Creepy Crawlers Alive!

Annenberg Space for Photography Showcases Creepy, Crawly, Fluffy, Fierce, Mini, Mammoth, Wild and Weird Animals in the National Geographic Photo Ark Exhibit Opening October 2018

Exhibition Features Photographer Joel Sartore’s Work to Document Every Animal Species Under Human Care

The Annenberg Space for Photography, Los Angeles’ premier destination for photography, announced its next exhibition opening in Fall 2018. The National Geographic Photo Ark—a vibrantly photographed, animal-centric show—will run from Oct. 13, 2018, through Jan. 13, 2019.

The Photo Ark is National Geographic photographer and Fellow Joel Sartore‘s ambitious project to shoot studio-quality portraits of every species living in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, including mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, amphibians, and even insects. His goal is to inspire people not only to care but also to help protect animals from extinction before it’s too late.

A springbok mantis (Miomantis caffra) at the Auckland Zoo, Auckland, New Zealand © Photo by Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark

This traveling exhibition at Annenberg Space for Photography marks the first time these extraordinary images will be shown in a space dedicated solely to the art of photography. Highlighting hundreds of species with Sartore’s stunning, large-format prints, visitors will come eye-to-eye with a selection of the more than 8,000 species Sartore has photographed in dozens of countries for the Photo Ark to date.

Some of the exhibition’s interactive components include a documentary film providing a behind-the-scenes look at Sartore’s project, its mission and conservation efforts; interactive animal-related games; a studio where guests can be photographed with their favorite animal as a backdrop; and a gallery devoted to California’s indigenous species. Annenberg Space for Photography will also offer a full slate of programming, including field trips, workshops, and its acclaimed Iris Nights lecture series that will appeal to animal and photography fans alike.

A veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Salina, Kansas © Photo by Joel Sartore/ National Geographic Photo Ark

“Photo Ark gives visitors the opportunity to experience the animal kingdom up close and personal,” said Annenberg Foundation Chairman, President, and CEO Wallis Annenberg. “The powerful close-up images Joel has captured grab viewers and don’t let go. His brilliant photography connects us to creatures we may know little about and inspires us to want to take action to protect them.”

In addition to creating an archival record for generations to come, this project is a platform for conservation and shines a light on individuals and organizations, such as the Annenberg Foundation, working to support animal welfare and conservation efforts.

“The beauty of the National Geographic Photo Ark is that it allows audiences around the world to look creatures of all shapes and sizes in the eyes and gain a better understanding and appreciation of the planet’s biodiversity,” said Kathryn Keane, Vice President of Public Experiences at the National Geographic Society. “We are thrilled to be working with Annenberg Space for Photography to highlight the power of photography to make an impact.“

Kiehl’s Since 1851 Embarks On Ninth Annual LifeRide For amfAR

Motorcycle Riding Influencers Ride Through Southern California to Raise Awareness and Funds to Help Find a Cure for AIDS

Kiehl’s Since 1851, the venerable New York-based purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care continues its long-standing commitment to supporting HIV/AIDS charities, with its enduring partnership with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the ninth annual charity motorcycle ride, Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR, Aug. 6-Aug. 10, 2018.

Conceived by the company’s history with motorcycles and its philanthropic heritage, the Ninth Annual Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR continues the brand’s commitment to supporting HIV/AIDS organizations and will heighten awareness and raise funds for amfAR’s quest to end HIV/AIDS.

This year, the charity ride blankets Southern California over 5 days and will rally with the public at 8 stores along the route, where the public is invited to meet the riders, learn more about amfAR, and contribute to the non-profit.

Chris Salgardo, Kiehl’s Brand Ambassador and Kevin Robert Frost, CEO, amfAR will ride from Los Angeles to San Diego, with Gilles Marini, actor, Days of Our Lives, tattoo artist Luke Wessman, top men’s style influencer, Blake Scott, and music

Kiehl’s Since 1851 Limited Edition Ultimate Strength Hand Salve: 100% of the purchase price from the sale of Kiehl’s Limited Edition Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, up to $25,000, will benefit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. Available for $28.50 at all Kiehl’s retail stores, Kiehls.com and specialty store partners nationwide.

photographer Travis Shinn.

And, as these riders make their way through Southern California, this year supporters will be able to ride along with them, courtesy of CycleBar. The premium indoor cycling brand will be offering Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR classes in select CycleBar studios nationwide, and Kiehl’s will donate $30 per bike in one of these classes, as part of its overall donation to amfAR. (To sign up at a CycleBar studio near you, please visit http://www.cyclebar.com/kiehlsrideforaidsresearch.)

The 2018 Historic Hotels List Announced by Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide

 

The iconic and legendary hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America® and Historic Hotels Worldwide® are noteworthy for their grandeur and architectural significance. Guests and visitors to these hotels can see wonderful examples of the artistry, craftsmanship, and extraordinarily detailed work preserved from the past. Some of the best examples are viewed by looking up at these magnificent ceilings and domes in the public areas of these hotels including lobbies, ballrooms, and restaurants. These ornate ceilings and domes include some of the finest examples of stained-glass, painted frescoes, painted ornamental plaster, stenciled wood, and of course, gold leaf. Often, these beautiful, ornate, grand and detailed ceilings have been recognized as historically significant local or regional historic landmarks. (Visit www.HistoricHotels.org/Ceilings for a complete listing of these ornate masterpieces.)

Historic Hotels of America logo

Here are the 2018 Top 25 Most Magnificent Ceilings and Domes at Historic Hotels of America:

• The Willard InterContinental, Washington, DC (1818): The Willard’s iconic lobby has a coffered ceiling that is adorned with 48 original state seals. The seals for Alaska and Hawaii reside on the back pillars of the iconic Peacock Alley. For over a century, the Crystal Room has played host to many of Washington DC’s most elegant social and corporate events. From sophisticated receptions and lavish galas to prestigious conferences and annual meetings, the Crystal Room provides a stunning backdrop for an unforgettable event. Exuding spectacular opulence, the Crystal Room’s design motif includes mottled green columns, crystal-dripping chandeliers, ornate hand-carved gold leaf crown molding, and antique drapery.
  

  Historic Hotels Worldwide logo

• French Lick Springs Hotel (1845) French Lick, Indiana: The Baroque-style murals on the ceiling of the mezzanine level of the hotel are visible by just looking up from the lobby. In keeping with the area’s fame for producing mineral-laced “Pluto Water” 100 years ago, the murals depict the mythological story of Pluto’s World. A single mural over the main lobby shows Orpheus and Eurydice, symbols of love, in a springtime setting. This is the story of Pluto’s world, as told through a breathtaking mural containing six separate panels. The mural may look like a masterpiece that was crafted in a bygone era, though it actually was designed, painted and installed during the 2005-2006 renovation that restored French Lick Springs Hotel to its original grandeur. A group of artists from Conrad Schmitt Studios invested 1,500 hours in the planning and creation of these mural panels. In the process, Pluto’s world came to life.
• Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa (1852) Mobile, Alabama: Inside the lobby of the Battle House is a stunningly beautiful dome that is over 42 feet tall and 63 feet wide. The Tiffany-style glass in the dome features fleur-de-lis designs, in keeping with the city’s history, as the true birthplace of Mardi Gras. The painting technique used to depict these rulers in the lobby ceiling is called Trompe-l’œil. It is an art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects really exist, instead of being just two-dimensional paintings. In refurbishing the dome from 2004 to 2006, master plaster artists were brought in to work with their apprentices and make molds of all the design elements in the ceiling. The glass ceiling designs were carefully repaired and more than 95 percent of the glass is original to the 1908 construction.
• The Menger Hotel (1859) San Antonio, Texas: The Victorian lobby reflects the 1909 remodeling, designed by noted San Antonio architect Alfred Giles. Giles transformed the simple utilitarian space into a grander, neoclassical style which was popular at the time. The oval-shaped lobby is dominated by eight Corinthian columns. The original columns were cast iron and encircle the redesigned columns ornamented with festoons, garlands, modillions, and painted to resemble stone. The leaded skylight was added as part of the 1909 alterations, as was the decorative tile floor which extended into the Colonial Room Restaurant. Many of the pieces of furniture in the lobby are believed to have been purchased by William Menger on his frequent buying trips to New York and Europe in the 1860s.
• The Peabody Memphis (1869) Memphis, Tennessee: The ornate stained glass skylight and carved wood ceiling in The Peabody’s Grand Lobby is one of the signature characteristics of the hotel, measuring in at 32 feet high and 3,100 square feet in total. The ceiling dates back to the opening of the current Peabody, built in 1925. The hotel was designed by noted Chicago architect Walter Ahlschlager, who also designed the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. The glass skylight is located in the Peabody Lobby Bar and the lobby fountain where the famed Peabody Ducks reside during the day. The Duckmaster offers daily history tours in the Grand Lobby, which highlight the ornate ceiling. A little-known fact about the ceiling is that the beautiful carved wood that surrounds the stained glass is not wood as it appears, but sculpted plaster.
• Palmer House®, a Hilton Hotel (1871) Chicago, Illinois: The ceiling of the Palmer House has been compared to that of the Sistine Chapel of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Measuring in at 28 feet high and 50 feet by 28 feet wide, it is approximately the size of a basketball court. These 21 distinct pieces of artwork were completed in Paris in 1926 by Louis (Pierre) Rigal. Three large circular panels illustrate classic romantic scenes from Greek mythology. Depicting Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Apollo, the god of sun, music, and poetry in his pursuit of Daphne; and the god Pluto in his pursuit of Persephone. There are nine vertical paintings of the Muses where each Muse depicts a joy of life. The 16 plaster frescos that frame the ceiling are done in the style of the 15th century Della Robbia family in the colors of Wedgewood blue, cinnabar, and celadon. The paintings that adorn the ceiling were completed in 1917 in France and later installed in the hotel’s ceiling in 1927.
• Capital Hotel (1873) Little Rock, Arkansas
• Wentworth by the Sea (1874) New Castle, New Hampshire
• The Pfister Hotel (1893) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton (1894) St. Louis, Missouri
• The Jefferson Hotel (1895) Richmond, Virginia
• Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods (1902) New Hampshire
• West Baden Springs Hotel (1902) West Baden Springs, Indiana
• The Bellevue (1904) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Castle Hill Resort and Spa (1905) Proctorsville, Vermont
• The Seelbach Hilton Louisville (1905) Louisville, Kentucky
• The Otesaga Hotel and Cooper Inn (1909) Cooperstown, New York
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown (1912) Portland, Oregon
• Fairmont Copley Plaza (1912) Boston, Massachusetts
• Amway Grand Plaza (1913) Grand Rapids, Michigan
• The Broadmoor (1918) Colorado Springs, Colorado
• La Valencia (1926) La Jolla, California
• The Cavalier (1927) Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Lord Baltimore Hotel (1928) Baltimore, Maryland
• Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (1931) Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to the above, there are other noteworthy and magnificent ceilings and domes at Historic Hotels Worldwide:
• Tivoli Palacio de Seteais (1787) Sintra, Portugal: The frescoes of Salão Nobre at Tivoli Palacio de Seteais are original from the palace’s construction in 1787. The artist of these frescoes is unknown but was inspired by the French Jean Baptiste Pillement who painted the Pillement Room. The Royal Room is original from the palace’s construction in the 18th century by the Portuguese architect José da Costa e Silva. This room reflects the romanticism of Sintra and tells a love story in the frescoes above.
• Hilton Paris Opera (1889) Paris, France: Dating back to 1889, its Eiffel style lobby in the Hilton Opera Paris and Second Empire Style covered ceiling are decorated with paintings and sculptures by the artist Charles Joseph Lameire (1832-1910). Several French movies were filmed with this magnificent backdrop over the years.
• Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (1893) Québec City, Canada: The original sketch for the beautiful hand-painted ceiling of the Verchères Space was designed by architect William Maxwell. The ceiling includes leaf and flowering vine design embellished with cartouches and monochrome motifs. The palette includes shades of blue and green against a yellow background. Palm designs are visible on top of each column. The original name of this space was the Palm Court and its original use was a tea room. The ceilings date back to 1924.
• Grand Hotel Tremezzo (1910) Tremezzo, Italy: Frescoes in the Grand Hotel, represent the scenes of the Aeneid of Virgil and scenes of heaven. The grand ceiling at this historic hotel was painted by Francesco by Francesco Conegliani, Gianbattista Tiepolo’s pupil. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, well-known as Gianbattista Tiepolo known as an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice. He was prolific and worked not only in Italy but also in Germany and Spain.
• Hotel New Grand (1927) Yokohama, Japan
• The Fullerton Hotel (1928) Singapore

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris Unveils the brand new “Le Spa”, A Luxurious Space Dedicated To Wellness

A new destination for Spa lovers in the City of Lights including a 17-meter swimming pool, results-driven treatments, and “haute couture” therapies

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris officially unveils its new Le Spa, July 9^th, offering a sanctuary of haute couture tailor-made, results-driven treatments in the bustling heart of the city. The brand new Spa, spread over 720m², includes a 17-meter (55-foot) swimming pool, vitality pool with hydro-massage water experience circuit heated to 34°C, a 90 m² cutting-edge fitness room, and a stylish hair salon. In addition to the five single treatment rooms, two luxury hammams for men and women and a Spa Suite for couple treatments.

Welcome to our brand new spa at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

“We are delighted to introduce Le Spa, a contemporary space of style and serenity in the heart of the city. A place where Parisian elegance meets caring Four Seasons service, delivered by our team of passionate therapists who are dedicated to making you look and feel your best”, says Jean-Claude Wietzel, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris.

Renowned Parisian interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon has created a space that is at once bright, modern and elegant drawing on ancient spa traditions, with a color palette of light grey and silver tones. Inspiration from Greek, Roman and Turkish mosaic patterns lies alongside carefully curated pieces of modern art and spectacular floral compositions designed by Jeff Leatham. “We meticulously selected materials, furniture and pieces of art that embody the spirit codes and harmony of the hotel, both classic and resolutely contemporary” comments Rochon.

The peaceful double treatment room

Key features of Le Spa include:

Chronicling California’s Storied Baseball History, “California at Bat” Opens July 29 at The California Museum

 

The exhibition includes more than 200 rarely-seen artifacts from Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax & others revealing California’s legacy in America’s game

The California Museum announced, “California at Bat: America’s Pastime in the Golden State” will open on Sun., July 29, 2018. The all-new exhibit chronicles California’s baseball history from the Gold Rush to present, revealing its legacy of all-stars and the contributions of female, African American and other players who broke barriers to broaden its enduring appeal. Featuring more than 200 rarely-seen artifacts, highlights include uniforms, equipment and ephemera from Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax and others, along with objects from Pacific Coast League teams and from Edmonds Field, home of the Sacramento Solons until 1960.

Two of the brothers DiMaggio, Joe, left, of the New York Yankees, and Dominic, right, of the Boston Red Sox, get together with Boston’s star outfielder Ted Williams here, before meeting at Yankee Stadium in the New Yorker’s first home game of 1942.

“We are thrilled to present ‘California at Bat,'” said California Museum Executive Director Amanda Meeker. “Although the major leagues didn’t arrive until the 1950s, Californians have enjoyed baseball for 160 years. This exhibit offers an unprecedented opportunity to view artifacts representing the sweep of California baseball from 19th-century town ball to the legends of baseball’s Golden Age and the heroes of the modern era.“

Curated by the California Museum, “California at Bat” was developed in collaboration with Stephen Wong, author of three Smithsonian Books, including “Game Worn: Baseball Treasures from the Game’s Greatest Heroes and Moments” (2016). A renowned baseball historian and collector, Wong contributed expertise and more than 80 artifacts from his personal collection illustrating many of baseball’s most famous players. Highlights include:

• New York Yankees rookie uniform game worn by Joe DiMaggio (1914-2000) in 1936, the only season of he wore number 9. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, DiMaggio is best known for his 56-game hitting streak in 1941, a standing record in 2018.
• Boston Red Sox home uniform game worn by Ted Williams (1918-2002) in 1950, the season his career nearly ended after breaking his arm in the All-Star game. The San Diego native was the last player to bat over .400 in a season (.406 in 1941).
• San Francisco Giants home jersey game worn by Willie Mays (b. 1931) in 1965, the season he led the NL with 52 home runs and won his second NL MVP Award. Considered the game’s greatest all-around player, Mays has lived in California since moving with the Giants in 1958.
• Los Angeles Dodgers road jersey game worn by Sandy Koufax (b. 1935) in 1966, the last year of his MLB career and the year he won a third Cy Young Award. A resident of California since moving with the Dodgers in 1958, Koufax is also remembered for sitting out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series when it fell on Yom Kippur, and for pitching baseball’s eighth perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965.

“As a native Californian who is deeply passionate about baseball and the history of the game, I’m proud and honored to have been a part of ‘California at Bat,‘” said Wong. “I’m delighted to share my collection with members of the public in this extraordinary new installation revealing the state’s significant contributions to baseball.”

Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness Will Join SMIRNOFF™ Vodka at the 2018 NYC Pride March

In Honor of LGBTQ Pride month and Inclusivity for all, SMIRNOFF Vodka Pledges to Donate an Additional One Million Dollars to the Human Rights Campaign in Support of the LGBTQ Community

This Sunday, SMIRNOFF™ vodka continues its decades of support for the LGBTQ community by partnering with Queer Eye television personality, hairdresser, web series star and podcaster, Jonathan Van Ness, to bring love in all its forms to life at the NYC Pride March. From dancing in the streets with SMIRNOFF drag queens to self-love selfies to strutting alongside marchers up Fifth Avenue, Van Ness will join the brand at the 2018 Pride March to encourage people everywhere to show their support for equality and love of all kinds.

Smirnoff logo

“SMIRNOFF is all about inclusivity and democratizing fun times for everyone, which totally speaks to me as a member of the LGBTQ community,” said Van Ness. “I could not be more excited to join SMIRNOFF for this year’s New York City Pride March. It truly is the ultimate celebration of love and equality for all, and once you add SMIRNOFF into the mix it becomes one big, fabulous, inclusive party. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?!“

SMIRNOFF’s Pride March celebration is meant to showcase that Pride comes in all different flavors, shapes, and colors. To celebrate PRIDE loud and proud, SMIRNOFF will have a large presence in this Sunday’s New York City Pride March. The brand has proudly participated in the parade since 2013, but is prepared to make this the biggest year yet with an over-the-top float, that is bold and inspiring, just like the LGBTQ community, in celebration of love in all its forms and “Pride in Every Flavor.” In addition to Jonathan van Hess as its host, the brand will also host 200 marchers, electrifying special guests will be performing along the parade route to get the crowd excited and engaged. In addition to New York City, SMIRNOFF is excited to bring its celebration of “Pride in Every Flavor” to Pride Marches in San Francisco, Atlanta, San Diego and more.

SMIRNOFF ‘Love Wins’ bottles

SMIRNOFF originally launched its “Love Wins” campaign in May 2017 with its limited-edition “Love Wins” bottle packaging for SMIRNOFF No. 21 vodka. Now, in 2018, the “Love Wins” bottles are back and are available nationwide for a limited time. Inside each bottle is the iconic SMIRNOFF No. 21 vodka, triple distilled and ten-times filtered, from the world’s most awarded name in vodka in the last ten years. As a brand that has supported the LGBTQ community for several decades, and was honored alongside DIAGEO with the prestigious 2018 Corporate Equality Award by the HRC this past February, SMIRNOFF is proud to continue to support love in all its forms.

SMIRNOFF’s redesigned 2018 “Love Wins” bottles feature the newly updated, special-edition bottle packaging, which highlights 34 real LGBTQ couples from across the United States. Each couple featured on the 2018 packaging submitted their photos through the brand’s website last year for a chance to be a part of the SMIRNOFF “Love Wins” campaign. Jessica & Whitney from Alabama, whose story began with a simple Facebook message, and Jeremy and Wutichai from Washington, D.C., who met while volunteering for the Peace Corps in Thailand, are just some of the real couples featured on the new bottles currently on shelves across the United States. Every SMIRNOFF “Love Wins” bottle is unique, with a different set of photographs that display real love and real people, along with its iridescent rainbow aesthetic and LGBTQ SMIRNOFF logo.

SMIRNOFF’s Ad Creative

In addition to the brand’s partnership with Van Ness, SMIRNOFF has also announced an increased commitment to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), with a pledge to donate $1 for every SMIRNOFF “Love Wins” bottle made to the HRC for a minimum of one million dollars over three years, starting in 2019. These funds will go towards supporting local HRC events to drive awareness of the fight for LGBTQ equality and help empower those who are leading that fight for equality in HRC’s 32 volunteer-led local steering committees in communities across the country.

Gay Pride 2018: PVH Corp. Supports Pride Events around the World to Celebrate LGBTQ Rights

The Company also Announces Platinum Sponsorship of NYC Pride

PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Speedo USA, today announced it is supporting Pride events around the world, including Tokyo, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Montreal, in honor of LGBTQ rights.

PVH at the NYC Pride March 2017 (Photo: Business Wire)

With a history going back over 135 years, PVH has excelled at growing brands and businesses with rich American heritages, becoming one of the largest apparel companies in the world. The company owns and operates the iconic CALVIN KLEIN, TOMMY HILFIGER, Van Heusen, IZOD, ARROW, Speedo*, Warner’s, Olga and Geoffrey Beene brands, as well as the digital-centric True & Co. intimates brand, and market a variety of goods under these and other nationally and internationally known owned and licensed brands.

PVH Pride Logo 2018 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The Company announced it will once again participate in the NYC Pride March as a Platinum Level Sponsor on June 24th. Speedo USA will sponsor LA Pride 2018 on June 10th, joining for the first time the national celebration of Pride Month. PVH is also an official business sponsor of Pride Amsterdam 2018 and will join the world-famous Canal Parade on August 4th.