Elton John AIDS Foundation Presents its 25th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party

Event To Be Held At West Hollywood Park and Sponsored by BVLGARI, Neuro Drinks and Diana Jenkins

Sir Elton John and David Furnish will host the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)’s 25th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. The gala event is supported by Presenting Sponsors BVLGARI, Neuro Drinks and Diana Jenkins.

For a fifth consecutive year, award-winning Chef Gordon Ramsay will prepare the sumptuous dinner for Party guests to enjoy while watching a live telecast of the 89th Academy Awards. Alexander Gilkes of Paddle8 will return to conduct the evening’s highly anticipated live auction, and DJ Johnny Dynell also returns to spin tunes for guests to dance the night away.

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

The Foundation‘s Academy Awards Viewing Party is the most highly visible and successful fundraising event in Hollywood on Oscar Night. Over the past quarter century, this annual event has raised more than $56 million, thanks to the generosity of EJAF’s supporters. These funds help the Foundation to make a real difference in the lives of people at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS, including urgently needed medical care in the Caribbean, innovative treatment and prevention programs in the Southern United States, and national initiatives addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

Audi, BBVA Compass, M∙A∙C Viva Glam, TheBLUEFISH, and StyleHaul have partnered with EJAF as the evening’s generous Co-Sponsors, and Fin Gray and Michael Melnick are Associate Sponsors. Wines will be provided by Domaine Bertaud Belieu, and spirits will be presented by Chopin Vodka and Clase Azul Tequila. The Foundation is especially grateful to the City of West Hollywood for continued collaboration with EJAF on shared goals. American Airlines is EJAF’s official airline.

This year’s event co-chairs are Mahershala Ali, Tim and Jane Allen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Beck, Carrie Brownstein, Naomi Campbell, Jim Carrey, Ciara, Chris Colfer, John Demsey, Jennifer Kelly Dominiquini, Michael Douglas, Ava DuVernay, Stéphane Gerschel, Fin Gray and Michael Melnick, Miranda Harper, Luke Hemsworth, Tommy Hilfiger, Gaby Hoffmann, Stephanie Horbaczewski, Diana Jenkins, Caitlyn Jenner, Quincy Jones, Heidi Klum, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello, Ryan Kwanten, Padma Lakshmi, Amy Landecker, Fred Latsko, Shelley Lazar, Sandra Lee, Jared Leto, Judith Light, Eugenio Lopez, Rob and Sheryl Lowe, Eric and Janet McCormack, Joe McMillan, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Daniel Paltridge, Katy Perry, Tyler Perry, Andrew Rannells, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Zoë Saldana, Jane Seymour, Steve Sims, Kevin Spacey, Britney Spears, Sharon Stone, Steven Tyler, and Denzel and Pauletta Washington.

The Elton John Aids Foundation believe AIDS can be beaten and act on that belief by raising funds for evidence-based programs and policies, and also by speaking out with honesty and compassion about the realities of people’s lives. Sir Elton John created EJAF almost 25 years ago, first in the United States in 1992 and then in the United Kingdom in 1993. Through hard work and with the help of a network of kind and generous friends and supporters, the two foundations together have raised more than $350 million over the past quarter century to combat stigma, prevent infections, provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end AIDS. The U.S. foundation focuses its efforts on programs in the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean, while the U.K. foundation funds HIV-related work in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Join us in speaking out, taking action, and contributing to our efforts to achieve a world without AIDS. For more information, please visit www.ejaf.org.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2016 Awards Season Has Begun!: 31st Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced

$75,000 In Grants To Be Awarded To Filmmakers

“Carol” Leads With Six Nominations, Followed by “Spotlight” with Five and “Tangerine” with Four

Spirit Awards To Be Broadcast Live Exclusively On IFC, Saturday, February 27, 2016 2:00 Pm Pt / 5:00 Pm ET

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the LA Film Festival and Film Independent at LACMA, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations. Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.

“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”

Now in its 31st year, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is an annual celebration honoring artist-driven films made with an economy of means by filmmakers whose films embody independence and originality. The Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers and promotes the finest independent films of the year to a wider audience.

The winners of the Spirit Awards are voted upon by Film Independent and IFP Members. Awards are given in the following categories: Best Feature, Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, Best Director, Best Screenplay, John Cassavetes Award (given to the best feature made for a budget under $500,000), Best Male Lead, Best Female Lead, Best Supporting Male, Best Supporting Female, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best International Film, Best Documentary and the Robert Altman Award. The Filmmaker Grants include the Piaget Producers Award, the Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award and the Truer Than Fiction Award.

Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman who was known for creating extraordinary ensemble casts.

“Spotlight is a remarkable film that excels on every level, but the Nominating Committee thought it was especially deserving of the Robert Altman Award,” said Welsh. “The film is beautifully cast with every member of the ensemble working together to tell the story of the Boston Globe investigating allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church.”

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Brie Larson, Room

Rooney Mara, Carol

Bel Powley, The Diary of a Teenage Girl

Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Tangerine

BEST MALE LEAD

Christopher Abbott, James White

Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation

Ben Mendelsohn, Mississippi Grind

Jason Segel, The End of the Tour

Koudous Seihon, Mediterranea

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Robin Bartlett, H.

Marin Ireland, Glass Chin

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anomalisa

Cynthia Nixon, James White

Mya Taylor, Tangerine

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

Kevin Corrigan, Results

Paul Dano, Love & Mercy

Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Richard Jenkins, Bone Tomahawk

Michael Shannon, 99 Homes

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)

Anomalisa: Producers: Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman, Dino Stamatopoulos, Rosa Tran

Beasts of No Nation: Producers: Daniel Crown, Idris Elba, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Amy Kaufman, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Riva Marker

Carol: Producers: Elizabeth Karlsen, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley

Spotlight: Producers: Blye Pagon Faust, Steve Golin, Nicole Rocklin, Michael Sugar

Tangerine: Producers: Sean Baker, Karrie Cox, Marcus Cox, Darren Dean, Shih-Ching Tsou

BEST FIRST FEATURE – Award given to the director and producer.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Director: Marielle Heller. Producers: Miranda Bailey, Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit

James White, Director: Josh Mond. Producers: Max Born, Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin, Melody Roscher, Eric Schultz

Manos Sucias, Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka. Producers: Elena Greenlee, Márcia Nunes

Mediterranea, Director: Jonas Carpignano. Producers: Jason Michael Berman, Chris Columbus, Jon Coplon, Christoph Daniel, Andrew Kortschak, John Lesher, Ryan Lough, Justin Nappi, Alain Peyrollaz, Gwyn Sannia, Marc Schmidheiny, Victor Shapiro, Ryan Zacarias

Songs My Brothers Taught Me, Director/Producer: Chloé Zhao. Producers: Mollye Asher, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Angela C. Lee, Forest Whitaker

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® And More Than 70 Leading National Brands Kick Off The Season Of Giving With Annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® Campaign

Kmart, Best Buy, ANN INC., Kay® Jewelers, Domino’s, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., HomeGoods and Others Unite To Help End Childhood Cancer

Now in its twelfth year, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has transformed the holiday season into a time of giving thanks by raising awareness and funds for the ongoing battle to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The campaign unites celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners in asking consumers to donate while they shop and support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Founded by the late actor/entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE-designated COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and they won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

What began as a holiday-focused fundraising effort by St. Jude has now grown into an annual tradition that has raised more than $588 million. These funds support St. Jude’s mission to provide cutting-edge treatment and pursue visionary research.

Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helps kick off St. Jude Thanks and Giving, an annual campaign that has transformed the holiday season into a time of giving thanks by raising awareness and funds for the ongoing battle to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. (PRNewsFoto/St. Jude Children’s Research…)

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we receive year after year during the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign,” said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Throughout the holiday season people open their hearts to the children of St. Jude and as a result, our doctors and scientists can continue their groundbreaking research and pioneering procedures that help us achieve our landmark survival rates. And, we are able to continue to ensure that no family pays St. Jude for anything – not for treatment, travel, housing or food – because we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live.“

Beginning in November and running through the end of December, consumers can support St. Jude while they shop at a variety of businesses representing a cross-section of premier brands in retail, restaurant, travel, hospitality, media and beyond. Top returning campaign partners include Kmart, Best Buy, ANN INC., Kay® Jewelers, Domino’s, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; HomeGoods, New York & Company, AutoZone, Brooks Brothers, GNC, Dollar General, Claire’s, Carnival Cruise Line, Justice, HSN, Marshalls, Chili’s® Grill & Bar; and Mazda, to name a few.

“Kmart’s long history of success in supporting charitable causes is due to the generosity of our Shop Your Way members, customers and associates. We’re proud of the impact our results have made for the families of St. Jude and thankful to St. Jude for its tireless work to defeat cancer and other diseases in children. St. Jude made holiday shopping at Kmart more rewarding and we’re excited to support an organization that clearly means so much to our members,” said Alasdair James, President and Chief Member Officer at Kmart.

This year, St. Jude partners are expanding and supporting the campaign in a variety of ways – from in-store fundraising to unique cross-promotions, events and online/mobile features.

“It is Best Buy’s privilege to partner in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, by making it convenient for our customers to give back while shopping in stores and online during the holidays,” said Sharon McCollam, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Best Buy. “By adding options to give through our credit card signature pads last year, we made it easier for customers to contribute during the checkout process. As a result of their generosity, we were able to contribute $9.7 million last year, and hope to do even more this year to support the children and families served by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.“

OTHER PARTNER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Several partners are offering merchandise products during the holidays to benefit St. Jude including

– Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, HomeGoods, HSN, Kmart, New York & Company, The Limited, TUMI, Westfield, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and their portfolio of brands; to name a few.

– Kay® Jewelers will once again offer its popular plush animals benefitting St. Jude, this year featuring Travis and Trey.

– AutoZone, returning for its 10th year as a St. Jude Thanks and Giving partner, will continue to ask consumers to donate at checkout via the credit pad.

– Customers will be able to donate through a fully integrated online shopping cart at Best Buy, Ann Taylor, LOFT, Claire’s and ICING. In addition, customers will now be able to donate via the pin pad at the register at GameStop, The Limited, Crazy8 and Janie and Jack locations nationwide.

– eBay is giving its customers the opportunity to give at checkout during the week of December 7. During this time, customers can also bid on celebrity items that will benefit St. Jude.

– Domino’s will ask consumers to donate to St. Jude via walk-up, telephone, online and mobile orders, as well as the opportunity to purchase a St. Jude Meal Deal during the campaign timeframe. For each Meal Deal purchased, Domino’s will donate $1 to St. Jude.

– Stage Stores and St. Jude will be featured on the Balancing Act on Lifetime TV this holiday season.

– Party City has joined the campaign this year and customers can make a donation at nearly 600 stores nationwide or donate online during checkout.

Los Angeles LGBT Center To Honor Jane Fonda, With Award Presented By Lily Tomlin at 46th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards

Screenwriter Ron Nyswaner to be Presented Award By Frances McDormand

Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 46TH Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards Saturday, November 7, At The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is proud to announce that two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda and Academy Award nominated screenwriter Ron Nyswaner will be honored at the Center’s 46^th Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards on November 7 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Fonda will receive the award from the incomparable Lily Tomlin, her co-star in the hit show, Grace and Frankie. Nyswaner’s award will be presented by Frances McDormand.

Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center’s more than 500 employees and 3,000 volunteers provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy.

Frances Mcdormand

Lily Tomlin

Ron Nyswaner

One of the nation’s premier LGBT charity events, the Center’s Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards will bring together more than 1,200 LGBT people and their allies to enjoy cocktails, dinner, and entertainment, while celebrating inspirational honorees who exemplify courage, compassion, and a relentless tenacity for creating positive change in the world. The evening also features an extensive silent auction that includes high-end items, packages, and experiences.

“This honor means a lot to me. The work that the Center does for the LGBT community, its children, and extended families is profound and essential,” said Fonda, who will soon appear in director Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth.

Fonda became a friend and ally to the LGBT community at a time when celebrities advocating for LGBT rights was almost unthinkable. She campaigned with Harvey Milk against California’s anti-LGBT Briggs Initiative, fought Anita Bryant – the notorious activist who demonized LGBT with a campaign to repeal an anti-discrimination ordinance in Florida – and has been a lifelong supporter of the LGBT community and champion for human rights.

“Since long before I worked with Jane, I was in awe of her energy, activism, and generosity,” said Tomlin. “Three decades later, I am still in awe of her and feel truly privileged to bestow this well-deserved honor. She has earned this over and over and over in her lifetime.“

Nyswaner is an openly gay writer, producer, documentary filmmaker, activist and pioneer in LGBT-related films. He’s the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Philadelphia, the first major studio film to address homophobia and AIDS, and is the winner of a Peabody Award for his film Soldier’s Girl, which tells the true-life story of transgender heroine Calpernia Addams. More recently he wrote Freeheld—starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page—the groundbreaking story of a woman’s struggle to win her lesbian partner’s pension benefits after she’s diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is also the co-creator of the Nyswaner/Salzman Film Archive, the fourth largest LGBT film archive in the United States.

Sponsors of the Center’s Anniversary Vanguard Awards include DIAMOND SPONSOR: Wells Fargo; PLATINUM SPONSORS: AT&T DirecTV and The Palette Fund; GOLD SPONSORS: Anita May Rosenstein Foundation, American Airlines, Comcast NBCUniversal, Nordstrom, Bloomberg Philanthropies, General Motors, U.S. Bank, Van Fletcher & Skip Paul, Southern California Gas Company, Barry McCabe, PacFed, Greg Fullmer/Danny Hawkins/Douglas Dyakon, Curt Shepard & Alan Hergott, and Lionsgate; SILVER SPONSORS: The Huntington, Ralphs/Food4Less, Union Bank, Target, Out@WB, The David Bohnett Foundation, Johnson Controls, The Hyatt Regency Century City Plaza, LabCorp, Rose Greene, Nihon Kohden, UTA Foundation, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.; IN-KIND SPONSORS: Pride.com & The Advocate, LA Pride, Stoli, Pasquini Coffee, and Lesbian News; and OFFICIAL WINE SPONSOR: Kobler Estate Winery

Additional participants and attendees will be announced in the coming weeks. Please visit www.lgbtvanguardawards.org for additional information including details on how to purchase tickets.

2015 JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The James Beard Foundation is proud to announce the final nominees for the 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards presented by Lexus. The nominees were announced today during a breakfast at the James Beard House in New York City, hosted by Susan Ungaro, James Beard Foundation president; executive vice-president, Mitchell Davis; Emily Luchetti, chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees; and John Washko, trustee and chair of the Awards committee. The 2015 James Beard Foundation Book Awards For books published in English in 2014. Winners will be announced on April 24, 2015. The winner of the Cookbook of the Year Award and the Cookbook Hall of Fame inductee will be announced on April 24, 2015.

Nominees in 59 categories were announced in the Foundation’s various awards programs, including Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design, and Book, Broadcast and Journalism. In addition, previously announced special achievement award honorees were highlighted, including Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian of the Year, Who’s Who, and the America’s Classics.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.jamesbeard.org/

Multiple James Beard Award–winning TV host, author, and chef Alton Brown will host the 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards presented by Lexus. The highly anticipated James Beard Awards ceremony and gala reception will take place on Monday, May 4, 2015, at Lyric Opera of Chicago. On Friday, April 24, 2015, Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s The Chew, will host the annual James Beard Foundation Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards Dinner, an exclusive event honoring the nation’s top cookbook authors, culinary broadcast producers and hosts, and food journalists, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

The James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will be open to the public, and hand out awards for the Restaurant and Chef including America’s Classics and Restaurant Design categories will be handed out, along with special achievement awards including Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America. A gala reception will immediately follow, featuring top chefs and beverage professionals from across the country.

A native of Nashville, Hall’s food journey began at L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland, after returning from a trip throughout Europe that awakened her passion for food. Upon completing her culinary training, she went on to work as a sous Chef at the Henley Park Hotel in Washington D.C. and later served as Executive Chef at both The State Plaza Hotel and The Washington Club. Hall’s approach to cooking blends her classic French training and southern upbringing, both of which she has carried through to her artisan cookie company, Carla Hall Petite Cookies, as well as her restaurant, Carla Hall’s Southern Kitchen, slated to open in New York City later this year.

The 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees are:

2015 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Winners will be announced on May 4, 2015

Outstanding Chef Presented by All-Clad Metalcrafters Presented to a working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.

Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern, NYC

Sean Brock, Husk, Charleston, SC

Suzanne Goin, Lucques, Los Angeles

Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans

Marc Vetri, Vetri, Philadelphia

Rising Star Chef of the Year Presented by S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water A chef age 30 or younger who displays an impressive talent and who is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Tanya Baker, Boarding House, Chicago

Alex Bois, High Street on Market, Philadelphia

Erik Bruner-Yang, Toki Underground, Washington, D.C.

Jessica Largey, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA

Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan, Brunswick, ME

Ari Taymor, Alma, Los Angeles

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Curtis Duffy, Grace, Chicago

Jonathon Sawyer, Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland

Paul Virant, Vie, Western Springs, IL

Erling Wu-Bower,

Nico Osteria, Chicago

Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia, Chicago

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Joe Cicala, Le Virtù, Philadelphia

Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore

Rich Landau, Vedge, Philadelphia

Greg Vernick, Vernick Food & Drink, Philadelphia

Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

 

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Paul Berglund, The Bachelor Farmer, Minneapolis

Justin Carlisle, Ardent, Milwaukee

Gerard Craft, Niche, Clayton, MO

Michelle Gayer, Salty Tart, Minneapolis

Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market, St. Paul, MN

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY STATE, RI, VT)

Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang, Boston

Barry Maiden, Hungry Mother, Cambridge, MA

Masa Miyake, Miyake, Portland, ME

Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA

Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide Oyster Co., Portland, ME

Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton, Ox, Portland, OR

Renee Erickson, The Whale Wins, Seattle

Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn on Lummi Island, Lummi Island, WA

Justin Woodward, Castagna, Portland, OR

Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule, Seattle

Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)

Marco Canora, Hearth

Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, Carbone

Mark Ladner, Del Posto

Anita Lo, Annisa

Ignacio Mattos, Estela

Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR)

Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar, Oxford, MS

Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery, New Orleans

Jose Enrique, Jose Enrique, San Juan, PR

Slade Rushing, Brennan’s, New Orleans

Alon Shaya, Domenica, New Orleans

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

John Fleer, Rhubarb, Asheville, NC

Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville, KY

Steven Satterfield, Miller Union, Atlanta

Jason Stanhope, FIG, Charleston, SC

Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis

Tandy Wilson, City House, Nashville

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, OK, TX, UT)

Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s, Cave Creek, AZ

Aaron Franklin, Franklin Barbecue, Austin

Bryce Gilmore, Barley Swine, Austin

Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s, Houston

Martín Rios, Restaurant Martín, Santa Fe, NM

Justin Yu, Oxheart, Houston

Best Chef: West (CA, HI, NV)

Matthew Accarrino, SPQR, San Francisco

Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions, San Francisco

Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles

Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Animal, Los Angeles

Outstanding Pastry Chef

A chef or baker who prepares desserts, pastries, or breads and who serves as a standard-bearer for excellence. Candidates must have been pastry chefs or bakers for at least the past 5 years.

Dana Cree, Blackbird, Chicago

Maura Kilpatrick, Oleana, Cambridge, MA

Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles

Ghaya Oliveira, Daniel, NYC

Christina Tosi, Momofuku, NYC

Outstanding Restaurant Presented by Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water Presented to a restaurant in the United States that serves as a national standard-bearer for consistent quality and excellence in food, atmosphere, and service. Candidates must have been in operation for at least 10 or more consecutive years.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY

Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, AL

Momofuku Noodle Bar, NYC

Per Se, NYC

The Spotted Pig, NYC

Outstanding Restaurateur

Presented to a working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.

JoAnn Clevenger, Upperline, New Orleans

Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality Group, Chicago (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican, and others)

Michael Mina, Mina Group, San Francisco (Michael Mina, RN74, Bourbon Steak, and others)

Cindy Pawlcyn, Napa, CA (Mustards Grill, Cindy’s Back Street Kitchen, and Cindy’s Waterfront at the Monterey Bay Aquarium)

Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurants, Philadelphia (The Dandelion, Talula’s Garden, Serpico, and others)

Best New Restaurant Presented by True Refrigeration® – Presented to a restaurant opened in 2014 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Bâtard, NYC

Central Provisions, Portland, ME

Cosme, NYC

Parachute, Chicago

Petit Trois, Los Angeles

The Progress, San Francisco

Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Outstanding Baker

Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston

Mark Furstenberg, Bread Furst, Washington, D.C.

Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery, NYC

Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, B. Patisserie, San Francisco

William Werner, Craftsman and Wolves, San Francisco

Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Twelfth Annual An Enduring Vision Honors Hillary Rodham Clinton with First Founder’s Award

FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON RECEIVED FIRST EJAF FOUNDER’S AWARD

SANDRA LEE, HOWARD ROSE, AND RONALD O. PERELMAN HONORED

SIR ELTON JOHN RECEIVED HARVARD AIDS INITIATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD

EVENT RAISES $3.45 MILLION FOR THE FOUNDATION

Photos by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images and Kevin Mazur/WireImage

On Tuesday night, October 15, Sir Elton John continued his humanitarian efforts to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and awareness programs across the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean at the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)’s 12^th annual benefit An Enduring Vision held at Cipriani Wall Street (55 Wall Street). American Airlines, Frank Guistra, Robert K. Kraft , and Wells Fargo served as the Presenting Sponsors of the benefit, and the star-studded evening raised over $3.45 million for the Foundation.

David Furnish, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elton John pose on stage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 12th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2013 in New York City.

Founders Award Honoree Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 12th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2013 in New York City

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elton John attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 12th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2013 in New York City.

As part of the evening’s program, EJAF Founder Sir Elton John and Chairman David Furnish presented EJAF’s very first Founder’s Award to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Secretary Clinton’s ground-breaking speech in Geneva declaring that “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights” and the bold plan for an AIDS-free generation she presented at the International AIDS Conference epitomize EJAF’s concept of “an enduring vision of a world without AIDS.”

John and Furnish also presented Enduring Vision Awards to three outstanding Foundation supporters. Multiple Emmy Award-winning television host and magazine editor-in-chief Sandra Lee is a long-time supporter of EJAF and other HIV/AIDS and LGBT civil rights organizations, as well as serving as the national spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry campaign and a founding board member of UNICEF’s Los Angeles chapter. Devoted EJAF supporter Ronald O. Perelman , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, is a major philanthropist who has made numerous multi-million dollar gifts to health, education, civic, and arts organizations across the country. Founding EJAF Board member Howard Rose has generously assisted the Foundation in all areas of its work since its inception, from the initial and continued development of a variety of fund-raising events to building individual and corporate relationships.

Sandra Lee and Governor Andrew Cuomo

Ricki Noel Lander, Robert Kraft, and Ronald O. Perelman

Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and Elton John

Ann Wilson, Elton John, Billy Joel and Nancy Wilson

Billie Jean King and Judith Light

Elton John, Robert Kraft, Ricki Noel Lander and David Furnish

Hilary Rhoda (L) and Allison Williams

Michael Lockwood and Lisa Marie Presley

Host Matt Lauer

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Billy Joel

Nancy Wilson (L) and Ann Wilson of Heart perform onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 12th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit

Nancy Wilson (L) and Ann Wilson of Heart perform onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 12th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit

Michael Lockwood and Lisa Marie Presley

NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer stepped in for CNN anchor Anderson Cooper to emcee the gala dinner. The previous evening Cooper had been sent to Washington, DC, to cover the debt ceiling crisis, and the Foundation was most grateful to Lauer for gallantly filling in at the last moment. The legendary band Heart performed. Also, guest auctioneer Jamie Niven conducted a live auction featuring such one-of-a-kind items as photographs by artists Matthew Pillsbury, Ed Ruscha, and Terry O’Neill; a private one-hour tennis lesson with Novak Djokovic; a four night vacation at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort; lunch with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper; tickets to Howard Pinter’s Betrayal on Broadway and a backstage meet-and-greet with star Daniel Craig; a five day vacation at Elton John and David Furnish’s Venice apartment, including an art tour with their Venetian guide, and dinner for two at Harry’s Bar and Harry’s Dolci; and a tour of Tamara Mellon‘s office and showroom culminating in a head-to-toe look styled by Ms. Mellon.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center names Director/Writer ANDREA ARNOLD as the 2013 FILMMAKER IN RESIDENCE during 51st New York Film Festival

THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER names Director/Writer ANDREA ARNOLD as the 2013 FILMMAKER IN RESIDENCE during THE 51ST NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL

Andrea Arnold

The Film Society of Lincoln Center (www.filmlinc.com) has named director/writer, Andrea Arnold, as the 2013 Filmmaker in Residence, to take place during the 51st New York Film Festival. The initiative is in partnership with luxury brand Jaeger-LeCoultre, to further the goals of filmmakers at an earlier stage in the creative process. Arnold will have the opportunity to focus on developing or refining new work, and participate in master classes, mentorships or cultural exchange and enrichment film programs with the Film Society of Lincoln members, the film community and the public.

“We are thrilled to announce Andrea Arnold as the 2013 Filmmaker in Residence during the 51st New York Film Festival.  Our partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre on this cornerstone program fosters excellence in the filmmaking community, and reflects our shared belief in the universal power of film to inspire and engage the global community.” states Rose Kuo, Executive Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center

Andrea Arnold is an English director and writer who made her debut with two short films, MILK in 1998 and DOG in 2001. In 2005, Arnold won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for WASP and her first feature film, RED ROAD won the Jury Prize in Cannes in 2006 and also played during New Directors/New Films. Her 2009 film FISH TANK starring Kate Jarvis and Michael Fassbender, once again won the Jury Prize and in 2011, she directed an adaptation of Emily Bronte¹s Wuthering Heights. The film was shown at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Osella for Best Cinematography.

The Filmmaker in Residence initiative also consists of Advisory Board members, announced in June, who will be participating. These include: Henry Bean, Brady Corbet, Charles Finch, Naomi Foner, Larry Gross, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Danny Huston, Tamara Jenkins, Ed Lachman, Bennett Miller, Matthew Modine, Ed Pressman, Ira Sachs, Paul Schrader and Marisa Tomei. Their involvement may include nominating potential candidates, mentoring the filmmaker once selected, panel participation during the 51st New York Film Festival and/or attending/hosting events in support of the initiative.

The Film Society and Jaeger-LeCoultre recently announced their multi-year partnership, which kicked off at the 40th Anniversary Chaplin Award Gala in April, honoring Barbra Streisand, and extending through the New York Film Festival as well as a series of events throughout the year, including the annual Film Comment Luncheon in January. The new partnership allows for both organizations to further support the film community, and support for the arts.

A major player in watchmaking history since 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre is the first Manufacture to have been established in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. It played a pioneering role by uniting the full range of technical and artistic professions under one roof and made an indelible imprint on the watchmaking development of the entire region. Guided by time-honored know-how and a constant quest for technical enhancements, the master-watchmakers, engineers and technicians craft each watch in harmony with the same passion. Each masterpiece, heir to 180 years of expertise, benefits from cutting-edge technologies while being crafted in harmony with the noblest traditions. Building on a vast heritage encompassing 1,231 calibres and 398 registered patents, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains the reference in high-end watchmaking.

NewFest In Partnership with OutFest and the Film Society of Lincoln Center Announce Lineup for the 25th Anniversary of NewFest: The New York LGBT Film Festival

September 6th-11th, 2013

Opening Night: Stacie Passon’s Concussion

Closing Night: Chris Mason Johnson’s Test

among those set to show their latest work at Film Society of Lincoln Center

The 25th annual NewFest: New York’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival will run from Friday, September 6th through Wednesday, September 11th, with a lineup of 15 narrative features, 4 documentaries, 31 shorts and other special events. For the third time in NewFest’s history, the festival is in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center and screenings and panels will take place at Manhattan’s film mecca, the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater and the JCC in Manhattan.

Dennis Lim, Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Director of Cinematheque Programming, said, “The Film Society is delighted to welcome back NewFest and to continue our collaboration with Outfest. LGBT cinema has come a long way since this storied festival’s first edition, but as this year’s program suggests, it is no less vital today, and perhaps more diverse than ever.”

“There’s a lot to celebrate this year,” says Steve Mendelsohn, Co-Chair of NewFest’s Board of Directors. “It’s our 25th anniversary, and the recent Supreme Court victory over DOMA has everybody excited. The world has changed since 1987 and we are proud that NewFest has played a role in bringing so many important stories to audiences for a quarter of a century.”

LA-based LGBT media arts organization Outfest programmed and will help run this year’s event. Outfest and NewFest will form an official national organization next year.

NewFest is dedicated to bringing together filmmakers and audiences to build a community that passionately supports giving visibility and voice to a wide range of representations of the LGBT experience. Committed to nurturing emerging LGBT and allied filmmakers, the festival support those artists who are willing to take risks in telling the stories that fully reflect the diversity and complexity of their lives. And with their newly formed partnership with Outfest,  it will become the first national LGBT media arts organization – extending our reach to an even wider audience. For more information, visit www.NewFest.org.

Founded by UCLA students in 1982, Outfest is the leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting LGBT stories on the screen. Outfest builds community by connecting diverse populations to discover, discuss and celebrate stories of LGBT lives. For over three decades, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the

Director Chris Mason Johnson of Test

world to audiences of nearly a million, educated and mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers and protected more than 30,000 LGBT films and videos. For more information, visit www.outfest.org.

Kicking off the festival is the New York premiere of Stacie Passon’s debut feature Concussion, produced by Rose Troche and starring Robin Weigert, Maggie Siff and Johnathan Tchaikovsky. A Sundance Film Festival favorite, Concussion explores a suburban lesbian’s erotic reawakening from happy housewife to high-class call girl. Closing the event will be the New York Premiere of  Chris Mason Johnson’s acclaimed Test, winner of the Grand Jury Prize For Outstanding U.S. Narrative and Outstanding Screenwriting at 2013 Outfest Los Angeles. Set in the gay Mecca of San Francisco in the 80’s, Test portrays this uniquely exciting and harrowing era as young Frankie (real-life dancer Scott Marlowe) navigates his role in a modern dance company and his evolving relationship with fellow dancer Todd (the hunky Matthew Risch).

“This year’s line-up represents the maturity of LGBT storytelling with films like Concussion and Pit Stop that depict sophisticated relationships in unique settings,” said Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest. “As well as a strong International slate

Stacie Passon, Director of Concussion

  and a handful of films that push boundaries in form and content.”

  James Franco is involved in two productions. He co-directed Interior. Leather Bar. with Travis Mathews, in which the two reimagine the 40 minutes of censored footage from the controversial 1980 S&M thriller Cruising, directed by William Friedkin. Franco also produced Kink, a documentary directed by Christina Voros about five San Francisco-based BDSM workers who are employed at the kink.com studios.

A handpicked selection of some of the best international LGBT films will also be shown, including the 2013 Teddy Award winner for Best Feature In the Name Of…, directed by Malgoska Szumowska and the US premiere of You and the Night, the libidinous 2013 Cannes debut from M83 bandmate Yann Gonzalez, who Variety proclaimed “may be the next Almodovar or Ozon”.

  NewFest is sponsored by HBO.

Founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, the Film Society of Lincoln Center works to recognize established and emerging filmmakers, support important new work, and to enhance the awareness, accessibility and understanding of the moving image. Film Society produces the renowned New York Film Festival, a curated selection of the year’s most significant new film work, and presents or collaborates on other annual New York City festivals including Dance on Camera, Film Comment Selects, Human Rights Watch Film Festival, LatinBeat, New Directors/New Films, NewFest, New York African Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival, New York Jewish Film Festival, Open Roads: New Italian Cinema, Rendez-vous With French Cinema, and Spanish Cinema Now. In addition to publishing the award-winning Film Comment Magazine, Film Society recognizes an artist’s unique achievement in film with the prestigious “Chaplin Award.” The Film Society’s state-of-the-art Walter Reade Theater and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, located at Lincoln Center, provide a home for year round programs and the New York City film community.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Royal Bank of Canada, Jaeger-LeCoultre, American Airlines, The New York Times, Stonehenge Partners, Stella Artois, illy café, the Kobal Collection, Trump International Hotel & Tower New York, the National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com and follow @filmlinc on Twitter.

AMERICAN AIRLINES LAUNCHES WEEKLY FLIGHT FROM MIAMI TO THE POINTE-A-PITRE THIS SPRING

The Island of Guadeloupe – Grande Terre, Basse Terre, Marie Galante, Les Saintes (Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas), la Désirade, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy – welcome you to the Caribbean!

Starting April 6, 2013, AMERICAN AIRLINES will operate a weekly non-stop flight to POINTE-A-PITRE (PTP) from Miami, announces the GUADELOUPE ISLANDS TOURIST BOARD.

The weekly flight (AA512) from Miami will leave at 11:15 am and arrives in Guadeloupe at 2:25 pm. The return flight (AA1773) to Miami will leave Guadeloupe at 3:30 pm and arrive in Miami at 7:05 pm.

The late morning departure is designed to enable passengers to benefit from easy connections from around the US, arriving in the GUADELOUPE ISLANDS in the afternoon. American Airlines will fly a Boeing 737 aircraft, offering the comfort of 16 business class and 134 economy class seats.

This so French, undeniably Caribbean archipelago is the Caribbean’s best kept secret and a destination that has it all: rain forests, waterfalls, crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, charming villages, exquisite cuisine, and French culture.

Like a gargantuan butterfly that has landed between ANTIGUA and DOMINICA, Guadeloupe is primarily made up of two main islands connected by a narrow channel. The left “wing” is called the GRANDE-TERRE, and the right “wing” is the BASSE-TERRE. Guadeloupe also includes smaller surrounding islands: MARIE-GALANTE, LA DESIRADE and LES SAINTES. The very efficient inter-island connection network makes the GUADELOUPE ARCHIPELAGO a premier island-hopping destination, as all the islands are located within a mere 20-45 minute boat ride.

Beach on Le Grande Terre, Guadeloupe

AMERICAN AIRLINES PARTNERS WITH KAUFMANFRANCO TO BRING NEW, MODERN UNIFORMS TO THE SKIES

UNIFORMS FOR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS, PREMIUM SERVICE TEAM MEMBERS AND PILOTS TO BE DESIGNED TO REFLECT AMERICAN’S NEW LOOK

Los Angeles-based fashion designers KEN KAUFMAN and ISAAC FRANCO of KAUFMANFRANCO

AMERICAN AIRLINES has tapped Los Angeles-based fashion designers KEN KAUFMAN and ISAAC FRANCO of KAUFMANFRANCO to design new, more modern uniforms for its people. This update is another step forward in the transition to American’s new look, revealed last week, refreshing the travel experience for its people and customers.

KEN KAUFMAN and ISAAC FRANCO established KAUFMANFRANCO in the fall of 2004. Their women’s fashion collections mix sophistication and edge, luxury and function, handcrafted and high-tech mix of pieces, with the highest standards of global craftsmanship.

AMERICAN AIRLINES ENRICHES THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE WITH EXPANDED TOP-NOTCH AMENITIES AND SERVICE COMPONENTS IN PREMIUM FIRST AND BUSINESS CLASS

Just in time for the New Year, and in a way, playing catch-up to Singapore Air, Cathy Air, Air France, British Airways and the other international airlines that has long made it a front of book priority to pamper their passengers to infinity, First Class and Business Class customers traveling internationally on AMERICAN AIRLINES (www.aa.com) can now indulge in a host of new upgrades. As they say, better late than never. The new premium inflight experience was launched onboard American’s 777-200ER, 767-300ER and 757-200 aircrafts flying in EUROPE, ASIA and long haul LATIN AMERICA markets.

Upon boarding, First Class customers will receive a welcome aboard card and an amenity kit, stocked with DERMALOGICA® SKINCARE products, that doubles as a tablet case. In addition, customers will enjoy upgraded CLOSED-TOE SLIPPERS, an additional pillow, and the choice of a SPECIALTY MIMOSA. Business Class updates include new slippers and an amenity kit with AKHASSA® COSMETICS.

New menu selections served on modern china are offered in premium cabins. (PRNewsFoto/American Airlines)

While inflight, First and Business Class customers can choose from new menu selections that will be served on updated, more modern china along with new flatware and upgraded linens. In addition, First Class customers will receive other specially designed items including a textured placemat, napkin ring, accent water glass and an amuse-bouche, a bite-size hors d’oeuvre.