04/07 MASTER BEER SOMMELIER MARC STROOBANDT, NATIONAL BEER DAY, DR. LOUIS ARONNE, THE CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY DIET

MASTER BEER SOMMELIER MARC STROOBANDT - NATIONAL BEER DAY 

Marc will be doing the interview from Belgium! Marc Stroobandt is a leading authority in the art and science of food and beer pairing as a Master Beer Sommelier, taking his unique and entertaining approach across the globe. Stroobandt provides beer training and education.
MARC WILL TALK ABOUT:
• The history of National Beer Day
• His favorite  beer styles (unbranded) for spring (American amber, red ales and light bocks)
• Great food pairings for each style
• How the role of barley to beer is similar to what grapes are to wine
• How barley gives beer its color, malty sweet flavor, body, head and natural sugars for fermentation


DR. LOUIS ARONNE – AUTHOR, THE CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY DIET & THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPREHENSIVE WEIGHT CONTROL CENTER AT WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE & NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN

Louis J. Aronne, M.D., FACP is an internationally recognized weight management expert and Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian. He is the Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research at Weill Cornell Medicine, and has an adjunct appointment at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Aronne is Chairman of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, the credentialing board for physicians who specialize in weight management. Dr. Aronne helped to develop the VA MOVE program, currently the largest weight management program in the country. He recently launched BMIQ (BMIQ.com), a unique online weight control program delivered by doctors, nurses, and dietitians. Dr. Aronne has written more than sixty papers and book chapters on obesity. In addition, he wrote a New York Times bestseller The Skinny, published in 2009. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr. Aronne and his wife live in the New York metropolitan area.

CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY TIPS:
At the core of the program is The Breakthrough Dozen: 12 Proven Strategies for Lifelong Weight Control. Adopting these strategies as habits can help to win the hunger games.
1. Have protein for breakfast—it will reduce your appetite for the rest of the day.
2. At meals, always eat vegetables and protein first.
3. Say no to the bread basket. Eat carbs late in a meal and late in the day.
4. It’s okay to have snacks—they can help—but avoid eating too much after dinner.
5. Avoid eating food that comes in a box.
6. Do not drink calories.
7. Only consume artificial sweeteners once a day.
8. Cook everything al dente—which means “to the tooth” in Italian. It will digest more slowly.
9. A little exercise goes a long way.
10. Keep a daily log of what you eat, drink, and how much you move.
11. Weigh yourself regularly.
12. If all else fails, see a board-certified obesity medicine specialist.

04/06 LARRY LIPSON, TUFTS UNIVERSITY’S DEAN OF NUTRITION, DARIUSH MOZAFFARIAN, MICHAEL DOUGHTY

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.


DARIUSH MOZAFFARIAN & MICHAEL DOUGHTY TALK ABOUT A NEW PROGRAM THAT OFFERS REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS FOR YOUR HEALTH FOOD PURCHASES

Dariush Mozaffarian and Michael Doughty discuss A unique approach to healthy living, the connection between long-term health and financial well-being, and the role of nutrition in a healthy lifestyle.

CALLING ALL SUPERMARKET SHOPPERS - LEARN HOW YOU CAN RING UP REWARDS & SAVE UP TO $600 YEARLY ON GROCERY BILLS

Want to Fit More Fruits and Vegetables Into Your Family’s Life?

A New Program Offers Rewards and Discounts for your Health Food Purchases
Do you feel confused when trying to make healthy choices as you push your cart up and down the grocery aisles? Do you find yourself buying foods you know are unhealthy simply because they are cheaper than healthier choices? Or tempted by unhealthy choices in the moment? While many of us know the basics of eating healthy, it can be tough to make the best decisions in the grocery store.

There is strong evidence that a nutritious diet is one of the most critical components to living a long and healthy life. A new kind of life insurance program launching April 6 is designed to help you shop for healthier foods and save you money for selecting those smarter choices.

The program rewards consumers with savings of up to $600 a year ($50/month) on their grocery bills for buying nutritious, healthy foods.  More than 16,000 grocery stores across the nation are participating.  In addition to savings at the checkout, the program offers other valuable rewards and discounts.

The initiative is being introduced by one of the leading life insurance companies in the U.S. Research shows that education and knowledge can only go so far – but pair it with cash-back incentives and rewards for making smart food choices, people are more likely to buy healthy foods.

04/05 SYLVIA DAY, CROSSFIRE® SERIES, DARRON CARDOSA

SYLVIA DAY – TALKS ABOUT THE FINAL NOVEL IN HER #1 NEW YORK TIMES AND #1 USA TODAY CROSSFIRE® SERIES, ONE WITH YOU

#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 international bestselling author of over 20 award-winning novels Sylvia Day ---- is coming out with her final Novel in her #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Crossfire® Series…

ONE WITH YOU:
The Final Novel in Sylvia Day’s #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Crossfire® Series to Hit Bookstores on April 5, 2016

On April 5th, ONE WITH YOU, the highly anticipated fifth and final novel in the global blockbuster Crossfire® series written by New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day's will be released to the public. The release date coincides with the four-year anniversary of the release of the first book in the series, BARED TO YOU.

Sylvia Day, a veteran author of over twenty award-winning novels with a career spanning over a decade, is one of the most successful commercial fiction writers in recent publishing history.  The previous four novels in her Crossfire® series—BARED TO YOU, REFLECTED IN YOU, ENTWINED WITH YOU, and CAPTIVATED BY YOU—are all #1 international bestsellers, with over 17 million copies sold worldwide.  BARED TO YOU (April 2012) spent 45 weeks on The New York Times trade paperback bestseller list and 67 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list.  Each subsequent book in the series debuted at #1 on The New York Times trade paperback, e-book, and combined print/e-book fiction bestseller lists, with two also appearing at #1 on the USA Today bestseller list.  The series has been optioned for television by Lionsgate.

Day and the Crossfire® series, which follows the emotional and romantic journey taken by Gideon Cross and his wife, Eva, have been featured in USA Today, People, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Variety, among many others.


DARRON CARDOSA – AUTHOR, THE B*TCHY WAITER: LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MENU

Are you one of the millions that has waited tables at some point in your life? You probably walked away with some dark tales about crazy customers, out-of-control ego, and what really goes on the kitchen!

And now author Darron Cardosa serves up the truth to the world! In his new book, Cardosa distills 30 years of stories that anyone who worked in the industry will recognize and relate to! And it's quite insightful for those of us who have only worn the hat as a diner!

A snarky mix of David Sedaris, Anthony Bourdain, Erma Bombeck, and Mo Rocca! This is sure to be an entertaining and enlightening interview.

THE B*TCHY WAITER - LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MENU
Millions of people have waited tables at some point in their lives. And many remain haunted by nightmare scenarios where they are the sole server in a restaurant packed with complaining customer. For all those disenchanted current and former food service employees, Darron Cardosa has your back!

Since 2008 he’s vented his frustrations - about everything from crazy customers, out-of-control egos, and what really goes on in that fancy restaurant - in his popular blog THE B*TCHY WAITER. It now boasts nearly 10,000 followers on Twitter and 250,000 fans on Facebook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Darron Cardosa proudly refers to himself as a media whore, and has been known to spend hours at a time linking his blog to every conceivable website that may get him more traffic. In 2011 he was featured in a New York Post article entitled “Should You Trust Your Server?” He has been a guest on WOR talk radio and also on WNYC public radio. In August 2011 he appeared as a guest on Dr. Phil to discuss children’s behavior in restaurants, and in November 2011 he was a contributing commentator for CBS Sunday Morning, which reached more than five million viewers. In August 2012 his blog was referenced in an article on CNN’s website Eatocracy.com, and in August 2013 he did a segment called “Ask the Expert” for NBC’s Today Show. Most recently he was quoted in an article about tipping for the Wall Street Journal. Darron lives in New York, NY.

04/01 KIEFER SUTHERLAND, DOWN IN A HOLE, JENNI PULOS, BRAVO'S FLIPPING OUT, STEVE EVANS THE MOVIE GUY

KIEFER SUTHERLAND ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE 26-CITY TOUR AND DEBUT ALBUM 'DOWN IN A HOLE'

'Down In A Hole' Set for Release This Summer

Kiefer Sutherland will bring his rich, soulful vocals and guitar licks to venues across the country beginning April 14 when he performs for audiences with a set list that includes cuts from his folk-tinged album, Down In A Hole, set for release this summer.

Sutherland, known for his starring role on the Fox series "24," will bring his debut tour as a musician to 26 venues across the country beginning April 14. More dates will be added. A professional actor his entire adult life, Sutherland starred in movies like ‘Stand By Me’, ‘The Lost Boys’, ‘Young Guns’, Flatliners’, ‘A Few Good Men’, ‘A Time to Kill’, ‘Dark City’, ‘Melancholia’ and most recently, a western called ‘Forsaken’ and the upcoming ABC series “Designated Survivor.”

Unknown to many during the course of his career, he has taken on other vocations with the same kind of dedication and commitment. In 2002, Sutherland, with his music partner and best friend Jude Cole, began a small record label called Ironworks. The goal of this label was to record local musicians and distribute their music at a time when the music industry was going through a monumental shift. Some of their artists included Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, HoneyHoney and Billy Boy On Poison. In 2009, Sutherland left the label to recharge and figure out what he was going to do next.

In early 2015 Sutherland played Cole two songs he had written and wanted to record as demos for other artists to record. Cole responded positively to the songs and the album grew organically from those recordings. Two songs became four and four grew into six, until Cole suggested that they make a record. Their collaboration resulted in Sutherland’s upcoming debut album: Down In A Hole.

“It’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a journal or diary. All of these songs are pulled from my own personal experiences. There is something very satisfying about being able to look back on my own life, good times and bad, and express those sentiments in music. As much as I have enjoyed the writing and recording process, I am experiencing great joy now being able to play these songs to a live audience, which was something I hadn’t counted on,” Sutherland said of the 11-track album. A track listing and release date will be announced soon.

JENNI PULOS - AUTHOR, ACTRESS, COMEDIAN & STAR OF BRAVO'S FLIPPING OUT & INTERIOR THERAPY - INTRODUCES NEW CONSERVATION DEVICE 

MEET THE ACTRESS & ‘EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT’ WHO SOLVES HOME REMODEL PROBLEMS FOR REALITY TV… 

Learn the Story Behind the World’s Most Efficient Toilet & Why it was Developed by Niagara Conservation Corp. to Help Save Water

She’s funny, smart and always creative: Jenni Pulos is the executive assistant on Bravo’s hit reality show FLIPPING OUT, best known for helping Jeff Lewis with challenging home remodel jobs. Often, Pulos is the voice of reason, finding more efficient ways to solve many home design issues. Now, the talented actress has teamed up with Niagara Conversation to unveil a new bathroom fixture that has been specially designed solve a serious problem.  Many areas or the country have experienced serious drought issues, which is why Niagara Conservation has developed what is being touted as the “world’s most efficient toilet.” On April 1st, Pulos will use her wit, humor and expertise to explain the importance of protecting and preserving our water resources.   You’ll also learn the inspiring story behind a revolutionary new bathroom appliance that could have a positive environmental impact. For more information, visit WhatTheFlush.com, #WhatTheFlush.

In addition to working with FLIPPING OUT for more than a decade, Pulos is a Greek American actress, comedian, writer, producer and Apollo winning rapper. Her highly anticipated children's rap album featuring the hits, "Brush Your Teeth" and the "ABC Song" was released in 2013 with a portion of proceeds going to charity. Jenni also co-wrote and performs the theme song for Bravo's Watch What Happens Live. Additionally, Jenni’s first book is a charming memoir-advice novel titled Grin and Bear It: How to Be Happy No Matter What Reality Throws Your Way.

WWW.WHATTHEFLUSH.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.

3/31 FRANK PELLEGRINO JR., RAO’S RESTAURANT, VICTOR ANTONIO, LIFE OR DEBT ON SPIKE TV

FRANK PELLEGRINO – RAO’S RESTAURANT IN LA, LAS VEGAS, AND NEW YORK

OUR STORY
TRADITION AND RITUAL ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF ITALIAN CUISINE. SINCE 1896 THE RAO'S FAMILY HAS BELIEVED IN SHARING THOSE TRADITIONS. WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE PART IN SHARING- WITH US AND WITH EACH OTHER—THE RAO'S FAMILY WAY OF FEASTING. IF YOU FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR MENU, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE RITUALS VINCENT RAO AND ANNE PELLEGRINO HAVE PASSED TO OUR GENERATION. WITH THE HELP OF YOUR SERVER, ENJOY THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS IN YOUR DINING EXPERIENCE: FOOD, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY. WE PROMISE THAT YOU WILL NOT ONLY LEAVE FULL BUT FULFILLED.

THE HISTORY
RAO'S NEW YORK IS A CULINARY NATIONAL TREASURE. WIDELY ACCLAIMED FOR ITS AUTHENTIC, SOUTHERN NEAPOLITAN ITALIAN COOKING AND ITS HOME-STYLE FAMILY AMBIANCE, RAO'S WAS HONORED WITH A PINNACLE THREE STARS FROM NEW YORK TIMES RESTAURANT CRITIC MIMI SHERATON DESCRIBING THE CUISINE AS "EXQUISITELY SIMPLE ITALIAN COOKING."

OPENED IN 1896, THE RESTAURANT IS CELEBRATED AS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES' OLDEST FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED RESTAURANTS RUNNING IN ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION. HANDING DOWN CHERISHED PELLEGRINO AND RAO TRADITIONS AS ITS MAIN INGREDIENTS, THE RAO'S MENU PAIRS GENERATIONS OF AUTHENTICITY AND LOVE WITH FRESHNESS AND FLAVOR.

ALL LOCATIONS, NEW YORK, LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES, SERVE AND SATIATE SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL APPETITES IN THE WORLD. AT THE NEW YORK LOCATION, THE LIST OF REGULARS READS LIKE THE "WHO'S WHO" OF NEW YORK COGNOSCENTI, INCLUDING WOODY ALLEN, BILLY CRYSTAL, ROB REINER, NICHOLAS PILEGGI AND DANNY AIELLO. LEGIONS OF POLITICIANS, SPORTS FIGURES AND MATINEE IDOLS HAVE JOCKEYED FOR A RESERVATION. THERE, DINING AT RAO'S IS A LEGENDARY EXPERIENCE SO BELOVED THAT GETTING A SEAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE A REGULAR AND HAVE, "TABLE RIGHTS," OR IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE INVITED AS A GUEST BY SOMEONE WHO DOES. IN LAS VEGAS, YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE OUR GUEST. FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS, WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND RELAX WHILE FILLING YOURSELF WITH MORE THAN FOOD. CHEERS!

RAOSRESTAURANTS.COM


RENOWNED BUSINESS STRATEGIST AND PERSONAL FINANCE CONSULTANT, VICTOR ANTONIO - STAR OF "LIFE OR DEBT" ON SPIKE TV

SPIKE SETS OUT TO AID FAMILIES ON THE VERGE OF FINANCIAL DISASTER WHEN “LIFE OR DEBT”

PREMIERED SUNDAY, MARCH 13 AT 10 PM ET/PT 

Series Follows Renowned Business Strategist and Personal Finance Consultant  Victor Antonio As He Works With Families To Get Out Of Debt

Three quarters of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck with no cushion for the unexpected.  And according to a recent survey, one in five Americans believes they will die in debt.  Spike and former Fortune 500 business strategist Victor Antonio are on a mission to chip away at these staggering statistics by knocking on the doors of families on the verge of financial ruin and giving them a much needed wakeup call.  Antonio will not only help these families face the facts and the bleak future that awaits them if they continue down this path, he will also pinpoint the underlying issues and ultimately supply the tools needed to empower them to get back in the black. Ten one-hour episodes of “Life Or Debt” debut started Sunday, March 13 at 10PM ET/PT on Spike.

Financial troubles can affect any family, from the affluent to the blue-collar middle class, to a young family just starting out.  But oftentimes these monetary issues can be solved with some expert guidance, tough love and a change in approach.  That’s where Antonio, a personal finance consultant and former CEO, comes in with an innovative solution.  Antonio believes family finances should be run like a business and that by streamlining operations, identifying hard line goals and executing reasonable action plans, families can avoid financial ruin.

“Life or Debt” follows Antonio as he sets out each week to help a different family facing a fiscal calamity, including an outdated wedding DJ following his dreams at the cost of his family’s finances, a talented single mother working eight different jobs around her custody arrangement and a failing small business owner who falls deeper in debt while his wife spends money on plastic surgery and binge shops.  In each episode, Antonio does his initial assessment and reality check, pointing out the significant disparity between money coming in and money going out.  He charges families with the task of taking a hard look at their numbers, before putting them through a series of challenges and driving them to make hard choices. During this time, Antonio gets a better sense of the family, often uncovering the underlying issues and dark secrets of each family’s financial situation to flush out the realities of how they got to this point.  Then comes the restructure, where Antonio lays out an actionable plan, assigning specific responsibilities to each family member that plays to their strengths and reveals the “magic number,” or the number they need to hit each month to reach financial stability.   He returns 90 days later to check in on their progress with the hope they have turned their situation around.

Business strategist Antonio rose up from the streets of Chicago to become one of America's most celebrated Hispanic executives. As CEO of Force, Inc, President of Global Sales and Marketing for the $420M New World Network and Vice President of International Sales for the $3B Fortune 500 company ADC Telecommunications, he developed a reputation as a shrewd executive and a strong family man.  Now a personal finance consultant, author and business speaker, Antonio has made it his mission to help families reach financial stability.

Fans of “Life or Debt” can join in the conversation about the show by following @SPIKE on Twitter and using #LifeOrDebt.  Sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, blog posts, full episodes, biographies and more can be found on Spike.com’s dedicated “Life or Debt” destination, spike.com/shows/life-or-debt, where content will be updated throughout the season.  For additional series updates, follow Spike on Facebook and on Instagram.

“Life or Debt” is an original concept developed by Ugly Brother Studios, with Tim Duffy, Mike Duffy and Tim Warren serving as Executive Producers.  The series is also directed by Warren.  Meredith Prunkard is Co-Executive Producer.  Sharon Levy is Spike TV’s Executive Vice President, Original Series and Chachi Senior is Senior Vice President, Original Series. Hayley Lozitsky, Vice President of Original Series and Jeff Savaiano serve as the network’s Executives in Charge of Production.

SPIKE.COM/SHOWS/LIFE-OR-DEBT

03/30 LARRY LIPSON, SONIA TOLBERT, FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY

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.


SONIA TOLBERT - GENERAL MANAGER, FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY - STAR STUDDED LINEUP FOR ANNUAL CULTURE, WINE AND CUISINE EXTRAVAGANZA ANNOUNCED

FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY ANNOUNCES STAR STUDDED LINEUP FOR ELEVENTH ANNUAL CULTURE, WINE AND CUISINE EXTRAVAGANZA
JULY 15-24, 2016

The region’s flagship festival to feature performances by Kristin Chenowith, Sergio Mendes, San Francisco Ballet, Kathleen Battle and Sarah Chang

Festival Napa Valley (formerly Festival del Sole), one of America’s premiere summer destination events, presents its Eleventh Season, July 15-24, 2016. The ten-day fete features exclusive engagements by preeminent classical, opera, jazz and dance artists paired with intimate food and wine affairs hosted by the region’s top vintners. Through its free programming and arts education initiatives, the festival seeks to bring the transformative power of the arts to all.

Festival Napa Valley 2016 Highlights:

• Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth opens the season with an intimate recital at Castello di Amorosa.
• San Francisco Ballet, accompanied by members of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, makes its long-anticipated Festival Napa Valley debut.
• An Americana program featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Chris Noth narrating Copland’s inspiring Lincoln Portrait, plus a special appearance by legendary soprano Kathleen Battle.
• Far Niente hosts a tribute evening to Season 11 honoree Margrit Mondavi with a grand Italian feast prepared by celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich.
• Jazz legend Sergio Mendes celebrates 50 years of Brasil 66 at the annual “Jazz at the Castello” concert.
• Festival Orchestra NAPA, an all-star ensemble of principal players from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony and other leading orchestras, makes its debut.
• Festival favorite Sarah Chang performs Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.
• The Festival Gala at Meadowood supports the festival’s Arts for All initiative that provides free and affordable programming along with grants to local schools and arts organizations.
• Renowned baritone Lester Lynch and friends perform American Spirituals at the historic Mont La Salle Chapel in a program also featuring the Young People’s Chorus of NYC.
• The Bouchaine Young Artist Series showcases today’s rising stars with three free concerts at the Jarvis Conservatory.
• Taste of Napa™ celebrates the best of Napa Valley showcasing 70 world-renowned wineries, restaurants, chefs and food artisans.
• The Young People’s Chorus of New York City performs the admission-free 2016 Community Concert. Also appearing, for the first time, young dancers from the Napa Regional Dance Company.
• International opera stars Isabel Leonard and Michael Fabiano headline the season finale Opera Gala, conducted by Carlo Ponti.

Festival Napa Valley 2016 Event include Alpha Omega, Auberge du Soleil, Cardinale, Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga Ranch, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Far Niente, Grgich Hills, HALL Wines, Harvest Inn, The Hess Collection, Jarvis Conservatory, Lincoln Theater, Meadowood Napa Valley, Mont La Salle Chapel, The Napa Valley Reserve, Robert Mondavi Winery, Round Hill Estate, Solage Calistoga, Signorello Estate, Spottswoode Estate, V. Sattui Winery and Vintner’s Collective.

Festival Napa Valley 2016 Passes - Festival Napa Valley offers a range of pass options to ensure the entire community has the opportunity to experience and enjoy live performances:

• Free Performance Pass: Enjoy admission-free access to the Community Concert featuring the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and the Bouchaine Young Artist Series at Jarvis Conservatory. Reservations required.
• Concert Pass:  Watch the world’s leading classical, opera, jazz, and dance artists perform in intimate and unique Napa Valley settings including Castello di Amorosa, Lincoln Theater and Mont La Salle Chapel. Concert Passes start at $45.
• Allegro Pass:  Experience an evening of music paired with warm Napa Valley hospitality. The Allegro Pass includes premium concert seating and access to After Parties at chic Napa Valley settings. Opening Night Allegro, $275, Solo Allegro Pass (a la carte Lincoln Theater evenings), $149. Quattro Allegro Pass (all four Lincoln Theater evenings), $475.
• Patron Pass:  Whether for a single day, a weekend, or the entire festival, Patron Pass holders enjoy vintner's luncheons, winery dinners and other exclusive events. Additional benefits include prime concert seating, valet parking, and concierge services. Passes include a tax-deductible donation. Evening Patron Pass from $850. All Day Patron Pass from $1,000.  Multi-Day Patron Pass from $2,700.  All-Access Festival Passport, $10,000.
• $40 under 40: $40 Concert Passes are available for festivalgoers under 40 to performances at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.
• Student Rate:  Festival Napa Valley offers $25 Concert Passes to students 25 years and under (student ID required) to attend performances at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.

To purchase passes, visit festivalnapavalley.org , call 888.337.6272 or visit the Festival Box Office between 10 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, 1850 Soscol Ave., Suite 205 in Napa, CA.

MORE ABOUT FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY:
Festival Napa Valley has put Napa Valley on the map as a leading cultural destination. The annual summer festival blends the world’s finest classical, jazz, opera, theater and dance artists with culinary, wine and fitness pursuits, staged in Napa Valley’s most iconic settings. Dedicated to enriching the region’s cultural vitality and to supporting arts education, the festival nurtures young talent through the Bouchaine Young Artist Series, presents free community concerts, and is the leading funder of arts education in Napa County. More than 200 wineries, hotels, resorts, theaters, restaurants and vintners take part in the event annually.

Festival Napa Valley is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit public benefit corporation governed by a board of prominent vintners and local leaders.

WWW.FESTIVALNAPAVALLEY.ORG

3/29 TITUS WELLIVER, AMAZONS BOSCH, IAN BLACKBURN, WINE LA

TITUS WELLIVER TALKS ABOUT HIS ROLL IN AMAZONS HIT DRAMA, BOSCH 

SEASON 2 OF BOSCH  RETURNED MARCH 11 ON AMAZON - TITUS WELLIVER PLAYS THE TITLE CHARACTER

Titus Welliver has recently wrapped shooting his second season as the lead character of Harry Bosch based on Michael Connelly's best selling book series. He is a veteran of film, television, and theater. On the big screen, Welliver recently gave memorable performances in Michael Bay’s Transformers 4: Age of Existence and Gus Van Sant’s Promised Land.  In addition, he has appeared in all of Oscar-winner Ben Affleck’s directorial outings, including Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and Argo.

In television, Welliver has enjoyed a successful collaboration with producer David Milch, appearing in several of Milch's shows, including critically acclaimed HBO hit, Deadwood.  For fans of the TV cult favorite, Lost, Welliver will forever be remembered as "The Man in Black,” a character central to the mythology of the series. In addition, he has recurred on the The Good Wife.

Welliver’s theater credits include David Mamet’s production of American Buffalo. He has also appeared in Riff Raff, written and directed by Laurence Fishburne, which was performed at Circle in the Square Downtown in New York City.

Welliver can next be seen on the big screen in Affleck’s upcoming film Live By Night.

ABOUT THE SHOW
Based on the novels by crime/detective novelist Michael Connelly, the series follows Los Angeles Police Detective Harry Bosch as he investigates high profile homicides and navigates the inner-workings of the LAPD while also facing many of his own demons. BOSCH was Amazon's first hit drama series.

Back on the job after an involuntary leave of absence, Harry Bosch, the tenacious LAPD homicide detective at the heart of Michael Connelly's best selling novels, is ready for action, and his first case may prove his biggest challenge yet. A dead body found in the trunk of a car on Mulholland Drive appears to have a mob connection and leads Bosch and his investigation to Las Vegas. As the case becomes more complex, and intensely personal, Bosch follows a dangerous trail of corruption and collusion, one that uncovers the dark side of the police department and threatens Bosch's relentless pursuit of truth.

Bosch also stars Jamie Hector (The Wire) as Jerry Edgar, Amy Aquino (Being Human) as Lt. Grace Billets, Sarah Clarke (24) as Eleanor Wish, Madison Lintz (The Walking Dead) as Maddie Bosch, Jeri Ryan (Body of Proof) as Veronica Allen and Lance Reddick (The Wire) as Deputy Chief Irvin Irving.


IAN BLACKBURN – WINE LA – UPCOMING EVENTS                

ABOUT WINELA
wineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with fashion, music, food and other beverages.  It must take advantage of the geography, the architecture and the centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, roof tops, gardens, and magical views. We want to be a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and celebrate the people, the place and the passion.
wineLA will promote significant events, occasional classes, and tastings of merit. This is phase two of what we started 20 years ago at LearnAboutWine.com - America’s first wine education website and first in wine event creation. LearnAboutWine will now evolve onto a digital platform; the transformation will take some time; so we will slowly rebrand our event efforts onto wineLA, reduce the number of activities we focus on, and elevate our efforts to focus on the next big thing… Doing what is best for the wine industry and the communities we serve.  Edicts:  innovate, evolve and excite.

We thank you for joining our newsletter, we will be sending fewer emails and packing them with amazing content. We want to be your wine content provider and would love to hear about your favorite places, your music, your locations - we want to be under the influence of what ignites your passion for Los Angeles.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AND WINE PAIRINGS
EAT.DRINK.AMERICANO
APR 2ND AND 3RD, 2016    3:30PM - 5:30PM

WINE CAMP
EAT.DRINK.AMERICANO
APRIL 10, 2016 - 3:30PM - 5:30PM

UNDERSTANDING BURGUNDY
EAT.DRINK.AMERICANO - DTLA
APR 16, 2016 - 3:30PM - 5:30PM

ULTIMATE CHAMPAGNE
TOSCANA - BRENTWOOD
APR 17, 2016 - 4:30PM - 6:30PM OR 7PM-9:30PM

WINE BUSINESS 101
WINELA LOFT - DTLA
APR 23, 2016 - 11AM - 2PM

WINE CAMP
EAT.DRINK.AMERICANO
APRIL 23, 2016 - 3:30PM - 5:30PM

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MAY 05, 2016 - 7PM - 9PM

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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