01/14 STACEY SUN, DINEL.A RESTAURANT WEEK, STEVE EVANS, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

STACEY SUN, DIRECTOR OF DINEL.A RESTAURANT WEEK (JANUARY 18-31, 2016)

dineL.A. Restaurant Week is a 14-day dining event that takes place in over 250 restaurants throughout L.A. county, offering specially priced lunch and dinner menus. This season, dineL.A. is partnering with OpenTable to donate $1 of every seated reservation that’s booked through our website to The Midnight Mission, a vital nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter and essential aid to those experiencing homelessness throughout the city. Make your reservation today and help support this worthy cause.

WWW.DISCOVERLOSANGELES.COM


ENTERTAINMENT SEGMENT WITH STEVE EVANS - ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS JUST ANNOUNCED

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Guillermo del Toro, John Krasinski and Ang Lee announced the 88th Academy Awards nominations in all 24 Oscar categories at a special two-part live news conference this morning at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The 88th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

01/13 LARRY LIPSON, DAVID HULL, THE HULABALLOER

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.




DAVID HULL, THE HULLABALLOER


ABOUT DAVE:
Dave Hull, aka "The Hullabalooer", is a Los Angeles radio personality voted one of the top ten LA radio personalities of all time. Born Jan. 20, 1934, he admits to being 77 with his personal addition herewith dated Mar. 3, 2011.

Hull began his radio career in Armed Forces Radio in Casablanca, Morocco and in commercial radio in 1955 at KGFL in Roswell, New Mexico. He reached Los Angeles' KRLA in 1963 as weekend relief and full time there on Jun. 6, 1964.

By the end of 1964, Hull's increasing popularity prompted one young female fan, Suzie Cappetta, to write and record a song entitled "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer", which quickly reached the local top 40 charts by early 1965. Hull became close with The Beatles during their 1965 and 1966 American tours. During that time, Hull taped approximately fourteen interviews with the band. He, along with Bob Eubanks, planned The Beatles' 1966 concert at the Chavez Ravine-Dodger Stadium. His work with the band earned him the honorary title of "fifth Beatle." Hull worked closely with The Beach Boys, The Dave Clark Five and The Rolling Stones during that period. In December 1965, Hull opened his "Hullabaloo" teen club on Sunset in Hollywood.

He got his nickname while working at WONE in Dayton, Ohio. Los Angeles radio historian Don Barrett quotes Hull as saying: "A woman wrote me from a hotel outside Dayton to say she couldn't stand all that hullabaloo. Well, Webster's defined it as a 'tumultuous outroar,' so I used it." Dave appeared (using the name David Hull) as a talent contest manager in an October, 1966 episode of "The Monkees".

Dave Hull was the first guest host on the nationally syndicated American Top 40 program, week ending November 6, 1971. ] He was heard in Los Angeles at the time on KGBS.

Hull hosted the nationally syndicated TV show "Matchmaker" in the late 1980s, reportedly seen in over 100 markets, a video version of his late 1970s "Lovelines" program heard on KMPC.

Today, Hull lives in Palm Springs, California and is now retired. He held the 6-midnight slot on one of the country's few remaining beautiful music stations, KWXY, from 1994 until his announced retirement in 2010. He also remains active as a voiceover for national radio and television commercials. Hull's book, Hullabaloo!: the (Mis)Adventures of L.A. Radio Legend Dave Hull was released in January 2013.

www.davehullthehullabalooer.com

01/12 TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT, CYNTHIA PECK, ANGELO’S AND VINCI’S

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT EXPLAINS HOW TO USE AMAZING REWARDS FOR A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

Imagine if every time you traveled, you could get inside the mind of a pro? Well, now you don’t have to because travel expert Christopher Elliott, “every consumer’s best friend” can tell you how to get the most from your travels by making smart choices for 2016. Elliott is the nationally syndicated columnist and author of HOW TO BE THE WORLD’S SMARTEST TRAVELER - and Save Time, Money and Hassle (National Geographic). Just in time to help consumers plan their travels for spring break and beyond, Elliott will share his exclusive expert tips with your audience.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM ELLIOTT’S TOP TRAVEL TIPS: 

• WAIT FOR THE DEALS: Travel companies are adding more inventory even as fares and rates fall. You can take advantage of this excess to find last-minute bargains for hotels, airfare and car rentals.
• REWARD COMPANIES THAT CARE ABOUT YOU: Loyalty programs play a pivotal role in customer booking decisions, but give your business to a company that takes care of you, not just for the physical "rewards" they offer.
• ZIG WHEN EVERYONE ELSE ZAGS: Hotel occupancy rates and airline load factors will be higher than ever. But you can avoid the crowds by traveling during the off-season or heading to a seasonal destination during the off-season. While everyone else is headed to the beach, look for a mountain or international destination.

Elliott has more than 20 years’ experience as a consumer travel advocate, giving the inside scoop on how to navigate the often perplexing world of travel. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

WWW.IHG.COM/SURPRISES

CYNTHIA PECK – OWNER, ANGELO’S AND VINCI’S 

OUR HISTORY
Forty-three years ago, our restaurant was built with tradition and has since continued with tradition. At our home in the old marketplace, we tribute our ancestors who came to America in the late 1800’s – their spirit and their recipes!

A little about this old building…
Originally built as an L-shaped marketplace in the days when Fullerton was an orchard (early 1900’s), the local farmers would bring their produce in from the fields by horse and wagon to sell to the townspeople. The original wood trusses of the old roof system may still be seen in the Venetian Room. Approximately twenty years later, renovation of the building changed it from its original L-shape to a square. This was accomplished by the large wood barrel trusses (an unusual truss!), which can be seen in the Sicilian Room and the Piazza Fantasia. During our renovation in 1992, the old wood, terra cotta tiles and brick was salvaged and re-used to keep alive the feeling and memories of those days long ago.

About our décor…
Be prepared when you walk into Angelo’s and Vinci’s Ristorante to be overwhelmed! With surprises in every corner, you won’t know where to look first! You will sit amidst the art of the great masters, in an Italian town square complete with the storefronts of old Italian butcher and cheese mongers, fruit and wine vendors, seamstresses showing their wares, and more. Fairy lights abound under cathedral ceilings as our ancestors smile down at you from the Family Love Altar. Explore and you will be surrounded by colorful Sicilian puppets, the carnival masks and canals of Venice, and the romance of Romeo & Juliet. Find our mystical Room of the Moon…and don’t forget King Kong, Dracula, Frankenstein, witches, ghosts and who-knows-what that await you in the Monster Wine Cellar!

And, as for Hollywood…
Founder, Steven Peck, renowned Hollywood dancer, choreographer and veteran actor of over 100 movies and television performances, has delightful photographs of over 40 years of famous stars, directors and dancers. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Gary Cooper, Robert Taylor, Broderick Crawford, Kirk Douglas, Walter Winchell, Sam Wanamaker, Vincent Minnelli, Sylvester Stallone, Ted Danson, David Hasselhof, Ray Sharkey, Shirley MacLaine, Cyd Charisse, Dolly Parton, Joan Collins, Raquel Welch, Olympia Dukakis, Shelly Winters and so many more. Films from Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., MGM, Desilu, United Artists, Universal Studios, to name a few.

Ask for a “Walking Tour” brochure to find out more about the meaning and dedications behind our décor!

BANQUET & PARTIES
Planning a Special Event? For pricing and availability for your event, please click here or call our Banquet Sales office, Monday through Friday, 11:00am – 7:00pm

Established in 1971, Angelo’s and Vinci’s Ristorante is a family-run establishment with a festive, theatrical, highly decorative Italian atmosphere that makes any event a celebration!

From a small, intimate rehearsal dinner or bridal shower, to a wedding reception for 650, Angelo’s and Vinci’s can fill just about any wedding need. With a professional staff of wedding coordinators, bartenders, disc jockeys and master of ceremonies, you will both be treated as guests at your own wedding reception!

Planning a birthday party, anniversary dinner, graduation celebration, business meeting? Angelo’s and Vinci’s has a variety of packages and options to suit most any budget!

For an estimate for your event, please call our Banquet Sales office Monday through Friday, 11:00am to 7:00pm.

WWW.ANGELOSANDVINCIS.COM

01/11 AUTO EXPERT MIKE CAUDILL, THE 2016 DETROIT AUTO SHOW, IAN BLACKBURN, WINELA, STARS OF SANTA BARBARA

AUTO EXPERT MIKE CAUDILL - THE 2016 DETROIT AUTO SHOW

Mike is back this year to tell us about the Largest Auto Show in the world, the Detroit Auto Show!

It’s the Super Bowl of Auto Shows and national auto expert Mike Caudill, will be standing by LIVE from the show floor of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show to give your viewers a behind-the-scenes look at never before seen brand new cars, trucks and concepts. You’ll be the first to see these cars as the show doesn’t open to the public until January 16th-24th. naias.com

• 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit
• Largest Auto Show in the World
• Exclusive Look at the Newest Cars for 2016 and 2017 with New and Different Cars Each Day
• Show opens to the public January 16th-24th
• This is an exclusive sneak-peek of never-before-seen new cars, trucks & concepts

ABOUT MIKE:
Mike is an automotive industry expert and has appeared on several television stations nationwide, including Fox News Channel, CNN, Bloomberg, ABC, NBC, CBS and more. He makes routine appearances on Fox & Friends, America’s Newsroom, Varney & Co, Fox Car Report, CNN Morning and more. On a local level Mike has made appearances on stations from Los Angeles, to Minnesota, to Chicago to New York City. Mike most recently served as a co-host of Fox Sports’ “Exclusive Behind the Scenes at the 2015 LA Auto Show.” 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. For more on Mike visit his website at http://michaelcaudill.com/index.html

ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW:
Now in its 28th year as an international event, the NAIAS is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world, providing unparalleled access to the automotive products, people and ideas that matter most - up close and in one place. The NAIAS is one of the largest media events in North America, and the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world.


IAN BLACKBURN OF WINELA - STARS OF SANTA BARBARA (JANUARY 27, 2016)

STARS OF SANTA BARBARA
JANUARY 27, 2016
THE PENINSULA, BEVERLY HILLS

Dedicated to keeping the populous current on the developments growing out of Santa Barbara, this Annual Tasting Event features the namesakes, owners, winemakers pouring some of the best wine made in California. Long before Sideways, LearnAboutWine was bullish about the quality of Santa Barbara wine. Today, with the continued evolution of Santa Barbara we see Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and specifically Ballard Canyon focusing on Syrah and Rhone varieties and Happy Canyon focusing on Bordeaux varietals.  Santa Barbara continues to make smaller production wines that need a story to be told and we deliver on that promise.  Come and meet the winemakers, passionate owners, and the farmers and see why Santa Barbara deserves a bigger part of your wine budget and why you should plan a number of visits in the months ahead.

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.

WWW.WINELA.COM

01/08 FARIDEH SADEGHIN, ITALIAN COMFORT FOODS, ROYA SOLEIMANI, GOOGLE TRENDS, STEVE EVANS

FARIDEH SADEGHIN - TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR, ITALIAN COMFORT FOODS

From the editors of America’s favorite culinary magazine, comes the new iconic Italian cookbook. SAVEUR: Italian Comfort Food features 100 recipes from the magazine’s archives and editors. Each fantastic recipe is paired with gorgeous full-color photography, sidebars, and more to celebrate this favorite cuisine.

With classic and brand new recipes, this cookbook presents the flavors, ingredients and techniques you need for Italian comfort food. This masterful selection illuminates SAVEUR’s authority, heritage, and culinary wealth.

SAMPLE CONTENTS:
Aperitivi & Antipasti
Soups & Salads
Pasta, Risotto & Pizza
Fish & Meat
Vegetables & Sides
Desserts
Italian Pantry Staples

Special features on Italian cocktails, pantry staples, wine,salumi, cheese, and more round out this culinary adventure.Italian Comfort Food is for home cooks who love Italian cooking from the source and reveres SAVEUR’s standard of excellence.

ABOUT FARIDEH SADEGHIN - TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR:

Farideh worked in restaurants in New Zealand for 7 years before moving back to the US and interning at Saveur in the test kitchen. After 8 months of interning and freelancing, she started fulltime in the test kitchen, which she now runs. She also does styling and photography for the magazine, and loves anything with chocolate or whisky in it.

ROYA SOLEIMANI - TRENDS MANAGER, GOOGLE - WEEKLY TOP SEARCH TRENDS

Google’s Top Search Trends program provides a revealing — and sometimes surprising — look at the people, places and topics that send the country searching for answers each week.

Topics That Fascinated the U.S. Selected from Millions of INTERNET Searches!

Hear the hottest content on the web each week directly from the source! Become part of Google’s weekly Top Search Trends program to find out what news makers and trends are capturing the imagination of the country each week. Encompassing searches from across pop culture, sports, music, politics, news, and more a Roya will discuss five of the hottest trending queries on the web.

GOOGLE.COM/TRENDS


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.

01/07 FOODPREUNER EXPERT CARLA LEE JOHNSTON, ALL MEAT VS. VEGETARIAN DIETS, SCOTT FRASER, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION

FOODPREUNER EXPERT CARLA LEE JOHNSTON - ALL MEAT VS. VEGETARIAN DIETS  

ALL MEAT VS. VEGETARIAN DIETS
One of the trends in the diet world is part of a movement called "Zero Carb" living and although there are different subsets (some followers, for example, do eat vegetables or even, gasp, fruit), the basic principle is to avoid any and all carbs in your diet. It's similar to the Atkins diet that was all the rage some years ago. However, what we do know from Atkins diet, is that heavy meat protein damages the liver and kidneys and is carcinogenic.

How does one make sense and not be thrown about by get thin quick trends that can actually cause long term damage to our bodies?  Bottom line, studies show that losing carbohydrate fat by depriving yourself of your body’s first fuel supply does not last. What if a non-diet approach to a healthy life and trim tummy was much easier than you think?  As the new year dawns, diets are on the top of lists and there are lots of diet marketers getting fat in their bank accounts on our knowledge deficiencies….

ABOUT CARLA LEE JOHNSTON:
Carla Lee Johnston, Evolutionary Expert and World Renowned Humanitarian, is the Founder & CEO of One Team Humanity Foods, and Carla Lee’s NutBurgers. Carla is a front-line warrior serving humanity as a “nuttin but love from Mama Earth” food manufacturer committed to the new heart-centered unity-based Benevolent Enterprise model– BE – putting our humanity’s highest good before profits; giving back by feeding hungry hearts and tummies.

Sharing unfiltered truth as radio & TV guest, Speaker, author, and documentary film-maker committed to connecting the dots to a food industry that’s gone sour—adding back the missing ingredient—love—in pursuit of empowering with unbiased knowledge so WE can reclaim our power-with sovereignty to co-create a sustainable future worth choosing.


SCOTT FRASER – DIRECTOR, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION JANUARY 5-8 (THE ANNUAL PUBLIC TASTING TAKES PLACE ON FEBRUARY 13, 2016)

THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE WINE COMPETITION BREAKS RECORDS WITH 7,162 ENTRIES

The 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC) has received 7,162 entries this year. This is the highest number of wine entries seen to date, shattering 2015's previous record of 6,417 entries from 28 states. Submissions came pouring in from across the nation, from independent winemakers and boutique wineries to large scale producers.

The SFCWC is the largest competition of American wines in the world, and it continues to expand in size and scope. This year, the SFCWC is adding five new categories of ciders, including heritage ciders, fruit ciders, culinary ciders, wood-aged ciders and specialty ciders.

At the Cloverdale Citrus Fair from January 5-8, the wines will be evaluated and rated by 65 wine judges during the judging portion of the competition. Once the judging is completed, many of the award winning wines will be featured at the annual Public Tasting, which takes place on February 13, 2016 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

THE PUBLIC TASTING WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH FROM 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM AT FORT MASON CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO

WHAT: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 2015
WHERE: Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
TIME: 1:30pm – 5pm
COST: $55 Early Bird tickets thru December 31st, $70 Advance Purchase, $95 at the door (the event  has sold out for the past five years; advance ticket purchase is recommended.)

ABOUT THE SFCWC: 
Founded in 1983 as the modestly sized Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition, the current competition has evolved immensely over the years, expanding its eligibility to wineries throughout the United States. In 2000, the event gained sponsorship from the San Francisco Chronicle and appropriately assumed the title the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is pleased to help support the non-profit Cloverdale Citrus Fair, as well as wine and food education at educational institutions and non-profit organizations. Santa Rosa Junior College Wine Studies Program and Culinary Arts Program, Fresno State University Enology Program, California Polytechnic State University Enology Program at San Luis Obispo, and other non-profit organizations have all received support from past competitions.

ABOUT SCOTT:
Scott Fraser is co-owner and proprietor of winejudging.com. Scott handles all advertising, promotion, and operations for winejudging.com. Scott resides in Thousand Oaks, California with his wife Nicole, daughter Annabel and son Preston. Scott Fraser is District Manager for the Intermountain District of Dole Fresh Fruit Company based in Westlake Village, California. Scott was instrumental in the formation of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition as it was the result of his senior project titled "The Market Feasibility of a Wine Competition Tasting in a Metropolitan City" while obtaining his B.S./M.S. in Agriculture Management at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

WINEJUDGING.COM

01/06 LARRY LIPSON, TECH EXPERT ANDREA SMITH, PAUL HOCHMAN, CES

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.


TECH EXPERT ANDREA SMITH -TECH TRENDS FROM THE LARGEST CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW FROM LAS VEGAS

CES 2016 opens today in Las Vegas, drawing over 150,000 attendees and 3600 Exhibitors.  Tech Expert Andrea Smith joins us from the exhibit floor to give us a first look at some of the latest products and trends coming out of the big show!

CES 2016 – FIRST LOOK: OPENING DAY
During the tour, Award Winning Tech Expert Andrea Smith will show and tell FIVE different cool tech trends and gadgets like: the latest computer advancements from Lenovo; Canon’s new camera and printing innovation; iRobot’s latest home gadget; an innovative new home appliance from LG; and more!

CES BACKGROUND: 
Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2016 CES is the world’s largest annual innovation event and will take place January 6-9, 2016, in Las Vegas. The 2016 CES will draw more than 150,000 industry professional attendees to witness the next generation of consumer technology. More than 3,000 exhibitors will debut 20,000 new products across 1.8 million net square feet of exhibit space.

ABOUT ANDREA:
Andrea Smith is an award-winning news and technology journalist. She is currently producer of Living in Digital Times, a collection of video broadcasts bringing exhibitor and conference news from International CES to a consumer audience.  Andrea was most recently Lifestyle Channel Editor at Mashable. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade as Technology Producer at ABC News as an on-air, on-radio reporter and expert covering all things digital.  Andrea appears frequently as a guest expert in technology segments on ABC’s World News Now, WABC-TV and CNBC as well as radio stations across the U.S.

KILLERAPPS.TV


PAUL HOCHMAN, ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP TECH JOURNALISTS, PROVIDES AN INSIDERS PREVIEW OF CES – THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW

JOINING US FROM THE FLOOR OF CES – WHICH IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST TECHNOLOGY TRADE SHOW -- IS ONE OF THE TOP TECH JOURNALISTS IN THE NATION. FOR YEARS, PAUL HOCHMAN WAS THE TECH GURU ON THE TODAY SHOW AND HE WRITES INSIGHTFUL TECH ARTICLES FOR NUMEROUS TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINES. IN FACT, HIS ARTICLES HAVE BEEN CALLED A “MUST READ” BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.

HOCHMAN TALKS ABOUT: 

• New electronics and technology we can expect in automobiles
• Super headphones and the audio evolution r
• The changing mobile world and the UNIQUE new tech items for 2016

Hochman was known as the Gear and Technology Editor for the NBC TODAY Show for more than a decade.  He was also the technology and culture reporter for Versus TV and the Tour de France; the host of an online technology talk show on MSN called "Playit4Ward" and has been a longtime technology contributor for CNBC and MSNBC.  His articles in Fast Company Magazine were called a “Must Read” by the New York Times, establishing Paul one of the top tech journalist in the nation.

WWW.TIPSONTV.COM   

01/05 WILLIAM BLOXSOM CARTER, CARTER THE CANYON VILLA BED & BREAKFAST, ANGELA JACKSON,VISIT NAPA VALLEY, NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT WEEK

CHEF WILLIAM BLOXSOM-CARTER –OWNER, THE CANYON VILLA BED 

Chef William S. Bloxsom-Carter previously worked as the Executive Chef, and Food and Beverage Director for the Playboy Mansion West for over two and half decades. A frequent wine judge he constantly looks for wines to pair with his foods for the multitude of foods he presents. Chef Carter has prepared winery dinners in Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Paso Robles and the Santa Ynez Valley as well as special events for high-profile clients throughout the United States, focusing on the importance of food and wine pairings and extraordinary hospitality service. Additionally, Chef Carter is a recurring featured guest on numerous radio shows syndicated nationwide describing and promoting California wines and foods.

ABOUT THE CANYON VILLA:
The Canyon Villa, where weary wine lovers revive

Like an Italian villa perched on a Tuscan hillside, the Canyon Villa bed and breakfast pampers wine lovers touring Paso Robles wineries or couples seeking a charming retreat. The Canyon Villa offers an intimate setting, lavish amenities, fine food and an ideal location.

At the Canyon Villa, we offer only four guest rooms, each uniquely decorated and each appointed with luxurious extras such as spa tubs and lush towels. You can enjoy your gourmet breakfast in the courtyard or our dining room.

We also offer a cozy great room for relaxing with other guests, and a wine tasting with hors d'oeuvres every afternoon between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. In the summer, enjoy your wine and appetizers in our lovely shaded courtyard, with its trickling fountain and evening breezes.

Beyond the elegant setting of our inn, take a leisurely stroll through our eleven acres while admiring the views. Visit the local wineries, and then enjoy an evening meal at one of Paso Robles' fine restaurants. The Canyon Villa is also the ideal bed and breakfast for day trips to other locales, such as Hearst Castle or Cambria's art galleries.

Indulge your love of wine or your love of each other. Plan a romantic getaway to charming Paso Robles, and plan to indulge in the intimacy and luxury of the Canyon Villa.

The Canyon Villa Bed & Breakfast
1455 Kiler Canyon Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446
805-238-3362

WWW.THECANYONVILLA.COM



ANGELA JACKSON, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS, VISIT NAPA VALLEY - NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT WEEK:  JANUARY 24-31, 2016

Previously known as “Restaurant Month,” Napa Valley Restaurant Week provides both visitors and locals with an added  incentive to experience a new restaurant or revisit a favorite. The weeklong promotion, Jan. 24 – 31, 2016, offers diners a choice of a two-course lunch for $20 per person, or a three-course dinner for $36 or $46 per person.  In addition, many of the participating restaurants are donating corkage fees during the week to the Napa Food Bank or a charity of their choice.

Each chef has created menus to celebrate the season and many of the restaurants offer optional wine pairings at an additional cost.  To view the complete list of restaurants participating in Napa Valley Restaurant Week, visit www.visitnapavalley.com/restaurant_week

Below are some highlights of Napa Valley Restaurant Week, which includes three Michelin Star restaurants (La Toque in Napa; Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford; and Solbar in Calistoga):

Napa
Experience a “Taste of La Toque” at Chef Ken Frank’s One Michelin Star restaurant located inside the Westin Verasa Napa. For dinner, guests may compose their own three-course tasting menu with two savory courses and one dessert for $46 per person. The more casual BANK Café and Bar offers an “express lunch” for $20 per person, which includes soup; a half sandwich; house made Kennebunk potato chips or green salad; and choice of dessert.  St. Supery is the featured winery partner for Restaurant Week.

1313 Main offers a three-course dinner for $46 per person, with much of the produce harvested from their garden. Their team of sommeliers has collaborated with Chef Adam Ross to offer wine pairings for each course for an additional $30 per person.

Torc’s Chef Sean O’Toole offers a three-course dinner menu for $46 per person with a choice of two options per course. Wine pairings are an additional $15 per person.

The Pear Southern Bistro offers diners two lunch options for $20 per person as well as two three-course dinner options for $36 per person, which include their signature “chicken and waffle-buttermilk fried ‘Mary’s’ chicken” over a bacon spiked Belgian waffle.

Napa General Store presents the “Napa Sweet Lunch Deal,” which includes choice of any lunch entrée and house made dessert.  Guests may choose a featured Napa Valley wine for an additional $8 per glass.

Rutherford
Executive Chef Robert Curry presents a two course “Weekday Michelin Star Lunch” for $20 at The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil, Jan. 25 – 29, 2016.

St. Helena
Goose & Gander features both lunch and dinner options for $20 for a two-course lunch and $36 for a three-course dinner, which includes a choice of three main courses and dessert.

Harvest Table also offers lunch and dinner options for $20 for a two-course lunch and $36 for a three-course dinner, with St. Supery wine pairings for each menu and special pricing on select St. Supery bottles.

The Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone features a three-course “Farmhouse Feast with Charbay Amuse” for $46 per person.  The menu includes a choice of two options for the main course, featuring ingredients from the CIA’s own farm and gardens.  Each guest receives a complimentary Charbay cocktail before the meal. A Napa Valley wine pairing is an additional $19 per person.

The “Greystone Market Lunch” for $20 per person includes choice of soup or salad; main dish; a pastry and glass of Greystone Cellars wine.  The Bakery Café by illy is an integral part of the CIA at Greystone’s baking and pastry degree program and a portion of all proceeds benefits the school.

Calistoga
Solbar at Solage, which showcases inventive new twists on California cuisine, celebrates Napa Valley Restaurant Week with fish tacos paired with a glass of wine for $20 per person.

Bosko’s Trattoria features the “Go Italian for Restaurant Week” lunch and dinner menu. Lunch includes any pasta or half sandwich, with soup or salad and dessert and the three-course dinner includes a house or Caesar salad; any pasta or pizza entrée and dessert for $36 per person.

At Hotel d’Amici Ristorante, Chef Joe Venezia prepares a regional three-course dinner paired with a glass of Pestoni Family/Rutherford Grove Estate wines for $46 per person.

ABOUT VISIT NAPA VALLEY:
Visit Napa Valley is the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley, with a mission to promote, protect and enhance the region’s position as one of the world's premier wine, food, arts and wellness destinations. The area, known for its legendary hospitality, is also internationally recognized as one of only eight "Great Wine Capitals" and has more Michelin Stars per capita than any other wine region in the world.

The Napa Valley, conveniently located just an hour from the San Francisco Bay Area, consists of the following distinctive towns, including, from north to south, Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford / Oakville, Yountville, the city of Napa, American Canyon, and the outdoor recreation area of Lake Berryessa.

The Napa Valley Welcome Center, located at 600 Main St. along the riverfront in downtown Napa, provides visitors with expert Concierge services from Napa Valley Ambassadors who offer complimentary Napa Valley Guidebooks, maps, brochures and winery tasting passes. The Welcome Center, open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., also offers complimentary Wi-Fi and a mercantile shop featuring locally sourced gift items.

For additional information on the Napa Valley, or to plan your Napa Valley experience, please explore www.VisitNapaValley.com, join "The Napa Valley" on Facebook, and follow @VisitNapaValley on Twitter.

01/04 MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN, SANTA BARBARA VINTNERS, SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE, DR. LOUIS J. ARONNE, THE CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY DIET

MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SANTA BARBARA VINTNERS – MOVIE PREMIERE OF SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE

SANTA BARBARA WINE MOVIE PREMIERE
Join us at the beautiful Bacara Resort and Spa for the Santa Barbara movie premiere of SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE, the sequel to the 2013 cult hit SOMM.

Jason Wise’s SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE raises the curtain into the seldom seen world that surrounds the wine we drink. How many people understand how wine is produced? How it is grown? What goes on in the cellar? From those questions to how many hands touch a bottle, to why wine costs what it costs, to how certain wines end up on a wine list, this movie offers a never before seen look into the world of wine.

After the premiere, join us for Chef tastings by Bacara's famed Executive Chef Vincent Lesage. The reception also includes eleven esteemed Santa Barbara County wineries pouring an outstanding selection of wines.

Saturday, January 16
2:30 to 4:30 p.m. SOMM Screening & Audience Q&A
4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Wine & Chef's Tasting Reception
$80.00 per person

About SOMM: INTO THE BOTTLE
Director: Jason Wise (SOMM)
Cast: Brian McClintic, Dylnn Proctor, Ian Cauble, Fred Dame
Producer: Jason Wise, Christina Wise (LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, JUMPER), Jackson Meyers
Featured Wineries at the Reception:
• PENCE
• Scar of the Sea
• Palmina
• Silver Wines
• Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
• Presqu’ile
• Rancho Sisquoc
• Sunstone Winery
• Baehner Fournier
• Imagine Wine, LLC
• The Valley Project

ABOUT SB COUNTY VINTNERS ASSOCIATION:
The Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association is a non-profit organization (501c6) founded in 1983 to support and promote Santa Barbara County as a premium wine producing and wine grape growing region. The Vintners’ Association produces festivals, seminars, and wine tastings as well as providing information to consumers and the wine and travel media.

Through the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Foundation, the Association contributes to the community through local charitable, art and educational and scholarship organizations with proceeds from its various events, such as Santa Barbara Wine Auction, held every other year and benefitting Direct Relief International, and silent auctions at all the Association’s festivals.

ABOUT MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN:
Morgen has been deeply involved in the wine and tourism industries since childhood through her family's various projects on the East Coast and Colorado.  Wanting to follow her own path outside of wine, Morgen graduated from Boston College with degrees in English and Secondary Education.  As she prepared to enroll in Graduate School, she was pulled back into the family wine business as the General Manager and eventual Co-owner of McLaughlin Vineyards.  After twelve years at the winery and diversifying the business into special events, direct to consumer initiatives and ag-tourism projects, she left to become the President and CEO of Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association in Corning, New York.  Morgen led the organization and region through six and a half years of tremendous growth and national and international visibility.  Morgen lives in Santa Barbara County with her husband (a fellow wine professional) and three sons. She currently serves on the Visit Santa Barbara Board of Directors, Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation Board of Directors, Santa Barbara County Agriculture Advisory Committee, and the Santa Barbara County Right to Farm Committee.

WWW.SBCOUNTYWINES.COM


DR. LOUIS J. ARONNE – AUTHOR, THE CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY DIET

THE CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY DIET: The Proven Program for Lifelong Weight Loss

In THE CHANGE YOUR BIOLOGY DIET: The Proven Program for Lifelong Weight Loss, Dr. Louis J. Aronne, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian, shares his science-based, life-changing program to help people alter their eating habits and achieve permanent weight loss. Unlike fad diets and the fast, dramatic weight loss chronicled on reality TV, Dr. Aronne’s approach focuses on the biological factors that cause weight gain. Armed with the scientific facts on how their bodies control weight, readers will understand how to take action and combat the forces that have kept them from achieving their goals.

TOPICS IN THE BOOK INCLUDE:
• The “fattening factors” of modern life that are catalysts for increased weight, including insufficient sleep, medications, and the rise in the use of air conditioning. (Temperature does affect how many calories you burn. If you allow yourself to be hot enough to perspire a bit in the summer, you are using extra energy and will also want to eat less. In the winter, lowering your thermostat and getting out in the cold to take a walk can stimulate your metabolism.)
• The food that you eat has a direct physical effect on your brain.  Years of consuming too much high-calorie food produces a power surge the body can’t handle. Over time, this overload changes the brain and damages the nerves in the appetite control center.
• Twelve proven strategies for lifelong weight control — “The Breakthrough Dozen” — can reset your biological tendency to gain weight and can protect your appetite control center from damage by minimizing calorie overload. (For example, the order in which food is eaten affects its glycemic load and therefore impacts weight loss. At meals, always eat vegetables and protein first. Eat carbs late in a meal and late in the day. The worst thing you can do is start a meal with bread! “Eat this before that,” advises Dr. Aronne.)
• Even if a person has a genetic predisposition to gain weight, it is not written in stone. Genetics are part of the picture, but the newly emerging field of epigenetics is showing that what you have inherited is not your destiny. It appears that what you eat affects which of your genes turn on and which turn off.
• Adding more “everyday” movement throughout the day is more beneficial than running on a treadmill. The book includes a list of “40 Ways to Get Active” that can be easily incorporated into anyone’s daily routine.
• Beyond diet and exercise, the latest frontiers in medical treatments to assist weight loss, including the new generation of weight loss medication and developments in bypass surgery, when lifestyle changes alone aren’t working.

In order to allow individuals to personalize a program that works for them, Dr. Aronne offers two different adaptable versions of The Change Your Biology Diet: the Quick Start Diet (a sixweek, three-stage program) and the Two-Stage Diet (a low-carb, low-glycemic eating plan). Supplementing these are two weeks’ worth of meal plans and more than fifty simple, delicious recipes.

Much more than a diet plan, The Change Your Biology Diet is both a comprehensive look at what is going on in the body to cause weight gain and a science-based program to help individuals alter the biological processes preventing them from managing their weight. Readers will learn the simple changes they can make in the way they eat and move that will help them drop the weight, make long-term lifestyle improvements, and set out on the road to good health.

ABOUT DR. ARONNE
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.

01/01/16 BILL RANCIC, KAREN WANG DIGGS, HAPPY FOODS, STEVE EVANS

BILL RANCIC TEAMS UP WITH INTUIT QUICKBOOKS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED & TO ANNOUNCE TOP FINALISTS OF A BIG GAME CONTEST 

What makes a small business successful? It’s a question facing many Americans, since small businesses are the lifeblood of the US economy. In fact, small businesses have delivered 60 percent of net new jobs since the end of the recession in mid-2013. Despite this, one in two small businesses fail in the first five years, and two of three fail in the first ten. That’s why entrepreneur Bill Rancic is teaming with Intuit QuickBooks to provide help, encouragement and a formula for success for small businesses. On November 13th, Rancic will discuss an exciting campaign designed to show small business owners how to achieve their goals. He’ll also cite some great examples of several small businesses that were chosen from thousands who entered and are finalists in a special contest to win a free 30-second ad worth millions that will air during the biggest game of the year. Your viewers and listeners will enjoy hearing the amazing stories of these unique small businesses. For more information, visit: smallbusinessbiggame.com.

Nearly a decade ago Bill Rancic burst onto the scene as the first-ever winner of the hit show, The Apprentice.  Rancic is the author of the best-selling books, “You're Hired: How to Succeed in Business and Life” and “Beyond The Lemonade Stand.”  Bill and his wife Giuliana also co-authored the best-seller, “I Do… Now What” where the duo share secrets to everlasting love and understanding. Rancic has also hosted a nationally-syndicated television show, “America Now.”  He and Giuliana also star on the top-rated reality show, “Giuliana and Bill,” as well as sharing hosting duties for a prime time program, “Ready for Love.”

ABOUT BILL RANCIC:
Award-winning personality Bill Rancic hosts the successful nationally-syndicated television show, America Now, and serves as co-executive producer with his wife Giuliana Rancic on the top-rated reality show, Giuliana and Bill. The duo will also share hosting duties for the upcoming NBC prime time program Ready for Love, scheduled to debut in December 2012.

Bill’s unique life experiences as an entrepreneur, best-selling author, television personality and restaurateur of the popular Chicago restaurant RPM-Italian chain have given him the opportunity to travel the world and experience different lifestyles and numerous cultures.

Nearly a decade ago, Bill burst on the scene as the first-ever winner of the NBC hit show The Apprentice. With tremendous experience that ranges from Main Street to Wall Street, Bill has had a first-hand look at peoples' personal and professional codes, choices, values and behaviors. Addressing the many challenges individuals face, Bill directly relates his discussions to the corporate arena and explores important topics, such as working professional relationships and surviving the daily ethical challenges in business.

A published author of New York Times best-selling book, Bill wrote You're Hired: How to Succeed in Business and Life and Beyond The Lemonade Stand, Most recently Bill and Giuliana co-authored the best-seller I Do… Now What where the duo share secrets to everlasting love and understanding.

Bill believes that it is necessary for successful people to give back to the community, and he demonstrates this in his volunteer work. He serves as a national spokesperson for the Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF) to help the organization on its mission to change the social consciousness of hearing and health care. Much of his efforts have been focused on helping those in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake. In addition to SHF, Bill is a Spokesperson for the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, a Chicago-based organization that betters the lives of children and families in need.

Throughout his career, Bill has been blessed with opportunities to meet many leaders in business and politics and has seen the world through the eyes of others. He is a cultured man, with strong messages of leadership, entrepreneurship, dedication and volunteerism.

SMALLBUSINESSBIGGAME.COM


KAREN WANG DIGGS - AUTHOR OF HAPPY FOODS: OVER 100 MOOD-BOOSTING RECIPES

POSITIVE EATING 
This Is Not A Diet Book! But A Healthy Food Book!

Do you want to feel better about what you eat? Do you want to feel better all day long? Healthy foods do not only taste better but it is far less expensive and can change your mental outlook on life. Author Karen Wang Diggs has lived in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United States and brings a wealth of food knowledge, village wisdom and secrets to healthy living. From her travels as a chef, a nutritionist and cooking instructor, Diggs has helped hundreds of people overcome eating issues and to arrive at a food lifestyle that has them smiling again. From dealing with diabetes to smart and safe approaches to weight-loss and even working with cancer patients, Diggs' savvy food smarts are all packed into the clean cuisine of Happy Foods.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After graduating from the California Culinary Academy, Karen Wang Diggs got on a jet and flew off to Hong Kong where she worked as a chef for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and also helped to open two eateries. After obtaining her certification as a Nutrition Consultant in 2006 from Bauman College, Diggs began merging her innate culinary skills with her knowledge of holistic nutrition. Diggs helped people achieve optimal health through detoxification and weight loss workshops, therapeutic cooking classes and private nutrition consultations. She lives in San Francisco, CA.

KARENISCOOKING.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.