Tuesday, October 28, 2014

10/28 NAT GEO, ANNIE FITZSIMMONS, CITIES CRAIG HOFFMAN, IHOP®, HAILEY TREFETHEN, TREFETHEN FAMILY VINEYARDS

NAT GEO TRAVELER’S URBAN INSIDER EXPERT ANNIE FITZSIMMONS - LATEST BOOK WORLD’S BEST CITIES 

From Tokyo to Vatican City, Urban Insider Expert Annie Fitzsimmons Highlights the Charm of Cities Across the World in National Geographic’s Latest Release

The 21st century has been heralded as the “Century of the City” by the Rockefeller Foundation as, for the first time ever, the majority of people live in urban areas. In a glossy, lavish tribute to cosmopolitan life, National Geographic Travel will offer urban adventurers a stunning new book this fall: WORLD’S BEST CITIES: Celebrating 220 Great Destinations. Delving into the heart and soul of cities around the globe, the book is an expansive travel guide that highlights 220 urban destinations, both well-known and emerging, with beautiful photo galleries, insightful text and insider tips and secrets.
Annie Fitzsimmons, National Geographic Travel’s “Urban Insider,” wrote the foreword and serves as spokesperson for the book. She is one of several experts who share their personal recollections of favorite urban destinations in the book. Other contributors include Los Angeles chef Roi Choi, who recommends the Greek Theater for music in Los Angeles; Cuban actress Iliam Suárez, who shares her passion for taking in the ocean air on a stroll along Havana’s Malecón (seawall); Montreal business owner Joel Giberovitch, who suggests browsing charming boutiques on classy Laurier Avenue; and award-winning fashion designer Maria Pinto, who recommends a walk through Lurie Garden in Millennium Park in Chicago.

The inspirational personal narratives, fun facts and local secrets shared in WORLD’S BEST CITIES reveal each city’s soul and daily rhythm for travelers seeking an urban adventure. For those looking to explore the world’s top urban destinations, the book offers boundless inspiration.


CRAIG HOFFMAN - “SCARY FACE” PANCAKES REMATERIALIZE AT IHOP® 


THE HAUNT IS ON FOR THE SPOOKIEST DECORATED PANCAKE WHEN “SCARY FACE” PANCAKES REMATERIALIZE AT IHOP® RESTAURANTS, OCTOBER 1 -- AND ON HALLOWEEN, FOR KIDS UNDER 12, THEY’RE FREE!

As an Added Bonus, Seasonal Favorite Pumpkin Pancakes, though not in Costume, Return to the Menu through January

IHOP Restaurants® may want to change their name to the “International Haunted House of Pancakes” this October, with the return of their frighteningly delicious “Scary Face” Pancakes! This customizable treat, beloved by children, will return to the “Just for Kids” menu from October 1 through the rest of the month.
As an added treat, on Halloween itself, Friday October 31, from 7am to 10pm, kids can enjoy their petrifying playful pancake portrait for FREE at participating IHOP restaurants.

An order of the “Scary Face” pancakes is sure to keep the kids entertained! Each order comes with one of IHOP restaurants’ world famous buttermilk pancakes decorated with a beaming whipped topping smile and eyes, and a strawberry nose. Then, kids can use a kit of delicious toppings-- eight pieces of sweet candy corn and two mini Oreos®--to finish decorating the face any way they choose.

Young guests can let their imaginations run spooky as they create frightening or funny face combinations. From candy corn horns to vampire teeth, the possibilities are endless – that is, if they can resist eating the warm, fluffy pancake right away!
Pumpkin pancakes, will bring the taste of autumn to the menu through the end of the year. So be sure to stop by your local IHOP restaurant to enjoy a “Scary Face” pancake before the end of October– you don’t even have to say “trick or treat!”--, and savor pumpkin pancakes while you can…because they too will vanish!

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES, LLC
For over 56 years, International House of Pancakes, LLC has been a leader and expert in all things breakfast and a leader in family dining. The chain is highly competitive in its menu offering, serving 65 different signature, made-to-order breakfast options as well as a range of meals under 600 calories.  Beyond offering “everything you love about breakfast, ®” IHOP® restaurants have a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items, as well. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of June 30, 2014, there were 1,632 IHOP restaurants in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the Philippines and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the licensed name IHOP at HOME® consumers can also enjoy a line of premium breakfast products available at leading retailers. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).  For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.IHOP.com.  Follow IHOP on Facebook and Twitter.

WWW.IHOP.COM


HAILEY TREFETHEN - TREFETHEN FAMILY VINEYARDS REOPENS TO VISITORS POST-EARTHQUAKE

The Trefethen family announces that the winery is now welcoming visitors for wine tasting in its temporary facility.  The winery is open for the first time since the August 24th Napa-centered earthquake that severely damaged the historic 19th century winery that served as the visitor center and retail sales operations. A tented pavilion overlooking the estate’s vineyards will operate daily from 10am to 4:30pm by appointment.  Appointments can be made by calling 866.895.7696.  Or, guests can stop by to see if on the spot appointments may be made if space is available.
The pavilion has the feel of an intimate garden party with walls surrounded by arched windows and French doors to take advantage of the vineyard views and oversized topiaries, garden tables and a stone fountain complete the theme.

Janet Trefethen said, “We wanted to make this temporary operation as welcoming as we could.  It feels festive which is really what we wanted to convey—a celebration of great wine amidst the beautiful vineyards.”

The old winery, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will be out of commission for some time as the restoration work begins.  Trefethen continued, “There’s a lot of work to be done to get the old building back to her glory, but we are up for the challenge.  It’s such an iconic part of our Napa Valley heritage.”

Winemaking facilities long-ago moved to modern production facilities on property which were unaffected by the quake and crush continued uninterrupted.

FAMILY STORY:
It was never clear how this adventure was going to turn out. In the late 60’s when my family started to grow wine grapes in Napa Valley, there was no one to show them the way. There was plenty of advice, to be sure, but in truth no one had started a successful Napa vineyard since Prohibition. They were, in a word, crazy.

Their lunacy was infectious, however, and a few other enterprising souls joined the gambit: Tony Baldini, our first viticulturist; David Whitehouse, our first “real” winemaker; Richard DeGarmo, Mr. fix-it; Mary Ware, queen of the office and everyone’s schedule. I grew up with them and consider them all family. A shared passion brought them to us, and my parents received them with open arms. They settled into their respective posts, not as hired hands, but as equals in a shared endeavor. As I settle into my own role in the family business, I find this remarkable dynamic preserved and count myself blessed to spend my days working with old and new friends that quickly feel like family.

The land focuses our energies, as it always has, challenging us to understand its soils, the vines that grow in them, and the way fog drifts through the rows in the morning. It is an eternal learning process – each question answered reveals another be asked – but it’s a journey we love to take with each and every vintage. It also defines us and the wines we make, providing the vital essence of every bottle that bears our name. Decisions made in the vineyard and cellar not only guide the expression of the land, but affect the very soul of the wine. For this reason, we have always committed ourselves to estate production, adamant that we should be the ones growing the grapes and turning them into wine. Our passion requires it.

One Family. One Estate. One Passion. This is who we are.

WWW.TREFETHEN.COM