“Pasta, Pizza and Professionals Lecture, Dinner & Networking Series” to Launch at Cibo Restaurant on Monday, January 11, 2016

Save the date! Don’t miss the first ever “Pasta, Pizza and Professionals Lecture, Dinner & Networking Series” on Monday, January 11, 2016 at Cibo Ristorante Italiano, located at 301 Alvarado in Downtown Monterey.

Monterey, CA, January 01, 2016 - Save the date! Don’t miss the first ever “Pasta, Pizza and Professionals Lecture, Dinner & Networking Series” on Monday, January 11, 2016 at Cibo Ristorante Italiano, located at 301 Alvarado in Downtown Monterey. Parking is available in the adjacent garage.The first event will feature multi-award-winning video producer, Jules Hart, with a presentation about "Insider Tips to Video Production for Business, Education and Fun!"

These days, video is so accessible and important in our lives. Learning the basic approach to planning and implementing your video project can make it easier and more effective when hiring a professional or producing it yourself. A well-produced video can better communicate your business goals for audience presentations, on television or on the web. Jules will also provide some tips for creating a great family or event video.

The lecture will take place from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $10 at the door (fee goes to the speaker). After the lecture, there will be a No Host Dinner and Informal Conversation with the Filmmaker, Jules Hart for those who are interested.

Cibo is offering attendees a special 3-course “Pasta, Pizza and Professionals” Dinner price of $24.95 (including a choice of Local Field Greens or Tuscan Bean Soup, a choice of Pizza Margherita, Rigatoni Di Giovanni Pasta, Salmon or Chicken) and dessert will feature Tiramisu. Event attendees can also order anything off of the menu described on www.cibo.com. Cibo has a $3 Happy Hour which will be available to attendees of this event in the seminar area. RSVPs are appreciated by Friday, January 8th for the seminar and/or dinner. Please contact Wendy Brickman at (831) 594-1500 or email brickman@brickmanmarketing.com.

According to Wendy Brickman, owner of Brickman Marketing and founder of Pasta, Pizza and Professionals, “I have had the pleasure of coordinating the one-hour Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Brown Bag Seminars for over 25 years and I love doing so! It’s a great way to learn relevant information for our businesses and network with the community. However, I was also looking for a more relaxed venue for learning that features a great ambiance, food and service so I “cooked” up this concept. I know that Cibo Ristorante Italiano in Downtown Monterey is just the perfect place! Scheduling these learning events with community experts in the evening around dinner will also allow us to better “digest” what we learn, mix and mingle, and ask questions one-on-one of the expert speaker.”

About Jules Hart
Award-winning film producer and director Jules Hart is the founder of Eye Goddess Films.Her work has aired on PBS and screened at a number of festival venues including Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival; Carmel Art & Film Festival; the Ojai Film Festival; and the Athena Film Festival at Barnard College in New York City. Hart picked up Best Female Filmmaker at the Action On Film Festival in Pasadena, CA, and an Emerging Artist Award at the Beloit International Film Festival in 2011.

Through her work, Hart has explored such diverse topics as storefront churches, Latina healers, drumming as a spiritual practice, and art as a vehicle for healing.Her documentaries have won several awards including Best Documentary at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival and Best Faith Based Film at the AOF International Film Festival. Other venues where her documentaries have screened are the United Nations Commission For the Status of Women in New York and at Michael Moore's State Theatre in Traverse City, Michigan.

Hart transitioned from a 20-year career in front of the camera as an international fashion model, to her present role behind the camera after creating a short film as a homework assignment for a Film and Folklore class at UCLA.It was at that point she realized her true calling.As a filmmaker, Hart taps into her own feminism and dedication to women’s rights to tell compelling stories about other women’s struggles, challenges and victories.

Another passion of Ms. Hart’s is working with local business owners, entrepreneurs, and artists to create effective marketing videos to help them reach a larger audience, whether for television or the web.

Jules Hart has lectured at Antioch University, Whittier College and UCLA, her alma mater, on topics such as Film and Folklore, Women in the Arts, and Women and Religion.

About Cibo Restaurant
Cibo Ristorante Italiano (www.cibo.com) offers Italian cuisine, gourmet pizzas, cocktails, fine wines, cordials, and more. Cibo (pronounced chee-bo) means food in Italian, but it’s more of a feast for the senses. This beautiful, spacious and comfortable restaurant features an intimate yet vibrant atmosphere which is accentuated with expressive art in the form of photography, paintings, sculpture, hand-blown glass and live jazz. Fusing the best of old and new world Italian cuisine, Cibo offers an eclectic menu ranging from gourmet pizzas to multi-course dinners. Families are welcome and there is a special children’s menu. Cibo has been a favorite of locals and visitors alike since 1990.

Cibo is open every evening with dinner served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Cibo Bar is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and is a popular “pre-event” and “after-party” destination. The bar features a $3 Happy Hour with special appetizers daily from 4 p.m.– 7 p.m. They offer an extensive high quality local and international wine and beer list, cordials, microbrews, rare and small batch Bourbons, Scotches, Ports, Grappa and liqueurs, as well as espresso, coffee drinks and a full menu of cocktails.

Cibo also presents live music 6 nights a week. On Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the cool sound of Jazz accompanies dinner from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. The restaurant features a lively and fun atmosphere with Reggae, R&B, Rock or Salsa dance music on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. with no cover charge.There is also the popular "Happy Hour Jazz Jam" from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. every first and third Sunday of the month which includes Happy Hour food and drink specials. Cibo is now “wired” with free Internet service.

With 150 seats, including intimate booths for dining , and room for over 50 people in the attractive bar area, Cibo also accommodates large groups for business functions, wedding rehearsals and receptions, special group dining events, and customized private parties.NEW! Outdoor heating seating along Alvarado Street is coming soon!

Cibo Restaurant is the winner of numerous awards including California Writers Association Recommended Dining, Monterey Herald Readers' Choice Local Favorite, Best Place to Meet Singles in Their 30's and 40's, Gold Key Award for Interior Design, Best Place to Enjoy a Martini,Best Place for Live Jazz,Best Italian Restaurant,Best Place to Dance,Best Martini and one of the Top 10 Happy Hours in Monterey.

For more information, go to www.cibo.com or call (831) 649-8151.

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.cibo.com

35th Steinbeck Festival May 6 – 8, 2016. Speakers, tours, authors, musicians & an Old Town Salinas Craft Beer Festival on Saturday

“From Salinas to Sea of Cortez: Steinbeck on Land and Sea”

Salinas, CA, December 31, 2015 – The 35th annual Steinbeck Festival takes place May 6 – 8, 2016 at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. This year’s festival features speakers, tours, musicians throughout the weekend, with a craft beer Festival on Saturday and an educators' panel on Sunday. The theme is "From Salinas to Sea of Cortez: Steinbeck on Land and Sea," honoring the 75th anniversary of Sea of Cortez, published in 1941.

Tickets will be on sale January 30th at www.Steinbeck.org, or by calling the National Steinbeck Center store at 831-775-4721. Click the Festival link on the homepage for more information.

Highlights for the 2015 festival include:

Speakers: Robert DeMott, "Steinbeck on Fishing"; William Souder on writing biographies; Sergio Chavez on braceros in the Tijuana/San Diego borderlands; John Gregg on restoring the purse seiner, "The Western Flyer"--and more!

Tours: The Red Pony Ranch, Salinas Valley fields, Wine tour along River Road, Monterey Bay, and Ed Ricketts's Lab on Cannery Row.

Events: Craft beer festival on Saturday in Old Town Salinas and education workshops on Sunday--integrating local history into the curriculum, Steinbeck and gaming, and integrating literature and science.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.Steinbeck.org

Hyatt Carmel Highlands Celebrates 100 Years with a Centenial Facelift

Enhancements to include renovations to Pacific's Edge restaurant and hotel guestrooms

Carmel Highlands, CA, December 28, 2015 - The renowned Hyatt Carmel Highlands, which overlooks the Big Sur Coast and features 48 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, prepares for its centennial anniversary with one of the most exciting transformations in its history.

The hotel's award-winning restaurant, Pacific's Edge http://www.pacificsedge.com, along with the guestrooms, bar and lobby area will undergo a series of upscale enhancements inspired by the property's refined charm and classic seaside setting.

Beginning in the new year, renovations will feature upgrades to Pacific's Edge, including refreshed décor and a new 40-seat, 1,200-square-foot outdoor patio. The heated open-air space will allow patrons to enjoy al fresco dining and dramatic ocean vistas year round. Once the refurbishments are complete, Pacific's Edge will merge with the hotel's casual bistro, California Market, to become one restaurant. Chef Minton and executive sous chef Alvaro Dalmau are devising a new menu that will offer the most popular items from both restaurants. The 50-page wine list at Pacific's Edge will also be updated with more emphasis on the many excellent vintages from Monterey County. The new venue is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2016.

"We are thrilled to offer our patrons these improvements," said Mel Bettcher, managing director of the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. "This luxurious refresh will offer some new design elements, while maintaining the unique and authentic feel that has made visiting this property such a memorable experience for so many during the last century."

In addition to the restaurant, guests will enjoy new furnishings, décor, color schemes, heating and air conditioning in the hotel's 48 rooms inclusive of its 10 suites. The guestrooms' refreshed look will draw upon the hotel's upscale coastal ambience. The existing bar, Sunset Lounge, will be reconfigured to showcase the views of the Pacific coastline. New furnishings and living room style components will be added to the hotel's lobby area, which will be outfitted to accommodate private parties of more than 100 guests.

HYATT CARMEL HIGHLANDS CELEBRATES 100 YEARS WITH A CENTENNIAL -

During the restaurant upgrades, the hotel's casual bistro California Market will offer a lively new menu along with brunch seven days per week. In addition, it will offer creative dinner selections from Pacific's Edge. Highlights of the new California Market menu include chicken sofrito empanadas, local daily catch ceviche, Baja fish tacos, ahi quinoa salad, confit chicken torta and grilled cheese sandwich with braised short ribs.

For updates and a sneak peek of the exciting new menu, visit the hotel website http://highlandsinn.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html, call (831) 620-1234, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hyattcarmelhighlands/ or sign up for the monthly e-newsletter on the website. Hyatt Carmel Highlands is located at 120 Highlands Drive, Carmel, California, USA, 93923.

About Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Perched on the hillside of the Carmel Highlands with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Hyatt Carmel Highlands combines true Carmel luxury with an approachable and sophisticated spirit. A haven for artists and discerning travelers since its opening in 1917, Hyatt Carmel Highlands features 48 luxurious guestrooms, including 10 suites, 33 Ocean View rooms and 5 Garden View rooms. In addition, Hyatt Carmel Highlands offers spectacular dining at the award-winning Pacific's Edge restaurant and California Market, 4,800 square feet of meeting space, in-room spa services, heated outdoor swimming pool, three spa tubs and a StayFit fitness facility. Situated only four miles from downtown Carmel, Hyatt Carmel Highlands' idyllic setting and personalized service has attracted families, weddings, honeymooners and privileged travelers for nearly a century. Hyatt Carmel Highlands has been recognized among the world's finest hotels as part of Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and Travel + Leisure's "T+L 500" World's Best Hotels.  http://www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com/.

About Hyatt
Hyatt hotels are smaller-sized properties conveniently located in diverse business and leisure areas. With hotels typically ranging from 150 to 350 rooms, Hyatt hotels offer guests the opportunity to experience our hospitality in a vibrant environment. Customers include individual business and leisure travelers, and Hyatt hotels can accommodate smaller scale business meetings and social gatherings.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com/

Hofsas House Launches Pin It To Win It Contest

Tell the Hofsas House where you’d love to visit and why and you could win a 2 night stay!

Salinas, CA, December 25, 2015 - So many of us add “travel more” to our list of yearly resolutions! Whether it is somewhere close by, a beautiful beach or international destination, tell the Hofsas House where you’d love to visit and why? Post pictures of your ideal destination on a Pinterest board and our favorite board with win a 2-night stay at the Hofsas House hotel!

To enter the contest simply:

Pin It To Win It!!

· Follow us on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hofsashouse/

· Create A Board Titled: Time to Travel!

· Add a minimum of 5 pictures of your favorite quotes with the hashtag #HofsasHouseGetaways

· Email a link your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

· One lucky winner will win a 2-night stay at our hotel!

· Enter to win between January 1st and January 30th. Winner announced on February 5th.

· Includes Hotel stay only- airfare, transportation, meals and other amenities not included

Hofsas House Background:

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey , Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove . The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome, as well.

For large groups — wedding parties, company meetings, family reunions and others — Hofsas House Hotel offers a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen that can comfortably accommodate 40 people. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on offer as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hofsashouse.com

Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa Announces January Pinterest Contest

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, announces their new Pinterest Contest!

Monterey, CA, December 24, 2015 – The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, announces their new Pinterest Contest!

Pin It To Win It! The beginning of the year is a great time to start planning the details of your wedding day and Pinterest is the perfect place to check out the latest trends from wedding activities to finding your something blue! The team at Hyatt Regency Monterey is here to make your dreams come true…pin your favorites for a chance to win! Happy Posting!

Simply:

· Follow us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/montereyhyatt

· Create a board titled: Dream Wedding

· Pin your favorite wedding images from trends to beautiful photos (Minimum 5 pins)

· Use the hashtag #WeddingsInAHyattWorld on all the pins

· Email a link to your board to marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

· One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey as well as a romantic dinner at #TusCA with wine pairings!

· Contest runs January 1st-January 30th. Winner announced February 5th.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course:
Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well-known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full service spa. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit www.hyattregencymonterey.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

Hofsas House Hotel Offers Poolside Meeting Facility in Carmel-By-The-Sea

Family Celebrates Over 60 Years of European Hospitality

Carmel by the Sea, CA, December 22, 2015 - Meeting your needs, the Hofsas House in
Carmel-By-The-Sea, offers the perfect European retreat for family reunions, business team or leadership meetings, sewing or quilting conferences, and small wedding receptions. The hotel offers the only poolside meeting facility in Carmel-By-The-Sea.

The signature poolside meeting room has a fireplace, full kitchen and can accommodate a sit down dinner for 30, a stand up reception for up to 40 or a boardroom setting with classroom seating for up to 24. The meeting room is ideal for private personal dining parties. Guests can even bring their own chefs or work with the Hofsas House preferred vendors Wild Thyme Deli or Aqua Terra Culinary. The hotel can also arrange to have the hotel guests complimentary continental breakfast delivered to the meeting room for early morning meetings

From bridal or two bedroom suites to rooms with private lanais or sun decks overlooking the pines, the Hofsas House offers the perfect accommodation for any group large or small. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on offer as well. Hofsas House Owner and General Manager, Carrie Theis, personally helps you with information regarding the meeting area, including recommendations for local caterers. The dimensions of room are 19’ by 26’, not including the kitchen area.

Background on the Hotel:

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating six decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which is as charming as the town itself. With firm roots in the past, the family is looking toward the future by keeping abreast of guests’ every need.

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove. The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast including yogurt, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome, as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hofsashouse.com

Holiday Contest At Hyatt Regency Monterey!

We all have wonderful memories from the holidays - from something funny to something heartwarming! Share one of your favorite holiday memories on our Facebook Page

Monterey, CA, December 11, 2015 - We all have wonderful memories from the holidays - from something funny to something heartwarming! Share one of your favorite holiday memories on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/hyattregencymonterey and our favorite post will win a one-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa along with dinner at TusCA! Entries accepted December10th -December 20thth …winner announced on Christmas Day! What better holiday gift than to find out you won a free hotel stay?! #HappyHolidays #HyattHolidays

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel& Spa on Del Monte Golf Course

Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full service spa. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/

Vendange Carmel Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Only Wine Themed Hotel Extends Two Promotions ILOVEWINE and WishfulWednesday

Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites has partnered with 15 Monterey County wineries to create a unique guest experience, celebrating the bounty of Monterey County’s vineyards.

Carmel, CA, December 09, 2015 -- Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites has partnered with 15 Monterey County wineries to create a unique guest experience, celebrating the bounty of Monterey County’s vineyards. Each winery sponsors one room or suite, providing its own creative touches. From the McIntyre Vineyards room with its impressive 100-year-old section of grapevine to J. Lohr’s wine barrel on the balcony, every winery’s room offers a signature luxury experience. The participating wineries are: Blair, Cima Collina, Dawn’s Dream, Galante, Holman Ranch, J. Lohr, Joullian, Manzoni, McIntyre, Otter Cove, Tudor, Twisted Roots and Ventana.

The rooms have sleek, modern bathrooms, with imported Spanish marble. Sleeping areas have memory foam-top beds, deluxe linens, and high-definition flat screen televisions. The separate Cottage Suite offers 650 sq. ft. of space, with a California King bed, 50” HF television, and kitchenette. It’s the perfect place for a honeymoon or romantic getaway. The Inn offers breakfast daily and wine tasting on weekends.

Brian Lee, Owner of Vendange, announced the extension of these two promotions today:

WISHFULWEDNESDAY - 15% OFF SPECIAL OFFER VALID THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, 2016

Wishing for a midweek getaway? Vendange wants to give you one. Book your stay directly on www.vendangecarmel.com for a wednesday through January 31st, 2016 and receive 15% off your booking. Must put in promotional code wishfulwednesday on the website. The 15% off is valid for all rooms except standard Queens. (Offer not valid on holidays and black out days. Promotional code must be entered at the www.vendangecarmel.com website for the discount to apply.)

ILOVEWINE 10% OFF SPECIAL OFFER VALID THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, 2016

Vendange has extended its holiday promotion with a special discount valid through January 31st, 2016. Book your stay directly on www.vendangecarmel.com through January 31st and receive 10% off your booking. Must put in promotional code ILOVEWINE on the website. The 10% off is valid for all rooms except standard Queens and requires a two night stay. (Offer not valid on holidays and black out days. Promotional code must be entered at the www.vendangecarmel.com website for the discount to apply.)

Vendange is located at 24815 Carpenter Street in Carmel, a short drive away from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, just off of scenic Highway 1, with free parking for guests. It’s minutes from downtown Carmel’s shopping, fine dining, scenic 17-Mile Drive, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Telephone 831- 624-6400; email: reservations@vendangecarmel.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.vendangecarmel.com

Tickets on Sale Now! Early-Bird All-Event Badges will be Sold until December 31, 2015

Jazz Bash by the Bay Presents The World of Jazz on the Monterey Waterfront March 4 – 6, 2016 at Portola Plaza Hotel Lineup for 2016 Announced.

Monterey, CA, December 09, 2015 - Jazz Bash by the Bay brings together the many colorful forms of American classic jazz, including traditional jazz, ragtime, swing, gypsy jazz, zydeco and blues.

World-class musicians make Monterey their home.

Jazz by the Bay will be held March 4-6, 2016 when the historic Monterey waterfront will be flooded with the tunes of our rich musical tradition in the ballrooms, cabarets and outdoor pavilion of the Portola Hotel & Spa, the Monterey Conference Center and the Custom House Plaza.

Early-Bird All-Event Badges will be Sold until December 31, 2015.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at http://jazzbashmonterey.com/badges/ or call 888-349-6879 or 831-754-8786

2016 Line Up Announced:

Featured Bands:

· Royal Society Jazz Orchestra

· Uptown Lowdown jazz Band

· Titan Hot Seven

· Carl Sonny Leyland Trio

· Ivory & Gold

· High Sierra Jazz band

· Blue Street Jazz Band

· Tom Rigney & Flambeau

· Yve Evans Trio

· Crescent Katz

Guest Artist:

· Jeff Barnhart

· Danny Coots

· Brian Holland

· Bob Draga

Early-Bird All-Event Badges will be sold until December 31, 2015

· Badges Early Bird All-Event Badge $95

· Early Bird Badge for Hotel Pkg $95

· All-Event badge $105

· Friday Day Badge $45

· Saturday Day Badge $6o

· Sunday Day Badge $45

· Individual Patron Package $240

· Family Patron Package $600

· Swing Dance Party $25

· We3 Concert $30

· Dance & We3 $50

Children 14 and under admitted FREE with an adult. High school students with an ID are admitted FREE. College students, active-duty military, and group rates available.

Background on Jazz Bash by the Bay:
Part of Jazz Bash by the Bay’s mission is to encourage young musicians to discover traditional jazz and learn more about their musical heritage. Understanding the fundamentals of early jazz provides an excellent foundation for future musical exploration and study. A scholarship fund established in 1990 enables youth participation in jazz clinics and camps. Each year at Jazz Bash by the Bay, attendees are treated to performances by outstanding youth bands. A free early jazz youth clinic is held Saturday morning. Youth band performances Saturday afternoon and evening are free to everyone. High school students and younger students with an adult are admitted free for all three days of the festival. For more information please call 831.675.0298 or 888.349.6879 for more information go to www.jazzbashmontery.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.jazzbashmonterey.com

Hofsas House Hotel Announces its 2016 Packages

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating more than six decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which is as charming as the town itself.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, December 08, 2015 -- In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating more than six decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which is as charming as the town itself. With firm roots in the past, the family is looking toward the future by keeping abreast of guests’ every need.

Owner and General Manager, Carrie Theis, announced today the hotels 2016 packages. 2016 is the 100 year anniversary of Carmel-by-the-Sea. For any packages in 2016 add on a 100 Years of Carmel-by-the-Sea history book for $10.00. Learn about the 100-year history of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Celebrates 100 Years:

Celebrate Carmel-by-the-Sea’s 100th Anniversary and Hofsas House Hotels 69th Anniversary with our History Tour! Delight in the special charms of Carmel on a leisurely, fun and informative two-hour guided walk past enchanting Fairy-tale cottages, through secret pathways, hidden courtyards and award-winning gardens. At the end of the tour, you’ll feel like a local. Cost is $25 per person. When booking use promotion code: HHWALKS.

Get Artsy Package

For decades, Carmel, California has been an artist’s enclave! Today there are more than 80 art galleries in walking distance from the hotel. The Hofsas House Hotel is no exception and has been touched by one of the World’s most famous artists. Did you know? Maxine Albro was commissioned by Donna Hofsas to paint the welcoming mural and the headboard featured in room 47 of the Hofsas House. In the 1940s and 1950s, Maxine was living in Carmel and was friends with Donna. After the main four-story addition to the Hofsas House was complete in 1957, Donna asked Maxine to paint the mural and add other highlights to the front of the building to enhance the Bavarian theme. Maxine also painted the three pictures hanging in the lobby.

The Hofsas House Get’s Artsy with its special Artist Package. Stay in the Room 47 – the room Maxine Albro painted! Carmel continues to be an artist colony and attracts some of the World’s most famous artists. The Hofsas House is located within blocks of one of the World’s most premiere sculptors. As part of the hotels Get Artsy package, guests will have the opportunity to meet local Carmel sculpture Steven Whyte (subject to his availability) and take a personal tour of his studio (located only two blocks away from the Hofsas House). Steven Whyte’s studio tours are subject to the artist’s availability. Call Hofsas House the Hofsas House to book this package. Guests can also experience the new Carmel Art Tours, www.carmelarttours.com , 800-979-3370 , for $25 per person, reservations required and this tour can also be arranged in advance by the Hotel staff.

www.carmelarttours.com ,800-979-3370

Third Night's A Charm
Book 3 nights and the 3rd is 1/3 off. A getaway is always a wonderful break…they just don’t last long enough. At Hofsas House we know the 3rd nights a charm

Subject to availability. Minimum of three (3)-night stay required. Savings reflected in rate at time of booking. If modifications to reservation are made during your hotel stay (e.g. early departure), the promotion is void and your rate will be adjusted to the rate of the day. Taxes and gratuities not included. Offer not applicable to groups, negotiated or third-party rates. Not combinable with any other offers. Not applicable to existing reservations. Blackout dates apply. Offer valid from November thru February excluding holidays and AT&T golf week. Mention Code HHCHARM when booking.

Golfer’s Delight
"The Hofsas House Hotel has partnered with one of the Monterey Peninsula’s best golf courses. Book a stay and add a round of golf at the recently renovated and immaculate green grasses of the historic Quail Lodge Golf Club! Play a 18-hole round of golf including shared cart and range balls for an additional $100 per person. When booking use promotion code HHQUAIL and let us know what day you would like to play and whether you would prefer an AM or PM tee time. Our staff will make the arrangements. Tee times based on the availability of the Quail Lodge Golf Course."

Wine and Cheese Package
"Stay at the Hofsas House and order our special wine and cheese package for $30. Enjoy a bottle of Monterey County Wine and a cheese pairing from the Cheese Shop when you order the Wine and Cheese Package in advance. Please order 48 hours in advance of stay and specify red or white wine.

In addition, taste wines at nine different Carmel tasting rooms on the Wine Walk by-the-Sea with a Wine Tasting Passport. The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea is pleased to offer a Wine Tasting Passport for $65, which entitles the buyer to one $10 flight at each of nine tasting rooms (a $90 value). The Wine Passport can be purchased from our concierge after checking in."
Tail Wagging Package:

Hofsas House is one of the most dog friendly hotels in Carmel. Guests receive a complimentary Doggie Welcome Package upon arrival that includes:

• Hofsas House Dog Frisbee
• Hofsas House collapsible dog bowl
• Special Dog Bed
• Letter from Cajun. our onsite Pet Concierge
• Special dog amenities package
• Tips and recommendations for your four legged friends stay
• Walking Trail and Hiking Guide
• A package of treats.
• Costal Canine Magazine—offering the best four legged options for visiting Carmel

Minimum two (2)-night stay. $25 fee per night for one dog and $40 per night for two.

Take a Hike at the Hofsas House Hotel
"Experience Big Sur hiking trails ranging from tranquil walks along a coastal waterfall to miles-long ascents through the redwoods and into the rugged wilderness or take in magnificent Point Lobos State Park. After a day of hiking the Big Sur coastline, guests relax in the hotel’s heated swimming pool or European dry saunas. Package includes a $25 gift certificate for Carmel’s 5th Avenue Deli. Offer valid from March 1 thru May 31, 2016 with a minimum of a two (2)-night stay. Mention HHNature at booking. Offer not valid with any other discounts, promotions or thru a third party booking agent.

Hofsas House Background:

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey , Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove . The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome, as well.

For large groups — wedding parties, company meetings, family reunions and others — Hofsas House Hotel offers a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen that can comfortably accommodate 40 people. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on offer as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hofsashouse.com

Holiday Retirement helps nation's grandparents fight to save the bedtime story

Holiday Retirement helps nation's grandparents fight to save the bedtime story

National story gathering campaign publishes children’s book, available this holiday season

LAKE OSWEGO, OR, December 04, 2015 — Every day, thousands of childhood bedtime stories are lost as another generation of storytellers (and their families) do not take the time to capture them. In an effort to save these cherished bedtime tales, Holiday Retirement, a manager of senior living communities nationwide, initiated a "story drive” earlier this year to begin collecting stories. Today, Holiday Retirement published a select few of the collected stories in a new children’s book, Bedtime Stories: Original Tales Shared from One Generation to the Next. 

“We all have extraordinary memories of our parents and grandparents tucking us into bed with heartwarming stories and lessons that inspired us to dream,” said Jamison Gosselin, vice president of marketing, communications, and resident

enrichment for Holiday Retirement. “It is an honor for us to collect bedtime stories from residents we serve and publish a few to share with the public. What’s more, a few of our residents created artwork to accompany the stories allowing us to produce an amazing book for the generations to share.”

The act of storytelling is one that builds connections, boosts creativity, and offers a venue for children to learn from their loved ones. And with a resource found at the back of Bedtime Stories: Original Tales Shared from One Generation to the Next, parents will have a tool to help their children connect with storytellers from different generations and write their own bedtime story as a way of preserving a family’s legacy.

“Relationships among the generations are so important as we pass along experiences, stories, and wisdom from one to the next,” said Gosselin. “Bedtimes stories are just one of many ways Holiday Retirement encourages intergenerational learning.”

This compilation of stories and poems, primarily written and illustrated by Holiday Retirement residents ranging in age from 66 to 93, will take readers through the Milky Way Galaxy, on a zoo adventure, and for a ride on Mortimer Bean’s crazy machine.

Purchase a copy of Bedtime Stories: Original Tales Shared from One Generation to the Next for $7.99 at sharebedtimestories.com; all proceeds benefit the National Center for Families Learning, a forward-thinking non-profit organization that addresses literacy by engaging all family members in learning, individually and as a group.

Holiday Retirement will continue to collect anecdotes, original tales, and fables handed down from generation to generation. Interested individuals are invited to send their beloved stories to sharebedtimestories@gmail.com. A select number of stories will be published on Better When Shared, Holiday Retirement’s blog.

Editor’s note: Story authors and illustrators are available for interviews to elaborate on what sharing their treasured stories means to them.

Media Contact:
Brian K. Fawkes
Holiday Retirement
971-245-8337
brian.fawkes@holidaytouch.com

About Holiday Retirement
Since 1971, Holiday Retirement has endeavored to provide its signature “Holiday Touch” to residents and their families.

Today, Holiday is a trusted name in senior living and provides security, comfort, and value to independent seniors seeking a fulfilling lifestyle. Holiday operates more than 300 retirement communities, making it the second largest senior housing operator in the United States. For more information about Holiday Retirement, please call 800-322-0999 or visit www.holidaytouch.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
Denver, CO
720-726-5435
http://www.csg-pr.com

National Steinbeck Center partners with Salinas Public Library for Salinas Valley Comic Con 2015

“Comic strips might be the real literature of our time.” – John Steinbeck.

SALINAS, CA, December 03, 2015 - “Comic strips might be the real literature of our time.” – John Steinbeck.

The National Steinbeck Center and the Salinas Public Library are excited to announce details of the 2015 Salinas Valley Comic Con, December 18-20. This year’s event will be held at three locations – the National Steinbeck Center, the John Steinbeck Library and the Fox Theater in Oldtown Salinas. The National Steinbeck Center will be home base for all exhibitors, vendors and special guests, as well as the venue for an exhibition of original Batman art work. 

Special guests will include former SpongeBob SquarePants head writer Steven Banks, Latino Comics Expo founder Ricardo Padilla, and the Imperial 501st Legion in full Star Wars costume.

“The Salinas Public Library is very excited about collaborating with the National Steinbeck Center for the 2nd Annual Salinas Valley Comic Con,” said Librarian Kristen Amaral. “We want to promote literacy by focusing on graphic novels from around the world and considering how graphic novels engage and inspire young and mature readers alike.”

On Friday, December 18 at 4:00 PM, the National Steinbeck Center will host a reception for museum members and VIP ticket holders where they will mingle with artists and special guests and get a sneak peek at the Batman art show. The evening will also include a panel discussion about the impact of graphic novels and literacy.

Salinas Valley Comic Con booths will open to ticket holders at the National Steinbeck Center at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 19 and close at 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 20.

The John Steinbeck Library will host free family activities and a graphic novel display on Saturday, December 19. The Library will also host a game online where participants can win special prizes by using their library cards. Participants can join in the fun by visiting The Library’s website (www.salinaspubliclibrary.org) for full details.

At the Fox Theater on Saturday and Sunday, panel discussions will focus on a variety of topics, including Animation Rules!,

I Want To Make A Comic Book, Body Image and Diversity in Comics. The Star Wars-centric panels So, You Wanna Be A Stormtrooper (moderated by members of the 501st Legion) and Star Wars: The Fans Awaken are sure to bring out fans of the new movie opening the same weekend.

Featured in the National Steinbeck Center Bookstore will be Salinas Valley Comic Con merchandise, including a limited Batman lithograph created by comic book artist Ace Continueado. All proceeds will support the education and public programs at the National Steinbeck Center, including Steinbeck Young Authors and “Sweet Thursdays.”

Tickets for Salinas Valley Comic Con 2015 are on sale now at the National Steinbeck Center’s Eventbrite ticket page nationalsteinbeckcenter.eventbrite.com. Tickets are free for children under 8 (accompanied by a paid adult), $5 for children 8-12, and $25 for a full weekend pass.

Follow updates on Salinas Valley Comic Con 2015 at National Steinbeck Center’s website (www.steinbeck.org) and on social media.

Special guest and panel lineup is subject to change.

Facebook: Facebook.com/NationalSteinbeckCenter
Instagram:Instagram.com/SteinbeckCenter
Twitter: Twitter.com/SteinbeckCenter

Participate with Salinas Valley Comic Con fans online by using the hashtag #SVCC15.

For Media Inquiries, contact:
Jesse Banda
National Steinbeck Center
Salinas Valley Comic Con - Director
(831) 775-4721
jesse@steinbeck.org

About the National Steinbeck Center
The National Steinbeck Center is located at One Main Street in Salinas, California, the birthplace of John Steinbeck. The NSC is an institution dedicated to serving regional, national and international audiences by enhancing awareness of Steinbeck’s works and ideas: social justice, the environment, ethnic and racial diversity, and the power of the written word. Drawing on Steinbeck’s model, the NSC encourages collaborative ventures with other media – photography, drama, fine arts and film – as well as other disciplines. The Center offers multiple visitor experiences: the John Steinbeck Exhibition Hall as well as a variety of education and public programs. For more information about this and other events, visit our website at www.steinbeck.org.

About the John Steinbeck Library
The John Steinbeck Library offers family programming year around including guitar classes for families, story and craft times for kids, technology classes for kids and adults, and music in the library. Please call (831) 758-7311 for more information.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.steinbeck.org

2016 Big Sur Foragers Festival Announces Its Fungus Face-Off Partners

Tickets on Sale Now!

Big Sur, CA, November 25, 2015 - Big Sur Health Center, a non-profit organization offering local, quality healthcare to the Big Sur community, announced January 15-17, 2016 as the dates of its annual Big Sur Foragers Festival. Held in Big Sur along California’s central coast, the festival is a weekend-long celebration featuring an amazing array of wild foods, world-class wine and beer, expert-led foraging hikes and a friendly chef competition with celebrity judges. This year’s partners include Ventana Big Sur, longtime host of the Fungus Face-Off and the Grand Chef dinner, along with a new strategic partner, Post Ranch Inn, which will host several different events.

The event has traditionally served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to continue to support the presence of local health care services in the Big Sur area.

The three day festival affords Big Sur area restaurants the opportunity to host the culinary expertise of notable chefs who will be preparing unique fare ranging from rustic to elegant, paired alongside the central coast region's amazing selection of wine and beer. Guest Chef Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef from San Francisco’s Acquerello, will join Ventana’s own Chef Paul Corsentino to offer a memorable Grand Chef Dinner.

Saturday January 16th events include:

· Saturday morning - This year there will be two "Wild Foraging Walk and Talk" - one at Pfeiffer State Park (level beginner) and one through the Big Sur Wilderness (level intermediate). Cost per hike $35.00. (Saturday, January 16th 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

· Saturday afternoon – The “Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Big Sur from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Cost per person is $60. A friendly competition among some of the area's notable chefs featuring chanterelles and other fabulous fungi, along with a variety of wild foraged foods.. Attendees also have an opportunity to cast their vote for "People's Choice". (Saturday, January 16th 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

•  Winery and Brewery Partners Include:

* Morgan Winery

* Comanche Cellars

* Holman Ranch

* Bernardus Winery

* Mesa Del Sol

* Filipponi Ranch/Kelly McCleary/Peter Cron

* Ventana Vineyards

* Scheid Vineyards

* McIntyre Wines

* Chappellet

* Mad Otter Ales

•  Restaurant, Chef and Tasting Partners Include:

* Chef Paul Corsentino, Ventana Big Sur

* Chef Jon Cox, Post Ranch

* Chef Tim Wood, Carmel Valley Ranch

* Chef Steve Johnson, TusCA Ristorante

* Chef Brendan Esons , Big Sur Roadhouse

* Chef Matt Farmer, Coast Gallery

* Chef Phillip Burrus, Esalen Institute

* Chef Jacob Burell, Big Sur Bakery

* Miguel Vargas, Fernwood

* Adan Moeda Chavez, River Inn

* Carmel Valley’s Quail and Olive (taste organic olive oils and vinegars)

· A silent auction full of culinary delights, hotel stays, tickets to explore the area, art and so much more will take place during the food and wine sampling. There will be more than 60 items this year! Purchase raffle tickets for $5 per ticket of $25 for 6 tickets. Enter to win your choice of 7 culinary delights or hotel packages! Raffle package values begin at $200 to $700! Tickets available for purchase at the event.

· Saturday Evening: The Big Sur Foragers Festival announces its Grand Chef Dinner at the Restaurant at Ventana Big Sur. The multi-course dinner, destined to be a memorable feast paired with an incredible wine selection, costs $175.00 per person (as of December 1). Early bird tickets are on sale now through November 30th for $150.00. Guest Chef Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef, will join Ventana’s Chef Paul Corsentino to offer an unforgettable dining experience. (Saturday, January 16th, 2016 beginning at 6:00 pm).

Tickets on sale now http://bigsurforagersfestival2016.eventbrite.com

For event details and information on other Foragers Festival weekend activities, including venues at Post Ranch Inn, please visit our website: www.bigsurforagersfestival.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bigsurforagersfestival.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org

Why Our Silicon Valley Lifestyle is Killing Us

In his new book, “Lack of Sufficient SLEEP MATTERS” Roger W. Washington, M.D. Reveals Root Cause of Illness

Santa Clara, CA, November 16, 2015 - The new book, “Lack of Sufficient SLEEP MATTERS: Decode The Root Cause of Your Illness,” by Roger W. Washington, M.D., decodes the root cause of illness he discovered in California’s Silicon Valley, where according to a new report “a toxic cocktail of poor nutrition, sleep deprivation, and stress….is causing an epidemic of advanced aging.”

The lifestyle of coping with stress and responsibility by sleeping less to do more is typical of Silicon Valley workers and is becoming ubiquitous across society. Sleeping less is leading to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attacks, as well as a host of immune disorders that we do not ordinarily think of as being related to lack of sleep, such as breast cancer, blood clots, infections and rashes. Miscarriage, the premenstrual syndrome, migraines, depression even childhood colic are directly attributable to lack of sleep and what Dr. Washington calls our A.C.C.E.L.E.R.A.T.E.D. lifestyle.

Working as a family physician in Silicon Valley, Dr. Washington sees all these problems and more. In “Lack of Sufficient SLEEP MATTERS,” he takes us into his practice with patient stories showing how he listens with great curiosity about their activities, states of mind, and emotions leading up to when they became ill. He shows us how a crash and burn pattern develops and then startles us with the common threads he found across all sorts of illnesses. When he traces these illnesses back to his patients’ own habit patterns of dealing with life’s pressures by borrowing energy to accelerate their daytime activities, we are floored to find an unpaid sleep debt at the nexus of them all.

In “Lack of Sufficient SLEEP MATTERS: Decode The Root Cause of Your Illness,” Dr. Washington gives readers the tools to understand:

* Why sickness predictably occurs after we slowdown from demanding activities, not during

* How lack of sufficient sleep (LOSS) is the trigger for diseases such as migraines, IBS, PMS, fibromyalgia, and neuropathy

* How the onset of diabetes, which is supposedly genetic and environmental, could be delayed or even prevented with proper sleep patterns

* A simple algebraic equation to predict and prevent becoming ill

* A set of Sick Questions to ask to isolate and pinpoint behaviors that lead to illness

* The type of sleep needed to achieve good health and longevity

About the Author: A Stanford Medical School graduate and Academy of Family Physicians Fellow, Roger W. Washington has answered the question, “Doctor, Why Am I Sick?” for 30 years. In his first book, “Lack of Sufficient SLEEP MATTERS,” Dr. Washington decodes the root cause of illness he discovered in California’s Silicon Valley, where sacrificing sleep is the norm.

To download a free chapter of Dr. Washington’s book, go to www.SmartURL.it/FreeChapter. For more information, visit the online press kit at www.SleepMatters.OnlinePressKit247.com and the public site, www.SleepMattersTheBook.com. For interviews contact Executive Publicist Michelle Tennant Nicholson, 828-749-3200, Michelle@WasabiPublicity.com.

Contact:
Michelle Tennant Nicholson
Wasabi Publicity, Inc.
Santa Clara, CA
828-749-3200
Michelle@WasabiPublicity.com
http://www.SleepMatters.OnlinePressKit247.com

Dr Melanie Joy among the Speakers at the ETHIIC Round Table: When Ethics Meet Economy

On Thursday, November 19, 2015, 9:30am 11:00am, Smart City Expo World Congress, Congress Area Meeting Room 1, Fira De Barcelona, Gran Via Venue, Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona, Spain, November 16, 2015 - On Thursday November 19, 2015 a panel of speakers will meet at the Smart City Expo World Congress for a round table on Ethics and Economy.

The event has been organized by ETHIIC, the multisectorial network that creates connections between consumers and ethical, sustainable companies.

The focus of discussion will be the fact that people are increasingly better informed about environmental issues, human rights and animal rights. Consumers are ready to take steps to make a difference, and that’s why ethical products and services are booming and ready to go mainstream.

How easy is living in an ethical way for those who want things to be fast, ready and cool? How easy is “just giving it a try” for those who are potentially sensitive but a bit too lazy to try something new unless is it right there in front of them and presented in a very appealing way? Are public administrations and companies ready to meet this new latent need and make ethical services and products easily available to everyone? Can we still afford to live in a non-ethical, non-sustainable way?

The ETHIIC round table seeks discussion on the importance of re-directing the money flow from un-ethical businesses toward a sustainable economy that respects humans, animals and the environment according to a paradigm developed for urban areas.

A recent Nielsen survey reveals that an ever growing number of consumers (55% in 2014) are willing to pay extra for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.

A growing number of celebrities invites their followers to live in a more ethical way. Sir Paul McCartney: “If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat. That's the single most important thing you could do. It's staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty”

No wonder the vegetarian/vegan trend is burgeoning worldwide. For instance, Eurispes forecasts that 50% of the Italian population will go vegetarian or vegan by 2050.

The United Nations (2014 population report) stresses that cities may offer opportunities to expand access to sustainable product and services for large numbers of people in an economically efficient manner and allow them to enjoy healthier lives overall. This is precisely one of the topics that will be discussed.

• Dr. Melanie Joy, Ph.D., Ed.M.
Harvard-educated psychologist, professor of psychology and sociology, celebrated speaker, and president of Beyond Carnism, Melanie Joy is the author of the award-winning international best seller Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows, with translations soon to be published in 11 languages and top book pick by television host Ellen DeGeneres. Dr. Joy was the eighth recipient of the Institute of Jainology’s Ahimsa Award for her work on global non violence (past recipients include the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela).

Contact:
Impact Hub Barcelona - Patricia
ETHIIC, Plaza Real 18/2°
Barcelona, Spain
+34935951509
info@ethiic.net
http://www.ethiic.net

2016 Big Sur Foragers Festival Announces Grand Chef Dinner

Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef

Big Sur, CA, November 13, 2015 - The Big Sur Foragers Festival announces its Grand Chef Dinner at Ventana Big Sur The "Foragers Dinner" at the Restaurant at Ventana will be held Saturday, January 16th, 2016 beginning at 6:00 pm. The multi-course dinner, destined to be a memorable feast paired with an incredible wine selection, costs $175.00 per person (as of December 1). Early bird tickets are on sale now through November 30th for $150.00.

Guest Chefs have been announced! Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef along with Paul Corsentino from Ventana Big Sur.

Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef

  

Suzette Gresham, Acquerello’s co-owner and Executive Chef, has had a profound impact on the culinary world over the course of her over 35 years in the kitchen. Her career is one that has been punctuated by numerous awards and accolades from both local and international institutions. In 1980, she was the first female apprentice to be on the U.S. Culinary Olympic team, returning as an individual competitor 4 years later, and taking home the bronze metal. She holds the coveted Antonin Careme award, and was honored to become the first Junior Member of the ACF, later being voted to the Board of Directors for three terms. Acquerello has held a spot every year on Michael Bauer’s Top 100 Bay Area Restaurant List since it’s inception 19 years ago. The restaurant has received a Michelin star every year since 2007 until 2014 when it was awarded a second star. Gresham is only the third woman in the U.S. to hold that title. While these prestigious achievements are a source of pride for Gresham, they are not the driving force behind her career, food –above all else is what keeps her in the kitchen. Gresham produces more than just meals at Acquerello, she and her team provide experiences for the diner that are emblematic of what they could expect in high-end dining in Italy.

She does this through her dedication to elevated hospitality, the execution of soulful and thoughtful dishes, and a mission to educate and inspire all those who come through the door. “Materia prima”, or quality ingredients, along with seasonality, tradition, and philosophy are the driving forces behind Gresham’s style. She believes that Italian cuisine has a timelessness that doesn’t rely on trends. She remains current, however, by listening to diners, maintaining an awareness of her marketplace, and revitalizing forgotten classics through interpretive applications. Just as ingredients have been a pillar in her cooking, education has been a hallmark in her legacy. Gresham strives to make Acquerello all about opportunity. Her tenacious attitude, sincerity, undeniable skill, and constant appetite for knowledge are what helped her rise through the ranks. She didn’t realize she was a pioneer at the time; she just wanted to learn and progress in her career. Gresham has made her mark in the industry by highlighting the importance of culinary fundamentals in her team, stressing the importance of where you begin as a chef. It is with this philosophy in mind that Gresham has successfully passed 63 interns through her kitchen in the 26 years of Acquerello’s existence. It is her belief that without a strong foundation, in the long run you will short change yourself because of what you don’t know. It becomes exponentially harder to create new, bold flavor profiles or interpret the classics if you don’t first understand why techniques came to be, how traditions were started, and what role ingredients play in the regions from which they hail. “If you love your craft, it is your duty to learn all you can and then share that knowledge with the next generation. I relate to other chefs young and old – at the end of the day we are all just cooks.”

Paul Corsentino, Executive Chef, The Restaurant at Ventana Inn

A native of Illinois and a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Corsentino’s first foray into the kitchen led him to mk The Restaurant in Chicago in 2002. In 2004, Corsentino moved to New York where he worked at acclaimed restaurants such as Bouley, Country, Alta and Rouge Tomate prior to his career defining position as the Executive Chef at the National Bar & Dining Room.

Corsentino met Zakarian when he became Sous Chef at Country in 2005, where he was a member of the opening team. In 2010, Corsentino reunited with Zakarian as the Executive Chef at The National Bar & Dining Room. During the 3 years at the National, Corsentino landed runner up for Eater.com’s “Sexiest New York Chef.” He then assisted Zakarian in winning the 4th Season of Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef, Super Chefs” in December 2011.

The move to California in 2014 was inspired by the dream to cook in the seasons, the quest for fresh local ingredients and, of course, sunny winters. Corsentino joined Commune Hotels and Resorts as the Executive Chef at Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur. The food is representative of the location featuring ingredients such as local foraged mushrooms and wild caught fresh yellowfin tuna. In his first year at Ventana, Corsentino has put the restaurant on the map as a food destination in its own right.

Purchase Your Tickets Today For The Big Sur Foragers Festival 2016

Save the dates of January 15th through 17th, 2016. Big Sur area restaurants will host the culinary expertise of notable chefs preparing unique fare from rustic to elegant, paired with the region's amazing selection of wines and beers.

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to support the continued presence of local health care services.

In addition to the Grand Chef Dinner, the event schedule includes:

New events for 2016 include:

Friday, January 15th:
• 5:30 Friday evening - Cocktail reception and fungus presentation by Louie Schwartzberg followed by 5 course tasting menu prepared by Chef John Cox with wine pairings selected by Sierra Mar wine director Dominique DaCruz. $500 per person. Limited to 22 tickets. Reservations to be made thru Post Ranch Reservations at 800 527 2200.

Sunday, January 17th:
• 11 a.m. Sunday morning - Property forage hike and lunch with Chef John Cox. Guest will enjoy an exclusive property wide tour of Post Ranch Led by Executive Chef John Cox followed by a 3 course lunch with wine pairing featuring items foraged on property and local wines. Limited to 16 people at $200 per person. Reservations made at 800 527 2200.This hike is weather permitting.
Back by Popular Demand:

Saturday, January 16th:
• Saturday, January 16th: This year there will be two "Wild Foraging Walk and Talk" - one at Pfeiffer State Park (level beginner) and one through the Big Sur Wilderness (level intermediate). Cost per hike $35.00. (Saturday, January 16th 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

• Saturday, January 16th "Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Big Sur. "Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Big Sur! "Fungus Face-Off" at Ventana Big Sur from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Cost per person is $60. A friendly competition among some of the area's notable chefs featuring chanterelles and other fabulous fungi. Attendees also have an opportunity to cast their vote for "People's Choice". (Saturday, January 16th 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

• A silent auction full of culinary delights, hotel stays, tickets to explore the area, art and so much more will take place during the food and wine sampling. There will be more than 60 items this year! Purchase raffle tickets for $5 per ticket of $25 for 6 tickets. Enter to win your choice of 7 culinary delights or hotel packages! Raffle package values begin at $200 to $700! Tickets available for purchase at the event.

Sunday, January 17th:
• Forager's Kitchen: Master Class in Cooking - Foraged Foods at Home at the Big Sur Lodge: A fun, fast-paced panel of some of Big Sur and Carmel's best chefs known for cooking with such foraged foods as chanterelles, sorrel, nettles and natural sea salt. Participants will get to taste the foods demonstrated by the chefs and take new recipes home. Chefs to be announced. (Sunday, January 17 - 2 to 4 pm) - Tickets will be on sale December 1st. Only 50 spaces available.

Tickets on sale now http://bigsurforagersfestival2016.eventbrite.com

For event details and venue information, visit www.bigsurforagersfestival.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bigsurforagersfestival.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org

Fam Trip Invitation to Experience Cruises and Tours in Vietnam at ITB ASIA

The all-inclusive Emperor Cruises Nha Trang is the most authentic new cruising experience in Vietnam in 2015

Hanoi, Vietnam, November 11, 2015 - Luxury Travel Ltd. is offering travel professionals fam trips to experience Vietnam and take on the role of a Vietnam travel specialist at ITB Asia.

The programme is designed for travel sellers and they join what the company claims are its “bestselling tours starting in Hanoi and ending in Saigon.” as a holiday to Vietnam depart on the first of every month, with an optional extension to Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia or a Vietnam beach resort and enjoy cruising experience in Nha Trang.

“Our private fam trip is an opportunity to become familiar with our luxury tour programme …. Tour operators receive a certificate acknowledging them as Vietnam travel expert after each trip,” said Luxury Travel founder and CEO Pham Ha.

Luxury travelers now have the opportunity to cruise in Nha Trang Bay, not just in Halong Bay and along the Mekong. Being recognized as the pearl of the South Central Coast of Vietnam, Nha Trang has become one of the most famous tourist destinations in Vietnam because of its natural beauty and superb climate with 300 days of sunshine.

According to this travel guru, the all-inclusive Emperor Cruises Nha Trang is the most authentic new cruising experience in Vietnam in 2015. Emperor Cruises (www.emperorcruises.com) brings travelers to the bay to gaze at the sunset, sip on cocktails, and enjoy romantic dinners while cruising on one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world.

Fam trip bookings are available online, but for detailed information travel agents can contact Luxury Travel’s sales and marketing director, David Nguyen, at sales@luxurytravels.asia.

The trips are not free initially, but they can be if the travel agent books a client after completing the trip. Travel agents can pay by credit card. The full amount is required upon confirmation and is refundable on completion of the first booking with Luxury Travel before 31 December 2016. The fee for spouses and travelling companions is non-refundable.

Familiarisation trips are available only to tour operators. Life partners can join at the same rate or with a nominal supplement.

To be eligible travel professionals must supply name, position at the company, national tourism member, ABTA, ASTA or PATA member code if any and a confirmation fax number or business email and website. Trade visitors can discuss further at ITB Asia in Singapore about the fam and Emperor Cruises in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

All trips are subject to limited availability on specific travel dates, as mentioned, and other restrictions. Reservations must be filed at least one month before departure date.

Vietnam-based Luxury Travel sells holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand

About Luxury Travel Ltd.
With a new heart logo and the slogan, touching hearts, Vietnam-based Luxury Travel Ltd. (www.luxurytravels.asia) is a long established Asian specialist in the art of travel and serves today’s most sophisticated travelers with luxury privately guided and fully bespoke touring and Vietnam vacation packages with extension to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel Ltd. has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent Guide Awards: “Asia’s leading luxury tour operator touching hearts”.

Contact:
Huyen Nguyen
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Street
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
84.4.62733087 Ext 122
http://www.luxurytravelvietnam.com

The Humble Grapes to Release New Single “Brooklyn Bridge” on October 30th Along With Upcoming Music Video November 4th

The Humble Grapes are preparing for the release of their new single and music video, “Brooklyn Bridge.”

Los Angeles, CA, November 09, 2015 – The Humble Grapes are preparing for the release of their new single and music video, “Brooklyn Bridge.” The vibrant duo, which consists of vocalist, songwriter, producer Brie Capone and artist, songwriter, pianist, producer David Kaufman, have gained recognition in the indie circuit and are quickly rising to success.

“This band is a real breath of fresh air. Brie’s voice is amazing and blends perfectly with David’s masterful skills on the piano to create something truly unique.” – Muzic Notez

The new single co-produced by The Humble Grapes and Ami Kozak paints a perfect picture of a rocky relationship with its alluring melody and Capone’s soulful vocals. The picturesque melody coming from Kaufman helps envision the tumultuous relationship. Capone’s captivating voice also helps emulate the emotion behind the relationship making this a raw, unforgettable follow up to “Young and Alive” in anticipation for their upcoming EP out January 2016.

“Brooklyn Bridge’ is a song about realizing that you can fall in love with some one and truly care for them, but you’re painfully aware that you're on a different path than them,” states Capone.

“Brooklyn Bridge” will be available October 30th followed by the release of the music video on November 4th. Directed by the talented Benjamin Heller the video was beautifully shot under both The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in DUMBO, which also helped visualize the sentiment and tone behind the lyrics.

The Humble Grapes will be playing The Bitter End in NYC on Saturday, November 14th and have plans to tour the tri-state area throughout 2016 to support their forthcoming 2016 EP release.

Follow The Humble Grapes:
http://www.thehumblegrapes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thehumblegrapesmusic
https://twitter.com/thehumblegrapes
https://instagram.com/thehumblegrapes/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-humble-grapes

For more information about The Humble Grapes or to set an interview, please contact Chip Schutzman at Miles High Productions: 323-806-0400 or chip@mileshighproductions.com

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/

EDM/POP Vocalist C’nky Siwela Announces Music Video Release “My Name in the Echo” out November 4th

Electronic- pop singer, C’nky Siwela, showcases his second worldwide digital release, “My Name in the Echo,” available now!

Los Angeles, CA, October 30, 2015 - Electronic- pop singer, C’nky Siwela, showcases his second worldwide digital release, “My Name in the Echo,” available now!

This South African sensation won “Best Afro-Pop Artist” at the SACRA Awards following the release of his debut album, “Reminiscent of the Sounds.” Gearing up for his second full-length album, C’nky releases his second single which truly displays C’nky’s well-rounded music capabilities as a vocalist.

“My Name in the Echo” drifts away from his first electro-pop release, “Distant Cry,” and dives into a breaking wave of tropical guitar riffs that are blended into a deep house track. C’nky’s soulful vocals express a sense of struggle and disorientation while patiently waiting for “the voice of reason” to guide him. The track relates back to when C’nky was initially trying to discover himself as an artist. He was continuously being discouraged from others around him and started to be surrounded by negative forces that led him to even worse experiences. However, C’nky regained his strength and found enlightenment that guided him out of his lull. This song is intended for anyone with disarrayed feelings and is meant to inspire listeners to always believe in the vast amount of possibilities.

Not only does the song motivate listeners to think positively, but it is the type of track to encourage everyone within listening distance to sway to the upbeat tune and release their inhibitions, fears, and doubts. “If it’s possible for me, it is possible for everyone,” C’nky says. This peaceful, paradise get-away track can help ease and motivate the mind.

“Music is my calling, hence the name of this song I present; titled ‘My Name in the Echo.’ This serves as an inspiration to whoever is trying to quit and to listen to the voice of reason. The song talks about my struggle before I discovered my real place to express myself as an emerging Electro Pop/ Jazz Artist,” says C’nky.

C’nky Siwela’s new full length album release is expected to drop in early 2016, further demonstrating his impeccable talent. With his capabilities of incorporating jazz instrumentals into electro-pop, C’nky is definitely an artist to keep an eye out for.

Media Contact Information:
Chip Schutzman/Miles High Productions
chip@mileshighproductions.com
323-806-0400

South Africa Contact:
Samuel Muyinza/ Down2Earth Music
Sam@down2earthmusik.com

For more information please visit the C’nky Siwela official website: http://www.cnkysiwela.com/

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/

2016 Big Sur Foragers Festival Tickets on Sale Monday, November 2nd

Big Sur Health Center, a non-profit organization offering affordable healthcare to the Big Sur community, announced January 15-17, 2016 as the dates of its annual Big Sur Foragers Festival.

Big Sur, CA, November 05, 2015 - Big Sur Health Center, a non-profit organization offering affordable healthcare to the Big Sur community, announced January 15-17, 2016 as the dates of its annual Big Sur Foragers Festival. Held in Big Sur along California’s central coast, the festival is a weekend-long celebration featuring an amazing array of wild foods, world-class wine and beer, entertainment, expert-led foraging hikes and a friendly chef competition with celebrity judges. This year’s partners include Ventana Big Sur, longtime hosts of the Fungus Face-Off and the Celebrity Chef dinner, along with a new strategic partner, Post Ranch Inn, which will host several different events.

The event has traditionally served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to continue to support the presence of local health care services in the Big Sur area.

“As the new owners of Ventana Big Sur, we are looking forward to continuing the tradition of supporting the Big Sur Health Center.” said Catherine Becker, General Manager.

“Post Ranch is very excited to co-host this year’s Big Sur Foragers Festival with Ventana,” said Mike Higgins, Vice President of Operations for Passport Resorts, the owners of Post Ranch Inn. “We have always firmly believed in the importance of supporting local organizations and could not imagine the Big Sur community without the vital contributions provided by the Health Center.”

The three day festival affords Big Sur area restaurants the opportunity to host the culinary expertise of notable chefs who will be preparing unique fare ranging from rustic to elegant, paired alongside the central coast region's amazing selection of wine and beer.

Tickets are on sale Monday, November 2nd www.eventbrite.com/e/big-sur-foragers-festival-tickets-19288671937.

New events for 2016 include:
Friday, January 15th:
• 5:30 Friday evening - Cocktail reception and fungus presentation by Louie Schwartzberg followed by 5 course tasting menu prepared by Chef John Cox with wine pairings selected by Sierra Mar wine director Dominique DaCruz. $500 per person. Limited to 22 tickets. Reservations to be made thru Post Ranch Reservations at 800 527 2200.

Sunday, January 17th:
• 11 a.m. Sunday morning - Property forage hike and lunch with Chef John Cox. Guest will enjoy an exclusive property wide tour of Post Ranch Led by Executive Chef John Cox followed by a 3 course lunch with wine pairing featuring items foraged on property and local wines. Limited to 16 people at $200 per person. Reservations made at 800 527 2200.This hike is weather permitting.

Back by Popular Demand:
Saturday, January 16th:
• Saturday, January 16th: This year there will be two "Wild Foraging Walk and Talk" - one at Pfeiffer State Park (level beginner) and one through the Big Sur Wilderness (level intermediate). Cost per hike $60.00. (Saturday, January 16th 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

• Saturday, January 16th "Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Big Sur. "Fungus Face-Off" on the deck at Ventana Big Sur! "Fungus Face-Off" at Ventana Big Sur from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Cost per person is $60. A friendly competition among some of the area's notable chefs featuring chanterelles and other fabulous fungi. Attendees also have an opportunity to cast their vote for "People's Choice". (Saturday, January 16th 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

• A silent auction full of culinary delights, hotel stays, tickets to explore the area, art and so much more will take place during the food and wine sampling. There will be more than 60 items this year! Purchase raffle tickets for $5 per ticket of $25 for 6 tickets. Enter to win your choice of 7 culinary delights or hotel packages! Raffle package values begin at $200 to $700! Tickets available for purchase at the event.

• The Big Sur Foragers Festival announces its Grand Chef Dinner at Ventana Big Sur. The "Foragers Dinner" at the Restaurant at Ventana will be held Saturday, January 16th, 2016 beginning at 6:00 pm. The multi-course dinner, destined to be a memorable feast paired with an incredible wine selection. Early bird tickets available for $150 inclusive from November 2nd – November 31st. Tickets will be sold for $175 beginning December 1.

Sunday, January 17th:
• Forager's Kitchen: Master Class in Cooking - Foraged Foods at Home at the Big Sur Lodge: A fun, fast-paced panel of some of Big Sur and Carmel's best chefs known for cooking with such foraged foods as chanterelles, sorrel, nettles and natural sea salt. Participants will get to taste the foods demonstrated by the chefs and take new recipes home. Chefs to be announced. (Sunday, January 17 - 2 to 4 pm) - Tickets will be on sale December 1st. Only 30 spaces available.

Tickets on sale now (2nd www.eventbrite.com/e/big-sur-foragers-festival-tickets-19288671937. For event details and venue information, visit www.bigsurforagersfestival.org or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bigsurforagersfestival.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org