father after he enters her beloved pet in a dogfight. 2018, 19 min. View excerpt.
Erin Lau’s The Moon and the Night, 2017. Photo courtesy the filmmaker.Erin Lau. Photo courtesy the filmmaker. Photo By: Antonio Agosto
Shinaab II Directed by Lyle Michell Corbine, Jr. (Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians)
A young man seeks to honor the memory of his late father in a film that looks at Ojibwe ideas surrounding death and mourning. 2019, 6 min.
Daniel Flores’ Viva Diva, 2019. Image courtesy the artist.
Viva Diva Directed by Daniel Flores (Yaqui)
This road trip movie follows Rozene and Diva as they make their way down to Guadalajara for their gender affirmation surgeries. 2017, 15 min. View excerpt.
Daniel Flores. Image courtesy the artist.
Dig It If You Can Directed by Kyle Bell (Creek-Thlopthlocco Tribal Town)
An insightful portrait of the self-taught artist and designer Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa), whose satirical manipulations of pop culture for an Indigenous audience are gaining a passionate, mass following as he realizes his youthful dreams. 2016, 18 min. View excerpt.
STORY at Macy’s teams up with Well+Good to demystify wellness with curated products, health tips and experiences at 36 stores nationwide
STORY at Macy’s, the ever-changing, narrative-driven retail concept inside 36 Macy’s stores nationwide, unveils its latest theme: “Feel Good.” Now through April 2020, Feel Good STORY brings a fresh focus on wellness and uses merchandise curation and events to explore simple and actionable ways for customers to find greater balance, energy and nourishment. In partnership with the award-winning fitness and wellness media platform, Well+Good, Feel Good STORY leverages its expertise in the field to help define and demystify what it means to live a healthy life through both editorial tips and product picks.
The wellness-focused retail narrative invites discovery through three curatorial spaces and each introduces merchandise and experiences to help you feel Balanced, Energized and Nourished. The Balanced moment is all about mindfulness and invites guests to pause for a complimentary meditation in partnership with Calm, the number one app for sleep, meditation and relaxation. To feel Energized, customers are invited to explore something new, from weighted arm bangles by Bala to an in-store barre fitness class. Finally in Nourished, healthy habits are the focus with new takes on snacking from Dada Daily and alcohol-free elixirs by Seedlip.
Bala – Bangles Resistance Loop Bands, Set of 5 $19.00
STORY at Macy’s product curation meets with editor-approved intel from Well+Good to add a simple, informative layer to the experience. For example, shoppers will discover that to get a good night’s sleep, editors suggest “cooling down your bedroom,” alongside the dodow, a glowing timer that teaches you to fall asleep. Additional tips cover topics like the benefits of dark chocolate, relaxation techniques, and how to maximize your crystals. Well+Good also supports STORY’s merchandise curation by leveraging its 2020 Wellness Trends to inform product selections like snack-able chickpeas. Within these broad moments, STORY at Macy’s and Well+Good take aim at trending topics like sleep, self-care, exercise, hydration, muscle recovery and healthy snacking.
Bala – Weighted 1lb Bangles $49 Bed of Nails – Pillow $49
“Well+Good decodes and demystifies wellness to help our community live a healthy lifestyle in a way that works for them,” said Alexia Brue, co-founder of the award-winning media company Well+Good. “Partnering with STORY at Macy’s allows us to share our rigorously researched editorial content in a new and exciting way, giving people in-person tips to feel more Balanced, Energized and Nourished.”
VIM & VIGR-Compression Socks $36.00Well + Good 100 Healthy Recipes + Expert Advice For Better Living Cookbook $29.99
To bring the Feel Good experience to life, STORY energizes its in-store environment with meditation spaces in partnership with the Calm app at all locations and a range of community-centered events focused on wellness. The concept will host events featuring local experts in the health and wellness space for cooking classes, panel discussions, journaling and meditation workshops, a manicure bar, yoga and barre classes, and mocktail-faking workshops.
AcousticSheep -Sleepphones Headphones $100.00The Growing Candle-Hyggelight Edith Sandalwood Growing Candle $28.00Eat For Beauty by Susan Curtis and Tipper Lewis 25.00The Wellness Project By Phoebe Lapine $25.00
A special selection of STORY at Macy’s wellness product will also be available on macys.com, curated by the three focus areas. From a lavender mimosa candle by Paddywax in Balanced and collapsible foam roller by Brazyn Life in Energized to a mocktail faking kit by Luckies of London in Nourished, online shoppers will be able to discover something that will make them feel good, too.
Immersive Exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art Highlights Importance of the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Using the most recent digital techniques, the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, take visitors on a virtual tour of three ancient cities—Palmyra and Aleppo in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.
Age Old Cities
The exhibition, located in the Sackler Gallery, highlights the devastation of these historically significant sites but also offers hope for their reconstruction and rehabilitation. By including the testimony of Iraqis and Syrians, the installation underscores the importance of place in the preservation of historical and architectural memory.
“Age Old Cities: A Virtual Journey from Palmyra to Mosul” will be on view at the Sackler Gallery from Jan. 25 through Oct. 26. It was organized by the Arab World Institute in Paris, and created in collaboration with Iconem, which specializes in digitizing cultural heritage sites in 3-D, and in partnership with UNESCO. The exhibition offers an immersive experience that emphasizes the importance of preserving the world’s fragile cultural and built heritage.
“‘Age Old Cities’ is a landmark exhibition, not only for its innovative use of digital technology within a museum context, but also for the poignant story it tells,” said Chase F. Robinson, the Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art. “This exhibition narrates the heartbreaking story of cultural destruction—and resilience—in these cities, and we are proud to be the exhibition’s inaugural U.S. venue. Palmyra, Mosul and Aleppo are cornerstones of world culture, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that these cities are preserved to continue to tell their rich histories and inspire future generations.”
In the recent past, Iraq and Syria have suffered profound upheavals that have destroyed many significant cultural and religious sites—leaving little of the rich historical past. “Age Old Cities” sheds light on the devastating destruction, the important cultural heritage of Syria and Iraq, and the need to preserve these sites.
The exhibition invites visitors into the heart of each of the three cities with large-scale projections of dynamic imagery and 3-D reconstructions of damaged monuments. The projections shift gradually from destruction to progressive reconstruction. To contextualize the sites, visitors will also see projections of historical photographs of the structures.
“Beyond the stones, this heritage is a common good, and safeguarding it is the responsibility of all,” said Jack Lang, president of the Arab World Institute. “Citizens of every faith, archaeologists and curators have all worked and continue working today hand in hand to shelter, protect and rebuild.”
The exhibition offers more than a visual of potential reconstruction of mostly destroyed sites; it introduces visitors to the people who still live in the cities. Several videos throughout the exhibition feature interviews with residents, as well as archeologists and curators who work at great personal risk to protect and preserve these sites. Other videos explore unique parts of the cities such as the souks (markets) of Aleppo or the tomb of the Three Brothers in Palmyra (an underground burial chamber turned into an ISIS base of operations).
Throughout the run of the exhibition, the museum will offer a series of programs focusing on each city. Programming will include lectures and presentations on architectural heritage and current events, family programs and related film and music programs to enhance the visitor experience, further explore the rich cultures of these cities, as well as the challenges and opportunities of cultural restoration and public policies.
Named by Architectural Digest as one of the “15 Breathtaking Botanical Gardens to Visit This Season,” the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest, from February 29 to April 12. Themed “Sounds of Spring,” the spring festival showcases an explosion of color from 100 varieties of spring bulbs and more than 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, thousands of azaleas and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees. Presented by IBERIABANK, Dallas Blooms features six majestic musical topiaries including a harp, guitar, saxophone, bass, violin and piano, some of which are eight feet in length—perfect for photos and social media posts.
Alan Walne, Dallas Arboretum board chairman, said, “Dallas Blooms marks that spring has arrived in the South! We invite the community to experience one of the country’s most colorful floral displays this spring where more than 250,000 people will visit this season.”
Named by Architectural Digest as one of the “15 Breathtaking Botanical Gardens to Visit This Season,” the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest, from February 29 to April 12. Themed “Sounds of Spring,” the spring festival showcases an explosion of color from 100 varieties of spring bulbs and more than 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, thousands of azaleas and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees.
Each week showcases a different genre of music from Texas country to classical rock, including live bands each weekend. Dallas Arboretum‘s A Tasteful Place, a garden that celebrates growing, harvesting and preparing fresh food, also features classes in theme with each music genre.
Reopened for the spring, the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden features 17 indoor/outdoor galleries, 150 interactive science games, four plant labs at new times that vary daily and an abundance of themed adventures throughout the Dallas Blooms festival. The Children’s Adventure Garden is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For a full list of upcoming events and activities, visit www.dallasarboretum.org/childrensadventuregarden.
Throughout the week, there are special days and festivities including Mommy and Me Mondays, Tiny Tot Tuesdays, BOGO Wednesdays and CC Young Senior Living Thursdays.
Mary Brinegar, Dallas Arboretum president and CEO, added, “There is something for everyone at Dallas Blooms, and we’ve been told we have the largest display of tulips in a public garden outside of Holland. As the tulips bloom throughout the festival, the finale is the mass flowering of the garden’s collection of 3,000 azaleas that bloom along with the Japanese cherry trees, ushering in spring with vibrant color everywhere.”
Grand Prize Includes Festival Screening and Filmmaking Expedition Abroad
In partnership with theSun Valley Film Festival, Nat Geo WILD announces the seventh annual Wild to Inspire short-film contest. This year, the contest is seeking short films inspired by the milestone 50th anniversary of Earth Day. National Geographic has a storied history of inspiring people to care about the planet and is now looking for films to help with this mission. Films should celebrate the natural world, inspire viewers to work toward a planet in balance in the 21st century and draw a connection to the Earth Day anniversary.
The grand-prize winner will receive a once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid excursion to one of the far corners of the globe to find out firsthand what it’s like to be a National Geographic filmmaker. Past winners have traveled to Africa and Peru.
U.S. residents are invited to submit a short film of three minutes or less using the submission platform Submittable™. Up to three finalists, announced in early March 2020, will receive an invitation to attend SVFF, which unites filmmakers and industry insiders from around the world, in Sun Valley, Idaho, March 18-22. At SVFF, the finalists will screen their films for festival attendees and before a panel of judges that includes Nat Geo WILD executives. The grand-prize winner will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony.
“National Geographic has always been at the forefront of storytelling excellence, having redefined the natural history genre throughout the decades,” says Chris Albert, EVP of global communications at National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD. “Which is why it’s so relevant to inspire the next generation of filmmakers who are eager to put our planet in the spotlight and encourage guardianship and sustainability through heightened awareness of our living, breathing and dynamic planet.”
Since 2012, the Sun Valley Film Festival has invited fans and filmmakers to America’s first ski resort to celebrate the magic of storytelling. The year-round Sun Valley Film Initiative develops professionals and illuminates the process of filmmaking, propelling emerging voices with grants and education. Each March, SVFF celebrates with a slate of cutting-edge films and TV premieres, industry panels, engaging Coffee Talks with entertainment luminaries, a Screenwriters Lab led by award-winning writers and a series of parties culminating with the spectacular SVFF Awards Bash. The 2020 SVFF will be held March 18-22. SVFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. (Learn more at sunvalleyfilmfestival.org.)
“Sun Valley is committed to bringing together the best and brightest in filmmaking while also celebrating the aspiring creators whose work deserves our attention,” says Teddy Grennan, executive director of the Sun Valley Film Festival. “Screening Wild to Inspire finalists during our annual festival is just one way this contest helps foster new talent.”
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Catch up on all your NGC favorites from the past year, including The Hot Zone, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, Running Wild with Bear Grylls and more!
See why IndieWire named National Geographic one of the top five Best Television Platforms of 2019!
Don’t forget to plan movie night! Academy Award-winning documentary film Free Solo airs Dec. 26 at 9/8c.
Tune in for two full weeks of marathon programming beginning today.
That’s a wrap! National Geographic is saying goodbye to 2019 with some of your all-time favorite National Geographic Channel programs of the year. From the dangerously frigid Alaskan terrain to the 3,200-foot summit of El Capitan, explore breathtaking sights, heart-pounding adventure and groundbreaking science from wherever you’re spending the holidays. After a year of such amazing content, we won’t judge if you stay on the couch for the whole two weeks.
This year’s breadth of programming continued to break boundaries through thrilling exploration, risk-taking and transcendent storytelling. Highlights of the two-week blitz include the following:
To kick things off, Nat Geo is exploring new life and old legends with Expedition Amelia: Bob Ballard’s Search (Dec. 23 at 8 p.m.), on the search for renowned aviator Amelia Earhart’s remains, and episodes of Lost Cities with Albert Lin (Dec. 23 at 9 and 10 p.m.), as the National Geographic Explorer uncovers the greatest mysteries of ancient cities from El Dorado, to Stonehenge, to Petra!
You thought the cold weather was tough! Catch the animal kingdom’s most epic survival stories as Bear Grylls guides you through Hostile Planet (Dec. 24 at 11 a.m.), showcasing the world’s most extreme environments and the animals that have adapted to cruel evolutionary curveballs.
The year 2019 was a milestone one for the multi-Emmy-winning series Life Below Zero (Dec. 25 at 9 a.m.) as it celebrated its 100th episode. Meet some of the toughest individuals in the world as they attempt to survive in the most unforgiving and remote corners of America. After watching all day, tune in to a new special episode on Dec. 25 at 9 p.m.
Spend the holidays with some of Hollywood’s most beloved celebrities as they push physical and mental limitations on Running Wild with Bear Grylls (Dec. 26 at 9 a.m.). With guests including Brie Larson, Cara Delevingne, Armie Hammer, Channing Tatum, Bobby Bones and more, you won’t want to miss the chance to catch up on the boldest season yet.
Grab some popcorn (and your seats!) — don’t miss the Academy Award-winning documentary film Free Solo (Dec. 26 at 9 p.m.), as climber Alex Honnold sets out to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the world’s most famous rock, 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, without a rope.
Looking for some not family-related drama? Tune in to Nat Geo’s most-watched scripted series yet, The Hot Zone (Dec. 28 at 5 p.m.). An edge-of-your-seat thriller inspired by Richard Preston’s international bestseller, The Hot Zone recounts the appearance of Ebola on U.S. soil in 1989 and the courageous heroine who put her life at risk to stop this deadly killer. These episodes will include never-before-seen enhancements with real archival footage, scientific interviews and more, diving into the true story behind this lethal outbreak.
Forget your classic holiday libations! Gordon Ramsay serves up a taste of adventure in Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (Dec. 29 at 9 a.m.) as he travels across the globe to learn about local flavors. His journey takes him to Peru’s Sacred Valley, Alaska’s panhandle, New Zealand’s rugged south, Morocco’s mountains, Hawaii’s Hana Coast and Laos’ Mekong River.
In addition to the marathons highlighted above, there’s even more. Don’t miss your chance to watch wildlife prosper in America’s National Parks (Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.) or explore the depths of the oceans with all kinds of sharks (When Sharks Attack beginning Dec. 30 at 9 a.m.) (yes, that rhyme was intentional). And better yet, see what’s in store for 2020 with a sneak peek of the reimagined Brain Games hosted by Keegan-Michael Key (Dec. 29 at 10 p.m.).
For more information on the two-week best of Nat Geo Channel marathon, visit www.natgeotv.com
Independent documentary filmmaker Julia Reichert has been asking defining questions about workers’ rights, gender roles, taboos, and social change in America since the early 1970s. The pioneering Emmy Award–winner and three-time Academy Award–nominee comes to the Walker Arts Center for a retrospective of her distinguished body of work, Julia Reichert: 50 Years in Film, Feb 1–29, 2020 (at the Walker’s Bentson Mediatheque). Reichert will be on-site February 28 and 29, 2020 to discuss her career and her two recent, widely celebrated documentaries, American Factory and 9 to 5: The Story of a Movement.
Julia Reichert’s Growing Up Female, 1971. Image courtesy the artist.Julia Reichert’s Growing Up Female, 1971. Image courtesy the artist.
Growing
Up Female Directed
by Julia Reichert and Jim Klein
Thursday,
February 20, 7 pm Free
“I
wish every high school kid in America could see this film.”
—Susan Sontag on Growing
Up Female
Growing Up Female is the very first feature-length film of the modern women’s movement. Considered controversial and exhilarating on its release, the film examines female socialization through a personal look into the lives of six women, ages four to 35, and the forces that shape them—teachers, counselors, advertisements, music, and the institution of marriage. A time capsule of a generation’s feminist issues, sometimes intersecting with race and class, the film illuminates a complex system of institutions upholding internal and external oppression. Selected to the National Film Registry in 2011. 1971, DCP, 52 min.
Julia Reichert’s Union Maids, 1976. Image courtesy the artist.Julia Reichert’s Union Maids, 1976. Image courtesy the artist.
Union
Maids, Directed
by Julia Reichert, Jim Klein, and Miles Mogulescu
Reichert interviews three “Union Maids” on their experiences as organizing women of the Labor movement. Fighting for humanitarian rights, these radical workers reflect on their lives filled with purpose and struggle. Frustrated by the privileged class’ participation in the women’s movement and caught up in race and gender discrimination within class warfare, their voices echo and contextualize many social justice issues today. 1976, DCP, 48 min.
Julia Reichert at her film editing table in 1973. Image courtesy the artist.
Seeing
Red: Stories of American Communists,
Directed by Julia Reichert and Jim Klein
Julia Reichert’s Seeing Red, 1983. Image courtesy the artist.
Friday,
February 21,
7 pm; $10 ($8 Walker members, students, and seniors)
Reichert brings to light the forgotten history of Americans who joined the Communist Party and the high price many of them paid for their beliefs. Boldly countering traditional myths, the film presents engaging interviews and personal accounts that take on a new resonance in today’s charged political climate. 1983, DCP, 100 min.
Festival to open with “Just Mercy,” close with World Premiere of “Verticals”
The ninth annualNapa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) has announced its film line-up, including Opening and Closing Night screenings. NVFF returns this fall with its five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films, November 13-17. Organizers will showcase Napa Valley’s finest food and wine at all special events, including the Festival Gala, VIP receptions and Vintner Circle dinners, and will feature a lively series of filmmaker-chef collaborative demonstrations at the Monogram Appliances Demonstration Kitchen at the Oxbow Commons in downtown Napa. The seven screening venues located throughout the Valley include the Archer Hotel Napa, the historic Cameo Cinema, the CIA at Copia, Charles Krug Winery, Lincoln Theater, Native Sons, and the Uptown Theatre.
Napa Valley Film Festival Logo
“We
are excited to release another eclectic selection of highly-curated
comedies and dramas from established and emerging filmmakers,”
said Napa Valley Film Festival CEO Tom Tardio. “These films
consist of inspiring and compelling stories that will thoroughly
engage and entertain our festival-goers. At the intersections of
film, food, and wine, the festival continues to deliver tremendously
unique and exclusive experiences that only a world-class destination
such as Napa Valley can provide and only that NVFF can deliver.”
Sneak
Preview Night, Opening Night and Closing Night
NVFF
will kick off with their Sneak Preview Night on Tuesday,
November 12 with a special presentation of 20th Century Fox’s
Ford v Ferrari. The film is inspired by the remarkable
true story of visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby and the
fearless British driver Ken Miles. Directed by James Mangold, the
film stars Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe,
Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone and Ray McKinnon.
The
festival’s official Opening Night film on Wednesday,
November 13 is Warner Bros.’ Just Mercy, a powerful and
thought-provoking true story following young lawyer Bryan Stevenson
and his history-making battle for justice. The film is directed by
Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson and
Jamie Foxx.
Closing
the festival on Sunday, November 17 is SOMMTV’s world
premiere of Verticals, a series that showcases Napa
Valley winemakers and the human condition through a bottle of wine.
This premiere is also the launch of SOMMTV, the first food and wine
dedicated streaming platform. The series is directed by Jason Wise.
Award
Season Contenders
Clemency
(Neon) – Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a
toll on prison warden, Bernadine Williams. The emotional wedge in
her marriage grows and memories of a recently botched execution
plague her daily. As she prepares to end the life of another inmate,
Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her
job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned
to execute. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu and starring Alfre Woodard,
Aldis Hodge, Wendell Price, Richard Schiff and Danielle Brooks.
Portrait
of a Lady on Fire (Neon) – In 1760 France, Marianne is
commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young
woman who has just left the convent. Marianne arrives under the
guise of companionship with the reluctant bride-to-be, observing
Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by firelight at night. As
the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow as
they share Héloïse’s first moments of freedom. Héloïse’s
portrait soon becomes a collaborative act of and testament to their
love. Directed by Céline Sciamma and starring Noémie Merlant and
Adèle Haenel.
To
The Stars (Samuel Goldwyn Films) – Iris, a bespectacled
and reclusive teen living in a god-fearing Oklahoma town in the
1960s, endures the booze-induced antics of her mother and daily
doses of bullying from her classmates. She finds solace in Maggie,
the charismatic and enigmatic new girl at school, who hones in on
Iris’s untapped potential and coaxes her out of her shell. When
Maggie’s mysterious past can no longer be suppressed, the small
community is thrown into a state of panic, leaving Maggie to take
potentially drastic measures and inciting Iris to stand up for her
friend and herself. Directed by Martha Stephens and starring Kara
Hayward, Liana Liberato, Malin Akerman, Tony Hale, Shea Whigham and
Adelaide Clemens.
Troop
Zero (Amazon Studios) – In a tiny Georgia town in 1977, a
motherless girl named Christmas Flint dreams of life beyond the
confines of her trailer-park home and hopes to make contact with
outer space. When Christmas learns that the winners of the annual
Birdie Scout Jamboree talent contest will be included on a recording
to be sent into space for posterity, she tries to join the local
Scouts troop. When she is rejected by the snobbish group of girls
and their uptight leader Miss Massey, Christmas rallies a group of
elementary-school outliers to start their own chapter. Troop Zero is
an endearing and magical tale of friendship and individuality.
Directed by Bert & Bertie and starring Viola Davis, Mckenna
Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps, Charles Shotwell and Allison Janney.
Special
Presentations
Code
& Response – 2018 was the worst year on record for
natural disasters. Code & Response takes us into the heart of
the aftermath of some of those disasters as we meet the first
responders who are supported by innovative technology. Follow four
coders from around the world (Japan, Puerto Rico, California, and
Mexico) to learn about why they are getting involved, as well as how
they are building technologies to help first responders save lives.
Directed by Austin Peck.
Elsewhere
– Bruno is still mourning his wife’s passing when his
in-laws evict him from the home he and wife built together.
Unwilling to let his beloved home fall into disrepair, Bruno sneaks
back to the house and meets the new owner of the home, Marie.
Determined to be the only person to make any changes to the house he
built, Bruno poses as a local handyman and Marie hires him for
renovations. As the two begin work on the house, Bruno is forced to
face the reality that his wife is gone, and he learns to move on
from his grief. Directed by Hernán Jiménez and starring Aden
Young, Parker Posey, Ken Jeong, Beau Bridges and Jacki Weaver. World
Premiere
From
the Vine – Mark, a downtrodden CEO, is experiencing an
ethical crisis at work. In an attempt to re-calibrate his moral
compass, he travels back to his hometown in rural Italy. He finds
newfound purpose by reviving his grandfather’s old vineyard,
offering the small town of Acerenza a sustainable future and
reconnecting with his family in the process. Combining magical
realism and Italian neorealism, and set against the backdrop of
Italian wine country, From the Vine is about returning to your roots
and redefining your life when you’re at the bottom of the barrel.
Directed by Sean Cisterna and starring Joe Pantoliano, Wendy
Crewson, Marco Leonardi, Paula Brancati and Tony Cisterna.
Gay
Chorus Deep South – In response to a wave of
discriminatory anti-LGBTQ laws in Southern states, the San Francisco
Gay Men’s Chorus embarks on a tour of the American Deep South. The
tour brings a message of music, love, and acceptance to communities
and individuals confronting intolerance. What emerges is a less
divided America, where the lines that separate us in faith,
politics, and sexual identity are erased through the soaring power
of music, humanity, and a little drag. Directed by David Charles
Rodrigues.
I
Want My MTV – A nostalgic and thrilling ride, I Want My
MTV takes its audience back to the beginning, when the idea of a
television channel devoted to only videos seemed destined for
failure. The chronicling of this unique journey provides a peek into
how a team of young executives were tasked with growing this seed of
an idea, which would quickly flourish into a beloved and often
controversial cultural juggernaut. Features commentary from Sting,
Billy Idol, The Eurythmics, Jerry Cantrell, Pat Benatar, and more.
Directed by Patrick Waldrop and Tyler Measom, and starring Sting,
Billy Idol, Pat Benatar, Dee Snider, Norman Lear, The Eurythmics ,
Darryl McDaniel and Jerry Cantrell.
It
All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville Songwriter
– It All Begins with a Song: The Story of the Nashville
Songwriter is a celebration of one of music’s most important
yet underrated forces: the songwriter. These songwriters have penned
melodies and lyrics for some of the biggest stars in the music
industry, yet few know their names. Pull back the curtain to reveal
the process of creating a successful song and learn more about the
origins of some of the world’s most iconic hits. Directed by
Anthony ‘Chusy’ Haney-Jardine.
The
Land of High Mountains – The Land of High Mountains is the
inspiring true story of the only pediatric hospital in Haiti. In a
country where one third of the population is under fourteen years of
age and foreign NGOs consistently come and go, Saint Damien
Pediatric Hospital has been providing life-saving healthcare to the
most vulnerable families for over thirty years. This is a powerful
account of the incredible people, both Haitian and foreign who,
despite encountering every conceivable obstacle, are working
together to create a brighter future for their patients and for
Haiti. Directed by Will Agee and starring Liferne Forestal, Phadoul
Amisial, Fr. Rick Frechette, Dr. Renee Alce, Dr. Jacqueline Gautier,
Fr. Enzo Del Brocco, Veline , Gaelle , Lourdy , Pierre Nadine,
Sainfleur Jean Israel, Marie Yolene, Vilaire Meralin and Christiana
Liberis.
Making
Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound – Since the invention of
sound in films, sound designers have been influencing the landscape
of cinema. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound shines a
spotlight on the unsung heroes of sound design throughout cinematic
history. Through interviews with legendary directors and some of the
industry’s most-respected sound designers, we revisit film
classics that helped shape the way we listen to and experience films
today. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound reveals the hidden
impact of sound in cinema and how the auditory intake of a film
holds so much power over an individual’s experience of
storytelling. Directed by Midge Costin.
Martha:
A Picture Story – In the 1970s, Martha Cooper was one of a
handful of photographers documenting the first vivid images of
graffiti appearing on New York City’s subway carriages. 20 years
later, she discovers that her book Subway Art has become one of the
most stolen books of all time – inspiring the spread of graffiti
around the globe and making Martha an unexpected icon of the street
art world. Now, at age 75, Martha must navigate her way through the
vastly changed culture of the modern world. Directed by Selina
Miles.
My
Beautiful Stutter – After lifetimes of bullying,
isolation, and failed fluency training, witness the incredible
transformation of five kids who stutter when they enter a
groundbreaking program through SAY, The Stuttering Association. Over
the course of a year of events and workshops, these young people of
wildly different backgrounds experience SAY’s revolutionary
mantra: it’s okay to stutter. Directed by Ryan Gielen and starring
Taro Alexander.
RUTH
– Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words – How does a person
with three strikes against her rise to the highest court in the
land, the U.S. Supreme Court? RUTH – Justice Ginsburg in Her Own
Words tells the improbable story of how Ruth Bader Ginsburg became
an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. It also reveals both the
public and private sides of a resilient, resourceful woman who has
survived the hostility of the profoundly male universe of government
and law to become a revered Justice and icon for gender equality and
women’s rights. Directed by Freida Lee Mock and starring Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Goodwin Liu, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky,
Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, M.E.
Freeman, Lilly Ledbetter and Kathleen Peratis.
The
Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky – Packed full of humour,
personality, and flavour, The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky is a
drinks-focussed travelogue, where three friends embark on a road
trip through Scotland. From Dufftown and Islay to Elgin and Jura,
they journey through breath-taking landscapes, visiting iconic
distilleries and touching on Scottish culture, tourism and
traditional dishes you can’t even pronounce. This is whisky for a
new, global audience, from twenty-one to ninety-one. Directed by
David Agrawal. World Premiere
OTHER
FILM HIGHLIGHTS
Core
Competitions (previously announced)
Narrative
Competition
Bring
Me an Avocado, Directed by Maria Mealla and starring
Bernardo Peña, Sarah Burkhalter, Molly Ratermann, Candace Roberts.
Here
Awhile, Directed by Tim True and starring Anna Camp, Steven
Strait, and Joe Lo Truglio. World Premiere
Justine,
Directed by Stephanie Turner and starring Glynn Turman, Darby
Stanchfield, Josh Stamberg, Daisy Prescott, and Stephanie Turner.
Lucky
Grandma, Directed by Sasie Sealy and starring Tsai Chin,
Corey Ha, Michael Tow, Woody Fu, Yan Xi, Wai Ching Ho, and Clem
Cheung.
The
Nomads, Directed by Brandon Eric Kamin and starring Tika
Sumpter and Tate Donovan.
Run
This Town, Directed by Ricky Tollman and starring Ben Platt,
Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev, Damian Lewis, Jennifer Ehle, and Scott
Speedman.
Standing
Up, Falling Down, Directed by Matt Ratner and starring Billy
Crystal, Ben Schwartz, Eloise Mumford, Grace Gummer, Caitlin McGee,
David Castaneda, Debra Monk, and Jill Hennessy.
Stealing
School, Directed by Li Dong and starring Celine Tsai,
Jonathan Keltz, Michelle Monteith, Mpho Koaho, Darrin Baker,
Jonathan Malen, Matthew Edison, and Vas Saranga. World Premiere
Documentary
Competition
I
Am Human, Directed by Taryn Southern and Elena Gaby.
Latter
Day Jew, Directed by Aliza Rosen.
Motherload,
Directed by Liz Canning.
The
Pollinators, Directed by Peter Nelson.
The
Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion, Directed by Lisa Cortes and Farah
X.
The
Story of Plastic, Directed by Deia Schlosberg.
This
Is My Home, Directed by Karl Nickoley.
Well
Groomed, Directed by Rebecca Stern.
Verge
Come
As You Are, Directed by Richard Wong.
Greener
Grass, Directed by Dawn Luebbe and Jocelyn DeBoer.
Hosea,
Directed by Ryan Daniel Dobson. World Premiere
Last
Call, Directed by Gavin Michael Booth.
Only,
Directed by Takashi Doscher.
Speed
of Life, Directed by Liz Manashil.
Treasure
Trouble, Directed by Dan Erickson.
The
Way You Look Tonight, Directed by John Cerrito.
Culinary
Cinema
Breaking
Bread, Directed by Beth Elise Hawk.
Funke,
Directed by Gab Taraboulsy.
Nose
to Tail, Directed by Jesse Zigelstein.
Nothing
Fancy: Diana Kennedy, Directed by Elizabeth Carroll.
Stage:
The Culinary Internship, Directed by Abby Ainsworth.
A
Taste of Sky, Directed by Michael Lei.
The
festival will also feature Short Film Programs with:
17
Narrative Shorts
11
Documentary Shorts
The
Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) is a five-day celebration
that blends the art of film, food, and wine together. Discover the
best new independent films of the year, savor exquisite cuisine
paired with legendary wines, and create lasting memories found only
in the Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Film Festival is presented by
Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization
headquartered in Napa, California. Cinema Napa Valley’s mission is
to celebrate the cinematic arts and enrich the community by
presenting an annual world-class festival and year-round education
and outreach programs. The Napa Valley Film Festival takes place
November 13-17, 2019. Visit napavalleyfilmfest.org for more
information on passes and festival events.
Designs for Different Futures is organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The
role of designers in shaping how we think about the future is the
subject of a major exhibition that will premiere at the Philadelphia
Museum of Art this fall. Designs for Different Futures
(October 22, 2019–March 8, 2020) brings together some 80
works that address the challenges and opportunities that humans may
encounter in the years, decades, and centuries ahead. Organized by
the Philadelphia Museum of Art, theWalker
Art Center, Minneapolis,
and the Art Institute of Chicago,
Designs for Different Futures will be presented at the Walker
(September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021) and the Art Institute
of Chicago (February 6–May 16, 2021) following its
presentation in Philadelphia.
Among
the questions today’s designers seek to answer are: What role
can technology play in augmenting or replacing a broad range of human
activities?Can intimacy be maintained at a distance? How can
we negotiate privacy in a world in which the sharing and use of
personal information has blurred traditional boundaries? How might we
use design to help heal or transform ourselves, bodily and
psychologically? How will we feed an ever-growing population?
While
no one can precisely predict the shape of things to come, the works
in the exhibition are firmly fixed on the future, providing design
solutions for a number of speculative scenarios. In some instances,
these proposals are borne of a sense of anxiety, and in others of a
sense of excitement over the possibilities that can be created
through the use of innovative materials, new technologies, and, most
importantly, fresh ideas.
Timothy
Rub, the George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer of
the Philadelphia Museum of Art, stated: “We often think of
art museums as places that foster a dialogue between the past and the
present, but they also can and should be places that inspire us to
think about the future and to ask how artists and designers can help
us think creatively about it. We are delighted to be able to
collaborate with the Walker Art Center and the Art Institute of
Chicago on this engaging project, which will offer our visitors an
opportunity to understand not only how designers are imagining—and
responding to—different visions of the futures, but also to
understand just how profoundly forward-looking design contributes in
our own time to shaping the world that we occupy and will bequeath as
a legacy to future generations.”
“Lia: The Flushable and Biodegradable Pregnancy Test,” designed 2018 by Bethany Edwards and Anna Couturier Simpson (Courtesy of the designer). Photograph courtesy of LIA Diagnostics. Image courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2019.
Thinking
about the future has always been part of the human condition. It has
also been a perennial field of inquiry for designers and architects
whose speculations on this subject—ranging from the concrete to the
whimsical—can profoundly affect how we imagine what is to come.
Among the many forward-looking projects on view, visitors to Designs
for Different Futures will encounter lab-grown food, robotic
companions, family leave policy proposals, and textiles made of
seaweed.
“Some
of these possibilities will come to fruition, while others will
remain dreams or even threats,” said Kathryn Hiesinger,
the J. Mahlon Buck, Jr. Family Senior Curator of European Decorative
Arts after 1700, who coordinated the exhibition in Philadelphia with
former assistant curator Michelle Millar Fisher. “We’d like
visitors to join us as we present designs that consider the possible,
debate the inevitable, and weigh the alternatives. This exhibition
explores how design—understood expansively—can help us all
grapple with what might be on the horizon and allows our imaginations
to take flight.”
The
exhibition is divided into 11 thematic sections. In Resources,
visitors will encounter an inflatable pod measuring 15 feet in
diameter, part of the work Another Generosity first created in
2018 by Finnish architect Eero Lundén and designed in this
incarnation in collaboration with Ron Aasholm and Carmen
Lee. The pod slowly expands and contracts in the space,
responding to changing levels of carbon dioxide as visitors exhale
around it, and provoking questions about the ongoing effect of the
human footprint on the environment.
“Svalbard Global Seed Vault,” designed 2008 by Peter W. Søderman, Barlindhaug Consulting (Exhibition display courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation). Photograph courtesy of Global Crop Diversity Trust. Image courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2019.“Recyclable and Rehealable Electronic Skin,” designed 2018 by Jianliang Xiao and Wei Zhang (Courtesy of the designer). Image courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2019
The
section titled Generations will explore ways in which the
choices we make today may contribute to the well-being or suffering
of those who come after us. Here, visitors will find a model of the
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a repository that stores the
world’s largest collection of crop seeds. Located within a mountain
on a remote island near the Arctic Circle, the facility is designed
to withstand natural or human-made disasters. The Earths section
of the exhibition speculates on the challenges of extra-terrestrial
communication in Lisa Moura’s Alien Nations installation and
showcases typeface from the 2016 science-fiction film Arrival.
In
Bodies, designers grapple with choices about how our physical and
psychological selves might look, feel, and function in different
future scenarios. Featured here is one of the world’s lightest and
most advanced exoskeletons, designed to help people with mobility
challenges remain upright and active. Also notable is the CRISPR
Kit, an affordable and accessible gene-editing toolbox, which has
the potential to revolutionize biomedical research and open
opportunities for gene therapy and genetic engineering.
Intimacies
is a section that explores how technologies and online interfaces may
affect love, family, and community. Here, urban experiences of sex
and love are the focus of Andrés Jaque’s Intimate
Strangers, an audio-visual installation focusing on the gay
dating app. Through internet-enabled devices, designers explore the
possibility of digitally mediated love and sex, suggesting what
advanced digital networks hold for human sexuality.
Foods
contains projects that explore the future of the human diet.
Among them is a modular edible-insect farm, Cricket Shelter,
by Terreform ONE, which offers a ready source of protein for
impending food crises. A kitchen installation suggests how technology
and design may contribute to new modes of food production, including
an Ouroboros Steak made from human cells.
“Circumventive Organs, Electrostabilis Cardium (film still),” designed 2013 by Agi Haines (Courtesy of the designer). Image courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2019.
Additional
sections of the exhibition will focus on the future of Jobs and how
Cities will function and look 100 years from now—with
robotic baby feeders, driverless cars, and other
developments—affording a glimpse at how we might navigate living
beyond this planet. Shoes grown from sweat are among the innovations
visitors will find in a section devoted to Materials, while
Power will look at how design may affect our citizenship and
help us retain agency over such essentials as our DNA, our voices,
and our electronic communications in a future where the lines between
record-keeping, communication, and surveillance blur. Data
acknowledges and questions the different ways that information
might be collected and used, with all its inherent biases and
asymmetries, to shape different futures.
The
curatorial team is comprised of: at the Philadelphia
Museum of Art, Kathryn B.
Hiesinger, The J. Mahlon Buck, Jr. Family Senior
Curator of European Decorative Arts after 1700, and Michelle
Millar Fisher, formerly The Louis C. Madeira IV Assistant
Curator of European Decorative Arts after 1700; At the Walker
Art Center, Emmet Byrne,
Design Director and Associate Curator of Design; and at the Art
Institute of Chicago, Maite
Borjabad López-Pastor, Neville Bryan Assistant Curator of
Architecture and Design, and Zoë Ryan,
the John H. Bryan Chair and Curator of Architecture and Design.
Consulting curators are Andrew Blauvelt,
Director, Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield
Hills, Michigan, and Curator-at-Large, Museum of Arts
and Design, New York; Colin Fanning,
Independent Scholar, Bard Graduate Center,
New York; and Orkan Telhan,
Associate Professor of Fine Arts (Emerging Design Practices),
University of Pennsylvania School of Design,
Philadelphia.
Kathryn
B. Hiesinger is the J. Mahlon Buck, Jr. Family Senior Curator of
European Decorative Arts after 1700 at the Philadelphia
Museum of Art. Her work focuses on decorative arts and
design from the mid-nineteenth century to the present and includes
the exhibitions and publications Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion
(2011), Out of the Ordinary: The Architecture and Design of
Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown and Associates (2001),
Japanese Design: A Survey since 1950 (1994) and Design
since 1945 (1983).
Michelle
Millar Fisher is the Ronald C. and Anita L Wornick Curator of
Contemporary Decorative Arts at the Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston. She is a graduate of the University
of Glasgow, Scotland, and is currently completing her
doctorate in architectural history at the Graduate
Center of the City University of New York. She is the
co-author, with Paola Antonelli, of Items: Is Fashion
Modern? (2017).
Emmet
Byrne is the Design Director and Associate Curator of Design at
the Walker Art Center in
Minneapolis. He provides creative leadership and strategic direction
for the Walker in all areas of visual communication, branding,
publishing, while overseeing the award-winning in-house design
studio. He was one of the founders of the Task Newsletter in
2009 and is the creator of the Walker’s Intangibles platform.
Maite
Borjabad López-Pastor is the Neville Bryan Assistant Curator of
Architecture and Design at the Art Institute
of Chicago. She is an architect and curator educated at
the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Columbia
University, New York. She is the author and curator of
Scenographies of Power: From the State of Exception to the Spaces
of Exception (2017). Her work revolves around diverse forms of
critical spatial practices, operating across architecture, art, and
performance.
Zoë
Ryan is the John H. Bryan Chair and Curator of Architecture and
Design at the Art Institute of Chicago.
She is the editor of As Seen: Exhibitions That Made Architecture
and Design History (2017) and curator of In a Cloud, in a
Wall, in a Chair: Six Modernists in Mexico at Midcentury (2019)
and the 2014 Istanbul Design Biennial, The Future is Not
What it Used to Be. Her projects explore the impact of
architecture and design on society.
Centered
on the innovative contemporary design objects, projects, and
speculations of the exhibition’s checklist, the accompanying volume
proposes design as a means through which to understand, question, and
negotiate individual and collective futures, giving provocative voice
to the most urgent issues of today. It asks readers to contemplate
the design context within broader historical, social, political, and
aesthetic spectrums. Designs for Different Futures addresses
futures near and far, exploring such issues as human-digital
interaction, climate change, political and social inequality,
resource scarcity, transportation, and infrastructure.
The
primary authors are Kathryn B. Hiesinger, Michelle Millar Fisher,
Emmet Byrne, Maite Borjabad López-Pastor, and Zoë Ryan,
with Andrew Blauvelt, Colin Fanning, Orkan Telhan, Juliana Rowen
Barton, and Maude de Schauensee. Additional contributions
include texts by V. Michael Bove Jr. and Nora Jackson,
Christina Cogdell, Marina Gorbis, Srećko Horvat, Bruno Latour,
Marisol LeBrón, Ezio Manzini, Chris Rapley, Danielle Wood, LinYee
Yuan, and Emma Yann Zhang; and interviews with Gabriella
Coleman, Formafantasma (Andrea Trimarchi and Simone
Farresin), Aimi Hamraie and Jillian Mercado, Francis
Kéré, David Kirby, Helen Kirkum, Alexandra Midal, Neri Oxman,
and Eyal Weizman.
Designs
for Different Futures will be distributed by Yale University
Press. The book was overseen by Philadelphia Museum of Art
publishing director Katie Reilly and editors Katie Brennan
and Kathleen Krattenmaker. It is designed by Ryan Gerald
Nelson, Senior Graphic Designer at the Walker Art Center, under the
direction of Walker design director Emmet Byrne.
Futures
Therapy Lab
As
part of the exhibition, visitors to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
galleries will also encounter a space for community meetups, public
programs, school visits, and self-directed activities. The Futures
Therapy Lab will weave personal connections between visitors and
the exhibition as part of a collaboration between the museum’s
Education Department and the curatorial team. Weekly programs,
many of which will occur on Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesday Nights,
will connect visitors with designers, artists, and locally based
creatives. The Futures Therapy Lab will contain a crowdsourced
Futures Library that includes everything from science-fiction
books to the exhibition catalogue. “Thinking about possible
futures is both exhilarating and anxiety-provoking,” said
Emily Schreiner, the Zoë and Dean Pappas Curator of Education,
Public Programs. “The Futures Therapy Lab is a place for
conversation, critique, and creativity in which visitors can imagine
their own hopes, fears and solutions for the future through
reflection, discussion, and art making.”
In
Philadelphia, this exhibition is generously supported by the
Annenberg Foundation Fund for Major Exhibitions, the Robert
Montgomery Scott Endowment for Exhibitions, the Kathleen C.
and John J.F. Sherrerd Fund for Exhibitions,Lisa Roberts and
David Seltzer in Honor of Collab’s 50th Anniversary, the Women’s
Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Laura and
William C. Buck Endowment for Exhibitions, the Harriet and
Ronald Lassin Fund for Special Exhibitions, the Jill and
Sheldon Bonovitz Exhibition Fund, and an anonymous donor.
Related
Programs
The
Futures Therapy Lab will host a series of weekly happenings:
Artists
in the Lab
Artists
and designers share their work through talks, demonstrations, and
workshops. Wednesday Nights, 5:00–8:45 p.m.
The
Designer is In
Talk
it out. One-on-one sessions with local designers offer new
perspectives on your everyday life. Thursdays & Saturdays,
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Sci-Fi
Sundays
Drop-in
readings that explore narratives of the future. Select Sundays,
2:00–3:00pm
Dr.Organic®,
a
full
range, award-winning personal care brand founded in the United
Kingdom is
now
available in the US. Inspired by a need for naturally-sourced,
effective and affordable skincare products, the brand prides itself
on a selection of organic, active ingredients that are cruelty free
and free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), artificial
colors, phthalates, petroleum, glycols, cocamide diethanoalamine
(DEA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), isothiazolinones, mineral oil,
and silicones. Dr.Organic
is now available on Ulta.com
and
will be available exclusively in-store at select Ulta locations
nationwide beginning
Sunday, October 20.
Dr.Organic®
Today,
more than 40% of women say that “made with organic or natural
ingredients” is one of their top three reasons for choosing new
skincare products, making Dr.Organic a must-have for skincare
enthusiasts this fall.§
“Clean
beauty^ means the world to us, and more importantly, consumers are
looking for organic, naturally-sourced options. That’s why we knew we
had to bring this premium UK brand stateside,” says Rimma
Fehling, VP of Incubator and New Ventures at The Nature’s Bounty Co.
“Until now, it was difficult to find a collection that is
organic while also being affordable and effective – Dr.Organic
fills this important gap in the beauty space.“
Dr.Organic® Full Product Line
Dr.Organic
includes four key ingredient ranges – Aloe Vera, Rose, Snail
Gel, and Tea Tree. Each collection targets a different
skin area, from fine lines and oil control to dryness. Additionally,
Aloe Vera provides deep nourishing and hydrating benefits to the
skin. Collection details include:
Dr.Organic® Rose Collection
Aloe
Vera: Harvested from Mexico, organic Aloe Vera is a naturally
hydrating ingredient renowned for cooling, calming and soothing dry,
irritated and sun-exposed skin.
Rose:
This heavenly scented essence restores and hydrates all skin types.
Extracted from organic roses, Rose Otto is one of the highest
quality rose oils in the world. Renowned for its beautiful floral
fragrance and naturally soothing properties.
Snail
Gel: Rich in collagen, elastin and glycolic acid, snail mucin
naturally hydrates and rejuvenates aging skin. Snail farmers
discovered the healthy aging properties of snail mucin when they
realized how soft their hands felt after a day’s work. Dr.Organic
gel is humanely sourced from snails living in natural habitats in
France.
Tea
Tree: Known for its purifying properties, Tea Tree oil is ideal
for balancing out oily and combination skin. Hailing from Australia,
organic Tea Tree Oil is a stimulating essential oil trusted by the
Aborigines for centuries.
The
Nature’s Bounty Co. is a privately held, global leader in health
and wellness with a rich history and proven track record in the
nutritional market. As a manufacturer, marketer and online seller of
vitamins, dietary supplements, minerals, herbals, protein bars and
powders, and ethical beauty products, the company is committed to
supporting consumers’ wellness needs through high quality products
backed by science. The brands of The Nature’s Bounty Co. are some of
the most trusted in the world including Nature’s Bounty®, Pure
Protein®, Solgar®, Osteo Bi-Flex®, Dr.Organic®, Sundown®, Body
Fortress®, MET-Rx® and Ester-C®.
§
Source: Kantar Consulting 2018 USM Beauty Concerns for Females Data
^Clean
defined as all products free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate
(SLS), artificial colors, phthalates, petroleum, glycols, cocamide
diethanoalamine (DEA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT),
isothiazolinones, mineral and silicones
Today,
global luxury brand Burberry and authenticated luxury
consignment marketplace The RealReal announced they are
teaming up to promote a more sustainable future for fashion. Through
a new partnership, Burberry and The RealReal are aiming to support
and promote the benefits of a circular economy for fashion by
encouraging customers to extend the life of their products through
resale. Through the pilot launching today, customers who consign
Burberry pieces at The RealReal are being offered an exclusive
personal shopping experience in select Burberry stores across the
U.S.
Burberry And The RealReal Join Forces To Make Fashion Circular
The
Ellen
MacArthur Foundation estimates
that more than $500 billion of value is lost every year due to
clothing not being utilized or recycled effectively, with some
garments in the U.S. discarded after just seven to 10 wears.
Burberry
has been at the forefront of sustainability in fashion, with social
and environmental programmes in place for more than 15 years. Driving
a more circular economy for fashion is central to Burberry’s
five-year Responsibility agenda to 2022 and as part of this Burberry
continues to expand ways to reuse, repair, donate and recycle
products and materials. During 2018/19, Burberry reduced its
market-based emissions by 43% and procured 58% of its total energy
(including 68% of its electricity) from renewable sources. Burberry
is now carbon neutral across the Americas region, its EMEIA retail
stores and UK operations, and aims to be 100% carbon neutral by 2022.
A
key figure in driving industry collaboration, Burberry is a founding
signatory of the UNFCCC’s Fashion Industry Charter for Climate
Action, a signatory of the UN Global Compact, and a core partner of
the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative,
working with industry and NGOs to address key impacts of the fashion
industry. Burberry is also a signatory of The Fashion Pact, a global
alliance between 32 of the world’s leading fashion companies to
tackle climate change announced at the 2019 G7 Summit in Biarritz.
“Leading
the way in creating a more circular economy for fashion is a key
element of our Responsibility agenda,” said Pam Batty, VP
Corporate Responsibility, Burberry. “The RealReal shares our
ambition to promote the circular economy and keep clothing in use for
longer. We know that the enduring quality of Burberry pieces means
their appeal and value is long-lasting. Through this new partnership
we hope to not only champion a more circular future but encourage
consumers to consider all the options available to them when they’re
looking to refresh their wardrobes.”
The RealReal (PRNewsFoto/The RealReal)
The
RealReal is the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated,
consigned luxury goods. With an expert behind every item, the company
provide a safe and reliable platform for consumers to buy and sell
their luxury items. With morethan 100+ in-house gemologists,
horologists and brand authenticators who inspect thousands of items
available online each day, The RealReal make consigning effortless
with free in-home pickup, drop-off service and direct shipping for
both individual consignors and estates. At its stores in Los Angeles
as well as SoHo and the Upper East Side NYC, customers can shop and
consign and meet with experts to learn more about luxury authenticity
and sustainability. At its 11 Luxury Consignment Offices,
three of which are located in our retail stores, the expert staff
provides free valuations for high-value pieces.
According
to The RealReal, resale demand for Burberry has increased by 64%
year-on-year, with searches for Burberry on the site rising fastest
among Millennial and Gen Z customers.
“A
brand as storied as Burberry embracing the circular economy
demonstrates the power of resale’s impact on both the luxury market
and the planet,” said Julie Wainwright, CEO of The RealReal.
“I hope together we’ll be a part of pioneering a future in
which circularity is a consideration for every luxury brand.”
Building
on their shared ambition to make fashion circular, Burberry
and
The RealReal have
made a donation to Materials
for the Arts to
support its work in helping people rethink the way they look at
materials and waste, as well as educating the public on the
importance of creative reuse.
Burberry
and The RealReal’s generous donation will support MFTA’s nonprofit
partner, Friends of Materials for the Arts, which guides and supports
MFTA’s education and outreach initiatives including free field trips
for students, warehouse operation improvements, public programming,
and professional development for educators. Contributions like this
are essential to its
mission to encourage creative reuse and environmental sustainability
in NYC, which,
in turn,
empower students to make art, train teachers to bring creative
hands-on projects into the classroom, and keep the warehouse open
later for itsmembers.
A
program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, with
support from the Department of Education and Friends of
Materials for the Arts, MFTA is NYC’s largest reuse center
supporting nonprofits with arts programming, public schools, and city
agencies. On average MFTA collects over 1.5m lbs. (approx.700,000
kilograms) of supplies each year which it provides, free of charge,
to its member organizations. In addition to providing materials, MFTA
has an Artist-in-Residence program, an education center, and holds
public events which include gallery openings and community workshops.
For
more information about consigning Burberry pieces with The RealReal,
please visit therealreal.com/Burberry.
A Comprehensive Update Of The Luxury Jeweler’s Progress And Longstanding Commitment To Sustainability And Transparency, Including Its 2018 Progress.
Tiffany
& Co. has published its enhanced Tiffany.com/Sustainability
website representing the next chapter in Tiffany’s
industry-leading legacy of social and environmental responsibility.
The website outlines the luxury jeweler’s commitments, actions and
longterm vision to promote the well-being of people and the planet at
the heart of the brand. The site is designed to increase transparency
and be accessible to all of Tiffany’s stakeholders, including
Tiffany customers and employees, and includes formal reporting
updates on Tiffany’s 2018 sustainability performance.
Tiffany & Co logo
“As
a global company and luxury leader, Tiffany has a bigger role to play
beyond careful and responsible stewardship in our own business
operations,” said Alessandro Bogliolo, chief executive officer,
Tiffany & Co. “We can, and do, leverage our legacy and our
reach to drive positive change in the industry and in the world.”
The
website summarizes the great strides in socially and environmentally
sustainable efforts that Tiffany made in 2018 and so far in 2019.
Among these are:
• The
launch of the Diamond Source Initiative, which identifies for Tiffany
customers the provenance of all newly sourced, individually
registered diamonds.. This new initiative is a significant step in
diamond transparency and continues Tiffany’s longstanding
commitment to responsible sourcing.
• In
2018, the luxury house continued to provide a living wage for
artisans in Tiffany’s manufacturing workforce in developing
countries.
• In
2019, Tiffany established Employee Resource Groups to maintain
inclusion that focus on working parents, communities of color, the
LGBTQcommunity and women.
• In
addition to strong female representation throughout the Company and
its leadership, Tiffany achieved a gender ratio of 45% women on the
Tiffany & Co. Board of Directors in June 2019.
• Tiffany
is ahead of schedule in its goals for reaching net zero emissions,
LEED-certified green buildings, sustainable packaging and 100 percent
renewable electricity.In 2018, over 80% of Tiffany’s global
electricity came from clean, renewable sources.
• The
Tiffany & Co. Foundation has awarded more than $80 million in
grants to help preserve the world’s seascapes and landscapes—from
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to the majestic natural monuments of
the American West.
• The
Save the Wild collection, now in its second year, which has garnered
over $5 million since its inception benefitting the Wildlife
Conservation Network, including the Elephant Crisis Fund, to protect
endangered species.
Tiffany’s has long been transparent about its sustainability efforts and progress. Building upon Tiffany’s legacy of social and environmental stewardship over the past two decades, the enhanced Tiffany.com/Sustainability website provides a comprehensive look at the luxury jeweler’s history and recent action. In addition, Tiffany formally reports on 2018 metrics, a sub-set of which are assured by PwC, and its alignment to internationally recognized external reporting frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For more details on these highlights, please visit Tiffany.com/Sustainability or follow #TIFFANYSUSTAINABILITY
TIFFANY
& CO. and TIFFANY are trademarks of Tiffany and Company.
Global
luxury travel network Virtuoso®
revealed the winners of the celebrated
2019 Best of the Best awards last night, before more than
1,800 industry leaders at the 31st annual Virtuoso
Travel Week. The ceremony at the 13th
annual Hotels & Resorts Dinner recognized the year’s top
10 hotels and hoteliers in categories ranging from best wellness
program to best dining experience. Four
Seasons Hotel George V triumphed with the most prestigious
prize: Hotel of the Year.
Virtuoso®
is the leading international travel agency network specializing in
luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization
comprises over 1,000 travel agency partners with 20,000 elite travel
advisors in 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the
Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
Drawing
upon its preferred relationships with over 1,800 of the world’s best
hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and
premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with
exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More
than (U.S.) $26.4 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a
powerhouse in the luxury travel industry.
With
a wide-ranging portfolio of more than 1,400 hotels, resorts, villas,
tented camps and private island retreats in over 100 countries,
Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts is the industry’s most renowned
program. Started in 1992 with 20 hotels, today it includes more
five-star properties than any other group.
Virtuoso’s
20,000 professional travel advisors from 50 countries served as Best
of the Best award voters. Editors of
Virtuoso Life, the network’s multi-award-winning magazine,
lent insights to narrow the field of nominees for which the advisors
voted. Winners will be showcased in the September/October issue of
the magazine, reaching 200,000 affluent households.
“The
exceptional contributions of these Best of the Best winners are
emblematic of the caliber of creativity, service and guest
experiences that are the hallmark of the Virtuoso Hotels &
Resorts program,” said
Albert Herrera, senior vice president of Global
Product Partnerships for Virtuoso. “Every year our
winners raise the bar even higher for global luxury hospitality, and
we are proud to honor their accomplishments while expressing
gratitude for the inspiration they provide to us all.“
The
2019 Virtuoso Best of the Best winners are:
Hotel
of the Year:
An
iconic hotel that epitomizes excellence in luxury hospitality and
encourages positive change in its community. Winner:
Four
Seasons Hotel George V,
Paris, France The
property delights guests with impeccable service, fine art and
antiques and stunning floral displays. A new spa features an indoor
pool and dozens of treatments and fitness programs, including a
staff-led jog past landmarks including the
Louvre
and
Eiffel Tower.
The hotel offers three restaurants: the three-Michelin-starred Le
Cinq as
well as
Le George
and L’Orangerie,
which each boast a star of their own.
Best
Achievement in Design:
Outstanding
architecture and design of a hotel or component (room or suite,
restaurant, spa, public space, etc.), whether a new property,
renovation, or restoration. Winner:
Rosewood
Hong Kong, China Soaring
65 stories above Victoria
Dockside,
a new art and design district on the Kowloon
waterfront,
Rosewood’s glass tower enhances Hong Kong’s skyline. Inside, Western
and Asian aesthetics blend seamlessly, from the octagonal Chinese
bagua symbol on carpets and walls to copper-mesh-lined French pendant
lights, Damien
Hirst
artwork, and Indian artist Bharti
Kher’s
life-size elephant sculpture.
Best
Dining Experience:
Excellence
in hotel dining encompassing outstanding food, wine list, service,
ambiance, or even a stunning view. Winner:
La
Reserve Paris Hotel and Spa–
Restaurant Le Gabriel, Paris, France The
gilded dining room of the two-Michelin-starred restaurant in a
19th-century mansion-turned-hotel makes an unforgettable impression.
And that’s before chef Jérôme Banctel brings his notable pedigree,
Breton upbringing, and influences from his travels to the table with
modern takes on French classics such as coriander-spiced artichoke
heart and pigeon with cacao and buckwheat.
Best
Bar: A
hotel bar that offers a social meeting spot where innovative drinks,
lively mixologists and servers, and an enticing atmosphere create a
“see and be seen” buzz. Winner:
Four
Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club–
Le Sirenuse Champagne Bar, Surfside, Florida, U.S. Amalfi
Coast bars perfected
the art of aperitivo, and that spirit is exemplified in this stylish
import from Positano’s
Le
Sirenuse
hotel. The lounge in the historic hotel’s original ballroom serves
the largest selection of Champagne in the Miami area, plus grappas,
liqueurs, and bubbly-infused cocktails, in handblown Venetian
glasses.
Sustainable
Tourism Leadership:A
property that exhibits a commitment to the pillars of sustainable
tourism including environmentally friendly practices, protection of
cultural and natural heritage, and social and economic benefits for
local people. Winner:
Emirates
One&Only Wolgan Valley,
Wolgan Valley, Australia This
7,000-acre success story shows how degraded ranchland can be restored
to its natural grandeur. Kangaroos, wombats, and other wildlife roam
the resort grounds, which was the world’s first to achieve
internationally accredited carbon-neutral certification. Guest
experiences focus on the outdoors, such as guided glowworm walks,
stargazing, nocturnal animal viewing and tree planting.
Best
Family Program: A
property offering children’s programs, from creative activities to
educational endeavors and active adventures. Winner:
Grand
Velas Riviera Maya,
Playa del Carmen, Mexico Families
bond over horseback riding, boogie boarding, snorkeling and more,
then relax at the pool or spa (with a kids’ treatment menu).
The Kids’ Club
offers 4- through 12-year-olds storytelling, movies, and games, while
teens enjoy karaoke, pool tables, and dancing. Family accommodations
lie near the pool and beach, and a “baby concierge” stocks
everything from strollers to bottles – and arranges sitters too.
Best
Wellness Program:
A hotel focusing on mind/body balance through excellence in nutrition
or diet programs, fitness and wellness classes, spa experiences, and
inspiring location. Winner:
Miraval
Arizona Resort & Spa,
Tucson, Arizona, U.S. Miraval
helped
pioneer the modern spa resort, and its flagship property continues to
lead the way. Guests choose from more than 100 workshops, classes,
and activities that include cooking, private and group workouts,
beekeeping, and even equine therapy. Healthy gourmet meals fuel
guests’ paths to wellness, as do rituals including massages and
acupuncture at the Life in Balance Spa.
Best
Virtuoso Newcomer:The
most noteworthy network addition from April 2018 onward. Winner:
Montage
Los Cabos,
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico This
contemporary retreat offers an abundance of memorable experiences.
Guests sip mezcal and dine at the two restaurants, play the 18-hole
golf course, enjoy Baja-inspired spa treatments, and snorkel and
paddleboard in Santa Maria Bay – a marine sanctuary and one of the
area’s few swimmable beaches.
Best
Virtuoso Hotel Ambassador: An executive (other than
general manager or managing director) who embodies Virtuoso’s power
of human connection and strives for the mutual benefit of network
advisors and their brand, property, or properties. Winner:
Carlos Quereda, Querido Representation Co. During his
decade-long tenure at the Marbella
Club on Spain’s
Costa del Sol, Quereda was inspired by cofounder Count
Rudolf von Schönburg’s ritual of greeting guests and staff,
converting them into lifelong friends of the hotel. Quereda brings
this hospitality to life to satisfy travelers’ quests for unique
properties that embody local traditions and soul.
Hotelier
of the Year:An
experienced manager who demonstrates leadership and vision, a passion
for the industry, a commitment to Virtuoso advisors, and an
appreciation for detail. Winner:
Amanda Hyndman, Mandarin
Oriental Hyde Park, London,
U.K. Hyndman’s
career spans more than 30 years and some of the world’s most
prestigious hotels, including Mandarin’s Bangkok flagship, where she
was the first female general manager. She arrived at the Hyde Park
property in June 2018, one week after a two-year renovation was
completed – and two days before a fire shuttered the hotel. Hyndman
transitioned staff to help with rebuilding, weathering the nine-month
closure with no layoffs. The hotel reopened last spring with Hyndman
and her kindness and commitment at the helm.
For
more on Virtuoso and its properties in over 100 countries, including
booking a stay online at the global portfolio of luxury hotels, visit
www.virtuoso.com.
U.S./New York-based Condé Nast and London-based Condé Nast International Are Integrated as One Global Team. New Consumer Marketing Function to Bring Focus on Direct-to-Consumer Efforts With Unified Commercial Team to Better Serve Global Clients’ Holistic Needs
New Leadership Structure is Expected to Help Further Turn the Financial Ship Around As Company Moves Beyond Closing and Selling Off Magazine Titles, Layoffs and Consolidation of Workforce Across All Titles
Long expected, Condé Nast yesterday appointed a new global leadership team designed to accelerate the company’s evolution into a 21st-century media company. The new organizational structure, which combines Condé Nast and Condé Nast International into a unified global team, was created with several guiding principles in mind, including the preservation of local editorial voice and authority, an enhanced focus on the consumer, unification of the company’s ad and commercial sales functions to reflect clients’ local and global needs and the development of new ways to share capabilities and best practices across the company.
Condé Nast is a global media company, home to iconic brands including Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Glamour, AD, Vanity Fair, and Wired, among many others. The company’s award-winning content reaches 84 million consumers in print, 367 million in digital and 379 million across social platforms, and generates more than 1 billion video views each month. The company is headquartered in London and New Yorkand operates in 32 markets worldwide including China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico & Latin America, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, the U.K., and the U.S., with local license partners across the globe. Launched in 2011, Condé Nast Entertainment is an award-winning production and distribution studio that creates programming across film, television, social and digital video and virtual reality.
“One of my top priorities has been to define our organizational structure so that we can take full advantage of our unique growth opportunities and exceptional content around the world,” said the recently-appointed CEO of Condé Nast, RogerLynch “I’m confident that our new global structure will better enable us to collaborate across teams and markets and, ultimately, deliver unparalleled experiences for our consumers and clients.“
The
new structure is as follows:
Global Content Functions:: Anna Wintour, U.S. Artistic Director, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue U.S. and (newly-appointed) Global Content Advisor, will continue in her role as U.S. Artistic Director and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue U.S., and will add Global Content Advisor and oversight of Vogue International to her responsibilities. In her expanded role, Wintour will advise the executive leadership team on global content opportunities and act as a resource to editors-in-chief and editorial talent worldwide.
Oren Katzeff, President of Condé Nast Entertainment (CNE), will expand the company’s digital video, film and television operations to create best-in-class video content experiences for audiences worldwide. The company has been increasing its focus on video content and currently generates 1.1 billion video views per month. Under Oren’s leadership, CNE will now be the core of our global network of video teams, supporting the growth of our video businesses in all markets.
David Remnick, Editor-in-Chief of The New Yorker, will also continue to report directly to Lynch.
Global Operations Organization: Wolfgang Blau, President, International & Chief Operating Officer will oversee all non-U.S. markets, as well as selected global strategic functions, including Product & Technology, Data, Licensing, Global Editorial Operations, Business Development, and Delivery & Business Transformation. This organization will ensure day-to-day operational excellence and capability sharing across the business.
Global Commercial Organization: Pamela Drucker Mann, Global Chief Revenue Officer & President, U.S. Revenue, will lead a new global revenue organization that brings together the company’s U.S. and international ad sales, creative and agency, B2B marketing and client service capabilities. Jamie Jouning, promoted to Chief Client Officer, will report to Drucker Mann and oversee key global accounts, multi-market deals, and central digital ad operations. Drucker Mann will define ad sales and ad product strategies globally, and work closely with Jamie and the central team and commercial leads in the company’s worldwide markets to drive overall ad, agency, and B2B revenue and share best practices.
Consumer Marketing Organization: Condé Nast is creating a new consumer marketing organization that will be led by a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and will bring added focus to the company’s direct-to-consumer efforts. As the company expands its consumer offerings, this team will be charged with developing best-in-class capabilities and consistency across consumer experiences on every platform. The team will also be responsible for consumer revenue, with a core focus on subscriptions and memberships. In addition, the team will have responsibility for global brand management, consumer research, and insights and global audience development, ensuring a data-driven approach to the company’s efforts. The search for a CMO to lead this new organization will begin immediately.
Corporate Functions: The company is also globalizing its three corporate functions to leverage skills, expertise and standardize processes and best practices: People, Finance and Communications. The company will begin an immediate search and selection process for these and other open roles. Until new leaders are identified, teams will maintain their existing reporting lines and responsibilities.
“We’re
bringing added focus to our direct-to-consumer efforts and will build
a new consumer marketing function that will be charged with
developing best-in-class subscription and membership capabilities,
and maintaining the authenticity of our iconic global brands,”
Lynch continued. “And by transforming our sales organization
into a unified global team, Condé Nast will be better positioned to
serve the holistic needs of our clients around the world and make it
easier for them to do business with us.“
The
new structure and appointments take effect immediately.
Starstruck Kicks Off With Second Season of Critically Acclaimed Series MARS and Fifth Season of Emmy-Nominated Series STARTALK With Neil deGrasse Tyson
Event to Also Include Two New Specials: MARS: INSIDE SPACE X and MISSION TO THE SUN, Plus Fall Book Releases “Space Atlas” and “Apollo to the Moon“
Starstruck Continues Into 2019 With a New Season of COSMOS and Weeklong Celebration of the 50-Year Anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Landing in July
Visit New Starstruck Portal for All Things Space, Including National Geographic Space Photography and In-Depth Reporting on the Latest Space News
For 130 years, National Geographic has been helping people explore the unknown, from the deepest oceans to the farthest reaches of the universe. Today, National Geographic announced that it will embark on a new storytelling odyssey, exploring the past, present and future of space across its vast media and entertainment platforms with Starstruck: National Geographic’s Yearlong Celebration of Space.
From the very dawn of the space age, National Geographic has covered the science, mystery and adventures of space exploration with unrivaled access, in-depth news reporting and cutting-edge science and technology.
National Geographic logo. (PRNewsfoto/National Geographic Society)
In 1935, National Geographic and the U.S. Army Air Corps jointly launched aeronauts into the sky in the Explorer II Stratosphere Balloon, helping to pave the way for the space program and marking a manned altitude record that lasted for 21 years. Later, in recognition of National Geographic’s contributions to space research and photography, astronaut John Glenncarried the National Geographic flagon the first U.S. manned orbital space flight in 1962. And on July 16, 1969, a National Geographic flag was again vaulted into the sky on the 238,000-mile voyage to the moon, with Neil Armstrong observing to his team that it was a privilege that the flag that had “accompanied every major recent expedition,” should also accompany the first one ever to set foot on the lunar surface. In 1977, National Geographic was part of thecuration of the Golden Record, and more recently, presented the first-ever Instagram Live from the International Space Station with Will Smith in April 2018.
National Geographic Launches ‘Starstruck,’ A Celebration Of Space Across Its Global Networks, Magazines, Books And More
With Starstruck, National Geographic aims to once again inspire people to “look up” by bringing the awe and wonder of space to audiences around the world.
The yearlong commitment to presenting the best of space content kicked off this past week with the launch of the Starstruck Space Portal, as well as the recent release of National Geographic’s updated “Space Atlas.” The celebration continues Nov. 4 with an all-day marathon of the critically acclaimed series One Strange Rock beginning at 10 a.m., and with new seasons of MARSand STARTALK with Neil deGrasse Tysonin an intergalactic block of programming that premieres Monday, Nov. 12.
Additionally, two new specials will air this fall:MARS: INSIDE SPACE Xalso on Nov. 12, and MISSION TO THE SUNon Nov. 19.
Culminating with the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing next July and a coinciding week of blockbuster Apollo programming on theNational Geographic channel, Starstruck will rally National Geographic’s unrivaled portfolio of storytelling platforms around the spirit of space exploration and the nostalgia, curiosity, and feeling of limitless possibility that it brings.
With this announcement, Natgeo.com/Starstruckwill be National Geographic’s one-stop digital hub for all things space.
Highlights of the content across all platforms include:
OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD TV PROGRAMMING:
Season 2 of Nat Geo’s groundbreaking, genre-busting, hit docudrama MARS premieres Nov. 12 at 9/8c.
A scene from the first episode of Season two of Mars.
A new season of the award-winning STARTALK with Neil deGrasse Tyson debuts Nov. 12 at 11/10c.
MARS: INSIDE SPACE X, premiering Monday, Nov. 12, at 8/7c, is an unprecedented glimpse into one of the world’s most revolutionary companies’ plan to make Mars home.
MARS: INSIDE SPACE X, premiering Monday, Nov. 12, at 8/7c, is an unprecedented glimpse into one of the world’s most revolutionary companies’ plan to make Mars home. Filmed over the course of three years, this journey will take viewers behind the scenes with Elon Musk and his engineers as they persevere amid both disheartening setbacks and huge triumphs to advance the space industry faster than thought possible.
Mission To The Sun: The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is seen in this long exposure photograph as it launches NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to touch the Sun, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Parker Solar Probe is humanity’s first-ever mission into a part of the Sun’s atmosphere called the corona. Here it will directly explore solar processes that are key to understanding and forecasting space weather events that can impact life on Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
MISSION TO THE SUN, debuting Nov. 19 at 8/7c, goes behind the scenes as NASA preps for the launch of the Parker Probe, a historic quest to explore the last great frontier of our solar system — the sun. The special will feature new NASA footage, interviews, and animations to further capture this groundbreaking mission, and a behind-the-scenes look at the exclusive team of NASA scientists who have made this skillfully planned endeavor a reality.
A brand-new season of EXPLORER programming will launch Nov. 12 at 10/9c, with a special Starstruck episode featuring space lemurs, flat-earthers and real space cowboys, premiering Dec. 10.
Following a wildly successful run in 2014 as the most-watched series ever on National Geographic Channels internationally — seen by more than 135 million people worldwide on National Geographic and FOX — the highly anticipated Emmy award-winning worldwide phenomenon COSMOS returns this spring with COSMOS: POSSIBLE WORLDS. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the famed pop-culture icon, astrophysicist and host of the Emmy-nominated StarTalk, returns as host of COSMOS.
A special week of Apollo programming in July shines a light on the grit and glory of the Apollo missions and a look at the new era of space travel and exploration.
LATEST SPACE NEWS, SKY WATCH GUIDES, AND STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY:
Up-to-the-date reporting from National Geographic’s prize-winning editorial team on the Starstruck news page, including live news coverage of the NASA InSight Mars landing (Nov. 26) and the NASA Kuiper Belt flyby (set for Jan. 1, 2019), the latest insights on the upcoming blood moon eclipse, and more
Exciting National Geographic magazine space content, debuting in various issues over the next year, including an essay from November guest contributor Bill Nye on space sailing, and future features celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing
Monthly sky-watching guides, best space pictures of the month and a spacecraft love letter series (featuring first-person essays written by journalists, scientists, educators and enthusiasts who have a personal connection with the space probe), starting this month on the Starstruck portal.
This holiday season, Nordstrom wants to make shopping fun with Gifts That Do Good, Gifts That Inspire, and innovative services that help make the holidays completely stress-free in-store and online. The marketing campaign was produced by Nordstrom and directed and photographed by Theo Wenner, who has worked on original campaigns for Chanel, Chloe, and Topshop/Topman, as well as editorials for Vogue and Rolling Stone. The cast includes Guinevere Van Seenus, who began her modeling career walking a Nordstrom fashion show as a teenager, as well as longtime Nordstrom customer and model Jan De Villeneuve, who has been gracing runways for over 50 years.
NORDSTROM LOGO (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)
The campaign includes a colorful, cheerful video that will run on Nordstrom.comand on the retailer’s social and digital platforms, print and out of home. A national TV commercial will launch on November 5.
Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in O: The Oprah Winfrey magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)
GIFTS THAT DO GOOD
Giving back feels good any time of year, but particularly during the holidays. From gift cards that give back, to gifts that do good, Nordstrom is making it easier than ever for customers to find the perfect gift.
Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in InStyle magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)
Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in US Harpers Bazaar magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)
Gift Card Give Back– Nordstrom donates 1% of all gift card sales to nonprofits across the U.S. and Canada. This year alone, the company has donated over $7.5 million to more than 600 organizations.
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Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals™– In partnership with its customers, Nordstrom is supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals™ (CMNH) to make a difference in the lives of children. Now through December 24, Nordstrom invites customers to support CMNH through the purchase of $10 giving cards at any Nordstrom full-line store in the U.S. and Canada. All donations will stay local to the community in which they were given, including 55 network hospitals in regions with Nordstrom stores. The donations will fund critical treatments, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care for children and their families across the U.S. and Canada.
Nordstrom Signature– Nordstrom is introducing a new cashmere collection featuring beautiful designs for women, men, and children. Select products within the collection are produced in factories where Nordstrom has partnered withBSR’s HERprojectto implement workplace training programs on topics like health, finance, and gender equality. Since 2007, Nordstrom has partnered with BSR to launch worker empowerment programs in 27 factories around the world, reaching more than 18,000 workers.
Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in US Elle magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)
Campaign visuals from the 2018 Nordstrom ‘Let’s Go Gifting!” Holiday campaign to run in US Marie Claire magazine (Courtesy: Nordstrom PR)
Treasure & Bond– Nordstrom donates 2.5% of net sales from this exclusive, private-label brand to programs that empower young people to make a difference in their community. To date, the company has donated $2.5 million. This year, Treasure & Bond is supporting WECharity, which provides educators and students with curriculum and educational resources that help them gain an understanding of the root causes of pressing social issues and provides the tools necessary to take action and make an impact. Treasure & Bond features laid-back wardrobe staples with an Americana aesthetic for women, men, children, as well as home, a new category that launched this year.
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GIFTS THAT INSPIRE
Nordstrom aims to be THE destination for unique holiday gifts at a range of price points, from a chic Topshop faux fur shoulder bag for $48 to showstopping Gucci boots for $1,790, including emerging brands and exclusive items.
November 27 – Treasure & Bond Patterned Pullover
November 28 – Monica Vinader Havana Mini Friendship Bracelet
November 29 – Sant and Abel Santa Pajamas
Daily Drops – Beginning November 27 through December 18, Nordstrom will release exclusive, limited products each day called ‘Daily Drops,’ to create a sense of discovery in-store and online throughout the shopping season. Products will be added to Nordstrom.com/holidaygiftsat 6:00am PST, as well as on the @Nordstrom Instagram. ‘Daily Drops’ will feature exciting, new-to-market items and styles from brands like Something Navy, Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Tilbury, Rothy’s, Treasure & Bond, Le Labo, Sant & Abel, Hugo Boss x Jeremyville, and Rag & Bone x Mickey.
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Gift Guides – Based on top-demanded categories and search terms by Nordstrom customers, the company is introducing a persona-based gift guide featuring curated and unique ideas for 11 customer personalities. Examples include The Tech Collector, The Luxe Lover, The Traveler, The Witty One, and theDo-Gooder, among others, and can be found on Nordstrom.com/holidaygifts.
This summer, The Whitney Museum of American Art will present the first museum solo exhibition of Eckhaus Latta, the New York-and Los Angeles-based fashion label, founded in 2011 by Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta. Eckhaus Latta: Possessed highlights the work of this compelling young design team who belong to a new generation of designers operating at the intersection of fashion and contemporary art.
Untitled (Preparatory drawing for Possessed), 2018. Colored pencil on paper. Image courtesy the artists
Eckhaus Latta’s fashion designs—for which they are currently finalists for the 2018 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers—explore, in part, identity and reflect the fluid nature of gender and sexuality. While they fully participate in the fashion system, Latta and Eckhaus remain self-aware of their roles in a consumer society. Their recognizable designs have featured experimental knitwear; a wide range of materials including lace, rust, and recycled fabrics; and a general approach that supersedes gender binaries. At times, models are sent down the runway wearing clothes that challenge traditional definitions of male and female. Vanessa Friedman, fashion director and chief fashion critic at the New York Times, wrote that their clothes “are a kind of petri dish of associative splicing,” and that they “grapple honestly with what is on the designers’ minds: questions of gender and difference and the details of fallible beauty…”
This will be the first exhibition related to fashion at the Museum in twenty-one years, since The Warhol Look: Glamour, Style, Fashion (1997).
Eckhaus Latta: Possessed is organized by Christopher Y. Lew, Nancy and Fred Poses Associate Curator, and Lauri London Freedman, head of product development.
The exhibition, part of the Museum’s emerging artist series, will be on view in the first-floor John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation Gallery from August 3 through October 8, 2018. Access to the gallery is free of charge.
Mike Eckhaus (b. 1987, New York, NY) and Zoe Latta (b. 1987, Santa Cruz, CA) met as students at the Rhode Island School of Design while studying sculpture and textiles, respectively. They are known for using unexpected materials, emphasizing texture and tactility in their designs, and for incorporating writing, performance, and video into their practice. Through their emphasis on collaboration—with artists, musicians, and others—and an approach that plays with, and against, industry conventions, Eckhaus Latta addresses the crosscurrents of desire, consumption, and social relations. Their work has been featured in Greater New York 2015 at MoMA PS1 and Made in L.A. (2016) at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.
“As part of the Whitney’s emerging artist program, we sometimes showcase creative figures outside of the visual arts,” said Lew. “These figures from fields such as fashion, music, architecture, design, and food approach their disciplines in ways that are akin to visual artists, often questioning the systems and parameters that define what they do, speaking to the broader cultural moment, and blurring the boundaries between disciplines.”
“Working with Mike and Zoe has challenged us to consider the roles that our Museum spaces play and the objects that are presented. They pushed us to ask broader questions such as ‘How can we reexamine the format of an exhibition?’ and ‘What is the best way to exhibit an artist’s work?’ said Freedman.
For their Whitney exhibition, Eckhaus Latta will create a new three-part installation that embraces and brings into conversation various aspects of the fashion industry, from advertising and the consumer experience to voyeurism. At the entrance to the gallery will be a sequence of photographs that play on the tropes of iconic photoshoots found in fashion advertisements and magazines. These photographs explore how Eckhaus Latta’s unique aesthetic functions in relation to the highly polished look of the industry’s media. The core of their installation will be an operational retail environment in which visitors are welcome to touch, try on, and purchase clothing and accessories designed specifically for the show. This space is made in collaboration with more than a dozen artists whom Eckhaus Latta has been in dialogue with over the years who have created functional elements such as clothing racks, display shelves, and a dressing room. The exhibition concludes with a darkened room, evocative of a security office, which features a bank of screens depicting surveillance footage. Visitors will have a voyeuristic view of not only the rest of the installation but a glimpse of the tracking and surveillance that so often accompanies the experience of shopping.
The featured collaborators are Susan Cianciolo(b. 1969, Providence, RI; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY), Lauren Davis Fisher(b. 1984, Cambridge, MA; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA), Avena Venus Gallagher (b. 1973, Seattle, WA; lives and works in New York, NY), Jeffrey Joyal(b. 1988, Boston, MA; lives and works in New York, NY), Alexa Karolinski(b. 1984, Berlin, Germany; lives and works in Los Angeles), Valerie Keane(b. 1989, Passaic, NJ; lives and works in New York, NY),Jay Latta (b. 1951, Santa Cruz, CA; lives in works in Santa Cruz, CA), Matthew Lutz-Kinoy(b. 1984, New York, NY; lives and works between Los Angeles, CA and Paris, France), Annabeth Marks (b.1986, Rochester, NY; lives and works in New York, NY), Riley O’Neill(b. 1992, Los Angeles, CA; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA), Emma T. Price (b. 1987, Santa Cruz, CA; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA), Jessi Reaves(b. 1986, Portland, OR; lives and works in New York, NY), Erica Sarlo(b. 1988, Briarcliff Manor, NY; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY), Nora Jane Slade(b. 1986, Washington, D.C.; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA), Sophie Stone(b. 1987, Boston, MA; lives and works in New York, NY), Martine Syms(b. 1988, Los Angeles, CA; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA), Torey Thornton(b. 1990, Macon, GA; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY), Charlotte Wales(b. 1986, Farnborough, UK; lives and works in London, UK), Eric Wrenn(b. 1985, Southfield, MI; lives and works in New York, NY), and Amy Yao(b. 1977, Los Angeles, CA; lives and works in Long Beach, CA and New York, NY).
Major support for Eckhaus Latta: Possessed is provided by the John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation. Additional support is provided by Thea Westreich Wagner and Ethan Wagner.
The Whitney Museum of American Art is located at 99 Gansevoort Streetbetween Washington and West Streets, New York City. Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10:30 am to 6 pm; Friday andSaturday from 10:30 am to 10 pm. Closed Tuesday. Adults: $25. Full-time students and visitors 65 & over: $18. Visitors 18 years & under and Whitney members: FREE. Admission is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays, 7–10 pm. For general information, please call (212) 570-3600 or visit whitney.org.
Global luxury travel network Virtuoso® revealed the hotels and hoteliers nominated for its coveted Best of the Bestawards this year. All nominees are part of the industry-defining Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts program, which boasts over 1,300 hand-selected properties worldwide and more five-star hotels than any other program. Guests who book their stay through a Virtuoso advisor enjoy exclusive benefits valued at more than $500per stay at these properties, which span more than 100 countries. Travelers can now take advantage of booking their stay at more than 1,100 select properties online at www.Virtuoso.comand receive access to Virtuoso’s exclusive perks.
Virtuoso® is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,000 travel agency partners with 17,500 elite travel advisors in more than 45 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access.
This year’s contenders across nine categories were chosen by the network and the editors of Virtuoso Life magazine, and represent the height of achievement in their given category. The 10th category focuses on sustainable travel and recognizes the hotels that most embody the commitment to the three pillars of sustainable tourism: preserving the environment, supporting local economies and celebrating cultures.
Best Achievement in Design
Palácio Tangará, Oetker Collection, São Paulo, Brazil
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, New York, New York, U.S.
The Fontenay Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
The Silo Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
Best Dining Experience
Aman Tokyo – Arva, Tokyo, Japan
Capri Palace – Il Riccio, Capri, Italy
Hotel Belles Rives – La Passagere, Antibes, France
Meadowood Napa Valley – The Restaurant, St. Helena, California, U.S.
The London EDITION – Berners Tavern, London, U.K.
Best Bar
Brown’s Hotel, A Rocco Forte Hotel – The Donovan Bar, London, U.K.
Hotel Hassler – Hassler Bar, Rome, Italy
Mandarin Oriental, New York – The Office NYC, New York, New York, U.S.
Park Hyatt Vienna – The Bank Brassiere & Bar, Vienna, Austria
The Shelbourne – The Horseshoe Bar, Dublin, Ireland
Best Family Program
Hotel Barrière Le Majestic, Cannes, France
Kokomo Private Island Fiji, Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Soneva Fushi, Baa Atoll, Maldives
The Ranch at Rock Creek, Philipsburg, Montana
Best Wellness Program
Ananda in the Himalayas, Tehri-Garhwal, India
BodyHoliday Saint Lucia, Castries, St. Lucia
Chablè Resort & Spa, Chocholá, Mexico
The Ranch Malibu, Malibu, California, U.S.
Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence, Büergenstock, Switzerland
Sustainable Tourism Leadership
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, Wolgan Valley, Australia
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives
Mashpi Lodge, Quito, Ecuador
Singita Grumeti – Sabora Tented Camp, Serengeti, Tanzania
Six Senses Douro Valley, Lamego, Portugal
Best Virtuoso Newcomer
Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Vilamoura, Portugal
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, Paris, France
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Islands
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
As one of only five memberships granted to an Australian eco-retreat, Thala Beach Nature Reserve announced that it has been invited to join the exclusive ranks of membership to the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World.
As a member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, Thala Beach Nature Reserve belongs to an exclusive collection of membership lodges that invite guests to discover some of the world’s most treasured environments, while helping to protect those places for generations to come.
Thala Beach Nature Reserve’s Lobby: The open plan tropical design of Thala Beach Nature Reserve’s buildings allow it to blend with the local environment.
The membership granted to Thala Beach Nature Reserve by National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World is a timely and natural union. For more than 10 years, Thala has achieved Advanced Eco-certification and Green Travel Leader status (Ecotourism Australia) through responsible and sustainable practices and environmental sensitivity.
Thala was handpicked for membership after successfully undergoing a rigorous vetting process. The standards for inclusion to National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World are based on the four pillars of sustainable tourism: protection of natural heritage, protection of cultural heritage, support for local communities, and environmentally friendly practices.
83 Bungalows are spread throughout the forest across Thala Beach Nature Reserve allowing guests to be up close with nature.
National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World is more than a selection of world-class hotels, resorts, and retreats; it is a rich and varied collection of rare experiences in the world’s most beautiful environments. Arguably nature lovers’ most exclusive club, member lodges offer their guests encounters with uniquely stunning regions of the world – and the chance to intimately discover them.
According to Thala Beach Nature Reserve’s owner, Rob Prettejohn, the family-owned beachfront eco retreat has long offered a peaceful sanctuary for nature-loving travelers. “Our busy lifestyles drive us relentlessly. To take some time off to reconnect with nature is a magical and enriching experience.”
Thala’s Private Headland: Thala Beach Nature Reserve is a headland with an area of 145 acres with 2km’s of private access beach frontage between Port Douglas and Cairns, Australia.
“At Thala Beach Nature Reserve, our guests enjoy comfort within a beautiful, natural environment that is home to many unique Australian plants and animals,” explains Prettejohn. “Add good local food and friendly Tropical Queensland hospitality and interactive experiences, including visits to The Great Barrier Reefand guided walks in our ancient Gondwanan rainforests, guests have a combination of experiences available nowhere else in the world.“
Guests Stargazing: Thala’s guests stargazing at the on-site observatory.
Perfectly positioned on a private headland, Thala Beach Nature Reserve is surrounded by the UNESCO World Heritage sites of The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics, providing easy access for guests to immerse themselves in the surrounding natural grandeur and the abundance of nature-based activities on offer.
Thala’s unique accommodation is made up of 83 eco-designed, tree house-style bungalows that are set on 58 hectares of native rainforest, with 2 kilometers of private-access beach. Thala Beach Nature Reserve is located 45 minutes from Cairns and 15 minutes from Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland, Australia.
Protection of the local environment, while welcoming travelers, is something Prettejohn holds close to his heart. “When visitors stay with us they contribute to preserving this wonderful and rare place. We are thrilled to now be a member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World and to be a part of a culture that embraces the very same values that we at Thala treasure.“
If you buy, wear and discard clothes every year or even every season, it is time to hop on board the green fashion bandwagon. Some call the movement sustainable fashion while others refer to it as eco fashion. The purpose of green fashion is to create lovely garments from recycled or recyclable materials that can be worn for years or even decades and subsequently transformed into other products. This philosophy is central Clearabee’s green rubbish removal business as well as the overarching sustainability movement. A sustainable way of life is one in which human activities are performed in a manner that sustains human life, animal life and the resources of the planet.
Sustainable Clothing is Quickly Becoming the Norm
The need for clothing continues to increase as the global population swells. Producing textiles in a sustainable manner is central to the conservation of our planet’s inherently finite raw materials. It will not be possible to convert fossil fuels into synthetic fabrics or polyester across posterity. This is precisely why numerous clothing manufacturers are making use of recycled and recyclable materials to create high-quality garments that look chic and feel fantastic. It is also a major reason why Clearabee goes to great lengths to recycle, donate or re-use the items our rubbish removal experts pick up.
Touted by Vogue magazine, the clothing company Reformation has as many Instagram followers as some of Hollywood’s top celebrities. Yael Aflalo established this ethical clothing enterprise following an expedition to China in which she was blown away by the amount of disgusting pollution generated by the country’s textile and clothing manufacturing facilities. She returned to the states and began her push for eco fashion. Aflalo found the market had plenty of organic cotton t-shirts yet little else. Her company, Reformation, makes sustainable garments ranging from swimwear to jeans, dresses and even green wedding gowns. Additional examples of green fashion companies include the UK’s Nobody’s Child which dyes its own fabrics here at home, Britain’s Birdsong, Matt & Nat’s animal-free accessories and Veja’s organic cotton and fair trade rubber sneakers.
The Stimulus Behind Green Fashion
Young people are largely responsible for the shift in attitude that is central to sustainable fashion and green rubbish removal. Millennials tend to view garments as long-lasting minor investments of sorts that should be worn for years, passed down or recycled. This is a major alteration from the antiquated perception of clothing as disposable items that can be trashed following a season or a years of use. Nearly 50 percent of younger millennials state they would like eco-friendly materials to be used in clothes.
Make a Difference by Participating in Green Fashion and Green Rubbish Removal
There is no doubt the world has its fair share of problems. People are looking for a means of making a difference. Spending on green fashion, recycling your old clothes and allying with Clearabee for an environmentally-friendly rubbish removal are excellent ways to improve the world around you. This is your chance to play a part in the preservation of our increasingly fragile planet. The bottom line is the raw materials required to create fashionable garments and accessories are rapidly depleting. Opt for eco-friendly fashion and you will contribute to the preservation of natural resources and improving the living conditions for people and animals across the world.
So cast your vote with your dollars when it comes to fashion as well as rubbish removal. Don’t shell out your money for “fast fashion garments” made in an unsustainable manner. Opt for garments that will prove aesthetically pleasing across years and decades rather than a few short months. Even if you do not want to wear sustainably-made blouse, shirt, hat, accessory or other item a few years from now, you will certainly be able to find someone who is willing to wear the garment once it has lost your fancy.
Four Seasons Brings Guests Closer To The World’s Most Exclusive Culinary Journey With All-New Travel Gift
It’s often the gifts that don’t fit in a box that are the most treasured. The opportunity to travel the world, expand our horizons, see and do things we’ve never done before – those are the gifts that last a lifetime of memories
Four Seasons Private Jet
Now, Four Seasonshas created the ultimate gift for the gourmand: an extraordinary voyage through cuisines and cultures in nine countries fromMay 27 to June 14, 2017. Highlighted by a series of Michelin-starred dining experiences, immersive cooking classes, foraging expeditions, and market tours led by renowned chefs and local culinary pioneers,Culinary Discoveriestakes guests on a 19-day odyssey across two continents, with air travel aboard the Four SeasonsPrivate Jet and luxurious accommodations at Four Seasons hotels and resorts.
Taking luxury hospitality to new heights, the Four Seasons Private Jet opens doors to the world’s most intriguing destinations and extraordinary experiences. Guests travel aboard the 52-seat custom-designed Boeing 757 and stay exclusively at Four Seasons hotels and resorts, with dedicated staff both in the air and on the ground tailoring each journey to each guest’s own interests.
Along the way, Four Seasons Private Jet guests will meet other legends of the global food scene including Namae Shinobu, Alvin Leung Jr, Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava, and Jiro Ono, who gained worldwide recognition for his 10-seat restaurant in the Tokyo subway through the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Guests will also meet leading Four Seasons chefs including Christian Le Squer of three Michelin star Le Cinq in Paris, and Chan Yan Tak of Lung King Heen in Hong Kong, the world’s first Chinese restaurant to earn three Michelin stars.
A Culinary Itinerary Like No Other
A small group of culinary adventurers will meet in Seoul, where they will get to know one another at a private dinner in the home of chef Jong Kuk Lee. In the days to come, guests will dine on wagyu and Kobe beef in Tokyo, and learn about molecular gastronomy in Hong Kong in addition to enjoying a traditional feast of whole suckling pig. In northern Thailand, the group goes on an elephant trek, followed by a market visit in Mumbai before the Four Seasons Private Jet takes off for Europe. In Florence, guests meet an eighth-generation butcher and visit Michaelangelo’s David during a private viewing, and in Lisbon, they explore a city and cuisine shaped by its seafaring history. After an exclusive foraging and dining experience in Copenhagen, guests jet off to Paris for a farewell dinner to remember at Four Seasons Hotel George V.
CULINARY DISCOVERIES, MAY 27 – JUNE 14, 2017
On this groundbreaking journey developed in partnership with world-renowned Copenhagen restaurant Noma, track the evolution of food, culture, and creativity across Asia and Europe. Curated by René Redzepi and Noma, you’ll enjoy an insider’s look into the people, places, and products that are changing the culinary landscape of our world.
Seoul, South Korea – Four Seasons Hotel Seoul: Begin your extraordinary culinary expedition with a private dinner at chef Jong Kuk Lee’s home to experience his renowned farm-to-table cuisine. Visit the Jin-Kwan temple to learn the spiritual Buddhist preparation of temple food. Celebrate your time in Korea with a meal at Jungsik, ranked in the top 10 of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Tokyo, Japan – Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo At Marunouchi: Join world-renowned chef Namae Shinobu for a day of foraging outside the city followed by a private dinner at his Michelin-starred restaurant L’Effervescence Savour a private dinner at Yakiniku Nakahara, one of the city’s finest Kobe beef destinations. Take a sushi-making class, attend a Tokyo Giants baseball game, and learn the basic movements of sword fighting.
Begin your culinary immersion with dim sum at Lung King Heen, a three-Michelin-star restaurant at Four Seasons.
Hong Kong – Four Seasons Resort Hotel Hong Kong: Begin your culinary immersion with dim sum at Lung King Heen, a three-Michelin-star restaurant at Four Seasons. Join chef Alvin Leung Jr. at his restaurant, Bo Innovation, and dive into the avant-garde world of molecular gastronomy at an “X-treme Chinese Dinner.” Cruise Hong Kong’s scenic harbor at sunset in a traditional red-sail junk boat.
Embark on an elephant trek through a lush landscape of mist-covered mountains to a nearby hill tribe village. in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chiang Mai, Thailand – Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai: Embark on an elephant trek through a lush landscape of mist-covered mountains to a nearby hill tribe village. Join former Noma chef Garima Arora for lunch and an exclusive visit to a Royal Project farm, part of a national effort to boost sustainable farming. Enjoy the country’s distinctive flavors at a dinner with acclaimed chef David Thompson.Continue reading →
TV Commercials To Increase Brand Awareness Will Air Concurrently On Networks Including Fox News, CNN and Bloomberg
The Independently-Owned, Ad-Free SVOD Service Created By The Discovery Channel Founder Now Offers Over 1,500 Titles In History, Science, Nature, And Technology
All Titles Are Available For Instant Access By Subscribers With Annual And Monthly Subscription Plans Available for SD, HD, and 4K Streaming
John Hendricks, the Founder of CuriosityStream and the Founder and Former Chairman of Discovery Communications, announced today that CuriosityStream, which is currently available in 196 countries worldwide, is launching its first print ad campaign with a theme of positioning the SVOD service as “the antidote to ‘reality’ TV.”
During the week of February 6, 2017, the print campaign will launch in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and other major newspapers. Concurrent with the print campaign, CuriosityStream has begun to test television commercials designed to increase brand awareness. With commercials currently being tested on networks such as CNN, Fox News, and Bloomberg, the TV campaign has been created around the theme “Long Live the Curious.”
John Hendricks
Hendricks stated, “The economic realities of ad-supported linear television have understandably driven most cable networks toward ‘reality’ TV programming which appeals to the large audiences for amusement content. As a result, the curious 25% of television viewers have witnessed a dramatic loss of choice in high-qualityprograms in science, history, nature, and technology. CuriosityStream is now available worldwide with a mission to satisfy the demand of audiences who are eager to learn about the mysteries of civilization, recent advances in science, fascinating breakthroughs in technology, in-depth explorations of current events, and the wonders of nature.”Continue reading →
Lands’ End Recognized for Implementing and Improving Sustainability Practices
For the seventh year, Lands’ End has been awarded the Green Masters Award, the highest honor in the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council’s Green Masters Program. The Green Masters Program is run by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, with the support of students at UW-Madison.
“Lands’ End has consistently demonstrated a growing commitment to environmentally focused business practices,” said Tom Eggert, executive director, Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council. “Their sustainability program has grown to include innovative recycling programs including fiber recycling, reducing the use of natural resources, replenishing resources through their partnership with the National Forest Foundation and much more. Their work has been an example for and inspiration to other Wisconsin institutions.“
The Green Masters Program is an objective, points-based recognition program that enables Wisconsin institutions of all sizes and from any sector to join a group of like-minded companies that are on the road to sustainability. Developed by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin, the Green Masters Program recognizes Wisconsin’s sustainability leaders and encourages continuous improvement. The Green Masters Award criteria are based on actions in nine key sustainability areas: energy, carbon and other emissions, water, waste and materials management, transportation, supply chain, community and educational outreach, workforce and governance.
Lands’ End has been participating in the Green Masters Program since 2009 and is one of only two companies in the state to earn Green Masters status seven straight years.
Lands’ Friendly, #IAmLandsFriendly
Sustainability partnerships, ENERGY STAR certified buildings, working toward becoming a zero landfill company, Earth-friendly vendor policies – Lands’ End has been building upon the environmental stewardship of the company’s founder Gary Comer for more than 50 years. The company supports both national and local causes, including the National Forest Foundation, the United States Lighthouse Society and the Clean Lakes Alliance.
Under the initiative of “Lands’ Friendly,” Lands’ End has implemented a wide range of environmentally focused business practices including programs to reduce or eliminate paper consumption, comprehensive recycling, and waste management initiatives. For example, in 2012, Lands’ End began a partnership with the National Forest Foundation – the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service. Since then, Lands’ End has been part of large-scale plantings in U.S. forests resulting in the planting of 1.2 million trees and counting.
In 2016, Lands’ End launched a new sustainability initiative called Breathe New Life, with some of the largest corporate clients in the Lands’ End Business Outfitters division. Instead of disposing of unusable materials and apparel, Lands’ End now works with Martex Fiber to recycle those textiles into post-consumer fiber, material for insulation, bedding, acoustics, home furnishings and more.
Following the astounding success and enthusiasm of its first-ever Northwest Passage sailing in 2016,Crystal Cruises‘ Crystal Serenity will again traverse the elusive waterway this August. Aboard the ultra-luxury vessel will be a comprehensive team of Arctic experts from the Canada-based Arctic Kingdom, global leaders in Arctic travel, who will share their knowledge and passion for the region’s unique culture, wildlife and geography with guests onboard, as well as lead discovery expeditions ashore.
The 32-day voyage departs Anchorage/Seward, Alaska for New York City on August 15, 2017, and sails through some of the most spectacular, remote areas of the previously unpassable polar region. Crystal Serenity‘s 2017 Northwest Passage Explorer will mark the final voyage for a classic Crystal ocean ship to sail through the Arctic region.
“The Arctic is like nowhere else on the planet,” says Graham Dickson, Arctic Kingdom president and CEO. “As the top land-based operator in the Arctic, we are excited to be providing exceptional opportunities for Crystal Serenity guests to authentically experience the Arctic – unlike ever before.”
Local Inuit guides, Northerners, marine biologists, archaeologists, expert divers, conservationists, photographers, and wildlife experts round out Arctic Kingdom’s team of expedition leaders and speakers for the epic voyage. Besides the many environmental perspectives of the Arctic, there are several cultural nuances to be explored by Crystal guests during the historic passage with visits to Ulukhaktok, North West Territories; and Cambridge Bay and Pond Inlet, Nunavut.
Polar Bears in the Arctic Photo credit: (C)Arctic Kingdom
“Partnering with Arctic Kingdom, the leading travel operator in this unique region, further raises the bar on the experience for our guests by offering them expertise from local adventurers,” says Edie Rodriguez, Crystal’s chairman, CEO, and president. “Planning and collaboration with top experts and authorities is a must to ensure the safety of our guests and crew. We continue to work closely with the United States and Canadian Coast Guards, Transport Canada, and a myriad of federal, state, provincial, territorial and local government agencies.“
In addition to carefully crafted Crystal Adventures, the ship’s captain will safely position the ship to take advantage of impromptu “Unexpected Adventures,” supported by Arctic Kingdom, including zodiac outings to view glaciers, kayaking in protected bays, and trekking the tundra with an expert guide, and helicopter flights to view the Arctic landscape from the air, favorable weather conditions permitting. Likewise, expedition teams will be scouting for wildlife including polar bears and whales throughout the voyage. Specialized viewing equipment on board will allow guests to experience incredible viewing from the comfort of the vessel.
Just as it was last year, Crystal Serenity will be accompanied through the Canadian Arctic by an escort vessel, providing enhanced safety and both vessels will use low-Sulphur Marine Gas oil fuel, exceeding environmental regulations. The escort vessel will carry additional safety and environmental protection equipment, as well as personnel specifically trained in its use. In addition, it will serve as a platform for two helicopters for ice reconnaissance and flight seeing, and zodiacs for landings in areas without a port facility. Both vessels will be manned by highly trained crew members and Canadian ice-pilots experienced in all aspects of operating safely in the Canadian Arctic.
Arctic Kingdom is the global leader in land-based travel, custom experiences, and logistics in the Arctic. From scheduled Arctic safaris to private journeys, and logistic support for film & TV productions, Arctic Kingdom has been crafting legendary Arctic adventures for almost 20 years. Unparalleled expertise in Arctic wildlife and habitat, and unmatched access, built through years of experience and deep-rooted relationships with local Inuit communities, allows Arctic Kingdom to provide the most incredible Arctic experiences in safety and comfort. Arctic Kingdom uniquely offers polar bear viewing in every season throughout the year, as well as exclusive opportunities to safely see narwhal, bowhead whales, walrus, and even polar diving. www.arctickingdom.com.
All-inclusive cruise fares start at $21,855 per person and are available for booking by contacting your travel professional or calling 888.799.2437. Crystal’s “Crystal Clear Choices” promotional savings offers additional value for bookings made by March 31, 2017.
Wine Institute Series Offers Tips on How to Sip, Stay and Play in Wine Country, from Temecula and San Diego to Los Angeles
California’s many scenic wine regions offer a wide variety of experiences and wines to enjoy. California is the number one U.S. state for wine and food tourism with dozens of wine regions, 138 American Viticultural Areas and 4,600 wineries that produce 85 percent of U.S. wine. Established in 1934, TheWine Institute is the public policy association of nearly 1,000 California wineries.
To help visitors explore them all, TheWine Institute’sCalifornia Wines Road Trip series highlights a different region each month. To ring in the new year in style, consider taking a trip to Southern California, a region famous not only for surfing, Hollywood and iconic theme parks, but also home to several surprising wine regions, fromTemecula ValleyandSan Diego CountytoCucamonga Valleyand theLos Angeles area.
SIP: Southern California’swine region is home to well over 200 tasting rooms, wineries and vineyards. Taste your way through this roster ofSouthern California wineriesor use thediscovercaliforniawines.com interactive mapto search wineries by amenities such as tours, gardens, art, food for purchase and more. Wine lovers can choose a variety of ways to sip. Explore theSan Diego Urban Wine Trailor leave the car behind and board theSan Diego Wine Train Tour, where you can enjoy coastal scenery and tastes at urban wineries and restaurants.
Wine trails are a great way to sip, such as the acclaimedNorth Mountain Wine Trail, 25 miles south ofTemecula ValleyinEast San Diego County. In Temecula Valley, 60 minutes from San Diegoand 90 minutes from Los Angeles, theDe Portola Wine Trailfeatures wineries set in a rural, equestrian area, while the off-the-beaten pathCalle Contento Wine Trailoffers sweeping views. North of Los Angeles, try theVentura County Wine Trailwith its artisan wineries, outlet shopping, fine dining and five top museums or theMalibu Wine Trailwith the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.
PLAY: Southern California offers many ways to play while enjoying wine county. See movie sets and catch a glimpse of a celebrity on theMalibu Wine Tasting & Sightseeing Tour. In Ventura County, take part in guided weekendSip & Savor Wine Tours, starting from Ventura’shistoric downtown. In Temecula Valley, visitors canpedal to their favorite wineries, or take ahot air balloon ride over vineyards. Explore the historic Gaslamp Quarter‘s shopping, galleries and dining, paired with aSo Diego Tourswalking wine tasting tour. Moving inland, wine lovers can enjoy wine country towns inRamona Valley, including the gold-mining town ofJulianandRamonawith its numerous antique shops — about 15 minutes away from the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Other favorite towns includeFallbrookandEscondido, both of which have thriving art and dining scenes.
MAKE: Apple pies are a specialty in Julian, and you can learn how to make them atMom’s Pies. Aspiring amateur chefs can enjoy any number of cooking classes in San Diego, or sample hands-on educational programs at many wineries or wine schools such asWine Smartiesin San Diego. Combine these passions atCurds and Wine, where guests learn to make wine and cheese. Make great art with wine as your muse at Red Brick Art‘sPaint & Sipclasses at a local Venturawinery. Or take a fun hands-on cooking class at aTemecula winerywith take-home material to make cooking at home successful.
GROW: The South Coast AVA is the largest viticultural area in the region, stretching from Malibu to the Mexican border. San Diego Countyis home to 115 wineries and where Californiawine began. Franciscan monks planted winegrapes in 1769 and produced wine at California’sfirst mission, Mission San Diego del Alcala. Today, about 60 varieties are farmed by its small, family owned wineries. Temecula Valleyis a viticultural area in Riverside County, located between Los Angelesand San Diego, home to more than 40 wineries. The region’s Mediterranean climate is marked by warm days moderated by cool ocean breezes at night — producing a veritable A-Z of grapes. East of Los Angeles, theCucamonga Valley— known for Old-Vine Zinfandels and Port-style wines — was a dominant region during the first half of the last century and some founding families are still making wine here. North of Los Angeles, visit theMalibu Coast Wine Trailand its seven wineries growing limited production wines in this marine climate near the Santa Monica Mountains. Ventura County’s dozen wineriesare all located within minutes of each other in a casual coastal setting.Continue reading →
In the run-up toCES 2017in Las Vegas, French Eco-Tech company Smart & Bluetoday announced three new HYDRAO smart showerhead products, the much-awaited international availability of its products, plus new industry awards. Smart & Blue is an innovation leader in smart solutions for water conservation. Headquartered in Grenoble, France, the company was founded by founder Gabriel Dell Monica in 2015. The company now employs 10 people directly.
The new HYDRAO Loop and First smart showerheads and HYDRAO Drop smart shower light bring innovation, color, enjoyment – and now French design chic – to the bathroom. They are designed to increase awareness of water usage and encourage reduced water and energy consumption. HYDRAO First will be the first product to become available internationally – starting tomorrow.
Smart & Blue Founder Gabriel Dell Monica
The designs of HYDRAO Loop and Drop have already won two new CES Innovation Awards: HYDRAO Loop in the Smart Home category and HYDRAO Drop in Tech for a Better World category.
THREE NEW SMART SHOWER SOLUTIONS
HYDRAO Loop: a combination of advanced Smart & Blue technology innovation with French luxury design to bring smart-shower capabilities to stylish, modern bathrooms.
HYDRAO Loop smart shower set (Photo: Business Wire)
HYDRAO Loop Hand shower
HYDRAO Drop: adds smart-shower water saving capabilities to an existing shower. It is simple to install, and has a flexible arm that can be positioned to illuminate any shower surface or water jet.
HYDRAO Loop on a showerhead
HYDRAO First: a fun, educational and affordable smart hand shower. Launched in France at the end of 2016, HYDRAO First is available internationally from Jan. 4th 2017.
HYDRAO First is a LED-illuminated showerhead that brings color and enjoyment to families, while educating users on water usage.
SMART-SHOWER INNOVATION WITH LUXURY DESIGN
DESIGN INNOVATION AND WATER EFFICIENCY: Both HYDRAO Loop and Drop benefit from a new miniaturized version of Smart & Blue’s patented smart shower technology, allowing users to benefit from a sleek, streamlined design, with no compromise to HYDRAO’s water conservation guidance. Also new is the ability to allow individual users to monitor their own personal usage and savings – on either one or multiple HYDRAO smart showers.
New smart water pressure innovations also let users enjoy an enhanced shower experience, even at low pressure levels.1 These enhancements include increased energy efficiency for the internal turbine, new water pressure regulation capabilities and an innovative aerated water flow feature. Together they ensure optimum water flow and lighting intensity, while decreasing overall water consumption.
For professional customers, the fully modular, interchangeable design of HYDRAO Loop and Drop allow for design customization. Smart & Blue smart shower technology can also be integrated into own designs.Continue reading →
Selected from thousands of entries, an underwater photo of sardine migration on the Wild Coast of South Africa has been selected as the grand-prize winner of the2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The photo, titled “Sardine Run,” was captured by Greg Lecoeur of Nice, France. He has won a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditionsand two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with National Geographic photo editors.
Greg Lecoeur – 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
The judges for the contest were National Geographic magazine’s senior photo editor of natural history assignments, Kathy Moran, and National Geographic photographers Joe Riis and Jim Brandenburg, both of whom have been widely published for their natural history photojournalism. Contestants submitted photographs in four categories — Action, Landscape, Animal Portraits and Environmental Issues — through National Geographic’s photography community, Your Shot.
Varun Aditya, of Tamil Nadu, India, placed first in the Animal Portraits category for a photo of a snake
Lecoeur took the photo in June 2015 after waiting two weeks to witness the natural predation on sardines captured in the photo.
Vadim Balakin, of Sverdlovsk, Russia, placed first in the Environmental Issues category for a photo of polar bear remains in Norway. “These polar bear remains have been discovered at one of the islands of Northern Svalbard. Unfortunately we do not know definitely whether the bear died from starving or aging, but more likely if we see the good teeth status – from starving . They say nowadays such remains to be founded very often – global warming and ice situation influence the polar bear population a lot. Svalbard, Norway, august 2014 Svalbard, Norway, august 2014“
“During the sardine migration along the Wild Coast of South Africa, millions of sardines are preyed upon by marine predators such as dolphins, marine birds, sharks, whales, penguins, sailfishes and sea lions. The hunt begins with common dolphins that have developed special hunting techniques to create and drive bait balls to the surface,” Lecouer said. “In recent years, probably due to overfishing and climate change, the annual sardine run has become more and more unpredictable.”
Varun Aditya, of Tamil Nadu, India, placed first in the Animal Portraits category for a photo of a snake; Vadim Balakin, of Sverdlovsk, Russia, placed first in the Environmental Issues category for a photo of polar bear remains in Norway; and Jacob Kapetein of Gerland, Netherlands, placed first in the Landscape category for a photo of a small beech tree in a river. Lecoeur’s photo won the Action category.
All of the winning photos, along with the honorable mentions, may be viewed at natgeo.com/photocontest.
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