3/28 VOJTECH KACEROVSKY, CZECHTOURISM, EASTER TRADITIONS IN CZECH REPUBLIC, CHRIS PIERCE, HERITAGE POULTRY MANAGEMENT SERVICES, WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL

VOJTECH KACEROVSKY FROM CZECHTOURISM TALKS ABOUT EASTER TRADITIONS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Easter Folk Customs and Traditions

The most important Christian holidays are approaching!
Easter belongs to the ancient holidays of the first spring full moon, which is associated with the celebration of the arrival of spring, the resurrection of Christ, and the launch of a new agricultural year.

Traditional customs
In addition to the painted Easter eggs, the osier stick, a switch plaited from fresh willow branches and adorned with ribbons, is a Czech Easter symbol. On Easter Monday boys and men go caroling and symbolically whip girls and women with the plaited osier sticks. According to folk traditions, the whipping is supposed to bring women beauty and freshness throughout the year. In some regions, they also still keep the rattles custom. From Thursday to Saturday boys walk around the village houses making noise with theirwooden rattles, thereby summoning believers to church instead of bells, which fell silent during the Easter holidays and symbolically flew off to Rome. After the period of fasting comes a period of true abundance. Some typical Easter dishes are lamb or rabbit meat with nettle stuffing, cross buns from slowly leavened dough or sponge cake lambs with icing. Judases (baked goods) drizzled in honey and divine grace (fried dough coated in sugar) are also great delicacies. And Easter Monday could never go without a meal prepared from eggs! Eggs are an ancient symbol of new life and rebirth. During the Easter holidays, most restaurants serve spiced beer specialities along with the Easter menu.

Folk tradition for everyone
The grounds of the oldest and the largest open air museum in Central Europe in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm  come alive with samples of traditional Easter and spring customs. This year, on Saturday, you will see a craft fair with demonstrations of traditional crafts. A day later, on Easter Sunday, folklore ensembles will perform, and you will be able to buy hand-painted Easter eggs or plaited osier sticks.

Easter in Veselý Kopec in Eastern Bohemia will take on a similar form. Exhibitions bringing to life the traditional folk customs will be held in all log buildings.

Open-air markets
The capital city of Prague hasn’t forgotten about its residents and visitors either. In particular, it has prepared folk fairs and festivities. The main fair will take place in the Old Town Square, in the historic heart of the city. You will be able to buy items such as painted Easter eggs, osier sticks, even Easter bread – as well as cross buns, the aforementioned Judases (baked goods) and sponge cake lambs. A rich cultural program full of folk songs, dances and demonstrations of folk customs has been prepared. The smallest can try out their artistic talents in painting Easter eggs or in plaiting osier sticks.

WWW.CZECHTOURISM.COM 


CHRIS PIERCE CHATS ABOUT THIS YEARS WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL, EGG'S HEALTH BENEFITS AND GROWING EGG CONSUMPTION

This Year The American Egg Board Is Donating More than 30,000 EGGS to Be Rolled, Hunted & Decorated at the Annual White House Easter Egg Roll

On Monday, the American Egg Board will continue its almost four decades of support of the White House Easter Egg Roll with the 39th Commemorative Egg presentation to First Lady Michelle Obama on behalf of America's egg farmers. They will also donate more than 30,000 hard-boiled eggs and offer fun activities, including an interactive hen-to-home journey, on the South Lawn to attendees.

Since 1978 American presidents and their families have celebrated Easter Monday by hosting an "egg roll" party. Some historians note that First Lady Dolley Madison originally suggested the idea of a public egg roll, while others tell stories of informal egg-rolling parties at the While House dating back to President Lincoln's administration. Eggs are more popular than ever among Americans for breakfast, lunch and dinner and on trend with their appetite for more protein. In fact, egg sales are the highest they've ever been, according to Nielsen, growing by $1.4 billion to $7.3 billion in 2015. The average person ate 1.5 dozen eggs at Easter time in 2015, a 5.5 % increase over 2014.

3/25 LEGENDARY COUNTRY MUSIC SONGSTRESS LORRIE MORGAN, STEVE EVANS THE MOVIE GUY

LEGENDARY COUNTRY MUSIC SONGSTRESS LORRIE MORGAN - TWO NEW ALBUMS RELEASED BACK-TO-BACK, TOUR DATES AND MORE!

LORRIE MORGAN RELEASED A PICTURE OF ME – GREATEST HITS & MORE ON MARCH 18
Compilation Album Featuring New Recordings of Greatest Hits and Brand New Songs Follows First New Studio Album in Five Years, 'Letting Go… Slow', In Stores Now

Good things come in pairs, and this season legendary country music songstress Lorrie Morgan celebrates two new album releases, back-to-back. Following the February 12 release of her first new studio album in five years, Letting Go… Slow, Morgan will celebrate the juxtaposed March 18 drop of a brand new compilation album, A Picture Of Me – Greatest Hits & More. A Picture Of Me – Greatest Hits & More is now available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon.

Having lived a life of great loss and triumph, Morgan has been quoted saying, “In many ways, my life has been a country song.” In an article published by People Magazine Morgan revealed that although a lot of good things have happened to her, the tragedies have been overwhelming. Devastated by the loss of her father, country star George Morgan when she was just 16; and then the unexpected death of her husband and fellow country star Keith Whitley when she was in her late twenties, Morgan’s first years of career success were far from painless.

Her song “Dear Me” became her first Top 10 hit shortly after Whitley’s death, followed by “Out Of Your Shoes,” and “Five Minutes,” which both skyrocketed to No. 1. “Here I am,” she told People Magazine, “In this tragedy, and I had something I had wanted for so long, a hit record. And as much as I thank God, I say, ‘thanks, but please – make it a little easier.’” Through the years, Morgan has credited her audiences for being her therapists and helping her make it through those hard times through music.

Now, nearly two decades later, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, legendary country star and four-time Female Vocalist Of The Year, she says she is happier than ever, and two new music projects on the horizon are just icing on the cake.

Featuring newly re-recorded versions of her top hits “Watch Me,” “Something In Red,” “Good As I Was To You,” “Five Minutes,” “Except For Monday, “ A Picture Of Me (Without You)," "What Part Of No,” and brand-new songs like Dottie West’s “Here Comes My Baby,” A Picture Of Me – Greatest Hits & More also features never-before-heard songs from Morgan like “I Went Crazy For Awhile” and “Hopelessly Yours,” written and co-written by Keith Whitley. Morgan also includes beautiful renditions of Tammy Wynette’s “’Til I Can Make It On My Own,” and George Jones’s “Loving You Could Never Be Better.”

UPCOMING TOUR DATES
March 25 Golden Nugget – Las Vegas, Nev.
April 15 The Calumet Theatre – Calumet, Mich.
April 16 Grand Casino – Hinckley, Minn.
April 22 Shooting Star Casino – Mahnomen, Minn.
April 23 HCGWD Events Center – Baraboo, Wis.

LORRIE.COM

STEVE EVENS – THE MOVIE GUY                        
GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.

3/24 AUTO EXPERT MIKE CAUDILL, NY AUTO SHOW, BROOKE GRIFFIN, SKINNY SUPPERS: 125 LIGHTENED UP, HEALTHIER MEALS FOR YOUR FAMILY

AUTO EXPERT MIKE CAUDILL COVERS THE 2016 NY AUTO SHOW

ABOUT MIKE:
Mike is an automotive industry expert and has appeared on several television stations nationwide, including Fox News Channel, Fox & Friends, America’s Newsroom, Varney & Co, Fox Car Report, CNN Morning, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and more. On a local level Mike has made appearances on stations from Los Angeles, to Minnesota, to Chicago to New York City. Mike was also the Automotive Expert for NADAguides.com, the consumer arm of the National Automobile Dealers Association. In addition, Mike has hosted automotive segments that cover the gambit of the motoring world for the past 10 years, from auto shows to current industry trends to product unveils, Michael has seen and done it all automotive.

THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW:
Auto Expert Mike Caudill previews the final new car introductions of the year including New reveals from Buick, Hyundai, Jaguar, Acura, Jeep, Mazda and other news coming from the show. In 1900, the New York International Automobile Show became North America’s first automotive exhibition. Combined with the city's energy, and the fact that Metro New York is one of the nation's largest markets for new car and truck sales, the show is now one of the most important automotive events in the world.  The show is open to the public March 25 - April 3, 2016 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

WWW.AUTOSHOWNY.COM


FORMER NFL CHEERLEADER AND FITNESS UNIVERSE CHAMPION BROOKE GRIFFIN TALKS ABOUT HER NEW COOKBOOK, SKINNY SUPPERS: 125 LIGHTENED UP, HEALTHIER MEALS FOR YOUR FAMILY

ABOUT SKINNY SUPPERS: 125 Lightened Up, Healthier Meals for Your Family
Like many new moms, former NFL Cheerleader and Fitness Universe Champion, Brooke Griffin struggled to lose nearly 70 extra pounds after giving birth to her son. During a time of personal trial, Brooke decided to make some changes. She worked to lose all the baby weight and started SkinnyMom.com to help others struggling with similar issues. Now reaching an audience of over 6 million each month, Brooke gives readers “the skinny” on healthy living while empowering them to spend quality time with their families over healthy and delicious suppers.

Designed for families who juggle hectic schedules, SKINNY SUPPERS helps them eliminate the question of “what’s for dinner?” and take the first steps in preparing tasty and waist-friendly meals for their families, with recipes that are simple satisfying and lower in fat and calories (most under 350 calories per serving!). All feature easy-to-find ingredients and are quick to prepare, making it possible for even the busiest parent to find time to get a lightened up, homemade dinner on the table.

MORE ABOUT BROOKE GRIFFIN
Brooke Griffin grew up in Kentucky where Sunday Suppers were a staple of her childhood. She fondly remembers squeezing into her granny’s tiny country house after church along with her large extended family to eat home-cooked meals and pray. After being the first person in her family to graduate college, Brooke went on to realize her childhood dream of cheerleading in the NFL. She has appeared in national magazines including Oxygen, Women’s Fitness, Redbook, American Baby, GQ, and on national television, including on ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, and 20/20. She lives in Kentucky with her son Easton.

WWW.AURITT.COM

3/23 LARRY LIPSON, CHEF GEORGE DURAN, MARCH MADNESS ENTERTAINING TIPS, TAX SEASON SURVIVAL GUIDE WITH KELSEY HUBBARD

LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Florida weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies.


CHEF GEORGE DURAN JOINS THE CONVERSATION WITH SOME MARCH MADNESS SLAM-DUNK ENTERTAINING TIPS

MARCH MADNESS SLAM-DUNK ENTERTAINING TIPS
Are you a basketball fan, or just a fan of getting together with friends and family? Just in time for any March Madness viewing parties, chef and entertainer George Duran shares food and wine and entertaining tips guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

ABOUT GEORGE DURAN:
George Duran is a chef and entertainer. Author of Take This Dish and Twist it, known for his Food Network show Ham on the Street and most recently host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off. He’s appeared as guests on NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, The Wendy William Show, the Dr. Oz Show, The Nate Berkus Show and many others.

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela by Armenian parents, George attended  NYU where he commenced his all-out assault on a career in radio and TV production, culminating in 1996--with an award for Best Radio Talk Show at the National Association of College Broadcasters for his work hosting HYE Time Radio show on WNYU.

Post college, Duran continued to follow his Radio Muse, working as an on-air personality for comedy segments at WPLJ-FM in New York. He moved on to WABC radio in 1999 where he produced and performed more comedy sketches.

2002 proved to be an important year for Duran.  Since man cannot live on care packages from Mom alone, George had been busy honing his own culinary skills—and found his hobby gradually turning into a full-blown obsession. One he would follow to Paris, France, where he attended culinary school at the Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise, Groupe Ferrandi. While attending school, Duran created and hosted in French a culinary show called Pop Cuisine on France’s Cuisine TV network. His unpretentious, quirky culinary style was a hit—garnering Pop Cuisine a nomination for a 7 d’Or (French Emmy) for Best Cable Show as well as a 2003 Silver Grape Gastronomic Award. George even broke into the world of print, teaching Gallic “lads” a few culinary tricks with his column in the French edition of FHM magazine.

In 2005, Duran returned to New York, taking his career as a TV Chef to the next level—creating and hosting Food Network’s popular Ham on the Street.  A couple years later Duran expanded his presence on the network, hosting The Secret Life of…, a light hearted exploration of the history of the foods we love.

In October, 2008, George’s first book, Take This Dish and Twist It hit bookstore shelves and by 2010 George was asked to join TLC’s prime time line-up by hosting Ultimate Cake Off where the nation’s top cake artists compete against each other to build the ultimate cake. Currently George Duran hosts culinary segments with The Better Show and All Recipes.com.

WWW.GEORGEDURAN.COM


TAX SEASON SURVIVAL GUIDE WITH KELSEY HUBBARD - SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR TAX MATTERS LESS TAXING

April 18th is drawing near so you may want to ask yourself…Do you know which paperwork you’ll need? Will you be going traditional or paperless? Have you kept your records long enough? How can you stay safe during the process?

What if we told you there are a few simple ways to stay sane and solvent come tax time? Before you spend hundreds on professional tax prep or even a software program, get informed—let Finance Reporter Kelsey Hubbard sail you smoothly through the 15th!

Kelsey Hubbard  is also as a freelance anchor and reporter for BBC Capital in New York. As a part of the global website launch in 2013, she created and developed the 90 Second Financial Fix, a continuing original personal finance video series. In addition, Ms. Hubbard is a freelance News Anchor for News 12 Connecticut, a Cabelvision Network. Ms. Hubbard also worked for The Wall Street Journal, where she anchored live news programs such as Lunch Break and The News Hub. As a multi-media anchor and producer for The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, Ms. Hubbard was also responsible for analyzing and delivering on-air content to MarketWatch, Barron’s and SmartMoney. Her team and respective content increased the viewership of the network from around 12,000 views to over 35 million on demand views per month. Ms. Hubbard is also responsible for the launch of WSJ’s Tax Show, which covers all tax related issues and stories during tax season.

03/22 DR. ROBERT LOOKSTEIN, SEAMUS MULLEN, LIMOR SUSS

DR. ROBERT LOOKSTEIN  - IT'S SPRING BREAK & SUMMER VACATION PLANNING TIME! THE HEALTH RISKS SURROUNDING LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL

THE HEALTH RISKS SURROUNDING LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL
AS OIL & GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO DROP, MORE PEOPLE MAY BE TAKING TO THE ROADS & SKY

The falling price of oil means two things for travelers: cheaper gas and airline deals. But before you jet or drive off to that much needed break, you should know about an unexpected health danger that could turn your vacation into something much worse. A condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur when blood clots form in the deep veins of your legs after sitting still in a confined space for a long period of time. In fact, traveling for more than four hours by car, train or plane can put you at risk for DVT.

It is important to know what can increase your risk of DVT as most people who develop travel-associated blood clots have one or more other risk factors, as well.

Risk Factors Can Include:
• Being older than age 40
• Injury to a vein, often caused by fractures, severe muscle injury or major surgery
• Increased estrogen, often caused by taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
• Pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after childbirth
• Previous blood clot or family history of blood clots

DVT can cause leg pain or swelling, but may also occur without symptoms. DVT affects approximately 900,000 people in the U.S.,[i]and the longer you are immobile, the greater your risk for developing a blood clot. Ultimately, this can lead to a more serious health problem when part of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs causing a  blockage -- or pulmonary embolism - which could be fatal.

On Tuesday, March 22, Dr. Robert Lookstein, interventional radiologist at Mount Sinai, will discuss what your listeners/viewers need to know about DVT as the travel season gets underway, including how to recognize the symptoms and what to do to protect yourself and your family against the possibilities of blood clots during travel. He'll also explain some of the current treatments available for DVT.


CELEBRITY CHEF/HEALTH AND WELLNESS AUTHORITY SEAMUS MULLEN SHARES HIS PERSONAL FITNESS JOURNEY AND RECIPE IDEAS FEATURING HERO FOOD EVOO

Seamus Mullen is an award-winning New York chef, restaurateur and cookbook author known for his inventive yet approachable Spanish cuisine, and a leading authority on health and wellness.  An avid cyclist who raced competitively in his twenties, he was diagnosed in 2007 with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that forced him to rethink his relationship with food, and led to his first cookbook Hero Food, published in 2012. Through food, exercise and lifestyle changes, Seamus was able to successfully turn his health around.  As a testament to his newly reclaimed health, in November 2014 he raced in La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, one of the most challenging mountain bike races in the world and is currently making a documentary about his journey called “Back on the Bike.”

Seamus Mullen will share his personal story of how Hero Foods changed his life and discuss and demo cooking with Hero Food extra virgin olive oil and the versatility of Wish-Bone E.V.O.O. salad dressings.

ABOUT SEAMUS MULLEN
Seamus Mullen shares his story through numerous speaking engagements around the country, and has been featured in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Chicago-Tribune, and The Guardian. He has written about his experience for The New York Times and through his bimonthly column in Men’s Journal.

Growing up on an organic farm in Vermont, Seamus learned from a young age the value of eating real, whole foods.  After cooking throughout Spain, New York and San Francisco, Seamus first rose to national prominence in 2006 with Boqueria, one of the first critically acclaimed and highly successful Spanish restaurants in New York. In 2009, he was one of 3 finalists on the Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef.” He can often be seen as a featured judge on the popular Food Network series “Chopped” and “Beat Bobby Flay,” and is a frequent guest on programs such as The Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show, and CBS This Morning.

Seamus opened his first solo restaurant Tertulia in Manhattan in 2011, which was awarded two stars from The New York Times and a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant. In 2013, he opened El Colmado, a Spanish tapas and wine bar at Gotham West Market, a food hall in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. In September 2014, Seamus launched Sea Containers at Mondrian London, his first hotel collaboration and first restaurant outside of the United States.. He has been named a semi-finalist for Best Chef NYC by the James Beard Foundation 3 years in a row.


LIFESTYLE EXPERT AND MILLENNIAL MOM LIMOR SUSS - LIFE HACKS FOR THE MILLENNIAL MOM - REDEFINING THE TERM “BALANCING ACT” FOR THE MILLENNIAL AGE

More Millennials are becoming mothers. In fact they now account for 65% of first time moms of infants/toddlers with the oldest child under 2 years old. Mothers from all generations want the absolute best for their child, but Millennial Moms are now redefining the term “balancing act” with their tech savviness, need for efficiency and connectivity!

Millennial Moms are tapped into the virtual world with a touch of smart phone or tablet seeking advice from bloggers, social media and the internet. But, the more tapped in they are, the more they are bombarded with endless information on the best basic needs for their child. Newly Millennial Mom and Lifestyle Expert Limor Suss tips and life hack solutions for Moms, grandma’s and everyone in between!

ABOUT LIMOR: 
Limor Suss has been seen around the country giving her latest trend picks on both local and national shows including GMA, Dr. Oz, Fox and Friends, Better TV, CBS’s on the Couch, New York Live and more! Limor has also been quoted in various news sources including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Mashable & The Next Web. She can be seen on her weekly product-pick segment on the PIX11 morning news in New York City.

3/21 DAISY TATUM, 33RD ANNUAL CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, GERRY FURTH-SIDES

DAISY TATUM – BOARD MEMBER, 33RD ANNUAL CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL MAY 21–22

33rd ANNUAL CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
A TRADITIONAL TASTY TRIBUTE IN THE GOLDEN STATE

Strawberry revelry is ripest when the 2016 California Strawberry Festival celebrates its 33rd seasonal celebration May 21 and 22, 2016 on 15 picturesque acres at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard. It’s an iconic berry event of epic proportions.

Ranked nationwide among the top outdoor Festivals, the fruity fete boasts lip-smacking strawberries every way imaginable, live concerts on two stages, more than 200 Fine Arts & Crafts booths, the Strawberry Promenade with celebrity cooking demonstrations, Strawberryland For Kids with rides and attractions, and wholesome, gooey contests, appealing to all ages.

An estimated 1.5 million strawberries will be consumed over the weekend where the regions most prolific crop is the main ingredient for fun. If you haven’t had strawberry pizza alongside a strawberry beer, you haven’t been to the Festival. Or perhaps the strawberry nachos, strawberry funnel cake, strawberry crepes, chocolate dipped strawberries, or fried strawberries, are more your style. With selections from 50 food booths, those who wish to control their destiny should head to the “build you own” strawberry shortcake tent to pile on the goodness or enter the “Strawberry Shortcake Build Off” contest.

Best of all, indulging is guilt free. With each bite of berry bliss from the non-profit food booths, 100% of sales support their causes. The formula has proved to be a fruitful enterprise with more than $4.5 million dollars benefiting a multitude of southland charities over the past decades.

Serving up wholesome family fun while paying tribute to the region’s rich agricultural heritage and giving back, is what the Festival is all about. “We work year round for an event that takes place in 48 hours,” says California Strawberry Festival Chairperson Kim Gibas. “As volunteers, we’re committed to hosting an exceptional celebration that brings family and friends together for a great time.” She adds, “We strive to top the experience year after year.”

Where else can you throw strawberries at your best friend in the Tart Toss Contest, or eat a strawberry pie by literally putting your face in it at the Pie Eating Contest?

Oxnard is located just 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. The free Park & Ride “Strawberry Express” shuttles from multiple convenient locations off the 101 freeway make getting there a breeze. Amtrak California offers a special Kids Ride Free promotion Festival weekend (shuttles meet the trains). Parking is also available on site for $10. Address: 3250 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard.

California Strawberry Festival general admission is $12, seniors 62+ are $8, and children ages 5-12 are $5. Kids 4 and under are free. Active military and dependents with ID are $8. Hours are 10:am to 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance at www.strawberry-fest.org. The California Strawberry Festival toll free information line is 888 288-9242.

STRAWBERRY-FEST.ORG


GERRY FURTH-SIDES - LOCALFOODEATER COLUMNIST/EDITOR - FOOD AND RESTAURANT SCENE IN LA

Photo-journalist Gerry Furth-Sides has been covering the ethnic and American culinary scene in California since it first came into prominence 25 years ago. While writing about, (eating at) and often working with the restaurants, events and chefs that put Los Angeles on the culinary map, she has developed a deep respect and lasting affection for them.

A proud first generation American, Gerry books in progress include, One Day as a Lion: every word true story about enemy-alien Lee Furth’s war in the U.S. 10th Mountain Division” and A Long Way to Go for Dinner, featuring “the influence of the immigrants who come to cook for us.” She is the only interviewer to have two interviews (based on her book) for NPR Story Corps, currently archived in the Library of Congress. She is co-writing, The Revolution Will be Eaten: The New Kosher with French Tunisian Chef, Alain Cohen. She covered Southern California for Frommer Guide books.

National magazine work included Newsweek (print and TV), Jewish Forward, Cause (Black) and Saludos (Hispanic),Santa Monica Daily Mirror; Beverly Hills Courier (“Cecil Pennyfeather” column); American Institute of Food and Wine, and Women’s Culinary Alliance, where she co-created the event, “Food is Architecture, Architecture is Food” with WCA and Women in Architecture.

In her role as researcher, segment producer and on-camera talent for local and west coast television holiday tours since 1984, Gerry was profiled in “Have Turkey, Will Travel,” a Copley syndicated article, and featured in a Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine photo column. Gerry was co-host and producer of the “To Your Health” TV show in Beverly Hills. She was Assistant to the Executive Producer for an Emmy-nominated NBC-TV series on immigrants and she was a researcher on two “Watts Years Later” specials on NBC-TV.

Gerry has co-produced and helped publicize food-focused charity events since 1985, including Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation. She was editor of American Institute of Food and Wine and Women’s Culinary Alliance, where she co-created the event, “Food is Architecture, Architecture is Food.”

Gerry earned her undergraduate B.A. degree in history at Monteith College (University of Chicago program); her Dual Master's Degree in Education and American History at Antioch College in Ohio); a master's degree in English as a Second Language and Cultural Diversity at UCLA. Phd work was at American University, (under UCLA auspices).

3/18 BASKETBALL GREAT STEVE SMITH, NCAA TOURNAMENT, HARLEY-DAVIDSON, STEVE EVANS THE MOVIE GUY

FORMER NBA AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL GREAT STEVE SMITH  SHARES HIS PREDICTIONS FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT 

SMITH TALKS HOOPS, PASSIONS AND PREDICTIONS AS THE TOURNAMENT KICKS INTO FULL SWING

The NCAA Tournament is upon us, and former college/NBA star and current basketball analyst Steve Smith is on hand to give viewers a first-hand glimpse of what’s to come in days/weeks ahead. Steve will be available to share his predictions for the tournament including that of his highly ranked Alma Mater Michigan State.

As a former star on both the pro and college level Steve can not only offer his predictions for the games but also give first hand insight into some of the off court passions of the players.
As a motorcycle enthusiast, Steve is working with Harley-Davidson and their new Live your Legend campaign which kickED off Wednesday, March 16th, in conjunction with the start of March Madness.  The campaign is a powerful new effort designed to inspire generations of riders to learn to ride. Smith, an avid rider, is on hand and available to share his personal experience and love of riding.
Smith also will head-up the broadcast for CBS in Houston at the Final Four and will be one of the prominent analysts throughout the tournament as well.  He will be live from one of the regional sites for the tournament.

ABOUT STEVEN:
Steven Delano "Steve" Smith (born March 31, 1969) is a retired American basketball player who is currently a basketball analyst.  He was the fifth overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 1991 NBA Draft.  Smith played in the NBA for 14 seasons and was a multi-season all star and a top player in the league throughout his career.  He is currently a basketball analyst for CBS, TNT and NBA TV.  Smith was also a college star while playing for the Michigan State Spartans from 1988-1991. Smith finished his four-year career as the all-time leading scorer in Michigan State history, with 2,263 points.  He was named a First Team All-American as both a junior and a senior. Smith led the Spartans to a Big Ten Championship and Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1990 and hit a game-winning, last-second three-pointer to beat Wisconsin–Green Bay in the first round of the 1991 NCAA Tournament. He was inducted into Michigan State's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.

WWW.HARLEY-DAVIDSON.COM

STEVE EVENS – THE MOVIE GUY                        

GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.

03/17 JESSE KATZ, DEVIL PROOF VINEYARDS, CHEF CLODAGH MCKENNA, HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

JESSE KATZ - WINEMAKER, DEVIL PROOF VINEYARDS – A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS 

By the time he graduated high school in Boulder, Colorado, winemaker Jesse Katz had already traveled to the most famous winemaking regions in the world. His family had explored over sixty countries while following the works of his well known photographer father, Andy Katz. It was his visits to Burgundy, Tuscany, Napa, and Sonoma that ignited Jesse’s appreciation for great wine and regional terroir. His stays at Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Argiano, Sassaccia, and Domaine Leflaive left him with fond memories of playing in the vineyards and cellars of these legendary wine houses.

Jesse’s desire to be a winemaker became apparent while working at Fess Parker winery in Los Olivos, California at the age of eighteen. He was a young lab assistant who immediately fell in love with the art of winemaking and its interplay between science and nature. His experience led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology and minor in Chemistry from Fresno State University, where he received a full scholarship. At school he had the opportunity to make wine on campus for the first time. “This was a great hands-on educational experience for me, because no one in my family had ever made wine before.”

After finishing school, Jesse surrounded himself with some of the most respected winemakers in the world. He worked six harvests in just three years, spending half the year in Argentina with Hans Vinding-Diers, winemaker at Bodega Noemia in Patagonia and with Paul Hobbs in Mendoza at Viña Cobos. His internship experience in California included work for Bob Foley at Hourglass and at Screaming Eagle, working alongside renowned winemaker Andy Erickson. As winemaker for both Lancaster Estate and Roth Estate since 2010, Jesse has brought to bear his handcrafted style of terrior driven winemaking in producing their most highly acclaimed wines to date.

In 2012, Jesse launched his own winemaking venture with the creation of Devil Proof Vineyards. “Like my father’s ability to tell amazing stories through his photography, my greatest joy is finding ways to artistically express the wonderful experiences I have had in the places I have traveled.” Devil Proof will be the ultimate representation of this expression in the form of beautifully handcrafted wines made near Jesse’s home in the Alexander Valley. In honor of his early winemaking experiences in Argentina, the inaugural offering from Devil Proof will be a single vineyard Malbec from Farrow Ranch. When he’s not spending time in the vineyards or the cellar, Jesse loves to travel and be outdoors. To date he has visited over 70 countries, recently traveling to Namibia, Rotan, and the Galapagos Islands on a diving expedition with his father. To relax, Jesse spends many evenings walking the vineyards with his wife Sarah and their dog Giacomo.

DEVIL PROOF MALBEC
Devil Proof Malbec is a lush, strikingly complex wine that comes from the Alexander Valley hillsides of Farrow Ranch in Northern Sonoma County, California. Due to the very limited nature of our wine, only members of our  mailing list will be offered the opportunity to acquire. Mailing list members can anticipate being contacted each autumn with details on how to reserve their allocation. Our highly selective winemaking process resulted in only seven barrels of this wine being created for our inaugural 2012 vintage. It sold out in just two weeks last fall. Our second release, the 2013 Devil Proof Malbec sold out in just 3 days. Act now to get on the list to be offered the next allocation.

ABOUT THE 27TH ANNUAL CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS
Saturday, May 14th, 2016 6PM
at Warner Bros., “Midwest Street”

A wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuvres dinner benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. One of WINE SPECTATOR’S “TOP TEN U.S. CHARITY WINE AUCTIONS” will be held on the “Midwest Street” backlot at Warner Bros.

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 14, 2016 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised nearly $29 million in support of the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The CF Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle.  It’s focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF and ultimately, to find a cure. The Foundation’s drug development success has been recognized by Harvard Business School and by publications such as Forbes, Discover Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Make your reservations NOW for this wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuves dinner!

WWW.DEVILPROOFVINEYARDS.COM
WWW.CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.COM


CHEF, COOKBOOK AUTHOR, AND TV FOOD PERSONALITY CLODAGH MCKENNA - TIPS ON HOW TO HOST THE PERFECT ST. PADDY’S BASH 

ABOUT CLODAGH:

Clodagh McKenna is the author of five best-selling cookery books, which include ‘Clodagh’s Irish Kitchen’ and ‘Homemade’. She is a familiar face on TV in Ireland (Fresh from the Farmers’ Market), resident chef on TV3’s Ireland AM and has appeared in the UK on Market Kitchen, Waitrose Kitchen, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, Rick Stein’s Food Heroes), and recently made her US television debut with her hits TV series 'Clodagh's Irish Food Trails' and is a regular on the 'Rachael Ray Show', and has cooked on NBC’s Today Show, The Nate Berkus Show, The Late Late Show, Esquire TV and among many more.

Clodagh has been working in food for 16 years. She studied in France and New York and trained and worked at Ballymaloe Cookery School and House in County Cork. She has two restaurants in Dublin and creates the menu with Aer Lingus onboard European and Transatlantic flights. Her food ethos is simple, local, seasonal and wholesome cooking, that can be shared with family and friends. Clodagh has many influences in her cooking, having lived in Italy and France, but the bases of her passion for food is Irish.

Clodagh has been featured in Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Glamour (US), People Magazine (US), Better Homes and Gardens (US), New York Times, UK Saturday and Sunday Times Newspaper, Red Magazine, to name a few.

ACCLAIMED CHEF, COOKBOOK AUTHOR, AND TV FOOD PERSONALITY CLODAGH MCKENNA CAN TALK ABOUT: 
• Delicious and modern takes on traditional Irish dishes
• Tips on how to host the perfect St. Paddy’s bash
• What cocktails to serve on this beloved holiday
• How to create some great Irish-themed table-top designs
• Where to eat and what to see when visiting Ireland
She has simmering pots of stews and soups, a contemporary Irish breakfast, and the ultimate menu for an Irish dinner party.

WWW.CLODAGHMCKENNA.COM

3/16 LARRY LIPSON'S AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT, CHEF SYLVIA MELÉNDEZ-KLINGER, NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH

LARRY LIPSON – AFFORDABLE WINE REPORT

For fifty years Larry Lipson was the food critic for the Los Angeles Daily News and now reports from Florida weekly with his thoughts and favorite picks for Food & Wine.  His lovely Wife Lillian is also on hand at the Lipson Institute for advanced wine studies.


CHEF & REGISTERED DIETITIAN SYLVIA MELÉNDEZ-KLINGER - AWAKEN YOUR TASTE BUDS FOR NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH - SAVOR THE FLAVOR OF EATING RIGHT WITHOUT CUTTING YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCES!


Spring is almost here which means it’s time for new beginnings! Many people want to improve their eating habits, but are not sure where to start. From going ultra-organic to the Dinosaur Diet, the options are endless, but what really works? Sylvia Meléndez-Klinger, chef and registered dietitian, will be available for interviews on Wednesday, March 16 to give your viewers the tips they need to get started on the path to balanced and healthy eating.

SYLVIA WILL CHAT ABOUT:
 • Mindful Eating – Pay attention to what you eat by eliminating distractions
• Portion Control – No need to cut out your favorite chips, just eat smaller portions
• Keep the Scale Steady:  Low- and no-calorie beverages are effective to help cut calories, control hunger and maintain body weight.
• Substitute – Swap that chocolate cake for something sweet like fruit
• Protein Packed Meals – Help build up strength for exercise
• Stay Hydrated – Thirst is often mistaken for hunger—the reason it is important to stay well hydrated throughout the day.

ABOUT SYLVIA MELÉNDEZ-KLINGER
Sylvia Meléndez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, is founder of Hispanic Food Communications, Inc, a nutrition and food communications consulting company. Sylvia uses her in-depth culinary and cultural expertise to introduce new strategies for wellness to an increasingly health-conscious population. For more than a decade, Sylvia has been a consultant for major food, beverage and pharmaceutical companies and non-profit organizations, including McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Kelloggs, GSK and the America Heart Association and is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

HISPANICNUTRITION.COM

3/15 KRISTIN JENSEN, LAURA DEANGELIS, CHEF REBECCA LANG, DANNY LIPFORD

KRISTIN JENSEN – CO-AUTHOR, SLAINTE: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO IRISH CRAFT BEER AND CIDER 

Kristin Jensen is a freelance editor and writer. She specializes in cookery books and has worked with many of Ireland's top food writers and chefs. Kristin blogs at Edible Ireland and is a member of the Irish Food Writers' Guild.

SLAINTE: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO IRISH CRAFT BEER AND CIDER 
As craft brewing and cider making grows in Ireland, there is a large audience of interested and active drinkers and brewers as well as less heavily involved but equally interested readers looking for information, advice and guidance that relates specifically to Ireland. Sláinte is designed by two writers within the community to help spread the word, to inform and to delight all these potential readers.

Sláinte will cover everything from the basics of how beer and cider are made to profiles of the people and stories behind the microbreweries that are fuelling Ireland s craft beer revolution, all the way through to tips on matching beer and cider with food and Irish farmhouse cheese and recipes that incorporate craft brews.

MORE ABOUT KRISTIN JENSEN:
The story of how I wound up in Ireland is probably the same as a lot of expats – I met a man. After a year spent racking up big long-distance phone bills and even bigger Visa bills from a few transatlantic trips back and forth between Ireland and the US, I moved to Ireland in 1999 with two suitcases, thinking I’d stay for one year, maybe two. Sixteen years later, I’m still here – married to the man, with dual citizenship, two kids with Irish accents, a house in the countryside and my own business.

Ireland has been good to me and I love calling it my home. I also love Irish food. Coming from the US, where the food travels 1,500 miles on average to reach your plate, I believe that on this small island, all Irish food is local food. And as Colman Andrews says in The Country Cooking of Ireland, “Ireland — for its superlative raw materials, its immensely satisfying traditional home cooking, and its new wave of artisanal producers and imaginative but well-grounded chefs — [is] simply one of the most exciting food stories in the world today.”

In my day job, I’m a freelance editor and writer specialising in editing cookbooks and food books. My first book, Sláinte: The Complete Guide to Irish Craft Beer and Cider, co-authored with Caroline Hennessy, was published in 2014 by New Island. I am also the secretary of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild and I write a monthly beer column for Georgina Campbell’s ezine.

EDIBLE-IRELAND.COM


FITNESS EXPERT LAURA DEANGELIS - FEELING FIT, FUN & FAB FOR SPRING: SPRING TRAINING TO GET FIT, HEALTHY AND PREPARED FOR THE SEASON 

Did your New Year’s Resolution to exercise daily turn into getting off the couch to go to fridge?  Don’t give up: just 8 percent of us reach that goal, because it’s hard to make giant life-style changes.  But research shows people who set more realistic goals and specific dates to motivate themselves really do have more success. Laura DeAngelis has pumped up millions with her advice as a TV fitness expert on WNBC and News 12 Networks, and now this multiple-Telly Award winner and Emmy nominee will inspire you and your viewers get back on track for spring.

LAURA DEANGELIS TALKS ABOUT:
• Exercises to get you looking good and ready for spring break (healthful, low impact exercises)
• Fitness dos and don’ts after slacking off during the winter (over-exertion, little sleep, irregular exercise)
• Making healthy foods part of your diet (rewarding yourself the right way)
• Going on the offense when you feel a cold coming on

ABOUT LAURA DEANGELIS:
Laura has had a long and successful communications career, hosting the nationally syndicated Health & Home Report, and appearing on Coffee with America and WNBC’s New York Live show. She has won several Telly Awards, a first-place win for in-depth reporting from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists and received several Emmy nominations from the Boston/New England chapter of the National Television Academy. Laura also received her fitness certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). In her free time, she writes for her website LauraLovesFitness.com and uses her workout routine to fight off life’s stresses.

KEEP UP WITH LAUREN AT: LAURALOVESFITNESS.COM
FOR MORE INFO ON EVERYTHING SHE TALKED ABOUT GO TO: VIDEOPUMP.TV


QUICK FIX SOUTHERN COOKBOOK AUTHOR & CHEF REBECCA LANG - TIPS AND TRADITIONS FOR A GREAT EASTER HOLIDAY

“Around the Southern Table” Author Shares Her Super Secrets for Celebrating the Holidays with a ‘Comforting Meal” & Fine Fashions. The Easter holiday involves many traditions.  Of course, celebrating the religious holiday is at the top of the list, but for many people Easter is a holiday that involves bringing family and friends together and special -- fashions whether your shopping for a new bonnet or taking advantage of shopping special holiday sales.  On March 15, Rebecca Lang –author of “Quick Fix Southern” – is available to share some timely recipes for making memorable meals for Easter.  This talented mother of two will also share some money-saving fashion every mom will appreciate.

SOME TASTY TOPICS ON REBECCA’S EASTER MENU INCLUDE:
• FAMILY TIME – Time-saving tips that allow you to spend more quality family time
• MAKING MEMORIES – Recipes that will make a lasting impression on guests
• SWEET HOLIDAY – Creating decadent deserts that will top off any meal
• FASHION FACTS – Why Easter is a great time to save on spring fashions

ABOUT REBECCA LANG:
Rebecca Lang is a food writer, cooking instructor, and a ninth-generation Southerner.  She is author of Southern Living’s Around the Southern Table, Quick-Fix Southern, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, and Southern Entertaining for a New Generation.  She has appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend, WGN America’s Midday News, and numerous regional and local networks. Rebecca and her cooking have been featured in more than 50 nationally televised Southern Living food segments and in publications such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, FoxNews.com, Glamour and Fitness magazines. She serves as a contributing editor for Southern Living and MyRecipes.com, teaches cooking classes across America, and writes a blog at www.rebeccalangcooks.com that has been featured on the James Beard Foundation Blog, Delights and Prejudices, and noted in Food News Journal’s Best of the Blogs.

REBECCALANGCOOKS.COM 
WWW.TIPSONTV.COM


HOME IMPROVEMENT EXPERT DANNY LIPFORD - SPRING CHORE CHECKLIST: GET YOUR SPRING HOME MAINTENANCE TO-DO’S DONE IN A DAY

Our homes took a beating this past winter with one of the strongest El Ninos in the past 18 years, resulting in drastic daily temperature changes & harsh winter storms (rain, sleet & snow!). This spring, homeowners are faced with the daunting task of getting their homes not only back into shape but ready for the natural weather elements that may lie ahead.

With the right tips, tools and an essential To-Do list, you can be geared to tackle your Spring Home Maintenance in only one day- without blowing your budget, or your cool!  Home Improvement Expert Danny Lipford has created an easy and concise list of common tasks to get your home back in order and ready for whatever the Spring ahead has in store!

Danny Lipford is a veteran remodeling contractor and television personality known to audiences as Host of the Emmy-Nominated and nationally-syndicated home improvement TV and radio shows: Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford. Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade, and has made more than 160 national television appearances. Danny has been a longtime contributor to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine and BHG.com, and is a source for hundreds of other popular magazines and websites each year.

AMONG THE TOPICS DANNY WILL DISCUSS:
- Low cost spring chores that pay off in the long run
- Easy exterior fix ups any homeowner can do
- DIY tips and solutions from the expert
- The essential tasks to tackle this spring to keep your home running smoothly
- And more!

WWW.TODAYSHOMEOWNER.COM