06/07 MASTER SOMMELIER GEORGE SKORKA, TROMBETTA FAMILY WINES, GRAZIANO FAMILY OF WINES, AUDREY ROWE FROM FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, STEVE COX FROM SODEXO INC., NICOLE FELICIANO, MOM TRENDS

MASTER SOMMELIER GEORGE SKORKA - WINE CONSULTANT TALKS ABOUT TROMBETTA FAMILY WINES AND GRAZIANO FAMILY OF WINES 

Forty years in the Hospitality Business. Hands on skills in all aspects of Restaurant Business including front of the house, kitchen and beverage management.  International Wine competitions/Sommelier Challenge and San Francisco International Wine Competition/Judge.  Advisory Board Member of the Culinary Institute for 8 years.

TROMBETTA FAMILY WINES 
A lifelong thrill for backyard harvest-to-table farming, discovering fine Burgundies, and joining with family and friends for long meals around the table kept us satisfied until we could no longer look away from the unique potential of our greater backyard, which nurtures some of the most prized Pinot Noir vineyards in the New World.

Winemaking came to us naturally, as a deep expression of our unique time and place.

Pinot Noir & Chardonnay From The Sonoma Coast
Our limited production wines by mother-and-daughter duo Rickey Trombetta Stancliff and Erica Stancliff hail from the region of Sonoma referred to as the Petaluma Gap.

We select clones of Pinot Noir that exemplify the rich minerality, soils and cool weather of the Sonoma Coast, resulting in a beautifully balanced wine, enhancing every meal.

Each and every bottle has been hand-harvested, fermented with native yeast, and allowed to develop with native malolactic fermentation in barrels.

WWW.TROMBETTAWINES.COM

GRAZIANO FAMILY OF WINES
Welcome to Graziano Family of Wines. Our wines are handcrafted with history, heritage and care in Mendocino County. They are consistently full-bodied, uniquely flavored and finely balanced. Specializing in classic Italian and unique old world varietals, our wines are being recognized at pinnacles in America winemaking. Discover our passion in every bottle.

Current labels for the Graziano Family of Wines are Saint Gregory, Monte Volpe, Enotria and Graziano. The four labels are crafted to preserve each variety's integrity by employing time honored Old World cellar practices perfected by the gentle application of modern technology.

The intensity of the fruit flavors and the balance of natural acidity of Mendocino hillside grown grapes, allow great flexibility at every level of wine making. Each variety's character is preserved and highlighted because we are blessed with fruit that need little manipulation or intrusive intervention.
Our wines are proudly distributed nationally and internationally.

Our wide variety of award winning wines will pair beautifully with all of your favorite recipes, with versatility to go from your private dining table to an elegant affair.

WWW.GRAZIANOFAMILYOFWINES.COM


USDA ADMINISTRATOR AUDREY ROWE & STEVE COX FROM SODEXO INC. DISCUSS CHALLENGES, VIABLE SOLUTIONS & HOW TO FIND SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN YOUR LOCAL AREA 

SUMMER VACATION… SUMMER CAMP… SOME ARE SIMPLY HUNGRY

The end of the school year often means the end of a reliable source of regular meals, putting more than 18 million kids at risk of hunger

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA,) during the school year, more than 22 million kids receive free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. But when school lets out for the summer, only 3.8 million participate in USDA’s summer meals programs. Providing these extra meals at home can be difficult for parents. It becomes harder to make ends meet during the summer months, when grocery expenses alone can increase by more $300 per month.

Several public and private efforts work to bridge the meal gap. Feeding Our Future is one example. This summer meal program was created by Sodexo and partners with clients, suppliers and local hunger-relief organizations. It has programs in 23 cities around the U.S. Since 1997, Feeding Our Future has provided more than 4.5 million free meals to children nationwide. Sodexo also partners with the USDA to promote and implement its summer meals programs, which aim to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Last year, USDA’s summer meals programs served nearly 191 million meals at more than 66,000 sites, and, in many areas of the country, the programs have already kicked-off for summer 2016, fueling children and teens to reach their highest potential.

On Thursday June 2nd, Steve Cox from Sodexo and Audrey Rowe of USDA are available to discuss challenges, viable solutions and how to find summer meal programs for children in your local area.

MORE ABOUT AUDREY ROWE
USDA Administrator, Audrey Rowe, has principal responsibilities to provide children and needy families with better access to food and a more healthful diet through the USDA’s 15 nutrition assistance programs and nutrition education efforts.

MORE ABOUT STEVE COX
Steve Cox leads public relations for Sodexo in North America. The Fortune Global 500 company has operations at 9,000 sites across North America and touches 15 million consumers daily. Steve oversees external communications for all lines of business, corporate social responsibility and the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation.

WWW.SODEXO.COM 


CEO AND FOUNDER OF MOMTRENDS NICOLE FELICIANO - MOM TRENDS: MUST HAVES FOR EVERY MOM

MOM TRENDS: MUST HAVES FOR EVERY MOM
One thing all Moms have in common? We want the absolute best for our families- but let’s not forget about taking care of ourselves! You may not wear a mask or cape-but you are real life superhero! From responsibilities outside the home to cooking meals and cleaning rooms to refereeing squabbles and soccer-practice chauffeuring- we know you do it all!

The challenges of modern day mother hood can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking for innovative solutions to your every day problems Founder and CEO of Momtrends Nicole Feliciano has all the answers!

ABOUT NICOLE:
Nicole Feliciano, is Founder and CEO of Momtrends. After graduating from Vanderbilt with a degree in English Literature, Nicole ventured into the (sometimes) glamorous world of advertising. In 1997, she switched gears and went to work for Ralph Lauren–combining her business acumen with her love of fashion. In her seven year career with the luxury brand, Nicole managed retail stores and eventually landed a coveted position at the corporate headquarters in NYC. Soon after that Nicole became a freelance writer and began contributing to Babble.com, Time Out New York Kids, and many more online and paper publications. Momtrends launched in 2007 and continues to provide the latest news on things trendy and cool for moms. Momtrends is packed with fashion tips and trend reports aimed to help busy, style-starved women keep in touch with what’s hip and cool. When she’s not scoping out fads and fashions, you can find Nicole in NYC with her two young daughters and extremely patient husband.

NICOLE WILL DISCUSS:
• The best in appliances
• The latest in Momtrends
• The coolest beauty trends
• Making tasks less tedious
• And much more…

WWW.MAYTAG.COM 
WWW.TIDE.COM 
WWW.GOODY.COM

06/06 SOMMELIER HOWARD PRICE, FATHER'S DAY GIFT IDEAS WITH GEOFF NATHANSON, TANNER GERS TALKS ABOUT UNHEALTHY AMERICA

SOMMELIER HOWARD PRICE

Howard Price joins the show to chat wine trends, re-cap the William Shatner Charity Horseshow and his recent Sommelier certification.




FATHER'S DAY GIFT IDEAS WITH GEOFF NATHANSON              

FATHER’S DAY IS COMING UP, AND MANY OF US WILL ONCE AGAIN FACE THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING THE PERFECT WAY TO HONOR OUR DADS.

HERE TO HELP IS GEOFF NATHANSON, AN EMMY-AWARD WINNING SPORTSCASTER AND WORKING ACTOR WHO YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN PLAYING A SPORTSCASTER ON T-V.  

NATHANSON HAS HAD ROLES IN MOVIES LIKE ‘GLORY ROAD’ OR YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HIM ON THE POWERADE AD WHERE LEBRON JAMES HITS BACK-TO-BACK FULL COURT SHOTS.

ABOUT GEOFF:
Geoff may be best known for his recurring role on the ABC Family channel drama, Make it or Break it. Geoff played the ESPN announcer in 4 episodes. Recently, Geoff hosted the LA Marathon live radio broadcast on KLAC-AM in Los Angeles. In 2003, Geoff received a Los Angeles EMMY award for his role in hosting the Academic Decathlon. Additionally, he has been nominated three other times for the award. On the radio, Geoff is currently a sports anchor at NBC Sports Radio and previously anchored at Fox Sports Radio, and Los Angeles radio stations KNX-AM and KLSX-FM. Some of Geoff’s classic TV commercials include Powerade with LeBron James, Nike with Lance Armstrong, IBM with NHL legends Gordie Howe and Stan Mikita and Del Taco with former World Series MVP David Eckstein.

WWW.LEUPOLD.COM/SLASH-GOLF  
AMTRAK.COM/DEALS


TANNER GERS TALKS ABOUT UNHEALTHY AMERICA - FITNESS NUTRITION SPECIALIST AND TOP SELLING AUTHOR OF MANY BOOKS INCLUDING "BECOMING ABSOLUTELY LEAN: THE FIRST STEPS TO OPTIMAL HEALTH, HORMONES AND A LEAN BODY" 

So you’re ready to change your life and try to maintain a healthier lifestyle? If you think it’s going to happen by hitting the treadmill and cutting calories you’re wrong! Sure, you may lose a couple pounds in the beginning, but you’re unknowingly setting yourself up for an epic fail!

Years ago you rarely seen obesity unless it was through a motion picture film or on TV. Nowadays these visions could very well be seen in a local supermarket or even our own home. But, is it entirely your fault?

With the emersion of food manufacturing and government dietary regulations, obesity and health condition have skyrocketed. It is your fault you were given the perfect formula for bodily distress? Why does the government continue to pass out regulations that knowingly are hurting the population?

Fitness Nutrition Specialist Tanner Gers uses his book to elaborate on the pitfalls of dietary regulations and give you the right formula to make you feel healthy again.

ABOUT TANNER GERS:

• Founder of ABSolutelyLean.com, TheAthleteSummit.com and CreativeSuccessShow.com. 
• Top Selling Author of many books including “Becoming ABSolutely Lean: The First Steps to Optimal Health, Hormones and a Lean Body (Kindle Edition) 
• Professional Athlete and Certified Personal Trainer  
• Fitness Nutrition Specialist  
• Innovative Entrepreneur and Strategic Speaker 
• Elite Multi-Sport Athlete in Track & Field & Track Cycling
• Accolades include: National Champion and Trials Gold Medalist, 2012 Paralympian, 2011 Para Pan American Gold Medalist, and 2013 World Championship Team Member in Track & Field.

06/03 CLAY MAURITSON, MAURITSON WINES, CATE CONNIFF, NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS, ALYCIA MONDAVI, THE AUCTION NAPA VALLEY E-AUCTION, STEVE EVANS

CLAY MAURITSON – OWNER/WINEMAKER, MAURITSON WINES.

ABOUT WINEMAKER CLAY MAURITSON:

Winemaking may have been the logical evolution in our family’s long history of farming in the Dry Creek Valley, however, it took an absence from the valley and attention to those inner voices that led Clay Mauritson back to these same vineyards that he spent planting, tending and picking as a teen. What he came to realize was that he already had a lifetime of understanding about the subtleties and strengths of each micro-climate within the Dry Creek, Rockpile and Alexander Valleys. The only thing left was to DREAM BIG!

Clay is joined in the cellar by Associate Winemaker Emma Kudritzki and Jesus Garcia, Adrian Reyes, Joe Richards, and Nick Mast as cellar hands bringing 40 years of cellar experience. Together, our team has developed a winemaking process that focuses on small vineyard lot separation and fermentation — last year alone we ushered 68 different lots to maturity before the final blending. This gives us enormous flexibilty, enabling us to pinpoint that perfect Mauritson signature with every varietal, every vintage. Fermentation is typically open-top, punchdowns made by hand, native yeasts employed. The resulting wines might be best described as the perfect expression of each vineyard.

With a little over 270 acres of estate vineyards, we are not only able to source the absolute best of each vintage, we are also able to meticulously follow our passions. For example, when we decided to create a wine in the true porto tradition, we planted four of the “big five” authentic Portuguese varietals then mixed in some Tannat, resulting in our signature “Independence,” a wine that refers to a section of our Rockpile property dating back six generations. As the photo at left shows, we choose winemaking techniques that will best exemplify the wine style and the vineyard. The fruit reigns supreme here...and as Clay often tells visitors to the winery "winemaking is 95% fruit and 5% the winemaker not screwing it up!"

ABOUT CLAY MAURITSON OWNER / WINEMAKER:
Clay Mauritson is the sixth generation in a family of grape growers. Born and raised in the Dry Creek Valley, Clay was destined for the wine business.

In college Clay exhibited his prowess on the gridiron, playing outside linebacker for the University of Oregon Ducks in the 1995 Rose Bowl and the 1996 Cotton Bowl. Clay graduated in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Marketing and a minor in Economics. Armed with his new degree he came back to Sonoma County to officially enter the wine industry.

Clay worked for 5 years at Kenwood Vineyards in the Sales & Marketing Department (starting even before he graduated from college), spending much of his time traveling and making sales contacts as Assistant National Sales Manager. After leaving Kenwood, Clay had the opportunity to work with the winemakers at Taft Street Vineyards and Dry Creek Vineyards, allowing him to hone his winemaking skills and gain additional knowledge of winery operations.

In 1998, Clay produced his first bottling of Dry Creek Zinfandel under the Mauritson label and, in 2002, he began devoting his efforts full-time to the Mauritson Family Winery project.

Clay's winemaking philosophy is simple: You need exceptional fruit to make exceptional wine. This is where the advantage of having a family heritage of grape growers becomes obvious: About 300  acres of Sonoma County family vineyards and strong relationships built over the years with other growers have given Clay access to some of the best fruit that Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile have to offer. Devoted to making exceptional wines, Clay is on his way to becoming one of California's foremost young winemakers.

Clay lives in Healdsburg with his wife Carrie-Anne, sons Brady and Davis, daughter Ella, and the family's gentle yellow lab, Chelsea.

WWW.MAURITSONWINES.COM


CATE CONNIFF - COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS & ALYCIA MONDAVI  WHO IS CHAIR OF THE AUCTION NAPA VALLEY E-AUCTION



BID ON COLLECTIBLE NAPA VALLEY WINES AND INSIDER EXPERIENCES

Auction Napa Valley’s E-Auction open to anyone, anywhere

Wine lovers around the world can procure unique collections of Napa Valley wine and insider experiences by bidding in the Auction Napa Valley E-Auction, open now and featuring nearly 170 lots of extraordinary wines and unique experiences. The global online E-Auction is part of the Napa Valley Vintners’ (NVV) 36th annual Auction Napa Valley, the world’s most celebrated charity wine event benefitting community health and children’s education.

Lucky winning bidders in the NVV’s E-Auction will come away with collectible verticals of Napa Valley wine; rare hand-etched, large-format bottles; instant cellars; access to secluded winery guest houses; intimate, gourmet meals made just for two; or elegant, special occasion celebrations for small groups of close friends.

“The NVV’s E-Auction is the perfect platform to bring together wine enthusiasts from around the world. Most of the lots include unique wine experiences that can be enjoyed with friends or family,” said Alycia Mondavi, chair of the 2016 E-Auction and general manager of Aloft Wines. “With proceeds benefitting tens of thousands of people in our community, every winning bid matters. As my family always says, it is the best of both worlds – living life and giving back.”

Depending upon a person’s particular interest in wine, food and travel, Auction Napa Valley E-Auction lots can be searched by:
• Instant Cellars (24 or more bottles of wine)
• Verticals (some quite rare and many older vintages)
• Insider Experiences (often meals with vintners in private Napa Valley locations)
• Sleepovers (Wine Country overnight accommodations)
• Big Bottles (large format bottles, many of which are not commercially available)
• Collaboration (where multiple wineries are involved, often with a common theme)
Wine enthusiasts are encouraged to visit auctionnapavalley.org, peruse the E-Auction lots and comment on their favorites using #ANV16. Following are a few highlights:

Instant Cellars
There are more than 30 auction packages offering 16 or more bottles of Napa Valley wine, creating an instant cellar for collectors enthusiastic about the region, including packages from Charthia Cellars (Lot #329); Havens Winery (Lot #360); Franciscan Estate (Lot #354); Jamieson Ranch (Lot #367); Joseph Carr (Lot #371); Pope Valley (Lot #405); and Rutherford Hill (Lot #418).

Napa Valley Classic Brands
Several of Napa’s most renowned wineries are participating in the E-Auction with outstanding wine dinners and culinary experiences, rare bottles and other compelling offerings, including Beringer Vineyards (Lot #137); Cain Vineyards & Winery (Lot #322); Cakebread Cellars (Lot #324); Caymus (Lot #328); Clos du Val (Lot #336); and Shafer Vineyards (Lot #424).

Wine and Food Experiences
More than 70 of the lot offerings feature a special meal or culinary experience, including a partnership lot with the NVV and The Culinary Institute of America, where you’ll become a chef for a day (Lot #393); a private dinner at your home anywhere in the U.S., courtesy of Round Pond Estate (Lot #416) or Pine Ridge Vineyards (Lot #404), which also includes an appearance by the winemaker; a 40th anniversary celebration of the famous Judgment of Paris tasting with Mike Grgich (Lot #358); and four different lots that feature a private dinner followed by a live music concert at the City Winery venue of your choice, paired with wines from St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery (Lots #463-466).

Napa Valley’s Diverse Nested Appellations
Some lots even take you on a virtual tour of Napa’s diverse American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of which there are 16 within Napa Valley. Lots worth taking note of that explore the AVAs include: Atlas Peak Appellation Association (Lot #309); Appellation St. Helena (Lot #307); Calistoga Wine Growers (Lot #326); Howell Mountain Vintners & Growers (Lot #365); Mt. Veeder Appellation Council (Lot #390); and Stags Leap District Winegrowers (Lot #430). Many of these lots include magnums from wineries throughout the AVAs, signed bottles and VIP tours.

The Auction Napa Valley E-Auction is now open and closes in waves beginning Sunday, June 5 at noon PDT. Proceeds benefit community health and children’s education nonprofit organizations in Napa County. View the lots and bid at eauction.auctionnapavalley.org.

About Auction Napa Valley 
Auction Napa Valley is the NVV's annual community fundraiser that for more than 35 years has utilized the worldwide reputation of Napa Valley wines and the scenic beauty of the region to raise funds to enhance the health and wellbeing of the Napa Valley community. To date, the NVV has invested more than $150 million from Auction Napa Valley proceeds in Napa County nonprofit organizations. Learn more at auctionnapavalley.org.

About the Napa Valley Vintners 
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its more than 525 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.

AUCTIONNAPAVALLEY.ORG
NAPAVINTNERS.COM

STEVE EVANS – 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.

06/02 RADIO AND TV HOST ALAN COLMES, EMILY PASTER, FOOD SWAP, HOWIE KAHN, THE PRINCE STREET PODCAST

RADIO AND TV HOST ALAN COLMES (THE ALAN COLMES SHOW, A NATIONALLY SYNDICATED TALK-RADIO SHOW DISTRIBUTED BY FOX NEWS RADIO) 6-9PM ET

ABOUT ALAN COLMES
Alan Samuel Colmes (born September 24, 1950) is an American radio and television host, liberal political commentator for the Fox News Channel, and blogger. He is the host of The Alan Colmes Show, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show distributed by Fox News Radio that also airs throughout the United States on Fox News Talk on Sirius and XM. From 1996 to 2009, Colmes served as the co-host of Hannity & Colmes, a nightly political debate show on Fox News Channel. Since 2015, Colmes has supplied the voice of The Liberal Panel, an animatronic robot face built into a panelled wall who spouts conventionally liberal political opinions, on Fox News Channel's The Greg Gutfeld Show.

In addition to broadcasting, Colmes runs the Liberaland blog and contributes to AOL News. He is the author of Red, White & Liberal: How Left Is Right and Right Is Wrong (2003) and Thank the Liberals for Saving America (2012).

WWW.ALAN.COM



EMILY PASTER – AUTHOR, FOOD SWAP: THE NEXT STEP IN THE DIY KITCHEN REVOLUTION

With 80 artisanal recipes that are perfect for trading (or gifting), advice on packaging, sample labels,
and strategies for success, readers will be fully prepared for their food swapping. And if their community doesn’t yet have an organized event, FOOD SWAP will guide them through the process of creating one.

After reading this book, swapping enthusiasts will have all the information they need to ensure they have a great time and go home with the best haul. But there’s more to it than scoring some peanut butter buckeyes and strawberry jam: participants also gain friendship, community, a sense of pride in their creations, and renewed culinary inspiration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
EMILY PASTER is the creator of the popular website West of the Loop, which was named a Top Mommy Blog by Time Out Chicago Kids and a “Family Food Blog to Savor” by Red Tricycle. She is the co-founder of the Chicago Food Swap, teaches canning classes in the Chicago area, and writes on food and entertaining for Chicago Parent magazine.


HOWIE KAHN - JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING WRITER  & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE PRINCE STREET PODCAST - LEARN WHY NEW YORK’S LEGENDARY PURVEYORS OF FINE FOODS ARE DEBUTING ITS FIRST PODCAST

LEARN ABOUT A NEW FRONTIER FOR STORYTELLING WITH JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING WRITER HOWIE KAHN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PRINCE STREET

LEARN WHY NEW YORK’S LEGENDARY PURVEYORS OF
FINE FOODS ARE DEBUTING ITS FIRST PODCAST

HOW PRINCE STREET PLANS TO SATISFY OUR NATIONAL HUNGER FOR QUALITY FOOD JOURNALISM

Discover a New Media that will Feature Celebrity Guests like Mario Batali, Scarlett Johansson, Francis Ford Coppola & John Malkovich in Season One

The way people get their news and entertainment programming has expanded with the internet. Now, an amazing new podcast is taking new media to a whole new level. It’s called Prince Street Radio, and the new monthly podcast series will include veteran journalists, bestselling authors, actors, superstar chefs and Wall Street Journal Magazine Contributing Editor Howie Kahn. On June 2nd, Kahn will discuss how Prince Street plans to elevate the food journalism discussion in American with an award-winning team that will dive deeply into the world of food, reporting stories with wit, depth, warmth and humor.  

Podcast editor-in-chief Howie Kahn was a James Beard Award-winning writer for WSJ, the Wall Street Journal Magazine and other outlets. In upcoming episodes, he'll report on Afghanistan's saffron harvest and discuss three decades of London's famed River Cafe with its chef/owner Ruth Rogers.

Prince Street is available to listen and subscribe to on www.livefromprincestreet.com, iTunes and Soundcloud.  Follow news from the podcast @Prince_Street_ on Instagram and Twitter, and through the hashtag #LiveFromPrinceStreet.

WWW.LIVEFROMPRINCESTREET.COM

06/01 LARRY LIPSON, DON MOST, HAPPY DAYS, INA YALOF, FOOD AND THE CITY, AMA PRO GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION, BRAD “THE BULLET” BAKER, X GAMES AUSTIN

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.


DON MOST - FROM HAPPY DAYS TO SWINGING NIGHTS AT 54 BELOW

SING AND SWING WITH DON MOST & A 9 PIECE BAND AT FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW
Feinstiens/54 Below - 254 W. 54th St, NYC. NY 10019 
Thursday, June 2nd, 2016 at 7:00pm (Doors open at 5:15pm)
Cover $35 - $45 - Premiums $75 -

Donny Most is best known for his role as Ralph in the long running television series “Happy Days.” He was singing long before he started working with Ron Howard, Henry Winkler and Garry Marshall. Yes, it’s true.  Donny truly has vocal chops and he has a wonderful way of  delivering each standard in a way that no  one else can, No matter how often you have heard that song before it is as though your are hearing it for the first time,  and loving every second of it! Whether it is a ballad, or swinging favorites like Clementine and Mack the Knife, audiences know they are in for a treat by the first note. Donny is currently touring with his band performing his Sings and Swings: Sinatra, Dino, Darin & more show.  In this performance, Donny delivers music from Sinatra and Darin, to Dean Martin and Nat King Cole and others from that era. He even shares a few stories and quips from his tenure on the television hit series Happy Days.

www.54below.com/artist/donny-most/

ABOUT DON:
Most recently, Don was seen in a recurring role on the hit TV show – “Glee”, as well as starring roles in the indie film – “The Yankles”, and “Chez Upshaw”, starring Kevin Pollack and Illeana Douglas. He just finished starring in “Campin Buddies”, along with a role in the independent film – “Remember Isobel”, and the short film – “Duality.” Most’s other feature film credits include “ED TV”, directed by Ron Howard; “Crazy Mama”, directed by Jonathan Demme, and “The Great Buck Howard”, starring John Malkovich. In television, his other guest starring roles include “Men Of A Certain Age”, “Century City”, ‘Star Trek: Voyager’, ‘Yes, Dear’, ‘The Crow, ‘Sabrina’, ‘Sliders’, ‘Dark Skies’ and ‘The Family Guy’. Following in the footsteps of some of his peers, Don has now directed three feature films. “His first, “The Last Best Sunday”, had its World Premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival, and was a feature film winner at the Telluride IndieFest. “Moola”, starring William Mapother, Shailene Woodley, Treat Williams, Daniel Baldwin, and Curtis Armstrong, premiered at The Newport Beach Film Festival, where it earned Most The Outstanding Achievement In Directing Award. Don also directed “Harley’s Hill”, his first family film, which was recently seen on Showtime, Starz and Encore. In another area, Don has recently gone back to his first love – singing. Don has always loved the standards/swing/big band style of music, and has just mounted his show – “Donny Most Sings And Swings”.


INA YALOF - FOOD AND THE CITY: NEW YORK IS THE CITY THAT ALWAYS EATS

New York’s Professional Chefs, Restaurateurs, Line Cooks, Street Vendors, and Purveyors Talk About What They Do and Why They Do It

When many of us think New York City, we think food—from the latest ethnic discovery to the culinary innovations of cutting-edge chefs to the comfort foods we grew up eating. In FOOD AND THE CITY: New York’s Professional Chefs, Restaurateurs, Line Cooks, Street Vendors, and Purveyors Talk About What They Do and Why They Do It (G. P. Putnam’s Sons: on sale May 31, 2016), journalist and bestselling author Ina Yalof’s pens a delectable journey inside the city’s pulsating food scene. From Zabar’s deli counter to the Pierre Hotel, from Harlem Shake to RedFarm, Yalof captures the stories of the people who have made this industry their lives.

The stories they tell, while each unique, nonetheless share common threads: hard work, creativity, and most of all a passion for food. Much like the folks in the food industry in your city!

Yalof takes readers into the kitchens, dining rooms, and even wine cellars of a cross section of the city’s eateries—from casual to posh, from diners to five-star hotels. She talks to chefs who have risen from dishwasher and line cook to the pinnacle of their profession. From their singular stories, readers glean essential truths about what it takes to operate a successful restaurant in one of the most demanding markets in the world—whether maintaining the legendary reputation of the “21” Club, making the catering run on time at the Pierre Hotel, or serving eggs and blue-plate specials on upper Broadway.

Yalof also takes us into a complex behind-the-scenes world as she visits butchers, cheesemongers, and bakers. She ventures far afield to food purveyors most New Yorkers rarely think about: a caterer tasked with feeding a large, hungry, transient film crew; a firefighter who cooks for the rest of his Rescue Company; and the executive director of Nutritional Services at Rikers Island, where the NYC Department of Correction prepares 47,000 meals a day. Whether Yalof’s destination is Zabar’s, Chinatown, or the kitchen of Brooklyn’s Sucre Mort Pralines, the stories she unearths create an unforgettable gallery of New Yorkers who embody its culinary heart and soul.

Praised by culinary geniuses Marcus Samuelsson, Daniel Boulud, and Eric Ripert, FOOD AND THE CITY is a fascinating oral history from an unforgettable gallery of New Yorkers who embody its culinary heart and soul. It is full of delicious insights, inspiring stories, and singular anecdotes that together paint a vibrant picture of metropolitan food culture.

ABOUT INA:
Ina Yalof has been writing books and articles about such diverse subjects as medicine, science, religion, and happiness for more than thirty years. Her books include the widely acclaimed oral history Life and Death: The Story of a Hospital, What It Means to Be Jewish, How I Write (coauthored with Janet Evanovich), and What Happy Women Know. Yalof’s articles have appeared in numerous national publications, including GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, and New York magazine. She lives and eats in New York City.


BRAD “THE BULLET” BAKER PREVIEWS X GAMES AUSTIN  - BAKER TALKS RACING, FLAT-TRACK’S NEWEST BIKE AND WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN 

Thursday (June 2), X Games medalist Brad “The Bullet” Baker will tear it up at COTA as he vies for the gold medal during Harley-Davidson’s second annual Flat Track Race at X Games Austin.

The 3rd youngest Grand National Champion in the history of the sport, Brad is available to preview the upcoming race and discuss his recent deal with pro snowboarder Ben Ferguson to trade skills and share their passion for two different types of riding. At the winter X Games in Aspen, Brad learned how to snowboard and now it’s Ben’s turn to roll the throttle and learn to race motorcycle flat track this weekend.

But your audience doesn’t have to be in the X Games to experience the thrill that comes with riding a motorcycle. Through Harley-Davidson’s Riding Academy, which can be completed at most H-D dealerships, anyone can go from the couch to your motorcycle license in just a few days. Harley-Davidson is also offering all current and former U.S. military and first responders the opportunity to learn to ride for free this year as a way to thank those who have courageously defended our country, guarded our safety, and helped protect everyone’s personal freedom to ride. Visit an H-D dealership or head to H-D.com/AmericanHeroes to learn more.

The Harley-Davidson Flat Track Race is scheduled to air on ESPN at 8:30 PM (EST), June 2nd. For details and a list of invited flat track athletes, visit xgames.com.

H-D.COM/AMERICANHEROES

05/31 BILL SHATNER, THE 26TH ANNUAL"PRICELINE.COM HOLLYWOOD CHARITY HORSE SHOW, HEATHER MURAN, SAN LUIS OBISPO WINE COUNTRY, ROLL OUT THE BARRELS WEEKEND

BILL SHATNER - THE 26TH ANNUAL"PRICELINE.COM HOLLYWOOD CHARITY HORSE SHOW, SPONSORED BY WELLS FARGO" JUNE 4, 2016

COUNTRY MUSIC’S NEAL McCOY TO JOIN WILLIAM SHATNER FOR THE 26TH ANNUAL“PRICELINE.COM HOLLYWOOD CHARITY HORSE SHOW, SPONSORED BY WELLS FARGO” SLATED FOR JUNE 4, 2016!

BENEFITING AHEAD WITH HORSES AND OTHER LOCAL CHILDREN’S CHARITIES NEAL MCCOY TO PERFORM LIVE FOR AN EVENING OF DINNER & MUSIC!

Organizers for the 26th Annual William Shatner  Priceline.com Hollywood Charity Horse Show, Sponsored by Wells Fargo, announced today that country music’s Neal McCoy will perform live at the event to be held on June 4, 2016.  The Priceline.com Hollywood Charity Horse Show, Sponsored by Wells Fargo enters its 26th year of fundraising with a spectacular affair at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, California.  Guests will be treated to an exciting arena show and a world-class reining competition, followed by a western dinner catered by STONEFIRE Grill. The evening concludes with a special LIVE performance by Neal McCoy.

Proceeds from the event will benefit special-needs children’s charities across the city of Los Angeles including: AHEAD With Horses, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Hollenbeck Police Activities League (PAL), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, The Painted Turtle and others.

“Over the last 26 years, we have been able to help thousands of young Angelinos thanks to the support we receive from our generous sponsors and attendees,” commented William Shatner. “We are so fortunate to have the great talent of Neal McCoy for our entertainment this year. He is absolutely terrific and generous with his time, talent and support.”

26th ANNUAL “PRICELINE.COM HOLLYWOOD CHARITY HORSE SHOW SPONSORED BY WELLS FARGO”

SATURDAY JUNE 4, 2016
5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – Press ‘Meet & Greet’
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Arena Show, which is free to the public
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Western Dinner, Entertainment by Neal McCoy  and Live Auction by William Shatner, Auctioneer

Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA

ABOUT BILL:

William "Bill" Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor, singer, author, producer, director, spokesman, and comedian. He became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise, in the Star Trek franchise. He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences playing Captain Kirk and being a part of Star Trek, and has co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe. He has also written a series of science fiction novels called TekWar which was adapted for television.

Shatner also played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker(1982–86). Afterwards, he hosted the reality-based television series Rescue 911(1989–96), which won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Dramatic Series. He has since worked as a musician, author, director and celebrity pitchman. He also starred as attorney Denny Crane in the television dramas The Practice (2004) and its spin-off Boston Legal (2004–8), for which he won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

WWW.HORSESHOW.ORG


HEATHER MURAN – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN LUIS OBISPO WINE COUNTRY – ROLL OUT THE BARRELS WEEKEND (THURS-SUN, JUNE 23-26)

The wineries of SLO Wine Country boast an average distance of just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in prevailing marine conditions that are among the most pronounced of any wine region in California.

SLO Wine Country includes two small adjoining American Viticultural Areas—the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley—and other nearby winegrowing areas.  Each of these areas shares a unifying proximity to the ocean, as well as to each other. Collectively, these growing conditions forge a unifying wine quality that is native to SLO Wine Country:

Cool
The reliable cooling effect of the nearby Pacific Ocean ensures a long growing season, enabling the grapes to achieve physiological ripeness and natural balance. Cool-climate varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir excel in the heart of SLO Wine Country, and even the warmest areas benefit from considerable marine influence.  

Consistent
The ocean proximity also exerts a moderating effect on the climate, minimizing temperature swings so that growing conditions are rarely hot or cold. The result is an extraordinarily steady growing season that fosters balanced ripening and consistent quality from vintage to vintage.

Complex
The imprint of the ocean is also evident in SLO Wine Country's uncommonly complex soils, which are frequently riddled with ancient sea fossils. Soil variation enables the winegrower to mix and match varietals to specific soil profiles, or to add more "colors" to the palette of a single varietal, heightening overall quality and complexity.

ROLL OUT THE BARRELS WEEKEND
Come Roll Out the Barrels with us all weekend long! 

Thursday, June 23rd, 2016
Barrels in the Plaza
Downtown San Luis Obispo Mission Plaza
Tickets:
4:30pm Early Entry, $100
5:30 General Admission, $80
Break out the Barrels!  We'll be featuring over 50 wineries and restaurants dishing out world class wines and tantalizing treats for Thursday evening's “Barrels in The Plaza” grand tasting in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo City, adjacent to the historic Mission de Tolosa.

Friday, June 24th, 2016
Taste the Coast Collaborative Winemaker Dinner
Claiborne & Churchill Winery
2649 Carpenter Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo
Participating Wineries: Claiborne & Churchill, Peloton Cellars, Stephen Ross, Tolosa, and Verdad
Tickets: $160 per person
"Taste the Coast" under the stars at Claiborne & Churchill Winery and join our winemakers for a night of epic wine pairings, partnered with five courses of locally sourced and produced cuisine, prepared by famed local chef Brian Collins of Ember Restaurant.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 25th & 26th
Adventures in SLO Wine Country
Hosted at various participating tasting rooms throughout San Luis Obispo Wine Country
We've got a weekend full of adventures with the winemakers!  Walk the vineyards, barrel sample the new vintage, and enjoy open houses and festivities all weekend long.

WWW.SLOWINE.COM

05/30 MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL

JULIA COLLIN DAVISON – NEW CO-HOST AND THE EXECUTIVE FOOD EDITOR FOR THE BOOK DIVISION, AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN - CHATS SUMMER GRILLING 

ABOUT JULIA COLLIN DAVISON
Julia Collin Davison is the executive food editor for the book division of America’s Test Kitchen and is an on-screen test cook for America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen. She began working as a test cook for Cook’s Illustrated in 1999 and is responsible for the food and recipe development for all America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks. She holds an A.O.S. degree from the Culinary Institute of America and a B.A. in psychology and philosophy from SUNY Albany. Before coming to America’s Test Kitchen, she worked in Albany, the Berkshires, San Francisco, and the Napa Valley at several restaurants, catering companies, schools, and wineries. Julia resides in Natick, Massachusetts, where she enjoys cooking with her husband, Ian, and her daughter, Marta.

ABOUT AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN 
America’s Test Kitchen is the most-watched cooking show on public television—over 2 million viewers tune in each week—and in January 2016, America’s Test Kitchen will launch its 16th season. In addition to the popular segments that viewers have come to love and trust, like equipment reviews, taste tests, and foolproof recipes, the 16th season will feature even more content and numerous visits with well-loved chefs!

The test kitchen chefs cook America’s favorite recipes with host Christopher Kimball and deconstruct each recipe to reveal the test kitchen’s secrets to foolproof cooking at home. This season includes 57 all-new recipes, including Raspberry Charlotte, Black Bean Burgers, Foolproof New York Cheesecake, Crispy Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Duck Fat–Roasted Potatoes, Cuban Braised Shredded Beef, Chicken Mole Poblano, Ultimate Charcoal-Grilled Steaks, Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, and more.
America’s Test Kitchen is shot just outside Boston. The test cooks are dedicated to finding the best methods for preparing foolproof home-cooked meals. The 2,500-square-foot test kitchen in which America’s Test Kitchen is shot is the same kitchen where three dozen full-time test cooks work, testing and retesting recipes 20, 30, and sometimes 50 times, until they find the recipe that they are confident will work every time.

MASTER OF THE GRILL: FOOLPROOF RECIPES, TOP-RATED GADGETS, GEAR & INGREDIENTS PLUS CLEVER TEST KITCHEN TIPS & FASCINATING FOOD SCIENCE
Part field guide to grilling and barbecuing and part cookbook, Master of the Grill features a wide variety of kitchen-tested recipes for meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, pizza, and more. These are the recipes everyone should know how to make— the juiciest burgers, barbecue chicken that’s moist not tough, tender grill-smoked pork ribs, the greatest steak (and grilled potatoes to serve alongside). Regional specialties are included, too—learn how to make Cowboy Steaks, Alabama BBQ Chicken, and Kansas City Sticky Ribs. Colorful photography captures the beauty of the recipes and step-by-step shots guide you through everything you need to know. A section on grilling essentials covers the pros and cons of gas and charcoal grills and which might be right for you, as well as the tools you’ll use with them— such as grill brushes, tongs, vegetable baskets, and wood chips and chunks.

"A terrifically accessible and useful guide to grilling in all its forms that sets a new bar for its competitors on the bookshelf." –Publishers Weekly

Are precut steak tips worth buying? Why make divots in burgers? What’s the best supermarket barbecue sauce? (And when is it worth splurging for the high-end one?) Are all grill tongs created equal? America’s most trusted test kitchen fires up the grill to answer those questions and many more in the inventive new book Master of the Grill.

With recipes and techniques arranged by skill level—from The Basics to The Easy Upgrades to The Serious Projects—cooks of all stripes can dive in and choose their outdoor cooking adventure. Make classic, contemporary, and regional recipes like Perfect Grilled Hamburgers, Barbecued Pulled Chicken, Grilled Tomato and Cheese Pizzas, and Kansas City Sticky Ribs, as well as Grill-Smoked Salmon, Grill-Roasted Prime Rib, Grilled Lobsters with Herbed Garlic Butter, andGrilled Fruit (with a variety of finishing sauces and glazes). Every recipe includes instructions for both charcoal and gas grills and there are hundreds of full-color recipe and step photos throughout the book.

WWW.AMERICASTESTKITCHEN.COM


ENTERTAINING EXPERT MELANIE MANNARINO - SIZZLING PARTY IDEAS FOR YOUR SUMMER SOIREE

SIZZLING PARTY IDEAS FOR YOUR SUMMER SOIREE

Our Entertaining Expert will Dish the Hottest Tips and Tricks to Make Your Summer Entertaining a Breeze!

Ready to impress your guests this summer? Freshen up your next party or get-together with a few simple tips from entertaining expert Melanie Mannarino. She'll show us everything from how to prepare better-for-you snacks with a zesty kick, to how to keep your guests protected from those bothersome bugs.

Find out how to transform your backyard or home into a fun and festive environment! Whether you're grilling on the porch or serving up inside, Melanie has delicious ideas that will make entertaining at home easy, fun and effortless, leaving your guests hungry for more!

ABOUT MELANIE MANNARINO
Melanie Mannarino has spent the last 20 years as editor and writer for media brands includingShape, Better Homes & Gardens, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and HGTV Magazine. She is a regular contributor to Weight Watchers magazine. Previously, Melanie was digital director of Shape.com, where she doubled the frequency of fitness, food & nutrition, and healthy living content. Prior to that, she was Director of Content at Weight Watchers, where she oversaw food & recipes, fitness and lifestyle content across the US and Canada web sites and created and starred in numerous video series, include Curious Foodie. As Deputy Executive Editor of Redbook magazine, Melanie wrote the food and entertaining blog Serving Dish, and appeared as a judge on Iron Chef America.


ROBERT SINCLAIR (AAA SPOKESPERSON & TRAVEL EXPERT) AND SARAH ROBINSON (TIRE AND DRIVING SAFETY EXPERT) - AAA SUMMER ROAD TRIP GUIDE

FIND OUT WHAT AAA IS EXPECTING THIS MEMORIAL DAY & TRAVEL SEASON FOR ROADWAY WARRIORS! 

WHAT EVERYONE “AUTO” KNOW ABOUT CAR CARE! SUMMER ROAD TRIP GUIDE!

Learn How to Beat the Rush & be prepared for the Busiest Roadway Weekend of the Year!

Experts are calling this the year of the road trip! With gas prices at an all-time low AAA estimates that over half of American’s are planning to hit the open road this summer. Weather an overnight trip or a cross-country adventure it is important to make sure your cars maintenance is up-to-date. Find out why doing routine inspections and simply checking tires before a road trip is essential for summer road trip fun!

Robert Sinclair of AAA and Tire and Driving Safety Expert Sarah Robinson from Michelin, will give some simple fixes and go over do’s and don’ts that will save drives money and time. AAA expects to rescue nearly 350,000 motorists at the roadside over Memorial Day weekend! Your viewers will learn important tips to help keep them safe and having fun on their roadway vacations.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
• PACKING WITH PURPOSE- Not overloading your car for trips
• HIGH MAINTENANCE -Spend time enjoying your vacation, not fixing your car
• TIRE CHECK-How to choose the right tires for your needs
• THRIFTY INSPECTION-Super savings from simple automotive checks

WWW.MICHELINMAN.COM
WWW.AAA.COM/AUTO

NUTRITIONIST, AUTHOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE HEALTHY SHOPPER INC, ANDREA DONSKY - TALKS ABOUT REPLACING “MYSTERY MEAT” WITH A “CLEANER WIENER”

Now That It’s Barbecue Season FRANKLY---MAY BE TIME FOR A WIENERVENTION
DEFINED AS: Replacing “Mystery Meat” with a “Cleaner Wiener” 

Americans love affair with the hot dog extends from backyard barbecues to ballparks during the summer months. Those in the know about top dog status say more than seven billion hot dogs will be eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Every year, people in the U.S. bite into an average of 60 wieners each.

BETTER FOR YOU BBQ FOR MEMORIAL DAY
With the average American downing about 2,000 calories at a cookout, how can you have your BBQ and eat it too

• Not all hot dogs are created equal. Choose those that are lower in fat, don’t have added nitrites or nitrates and are lower in sodium.  A typical hot dog has about 16 grams of fat, but a natural one without preservatives, artificial ingredients and fillers can come in at 8 grams. Applegate has a line of all-natural hot dogs that are made with just 100 percent grass-fed beef, water, salt and spices.  Also, there are plenty of varieties, including chicken and turkey that cut down on calories and fat.  For burgers, go for turkey or if you want ground beef, choose 90 or 93 percent lean.
• Roll with It:  White with whole grain, wheat, spelt – just as hot dog options have changed, so have the buns. 
• Grilling is not just for meat any more. Grilling brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables. Veggie kebobs are fun and easy to do.  And many fruits taste even better when grilled such as pineapple, peaches, plums and watermelon. 
• Have fun with condiments. Choose ketchup and mustard with less added sugar – check out the ingredient list and make sure it isn’t the first or second ingredient. But don’t just stop there, diced onions, avocadoes, sweet bell peppers add flavor as well as boosts the nutritional value as does salsa and relishes. 
• Swap the sides.  Love potato salad, but not the fat? Try using Greek yogurt in the dressing instead of mayo, and get the creaminess, plus the added benefits of calcium and protein. Instead of creamy dressings for salads, use vinaigrettes made with heart healthy olive oils. 

APPLEGATE.COM

5/27 WAYNE NORBITZ, NATHAN’S FAMOUS, GEORGE SHEA, PENNY GADD-COSTER, RACK AND RIDDLE, STEVE EVANS

WAYNE NORBITZ & GEORGE SHEA CHAT ABOUT THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATHAN’S FAMOUS

FIND OUT WHY FOR ONE HISTORIC DAY, 5-CENT HOT DOGS ARE AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF A ‘FAMOUS’ TRADITION

In 1916, hot dogs sold for 5-cents.  That’s also the year that a legendary hot dog stand was opened in Coney Island, NY, by a visionary named Nathan Handwerker.  No one could have guessed at the time that Nathan’s Famous would become a world famous brand, loved by millions, and the sponsor of the world’s most famous eating competition.

Now, fast-forward to Friday, May 27th, 100 YEARS LATER!   Just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend, Nathan’s Famous is holding its 100th Anniversary celebration live from Coney Island, NY.   Your viewers and listeners can join in the celebration, and learn about an amazing tradition and the plan to provide 5-cent hotdogs nationwide hot dog lovers everywhere.

You will be speaking with Wayne Norbitz, President of Nathan’s Famous for 26 years, and George Shea, renowned as “The Godfather of Major League Eating” and the emcee of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Eating contest each July 4th in Coney Island.   We hope you’ll agree that a visit to Coney Island is a great way to kick off the Memorial Day weekend.  For more information, visit: www.Nathans5Cent.com

WWW.NATHANS5CENT.COM
WWW.NATHANSFAMOUS.COM


PENNY GADD-COSTER – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING, RACK AND RIDDLE

When wine industry veterans Rebecca Faust and Bruce Lundquist first set out to establish Rack & Riddle Winery, they envisioned a leading-edge facility using premium vineyards to produce wine in the heart of the North Coast wine country. But not long into planning, their goals stretched to include a still and sparkling custom crush facility for custom crush clientele, as well as for the Rack & Riddle wine brand.

Bringing together seven winemakers on staff, including the sought-after skills of winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster, Rack & Riddle specializes in processes that take an incredible amount of labor, time and equipment, but that result in superior wine.

Faust and Lundquist harness a combined expertise of 40 years to create a niche in the marketplace. It’s no small feat to make sparkling wine in the traditional méthode champenoise. As such, most wineries don’t attempt it. Rack & Riddle unlocks the ability to create outstanding, award-winning sparkling wines for a host of brands.

From small boutique wineries to large multi-national wine producers and everyone in between, Rack & Riddle provides unparalleled custom crush and winemaking services to all of our partners. We ensure our custom crush clients receive exactly what is needed, from an all-inclusive “grape to glass” experience, or by simply assisting with existing winemaking and production needs.

Making sparkling wine can be achieved in a variety of different ways. However, if you are as dedicated as we are about creating superior sparkling wines from only the best grape sources—as Faust and Lundquist learned from their history at Piper Sonoma and J Vineyards, respectively—the only way to make sparkling wine is by méthode champenoise.

Across the winemaking industry only a handful of wineries are engaged in custom méthode champenoise. Rack & Riddle stands nearly alone in that respect, especially in California, by offering the age-old, traditional French method.

The roots of this method are fascinating—engineered in the early 1600’s by Dominican monks in the Champagne region of France, monk Dom Perignon is said to have mused about the champagne bubbles, “I am drinking the stars”.

Creating those effervescent “stars” is a labor of love involving two fermentations and a process of “riddling” to remove the lees from the bottle.

In fact, Rack & Riddle’s very name is inspired by the process. “Racking” alludes to the process of removing sediment from still wine and “riddling” is the counterpart process for sparkling wine. The Rack & Riddle brand logo reflects this in its imagery of a historic French riddling rack.

From the start—as blueprints were drafted and ground broke in 2007—it was of utmost importance that Rack & Riddle was built with winemakers in mind. True to Rack & Riddle’s way of operating and treating each other as family, the initial team members were an integral part in the founding and design of Rack & Riddle’s first 125,000-foot winemaking facility.

Together Bruce, Rebecca, Oded Shakked (Bruce’s former business partner at Longboard Vineyards), consulting winemaker the late Raphaël Brisbois, winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster, former production manager Lisa Kashin and cellar master, the late Tom Meeker, helped design the organic-certified still and sparkling custom crush facility, and choose the very best equipment.

Today, nine years later, Rack & Riddle’s team has grown to more than 75 employees, including expert winemaking, production and cellar staff, and on-site lab team.

Our continuing interaction with client winemakers means we are constantly learning, and always keeping an open mind to new ideas. It’s this philosophy that helps Rack & Riddle stay ahead of the curve when it comes to producing outstanding blends for our clients’ wine brands.

In 2013, we were thrilled to announce Rack & Riddle’s expansion into Sonoma County. This natural step for Rack & Riddle and the ability to offer services in the hub of the Sonoma winemaking region represents a milestone in the evolution of our company.

The centrally-located facilities, which officially opened January 1, 2014 (Rack & Riddle Alexander Valley) and June 1, 2014 (Rack & Riddle Healdsburg) increased winemaking space, bottling and stainless steel tank and tirage storage capacity. The move to Sonoma County also allows clients to state “Healdsburg” on their labels—all attractive benefits we’re thrilled to offer with our new facilities.

With its unique blend of traditional methods along with the best new technology, Rack & Riddle is dedicated to sustainable farming practices, allowing nature to bring out the unique attributes of every winegrape that passes through our facilities. Rack & Riddle is California certified organic for those brands wishing to produce organic labels.

We are about more than just slapping a label on a bottle or mass producing wines. We are about ensuring the true nature of the wines shines through so distinctively that you’ll be proud to share, sell, and taste for yourself the wines crafted with our care, passion and expertise.

In short, we help our custom crush clients create wine that’s ready to stand neck and neck with the area’s best.

We hope you will raise a glass of bubbly with us to celebrate what so many have worked so hard to create. As a legacy of excellence in sparkling and still wines is forged, our greatest goal is that you will join us on the journey!

RACKANDRIDDLE.COM


STEVE EVANS – 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.

05/26 THOMAS HOUSEMAN, ANNE AMIE VINEYARDS, STEVE STRAUSS, BANK OF AMERICA SURVEY, GRAMMY-NOMINATED COUNTRY SINGER TRACE ADKINS, PBS’ NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

THOMAS HOUSEMAN - WINEMAKER, ANNE AMIE VINEYARDS

Pinot reigns supreme at Anne Amie Vineyards with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc forming the heart of our production. Complementing the pinot family is Old-Vine Estate Riesling and Müller Thurgau, planted in 1979.  Our vineyards are located in the rolling hills of the Yamhill-Carlton District and on the steep hillsides of the Chehalem Mountains, both nestled in Oregon’s verdant Willamette Valley.  Our tasting room hosts breathtaking views of our vineyards and the Pacific Coast Range. We look forward to your visit.

HISTORY:
When Dr. Robert Pamplin, one of Oregon’s most forward-thinking philanthropists and businessmen, purchased the historic Chateau Benoit Winery in 1999, his vision was to create wines of the highest quality to reflect his passion for excellence. To this end Dr. Pamplin has charged winemaker Thomas Houseman and winegrower Jason Tosch with the task of crafting extraordinary pinot noir. Thomas, Jason, and the rest of the crew are absolutely passionate about producing wines of the finest quality and have dedicated their lives to this quest. For more information about Dr. Pamplin, Thomas, Jason and the entire Anne Amie team, read their bios.

Pinot reigns supreme at Anne Amie Vineyards with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc forming the heart of our production. Complementing the pinot family is Old-Vine Estate Riesling and Müller Thurgau, planted in 1979. As with all great wines, our’s start in the vineyards. We are fortunate to have some of Oregon’s best sites, all of which are Salmon Safe and LIVE certified. Our estate vineyards, along with those we purchase from, receive only the minimal required treatments and yields are dramatically reduced in order to give fruit with great depth and complexity.

Our estate vineyards are located in the rolling hills of the Yamhill-Carlton District and on the steep hillsides of the Chehalem Mountains, both nestled in Oregon’s verdant Willamette Valley. Our LIVE certified winery is located on our Yamhill-Carlton property, a few miles from both Lafayette and Carlton, Oregon. We are proud to be part of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and the Chehalem Mountains Winegrowers.

ABOUT THOMAS HOUSEMAN:
Thomas’ winemaking career unofficially began in the basement of his parent’s home in Hampton Roads, Virginia. His Welch’s grape juice and orange juice concentrate wines are lost in time, but we’re sure they’d be showing well if any remained. Thomas narrowly escaped blindness from this stage of his life and went on to New York City, where he pursued a career in modern dance. Traveling the globe performing was great but it did not get him much free beer. So, he bought a book and taught himself to brew.

With the creativity of a dancer, the eye of a scientist, and the encouragement of friends who loved the free beer, the passion for fermenting reemerged. Thomas left the stage and went back to school at CSU Fresno in the enology program. It was there he fell in love with Pinot noir. And, across the globe he embarked again, first to California’s Anderson Valley, then to New Zealand, and finally to Oregon. After four years at Ponzi Vineyards, Thomas saw the opportunity to express himself at Anne Amie Vineyards where he is happy he can still use words like balance, grace, fluidity, elegance, power and style- words that once described his dancing, now describe his wines. In his free time, Thomas still brews, having dragged his equipment across the US. Yoga and running have replaced dance, but winemaking remains the common thread that started in a basement and continues at Anne Amie.

ANNEAMIE.COM


STEVE STRAUSS, SMALL BUSINESS EXPERTAND USA TODAY COLUMNIST - BANK OF AMERICA SURVEY FINDS ONLY THREE PERCENT OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SEE EDUCATION AS MOST IMPORTANT HIRING FACTOR

BANK OF AMERICA SURVEY FINDS ONLY THREE PERCENT OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SEE EDUCATION AS MOST IMPORTANT HIRING FACTOR 

Findings Suggest Small Business Owners Concerned About Health Care Costs and Minimum Wage

This month, Bank of America released the spring 2016 Small Business Owner Report, a semi-annual study exploring the concerns, aspirations and perspectives of 1,000 small business owners (SBOs) across the country. This iteration of the report explores the state of small business, including attitudes toward the overall economy, growth expectations and how the upcoming elections are impacting SBOs’ future plans.

According to the survey, nearly half (49%) of SBOs said skill level is the most important factor when hiring a potential candidate and only 3% said education. The report found that the characteristics SBOs value most in an employee are trustworthiness (75%) and a strong work ethic (70%), while characteristics such as tech savviness (27%) and a knowledge of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) (12%), were less valued. Of those SBOs who are planning to hire this year (22%), the majority (54%) are hiring part-time candidates.

Small business expert Steve Strauss is available to discuss hiring trends and the emphasis on skill over education.

STEVE TALKS ABOUT:

• The changing face of the workforce – Only 3% of those surveyed said education was the most important factor when hiring a potential candidate. Skill level is the most important factor in hiring according to 49% of SBOs, followed by fit with company culture (24%) and previous work experience (24%). There is also a preference for hiring Gen-X employees (47%) over millennials (26%) and baby boomers (8%). 
• Trustworthiness is the most wanted trait when hiring – While the majority of SBOs value trustworthiness (75%) the most when hiring a candidate, other top characteristics include being hardworking (70%), problem solving (51%), logical thinking (47%) and strong communication (45%).
• Minimum wage, health care costs raise concerns – If the minimum wage was to be raised, 57% of SBOs would need to take financial measures to adjust for an increase, such as increasing the price of products or services (23%). In terms of health care costs, 74% of SBOs reported a concern that health care costs will impact their business. Since last year, health care costs have risen for 69% of SBOs who offer coverage.
• SBOs hiring part-time and full-time workers – Of those who hired employees last year, they hired evenly full-time and part-time workers (52% and 51% respectively). Looking ahead, majorities plan to hire both part-time workers (54%) as well as full-time workers (51%). Twenty-six percent plan to add freelancers, independent contractors or skilled specialists.
• SBOs are concerned about the upcoming elections – More than two-thirds (67%) report the upcoming presidential election will affect their business “a lot” or “somewhat.” When voting, SBOs are taking both personal and business considerations into account. Roughly one-third give more weight to their personal views, while 15% approach voting from a business perspective. More than half take both into consideration evenly. The top issues SBOs take into account when voting are: taxes, health care policy, and the economy and job growth.   

MORE ABOUT STEVEN STRAUSS:
Steven D. Strauss, often called "the country's leading small business expert," is an internationally recognized author, lawyer, and speaker. Steve is the author of 15 books. Steve’s highly syndicated business column, Ask an Expert, appears weekly at USATODAY.com He is also the small business columnist for Microsoft, and AT&T who calls him “America’s Small Business Expert.” A highly sought after commentator and media guest, Steve has been featured on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg Television, The O’Reilly Factor, and the BBC. He has been a regular guest on MSNBC’s small business show, Your Business. Steve has been seen in many magazines and newspapers, including Time, Inc., Entrepreneur, New York, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Daily News, and scores of others. Steve regularly speaks to groups the world over regarding business matters, including a recent visit to the United Nations. He has also recently acted as the small business spokesperson for Bank of America, Humana Insurance, and Capitol One, among others. Steve is the president of The Strauss Group, Inc: Strauss Law Firm, Strauss Seminar Co., and Strauss Syndication. He graduated from UCLA, the Claremont Graduate School, the Coro Foundation, and the McGeorge School of Law.

WWW.BANKOFAMERICA.COM/SMALLBUSINESS


GRAMMY-NOMINATED COUNTRY SINGER TRACE ADKINS - PBS’ NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT LIVE FROM THE U.S. CAPITOL SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

GARY SINISE AND JOE MANTEGA CO-HOST ANNUAL NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE HONORING OUR AMERICAN HEROES: PBS’ NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

Live From the U.S. Capitol, All-Star Line-Up Features General Colin Powell, Renee Fleming, The Beach Boys, Katharine McPhee, Trace Adkins, S. Epatha Merkerson, Esai Morales and Alfie Boe with Special Performance of National Anthem By AMERICAN IDOL Season 15 Winner Trent Harmon

For over a quarter century, PBS has inspired viewers with the annual broadcast of the multi award-winning NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT (#MemDayPBS), dedicated to our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country.  Live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the night of remembrance will honor the over 400,000 valiant men and women who are laid to rest in the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery; and chronicle the experiences of the millions of American veterans who still suffer from the seen and unseen wounds of war.

Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS) and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CRIMINAL MINDS: WITHOUT BORDERS) are set to co-host this poignant and heart-warming event for the 11th year.  The acclaimed actors, whose dedication to the show is evident, are also longtime supporters of veterans’ causes and our troops in active service.   The all-star line-up includes: distinguished American leader General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); world-renowned four-time Grammy Award-winning classical superstar Renee Fleming; iconic music legends The Beach Boys; gifted actress and singer Katharine McPhee (SCORPION); country music star and Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry Trace Adkins; Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson (CHICAGO MED, LAW & ORDER); Award-winning actor Esai Morales (MOZART IN THE JUNGLE); plus Tony Award-winning international sensation Alfie Boe, who has just joined the Broadway cast of the smash hit FINDING NEVERLAND; in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.  And marking the end of an era, Trent Harmon, the final winner of AMERICAN IDOL, will open the show with a special performance of the “National Anthem.”

women who are laid to rest in the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery; and chronicle the experiences of the millions of American veterans who still suffer from the seen and unseen wounds of war.

Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS) and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CRIMINAL MINDS: WITHOUT BORDERS) are set to co-host this poignant and heart-warming event for the 11th year.  The acclaimed actors, whose dedication to the show is evident, are also longtime supporters of veterans’ causes and our troops in active service.   The all-star line-up includes: distinguished American leader General Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); world-renowned four-time Grammy Award-winning classical superstar Renee Fleming; iconic music legends The Beach Boys; gifted actress and singer Katharine McPhee (SCORPION); country music star and Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry Trace Adkins; Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson (CHICAGO MED, LAW & ORDER); Award-winning actor Esai Morales (MOZART IN THE JUNGLE); plus Tony Award-winning international sensation Alfie Boe, who has just joined the Broadway cast of the smash hit FINDING NEVERLAND; in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.  And marking the end of an era, Trent Harmon, the final winner of AMERICAN IDOL, will open the show with a special performance of the “National Anthem.”

The 27th annual broadcast of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live on PBS Sunday, May 29, 2016, from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.

TRACEADKINS.COM
WWW.PBS.ORG

5/25 LARRY LIPSON, ANDREA DONSKY, JULIA DIMON

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.


NUTRITIONIST, AUTHOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE HEALTHY SHOPPER INC, ANDREA DONSKY - TALKS ABOUT REPLACING “MYSTERY MEAT” WITH A “CLEANER WIENER”

Now That It’s Barbecue Season FRANKLY---MAY BE TIME FOR A WIENERVENTION
DEFINED AS: Replacing “Mystery Meat” with a “Cleaner Wiener” 

Americans love affair with the hot dog extends from backyard barbecues to ballparks during the summer months. Those in the know about top dog status say more than seven billion hot dogs will be eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Every year, people in the U.S. bite into an average of 60 wieners each.

BETTER FOR YOU BBQ FOR MEMORIAL DAY
With the average American downing about 2,000 calories at a cookout, how can you have your BBQ and eat it too

• Not all hot dogs are created equal. Choose those that are lower in fat, don’t have added nitrites or nitrates and are lower in sodium.  A typical hot dog has about 16 grams of fat, but a natural one without preservatives, artificial ingredients and fillers can come in at 8 grams. Applegate has a line of all-natural hot dogs that are made with just 100 percent grass-fed beef, water, salt and spices.  Also, there are plenty of varieties, including chicken and turkey that cut down on calories and fat.  For burgers, go for turkey or if you want ground beef, choose 90 or 93 percent lean.
• Roll with It:  White with whole grain, wheat, spelt – just as hot dog options have changed, so have the buns. 
• Grilling is not just for meat any more. Grilling brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables. Veggie kebobs are fun and easy to do.  And many fruits taste even better when grilled such as pineapple, peaches, plums and watermelon. 
• Have fun with condiments. Choose ketchup and mustard with less added sugar – check out the ingredient list and make sure it isn’t the first or second ingredient. But don’t just stop there, diced onions, avocadoes, sweet bell peppers add flavor as well as boosts the nutritional value as does salsa and relishes. 
• Swap the sides.  Love potato salad, but not the fat? Try using Greek yogurt in the dressing instead of mayo, and get the creaminess, plus the added benefits of calcium and protein. Instead of creamy dressings for salads, use vinaigrettes made with heart healthy olive oils. 

APPLEGATE.COM


HOST OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S “WORD TRAVELS” SERIES, JULIA DIMON – TIPS FOR TAKING SPECIAL ‘SHARE FOREVER’ VACATIONS

Travel Junkie and Host of National Geographic International’s Word Play
FIND OUT WHY JULIA DIMON IS WORKING TO GET THE BEST REWARDS FOR YOUR TRAVEL DOLLARS!

TRAVEL JUNKIE JULIA’S TIPS FOR TAKING SPECIAL ‘SHARE FOREVER’ VACATIONS 

The renowned TRAVEL JUNKIE, Julia Dimon has visited more than 80 countries during her career as one of the top travel experts in the nation. The TV host for National Geographic Word Travels has hiked with mountain gorillas in Uganda, gone to radioactive Chernobyl, been 'tortured' in a Latvian prison and eaten live scorpions, bugs and slugs all across the globe. Now, this amazing lady is ready to share some of her travel secrets for making exotic vacations affordable or local vacations more exciting. Find out how simply taking advantage of loyalty programs and other tips can be the difference between an OK vacation and a five-star memorable experience.

Dimon will be live from a beautiful Miami, Fla, to explain why this is the best time of year for travel deals, and how you can take advantage of them.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THE TRAVEL JUNKIE:

• What's new and hot this summer
• Off-the-radar destinations that provide more bang for your buck
• Summer survival guide: tips and tricks to beat the heat, the crowds, the high prices (apps, websites)
• How to get more from your summer vacation by taking advantage of rewards and exclusive benefits available through loyalty programs, such as IHG Rewards Club

Julia’s show is called Word Travels and appears on National Geographic Adventure, Travel Channel UK, Halogen, Outside TV, City-TV and OLN. She has also hosted a popular online 18-part travel series, Destination Getaway, for MSNBC, and she hosts a series of segments for Outside Television called “Urban Adventures.”  Dimon has also been featured as an expert on CNN, New York Times, ABC Nightline, Forbes Traveler, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Lonely Planet, etc.

WWW.IHG.COM/FOREVER
WWW.TRAVELJUNKIEJULIA.COM