Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

Sir Anthony Hopkins Scores Big With Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas audiences were abuzz last night in anticipation of hearing original compositions created by famed actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. No one in the full house crowd anticipated Hopkins himself taking the podium and leading the great Dallas Symphony Orchestra in an encore performance of his original work Schizoid Salsa.

Sir Anthony Hopkins, or Tony as he prefers to be called, was greeted by a rousing standing ovation last night as he made his first ever bows from the podium stage. The musicians greeted his performance with rambunctious stomping – the common sign of appreciation given by orchestra musicians to only the finest of conductors.

It was an absolute thrill to not only hear my work performed by such an incredible orchestra, but to actually lead them in a performance; a performance that included music that up until that point I had only heard in my imagination
I decided this was a rare occasion, and that I would regret the missed opportunity
“It was an absolute thrill to not only hear my work performed by such an incredible orchestra, but to actually lead them in a performance; a performance that included music that up until that point I had only heard in my imagination,” said Hopkins. “What a rush!”

Hopkins, originally slated to only briefly introduce his compositions and then take a seat in the audience, was asked to conduct one of his pieces during rehearsal. With the support of the DSO musicians, he decided to conduct during the performance as well. “I decided this was a rare occasion, and that I would regret the missed opportunity,” said Hopkins.

In addition to Schizoid Salsa, the program included The Masque of Time, a new original composition by Hopkins, and music he created for the films Slipstream and August, as well as other original compositions and pieces from some of his films written by others.

Last nights world premiere of music by Anthony Hopkins is just another example of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s commitment to showcasing modern works. In addition to works by Hopkins, during the 2008-2009 season the DSO will premiere three major pieces. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky’s August 4, 1964 – A Day in History received its world premiere in September, followed by the DSO co-commissioned premiere of Bright Sheng’s Harp Concerto featuring Yolanda Kondonassis. Alexander Raskatov’s Violin Concerto will receive its world premiere in April, with DSO Concertmaster Emanuel Borok as soloist. Past major world premieres have included works by Roberto Sierra, Augusta Read Thomas, George Tsontakis, Lowell Liebermann and many more.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra proudly presented An Evening of Music with Anthony Hopkins & the DSO – A World Premiere Friday, October 17, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for this event ranged from $35 to $75.

This entry was posted in News and tagged Concert on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Tom Cruise Plans Lavish Dubai Bash for New Year's Eve

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes are planning a lavish New Year’s Eve party at luxury hotel Atlantis the Palm, according to US media reports on Wednesday.

US television news show 'Extra' said the power couple will host a star-studded bash at Dubai's newly opened resort on the Palm Jumeriah.

A spokesperson for the Atlantis told Arabian Business the hotel could not comment on the reports.

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Regardless of whether reports are false or not, the hotel does not breach guest confidentially, the spokesperson said.

Cruise and Holmes, who are keen advocates for high-profile religion Church of Scientology, married in 2006 and have a 2-year old daughter.

Last month British media reported celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham had been offered $1 million to attend the Atlantis opening party which takes place on November 20.

Australian singer Kylie Minogue has already been confirmed as headlining the grand opening party, which has become one of the most talked about events on the Dubai calendar.

The Atlantis, a 1,539-room resort encompasses 46-hectares with 17 hectares of water-themed amusement parks, an open air marine habitat, beaches, opened on Sept. 24.

This entry was posted in Hotels, News on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

DC’s Best Halloween Parties

The Washingtonian compiled a list of the best parties for Halloween:

October 28, High Heel Race
Head to 17th and Q streets near Dupont Circle to watch the annual High Heel Race. It begins at 9, but spectators should show up as early as 6 to grab a good spot.

October 31, Graveyard Jam
Young professionals can win a trip to Aruba, enter a raffle for a guitar, and enjoy dancing to live music at this year’s Graveyard Jam at the Hard Rock Cafe. Prizes will be awarded for the scariest, prettiest, and most original costumes of the night. Early arrivals can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drink specials. Costumes are preferred but not required, and sneakers can be worn only as part of a costume. Tickets are $10, and the party runs from 9 PM to 3 AM, Party Bus Services from https://thebostonpartybus.com/ will be provided.

October 31, Halloween Fiesta
Throw on a costume and head to La Tasca for its fifth annual Halloween Fiesta. Those in costume enjoy $3.50 drink specials and have the chance to win a $100 gift certificate. A DJ will provide the tunes starting at 11. Guests ages 18 to 20 are invited to dance.

October 31, Piratz Tavern Halloween Party
Need a last-minute costume ideaä A pirate is easy to pull together, so grab some mascara, hoop earrings, and a bandana, and head to Piratz Tavern for its Halloween party. As of the full moon on October 14, “de tavern be haunted,” and Piratz will have a haunted VooDoo Luau leading up to Halloween. If you wish the holiday would never end, get two extra days of celebration with the Zombie Lurch on November 1 and the Day of the Dead celebration on November 2.

October 31, Trick-or-Treat on Embassy Row
Going from house to house might be unacceptable unless you’re accompanied by a child on Halloween—so what are adults to do for their candy fixä Participate in Trick-or-Treat on Embassy Row to try international sweets from 6:30 to 9. Getting a peak inside some of the embassies is a special treat but not guaranteed. Purchasing a ticket to this event automatically gets your name on a list for the Graveyard Jam at Hard Rock Cafe. Tickets are $30.

October 31, Hollywood Ballroom Dance Party
Singles are invited to the Halloween dance party at the Hollywood Ballroom. Free two-step lessons will be offered at 8 by Steve Ferrara, and the party starts at 9.

October 31, Nightmare on M Street
DC’s largest roaming costume party/bar crawl is in its ninth year. From 6 PM to 2 AM, treat yourself to Halloween specials, including $2 Miller Lite bottles, $4 rail drinks, and more. The party starts early, but be sure to catch the costume contest at midnight at McFadden’s. Advance tickets are needed for James Hoban’s Irish Bar, but Front Page and Rumors accept walk-up tickets. If purchased in advance, tickets will start at $12 and will increase over time, while walk-up prices are $20 at the door or a $10 cover at each bar without an event wristband.

October 31, Clarendon Ballroom Monster Bash
Do you start planning your Halloween costume on November 1 for the following yearä If so, the Halloween Monster Bash costume contest at Clarendon Ballroom is for you. To enter, download the entry form and drop it off at the registration table upon arrival. Judges will pick 30 semi-finalists from 9:35 to 10:15, which will be narrowed down to 10 with the best and most original costumes. These contestants will compete, and the crowd will pick the winners. First-, second-, and third-place winners receive $200, $100, and $50, respectively, and the most original costume also takes home $50. Get more information and the application here. Doors open at 6, and tickets start at $10.

October 31, McGinty’s Public House
McGinty’s is giving away $200 in prizes for this year’s best costumes. Live rock music will be provided by Still Counting.

October 31, Synetic Theater’s Vampire’s Ball
After a performance of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher at Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, stick around for the Vampire’s Ball. Food and drinks will be available, and prizes will be awarded for the costume contest; 8 PM.

October 31, Yorktown Bistro
The Yorktown Bistro will award prizes for sexiest and most original costume. Come dressed to impress to participate and enjoy live music.

October 31, 9:30 Club Halloween Bash
Head to the 9:30 Club to watch the Pietasters, the Toasters, and Deals Gone Bad, and participate in the costume contest. The grand-prize winner takes homes tickets to every 9:30 show in November and December. Tickets to the bash cost $15, and doors open at 8 PM.

October 31, ’80s Halloween Bash
If the ’80s was your favorite decade, pull your hair in a side pony and throw on stone-washed jeans before heading to Tortoise and Hare for its throw-back bash. Eighties cover band Members Only will perform.

October 31, Best Halloween Show Ever
Palace of Wonders hosts The Best Halloween Show Ever, featuring burlesque performances, a go-go show, and more. Participate in the costume contest and enjoy candy. Costumes are highly encouraged. The fun starts at 10; $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

October 31, Jammin’ Java Halloween Bash
Some people can get by on Halloween without a costume—but not at Jammin’ Java. Get creative because the costume is a must, and impress the bands because they will be voting on the best costume. Mambo Sauce, Future, Flex Matthews, and Jon Braman will provide entertainment, and a special Halloween happy hour starts at 8.

October 31, Alice in Helixland
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum cocktails will be served at Helix Lounge as well as complimentary tea party-themed hors d’oeuvres for this Halloween charity bash benefiting the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Get lost in Wonderland and participate in the costume contest or bid on an item during the silent auction. The admittance fee includes two drink tickets. 7-10 PM; $10.

October 31, 14th Annual Halloween Bash
Check out the Old Post Office Pavilion for the 14th Annual Halloween party featuring Judo Chop and the Winn Brothers Band. Costumes are required, and awesome prizes will be awarded: Best group costume wins a $500 bar tab, and the person with the best costume wins a $300 tab at Smith Point. The entrance fee includes an open bar, Red Bull Bar and free admission to the Rookery for an afterparty. Tickets cost $60 for the first 300 people who purchase in advance, $80 if purchased before 10 PM on October 30, and $100 at the Rookery between 4 and 9 PM on Halloween. 9 PM-1 AM.

October 31: ICDC Halloween Dance Party
The International Club of DC is hosting a Halloween dance party at the Sports Club of LA. Kick the night off with a salsa lesson at 8:15, then dance to the Latin grooves of Origem at 9. Costumes aren’t required, but c’mon—who wants to go to a Halloween party not dressed upä Bring a can of food for the homeless, which will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. Tickets cost $15 for the dance party or $20 for the party and the salsa lesson, but register now because prices will increase.

This entry was posted in News and tagged Benefit, Cocktails on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Britney Spears Unveils Hidden fantasy Fragrance Ad

Britney Spears is unveiling the national ad for her fragrance HIDDEN fantasy BRITNEY SPEARS(TM) today. This is the newest addition to her fragrance collection from Elizabeth Arden and follows her globally successful fragrances, Curious BRITNEY SPEARS, Fantasy BRITNEY SPEARS, and BRITNEY SPEARS Believe. HIDDEN fantasy BRITNEY SPEARS(TM) will be available in January 2009.

“I'm so excited for everyone to see what I've been working on for HIDDEN fantasy,” said Britney. “I just love the ad! It's sexy and mysterious, and really represents what the fragrance means. My fans are so supportive of all of my fragrances, and I can't wait for them to try this one.”

HIDDEN fantasy BRITNEY SPEARS(TM) is a seductive scent that is all about expressing the many mysterious sides of a woman. In the ad, Britney appears through the trees of an alluring forest, and asks, “What do you have to hideä” daring you to share your hidden fantasy. The cherry red HIDDEN fantasy BRITNEY SPEARS(TM) bottle is decorated with luminous pink crystals, symbolizing love, femininity and warmth.

This entry was posted in News on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Dustin Hoffman, Josh Brolin and Kristin Scott Thomas to be Honored by Hollywood Fest

The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, co-chaired by Paul Haggis and presented by Starz, are pleased to announce honorees who will be recognized for their achievements at the festival's Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place on October 27, 2008, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Academy Award-winning actor and Hollywood icon Dustin Hoffman will be honored with the “Hollywood Career Achievement Award,” actor Josh Brolin with the “Hollywood Actor of the Year Award,” and actress Kristin Scott Thomas with the “Hollywood Actress of the Year Award.”

The announcement was made today by Carlos de Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of the Hollywood Film Festival. Said Mr. de Abreu, “It is a privilege to honor and to celebrate Dustin Hoffman's extraordinary talent and remarkable career, as well as the exemplary work of actor Josh Brolin and actress Kristin Scott Thomas.”

About Dustin Hoffman:
A two-time Academy Award winner and seven-time nominee, Dustin Hoffman continues to add singular performances to a career rich with characters that have obliterated the line dividing the archetypes of “character actor” and “leading man.” Hoffman caught the world's attention for his role as Benjamin Braddock in Mike Nichol's Academy Award nominated film “The Graduate.” Since then, he has been nominated for six more Academy Awards for such diverse films as “Midnight Cowboy,” “Lenny,” “Tootsie,” and “Wag the Dog.” Hoffman won the Oscar® in 1979 for his role in “Kramer vs. Kramer” and again in 1988 for “Rain Man.”

Hoffman will next star in “Last Chance Harvey,” a love story set in London, written and directed by Joel Hopkins, and co-starring Emma Thompson. “Last Chance Harvey” will be released by Overture Films on December 26. Hoffman will also lend his voice to the animated feature “The Tale of Despereaux” for Universal Pictures. Co-starring Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Tracey Ullman, and Robbie Coltrane, “The Tale of Despereaux” will be released on December 19. Hoffman was last heard as the voice of “Shifu” in the box office hit, “Kung Fu Panda” for DreamWorks Animation, which co-stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Ian McShane and has grossed over $625 million worldwide.

Dustin Hoffman's other film credits include “Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium,” “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Perfume,” “Meet the Fockers,” “Finding Neverland,” “I Heart Huckabees,” “The Lost City,” “Racing Stripes,” “Runaway Jury,” “Little Big Man,” “Straw Dogs,” “Papillon,” “All the President's Men,” “Marathon Man,” “Straight Time,” “Agatha,” “Ishtar,” “Dick Tracy,” “Billy Bathgate,” “Mad City,” “Hero,” “Sleepers,” “Sphere,” “American Buffalo,” “Hook” and “Outbreak.”

On stage, Hoffman has had an equally impressive career. After studying at the Pasadena Playhouse, he moved to New York to study with Lee Strasberg. Subsequently, his award-winning Off-Broadway success caught the attention of Mike Nichols, who cast him in “The Graduate.” In 1969, Hoffman made his Broadway debut in Murray Schisgal's “Jimmy Shine.” In 1974, he made his Broadway directorial debut with Schisgal's “All Over Town.” In 1984, he garnered a Drama Desk Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Willy Loman in the Broadway revival of “Death of a Salesman,” which he also produced, and he received a Tony Award nomination for his role as Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice.”

About Josh Brolin:
Josh Brolin continues to emerge as a powerful, sought-after film actor willing to take on challenging roles in both major studio productions as well as independents. He will be seen starring as George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's “W.” which is slated for release by Lionsgate on October 17. In addition, he will also be seen in Gus Van Sant's “Milk,” opposite Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, and James Franco. Brolin portrays Dan White, the San Francisco supervisor who murdered Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay elected official, and Mayor George Moscone in 1978. From Focus Features, “Milk” is due in theaters on November 26.

Most recently, Brolin received rave reviews for his performance in the Coen brothers' crime drama “No Country for Old Men” with Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem, Ridley Scott's “American Gangster,” opposite Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington, and again with Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon in Paul Haggis's drama “In the Valley of Elah.” Brolin was also seen in “Planet Terror” this year, part of the critically acclaimed Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez double feature “Grindhouse” alongside co-stars Rose McGowan and Freddy Rodriguez.

Brolin made his feature film debut starring in the action-comedy “Goonies.” His film credits since then include “Hollow Man,” “All the Rage,” “Flirting with Disaster,” “Coastlines,” “The Mod Squad,” “Nightwatch,” “Best Laid Plans” “Mimic” and “Into the Blue.” In television, his work includes the series “The Young Riders,” “Private Eye,” “Winnetka Road” and “Mister Sterling,” as well as the miniseries “Into the West,” the Showtime original film “Gang in Blue,” and CBS's adaptation of William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Picnic.” Josh Brolin also has extensive experience on stage, including starring opposite Elias Koteas in the acclaimed production of Sam Shephard's “True West” and starring in the award-winning Off-Broadway play “The Exonerated,” among others.

About Kristin Scott Thomas:
Kristin Scott Thomas has become internationally renowned for her talent, elegance, versatility and commitment to her craft. Scott Thomas can currently be seen on Broadway in “The Seagull,” a performance for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress during the play's run at London's Royal Court Theatre. She will soon star in Phillipe Claudel's French language film, “I've Loved You So Long,” a story of redemption for a woman who has committed a terrible crime. The film is slated for release from Sony Classics on October 24. Scott Thomas is also a member of the stellar cast of the upcoming film “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” based on the novel by Sophie Kinsella. The film, from Walt Disney Studios, is set to hit theaters in February 2009.

Kristin Scott Thomas received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in 1996 in Anthony Minghella's “The English Patient.” In 2001, she was a member of the award-winning ensemble cast for Robert Altman's acclaimed film “Gosford Park.” Making her U.S. film debut in Prince's “Under the Cherry Moon,” Scott Thomas went on to acclaim in Mike Newell's “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” opposite Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell, and she won a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress. Other notable credits include Philip Haas's “Angels and Insects,” Richard Loncraine's “Richard III,” Brian De Palma's “Mission: Impossible,” Robert Redford's “The Horse Whisperer,” Sydney Pollack's “Random Hearts,” Irwin Winkler's “Life as a House,” Roman Polanski's “Bitter Moon,” Paul Schrader's “The Walker,” Justin Chadwick's “The Other Boleyn Girl,” and in French cinema, Guillaume Canet's “Ne le Dis à Personne” (“Tell No One”), Francis Veber's “La Doublure” (“The Valet”) and Pascal Bonitzer's “Petites Coupures” (“Small Cuts”).

About the Hollywood Film Festival & Hollywood Awards:
The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival®, presented by Starz, will mark its return on October 22, 2008, to the state-of-the-art ArcLight Theatres in Hollywood for a weeklong series of screenings, seminars, competitions, awards and a special presentation of “Genre Cinema.”

The festival and awards presenter is Starz Entertainment, LLC, a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz® and Encore® brands with approximately 17 million and 31.3 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Encore HD, Starz On Demand, Encore On Demand, MoviePlex On Demand, Starz HD On Demand, Encore HD On Demand, MoviePlex HD On Demand, and Starz Play. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Entertainment Group (NASDAQ: LMDIA), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

For more information please go to http://www.hollywoodfestival.com.

This entry was posted in Hotels, News and tagged Festival, Gala, New York on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

New Michelin Guide for San Francisco Is Out

Michelin announced its selection for the third edition of the MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country. The MICHELIN guide contains more than 55 new establishments, and features 448 establishments in all — a number that includes 383 restaurants representing 35 types of cuisine, and 65 area hotels.

Among the Michelin stars awarded this year:
— The French Laundry remains the sole Michelin three-star selection
— Coi joins the ranks of Michelin two-star restaurants
— Murray Circle, Plumed Horse, Trevese and The Village Pub join the
Michelin one-star selections

The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country 2009 features the Bib Gourmand category, which indicates Michelin inspectors' favorites for good value. This year's Bib Gourmands include 55 restaurants that serve a menu with two dishes and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less. The restaurants awarded this distinction can be identified by a red pictogram depicting the head of Bibendum(R), the Michelin Man.

The MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country 2009 also includes 56 restaurants serving a meal (two dishes and a glass of wine or dessert) for $25 or less. In the selection, these establishments are indicated by the coins pictogram.

As a result, almost a third of the MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country 2009 selection comprises highly affordable restaurants. While the MICHELIN guide is known around the world for its famous stars, these restaurants account for just ten percent of the selection. With more than 1.2 million copies sold in approximately 100 countries, the MICHELIN guide has always built its success on the diversity of its selection and especially on small establishments offering a high-quality dining experience at an affordable price, of which the best are included in the "Our inspectors' favorites for good value" category. Moreover, inclusion in the MICHELIN guide is, in itself, synonymous with quality, since only the best establishments in each comfort and price category are selected.

Also new for 2009, consumers will have the option to access the North American MICHELIN guide selections on their mobile phones through a licensing agreement with mobile content provider UBI UBI. The content for all four U.S. MICHELIN guides, which include New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, will be available by subscription beginning in October 2008. For more information, please visit www.ubiubi.mobi .

The MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country 2009 includes a total of 32 "starred" restaurants, of which one — The French Laundry — has received three stars, six two stars and 25 one star. To ensure a consistent selection, the same five criteria are used for awarding stars in all countries: product quality, preparation and flavors, the cuisine's personality, value for money and consistency.

One star * means a very good restaurant in its category.
Two stars ** mean excellent cooking, worth a detour.
Three stars *** mean exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

The presentation of each hotel and restaurant in the MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country 2009 includes a description of the atmosphere, interior decoration, chef's background, etc. These descriptions are intended solely to provide readers with additional information about the establishment.

Present in North America since late 2005, the MICHELIN guide has four city editions: The MICHELIN guide New York City, now in its fourth edition, the third edition MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area & the Wine Country, and the second editions of the MICHELIN guide Los Angeles 2009 and the MICHELIN guide Las Vegas 2009, which will be announced on Oct. 20.

In Europe, the collection currently comprises 21 MICHELIN guides, including English-language versions of the Michelin Guide France and the MICHELIN guide Paris. The MICHELIN guide's Asian editions include the MICHELIN guide Tokyo, and the MICHELIN guide Hong Kong & Macao debuting in December 2008.

Thanks to a rigorous selection process that is applied independently and consistently around the world, the MICHELIN guide has become an international benchmark in gourmet dining. The selection is made by anonymous, professional inspectors who are Michelin employees and is based on the same working methods in all countries.

The MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country 2008 goes on sale Tues., Oct. 14 for $16.95. Langenscheidt Publishing Group, premier publisher of map, travel, and language brands, is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Michelin Maps and Guides. For more information, please visit www.langenscheidt.com/michelin .

For more than a century, MICHELIN guides have helped travelers enjoy better mobility by offering qualified restaurant and hotel recommendations throughout Europe. Now representing 22 countries and three continents, the collection of 26 MICHELIN guides includes more than 45,000 addresses. Its team of highly trained inspectors visits establishments anonymously, applying Michelin's international standards for quality across many categories. In North America, the company has introduced MICHELIN guides for New York City and San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Michelin has also announced that it will introduce the MICHELIN guide to Hong Kong and Macao in December. For more information, visit www.michelinguide.com .

The MICHELIN guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2009

MICHELIN STARS

Total number One star (*) Two stars Three stars
of (**) (***)
restaurants
383 25 6 1

DINING: 383 Restaurants
56 Establishments offering a simple menu
at less than $25

55 Our inspectors' favorites," establishments offering a
menu with two dishes and a glass of wine or a dessert at
less than $40

Cuisines included in Guide: 35
American Chinese Japanese Seafood
Asian Contemporary Latin American Southwestern
Australian French Mediterranean Spanish
Barbeque Fusion Mexican Steakhouse
Basque Gastropub Moroccan Thai
Brazilian Greek Persian Vegan
Burmese Indian Peruvian Vegetarian
Californian International Pizza Vietnamese
Caribbean Italian Portuguese

MICHELIN RESTAURANT RATINGS

ONE STAR (*) (by neighborhood)
ESTABLISHMENT CITY NEIGHBORHOOD
Acquerello San Francisco Nob Hill
Ame San Francisco SoMa
Auberge du Soleil Rutherford Napa Valley
Bistro Jeanty Yountville Napa Valley
Bouchon Yountville Napa Valley
Boulevard San Francisco SoMa
Chez Panisse Berkeley East of San Francisco
Chez TJ Mountain View South of San Francisco
Dining Room at the San Francisco Nob Hill
Ritz-Carlton (The)
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant Forestville Sonoma County
Fifth Floor San Francisco SoMa
Fleur de Lys San Francisco Financial District
Gary Danko San Francisco North Beach
La Folie San Francisco Nob Hill
Madrona Manor Healdsburg Sonoma County
Martini House St. Helena Napa Valley
Masa's San Francisco Nob Hill
Murray Circle (new) Sausalito North of San Francisco
One Market San Francisco SoMa
Plumed Horse (new) Saratoga South of San Francisco
Range San Francisco Mission District
Redd Yountville Napa Valley
Terra St. Helena Napa Valley
Trevese (new) Los Gatos South of San Francisco
Village Pub (The) (new) Woodside South of San Francisco

TWO STARS (**) (by neighborhood)
ESTABLISHMENT CITY NEIGHBORHOOD
Aqua San Francisco Financial District
Coi San Francisco North Beach Area
Cyrus Healdsburg Sonoma County
Manresa Los Gatos South of San Francisco
Meadowood, The Restaurant St. Helena Napa Valley
Michael Mina San Francisco Financial District

THREE STARS (***)
ESTABLISHMENT CITY NEIGHBORHOOD
The French Laundry Yountville Napa Valley
BIB GOURMAND (Under $40)

ESTABLISHMENT CITY NEIGHBORHOOD
Aperto San Francisco Mission District
A 16 San Francisco Marina District
BarBersQ Napa Napa Valley
Bar Tartine San Francisco Mission District
Bay Wolf Oakland East of San Francisco
Bellanico Oakland East of San Francisco
Betelnut Pejiu Wu San Francisco Marina District
Burma Superstar San Francisco Richmond & Sunset
Cafe Gibraltar El Granada South of San Francisco
Cena Luna Healdsburg Sonoma County
Colibri San Francisco Financial District
Cook St. Helena St. Helena Napa Valley
Cucina Paradiso Petaluma Sonoma County
Delfina San Francisco Mission District
Espetus Churrascaria San Francisco Civic Center
Farina San Francisco Mission District
Fork San Anselmo North of San Francisco
Hong Kong Flower Lounge Millbrae South of San Francisco
Incanto San Francisco Castro District
Insalata's San Anselmo North of San Francisco
Jojo Oakland East of San Francisco
Junnoon Palo Alto South of San Francisco
K&L Bistro Sebastopol Sonoma County
Kokkari Estiatorio San Francisco North Beach Area
Le Charm San Francisco SoMa
Mamacita San Francisco Marina District
Market St. Helena Napa Valley
Maykadeh San Francisco North Beach Area
Mirepoix Windsor Sonoma County
Namu San Francisco Richmond and Sunset
Nopa San Francisco Civic Center
Oliveto Oakland East of San Francisco
Osake Santa Rosa Sonoma County
Perbacco San Francisco Financial District
Poleng San Francisco Civic Center
Risibisi Petaluma Sonoma County
rnm San Francisco Civic Center
Sakae Burlingame South of San Francisco
Sauce San Francisco Civic Center
Slanted Door (The) San Francisco Financial District
Slow Club San Francisco Mission District
Sociale San Francisco Marina District
South Park Cafe San Francisco SoMa
Tamarindo Oakland East of San Francisco
Tokyo Go Go San Francisco Mission District
Tommaso's San Francisco North Beach Area
TWO San Francisco SoMa
Universal Cafe San Francisco Mission District
Vanessa's Bistro Berkeley East of San Francisco
Venticello San Francisco Nob Hill
Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar Healdsburg Sonoma County
Willi's Wine Bar Santa Rosa Sonoma County
Xanh Mountain View South of San Francisco
Yank Sing San Francisco SoMa
zazu Santa Rosa Sonoma County

This entry was posted in Hotels, News and tagged New York, Wine on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

March of Dimes Chicago Signature Chefs Auction on Nov. 10

Several of Chicago's premier chefs will feature their signature dishes in an evening of sampling and tasting on Monday, November 10 at the March of Dimes Chicago Signature Chefs Auction. Celebrity Chef and March of Dimes spokesperson, Rahman "Chef Rock" Harper, winner of Hell's Kitchen (season 3) will also be in attendance to share his story and his newly created folate-rich recipe for women considering becoming pregnant. More than 600 guests will have the opportunity to sample the unique dishes of over 25 chefs representing some of the city's most notable restaurants. The event takes place from 5-9 p.m. at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers located at 301 East North Water Street in Chicago. Guests will also have the opportunity to bid on a variety of unique travel, dining and entertainment packages in the live and silent auctions.

Honorary Chefs of the event are: Executive Chef Hans Aeschbacher from Smith & Wollensky, and Executive Chef Gabriel Viti from Gabriel's Restaurant and Miramar Bistro. Event Co-Chairs of the event are Elizabeth K. Christie and William N. Howard. Tickets are $200 each. Major sponsors of the evening include American Airlines, Bill Barry, Cigna Health Care of Illinois, The Elizabeth K. Christie Charitable Foundation, Freeborn & Peters, LLP, Harris Bank, The Private Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Salon Buzz, TCF Bank, and WDRV-FM (The Drive) — the official radio media sponsor and Chicago Social — the official magazine sponsor. For more information including a complete list of participating restaurants, or to purchase tickets, call Amy Snyder at 312-596-4726 or visit www.tinytastings.com.

This entry was posted in Hotels, News on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Nation's Largest Beer Festival on Tap in Denver

Held in the Colorado Convention Center, the festival covers nine acres with 400 different craft breweries exhibiting their wares, all competing for coveted medals. Some 46,000 beer-lovers are expected to attend, each receiving a special glass that entitles them to a one ounce sample of any of the 1,900 pale ales, stouts, porters and lagers available. The breweries are arranged by geographic location, so it's possible to “drink your way across America.” But sampling the beers requires some discretion and choice. A one ounce sample of every beer available would require drinking the equivalent of 26 six-packs.

Denver and the GABF are a perfect match. Colorado brews more beer than any other state and the Mile High City is home to the world's largest single brewery, Coors Brewery, and the nation's largest brewpub, the Wynkoop Brewing Company, founded by the city's mayor, John Hickenlooper.

Throughout Colorado, there are more than 80 brewpubs, 18 microbreweries, and two major breweries, burnishing the state's reputation as the “Napa Valley” of beer.

More Info on the GABF at www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com

This entry was posted in News and tagged Beer, Festival on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Cindy Crawford Launches Mag. in Chicago

Supermodel and Chicago native Cindy Crawford will join Niche Media CEO Jason Binn, Midwest President and Publisher Dan Uslan and Editor-in-Chief Susanna Homan, to host the launch party for Michigan Avenue magazine on Sept. 20, 2008.

The red carpet extravaganza at The James Chicago will bring together tastemakers from the Windy City and around the country including “Top Chef Chicago” winner Stephanie Izard, Pro Golfer Luke Donald, and more. Guests will be treated to live performances from Terrence Howard and Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams while sipping on Don Julio Ultra Premium tequila, Ciroc cocktails, Sapporo beer, and enjoying food from the renowned David Burke's Primehouse.

About Michigan Avenue magazine: Michigan Avenue is synonymous with Chicago–and Michigan Avenue magazine, which debuted on September 15, 2008, is the talk of the town, celebrating the lifestyles and passions of the city's most affluent and sophisticated readers. High-impact covers and witty, intelligent editorial content make Michigan Avenue magazine a must-read. Every issue features interviews, fashion stories, an inside look at the lives of celebrity contributors, product and accessories trends, the best in home design, art, restaurants, theatre, entertainment, and amazing photos of the people and places that make Chicago so special.

More than 30 bold-faced names with Chicago ties have contributed to the first issue, including Oprah Winfrey, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Michelle Obama, Reverend Al Sharpton, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, political comedian Bill Maher, Chicago rocker Pete Wentz, famed photographer Victor Skrebneski, singer Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child fame, journalist Bill Kurtis, Tim Zagat, Mariel Hemingway, writer and host James Lipton and news anchor Robin Meade, to name a few on the acclaimed list.

About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group, was founded in 1992 and is the country's preeminent regional magazine company with the largest network of city-specific luxury publications in the United States. Niche Media consistently delivers the finest editorial content and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Niche Media reaches readers who maintain annual household incomes of at least $200,000 and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in publishing. Additionally, the company brings its publications' pages to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year. With more than 300 full-time employees, Niche Media exceeds 30,000 pages annually, and its titles have a combined annual distribution of more than 8 million copies. Niche Media's titles provide advertisers and marketers with a direct connection to the most desirable markets across the country.

This entry was posted in News and tagged Beer, Cocktails on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Patron Tea and Reception

Carmen Dell’Orefice and Stanley Paul

Chicago orchestra leader Stanley Paul hosted a Patron’s Tea and Reception on the terrace of his penthouse apartment in honor of Carmen Dell’Orefice, who was the guest speaker the following day at the 7th annual Handbags and Halos luncheon benefiting the Howard Brown Health Center. Assembled guests included HBHC President Michael Cook, Hazel Barr, Barbara Kipper, Zaerada Gowenlock, Lynn McMahan, Candace Jordan, Helen Mclchior, Sherren Leigh, Peter Martino, Jenny Mack and Paul Fairchild of HBHC.

Bunky Cushing and Mamie Walton

Shauna Montgomery and Lynn McMahan

John Ansehl and Gerri Shute

Laura Barnett, Hazel Barr, Maria Pappas, and Sherren Leigh

Carmen Dell’Orefice and Bunky Cushing

Michelle Parrillo, Gia McDermott, Rebecca Besser, and Robin Berger

HBHC President Michael Cook and Shelley Farley

Linda Heister and Heather Wright

This entry was posted in News and tagged Benefit on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Ghetto Film School Party

The Ghetto Film School (GFS) held its first fundraiser in Los Angeles at the home of Ellen Goldsmith-Vein. Hosted by filmmakers David O.Russell and Spike Jonze, the star-studded evening helped to raise funds and awareness for New York’s only free non-profit film school among the Los Angeles Film Community. The benefit brought out some of Hollywood’s top directors, producers, and actors who showed their support for this dynamic non-profit organization that is training our country’s future filmmakers. Guests included: Orlando Bloom, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Johnny Knoxville, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ghetto Film School Founder and President Joe Hall, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Kristin Hahn, Rachael Horovitz, Evan Shapiro, Sandra Granzow, and filmmakers Spike Jonze, David O. Russell, Catherine Hardwicke, and Kim Peirce. Based in the South Bronx, the Ghetto Film School is an award winning, youth media, non-profit organization that aims to connect talented young people to artistic career opportunities in the world of film and video. Since 2000, GFS has provided over 600 students with classic film school education at no cost.

Orlando Bloom

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Katherine Narducci with Ghetto Film School Students

Spike Jonze and David O.Russell with Ghetto Film School students

Evan Shapiro, Rachael Horovitz, and Joe Hall

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Joe Hall

Topher Grace and Sarah Michelle Gellar with Ghetto Film School Students

Orlando Bloom and Ghetto Film School Students

Bryce Dallas Howard and Kristin Hahn with a friend

Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick

Spike Jonze

Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett

Elizabeth Stanley and Joe Dante

Johnny Knoxville with Ghetto Film School Students

David O.Russell, Kim Peirce, and Charles Roven

Maurice Marable, Evan Shapiro, and Greg D’Alba

This entry was posted in News and tagged Benefit on December 21, 2013 by Chuck Gregory.

Legends of The Fall

At the Park Avenue apartment of Michele and Larry Herbert to kick off the NYU Tisch School of Arts Fall Gala.

Michele and Larry Herbert held a kick off party at their Park Avenue apartment for the NYU Tisch School of Arts Fall Gala honoring Iris Cantor, Alec Baldwin, and Maurice Kanbar.

Alec Baldwin, Iris Cantor, and John Desiderio

Joseph DiLorenzo, Rosemarie DiLorenzo, Sharon Peterson, and Randy Glatt

Larry Herbert, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Michele Herbert, and Loren Herbert

Alec Baldwin, Marissa Bregman, Marty Bregman, and Cornelia Sharpe Bregman

Michele Herbert, Doug Wheeler, and Carla Wheeler

Andrew Uriarte, Cynthia Weiler, and Blake Moore

Peggy and Henry Schleiff

Jill and Jerry Hultin

Cornelia Sharpe Bregman and Amanda Haynes-Dale

Jeanette Loeb, Maurice Kanbar, Mary Schmidt Campbell, and Marta Leon

Margie Beck and Maurice Kanbar

Larry Herbert and Barbara de Portago

Ariana DiLorenzo, Loren Herbert, Georgia Curatola, and Dr. Gerry Curatola

Deb Lapidus, Marta Leon, Jeremy Katz, and Amirah Vann

Amirah Vann

Anne Palermo, Julian Glatt, and Randy Glatt

Lisa Linden and Sharon Peterson

More party pictures from Quest magazine’s cocktail celebration of this year’s Quest 400 List at the newly re-decorated Doubles in the Sherry Netherland.