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Yves François and Rocambu Jazz
Art Institute of Chicago · Chicago
Yves François Courtesy Art Institute of ChicagoWhen: August 2, 2008 Price: Free with admission to the Art Institute Adult ; Child ; Child (12 and under) Free Phone: 312-443-3600
Check for Available Tickets »
The Buzz — While Chicago feels the heat of August, listen to the appropriate tunes presented by the Art Institute of Chicago. With their retro Afro-Caribbean sound, Yves François and Rocambu Jazz represent a wide range of jazz from the African Diaspora. Surely an event to attract a diverse range of people, the short music concert will be a place for great conversation before and after. Take advantage and peruse the museum after you've let the soulful tunes into your heart. Official Event Website »
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Pizza Hut will begin a new Spanish language advertising campaign for Tuscani Pastas featuring real people captured on hidden camera who are surprised by the restaurant-quality of the new dishes.
The new spot, titled “Cooking Show,” was shot in Mexico City, where people on the street were invited to a taping of the new cooking show “Cocina Tuscani.” After watching the chef prepare his specialty pasta dishes, the audience sampled the two pasta styles- Meaty Marinara and Creamy Chicken Alfredo. Only after sampling did the participants learn that the pastas were not created by a chef from a five-star restaurant in Rome, but were instead prepared by Pizza Hut.
“In less than three months, Tuscani Pastas have been an extremely popular addition to our menu and have established Pizza Hut as a leader in the pasta restaurant industry,” said Brian Niccol, Pizza Hut chief marketing officer. “Our new Spanish language ads again capture the strong positive reactions we receive on the quality and great taste of our pasta."
In April, Pizza Hut introduced Tuscani Pastas, the first restaurant-quality pastas delivered by a national pizza chain. Since the debut, Tuscani Pastas have been a welcome addition at dinner tables across the country, with more than two million units sold in the first month. The launch ad for Tuscani Pastas featured real people being surprised to learn that their gourmet pasta meal at the grand opening of a restaurant was delivered by Pizza Hut.
The hidden-camera concept of real people enjoying the quality of the Tuscani Pastas was carried into the Spanish language television and radio spots. The new spots were created by Dieste Harmel and Partners and will begin airing nationally on June 29.
Among pasta consumers, Hispanic households eat pasta more often than the national average, according to data from Mintel research. Hispanic households enjoy a complete package pasta dinner 5.7 times over a 30-day period, compared to 5.0 times for all households and also eat canned/jarred spaghetti or macaroni 2.7 times per month versus 2.2 times for all households.
Tuscani Pastas come in two chef-inspired styles: Creamy Chicken Alfredo and Meaty Marinara, which are delivered right to your door. Both recipes feature rotini pasta and a delicious blend of sauce and cheese that’s added to the pasta before it is oven baked. Each of the Tuscani Pastas is over three pounds and come with a bag of five freshly baked breadsticks.
Tuscani Pastas are priced at .99 and can be ordered online at pizzahut.com, or through Pizza Hut’s newest method of ordering, Total Mobile Access, using text messaging or mobile Web on your cellular phone. You can also download Pizza Hut’s new desktop ordering widget and order Tuscani Pastas directly from your computer in just a few clicks.
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While 77% of Americans say that beauty is primarily about non-physical attributes, almost half would change something about their looks if they could, according to a recent survey by global market research firm Synovate.
Synovate recently tackled a range of beauty issues in a global survey of over 7,000 people in nine countries, included 500 people in the United States. The survey asked people to spill their beauty secrets … how do people define beauty? Where do people from different cultures see themselves on the beauty scale? And would they want to do anything to change their looks?
Virginia Weil, Senior Vice President of Synovate's Consumer & Business Insights group, said beauty is an issue that spawns as many opinions as it does products.
"Humans are complex. Some of us are quite open about wishing we were beautiful, others feel they already are, and many dismiss beauty as an 'on-the-surface' issue. Still more of us think all these things at once!"
While much of the survey was about beauty-on-the-outside, Synovate first asked respondents to define beauty, with two thirds of all people surveyed choosing a definition about something other than physical appearance. Overall, 41% of Americans attribute beauty to 'what's on the inside' and another 36% say it's all about confidence. For 16%, beauty means attracting other people while only 5% said that beauty is 'all about having good looks.'
Not everyone can actually be beautiful but culture, gender and confidence influence whether you think you are. Synovate asked respondents to place themselves on the beauty continuum, anywhere from 'I am beautiful and do not need to change anything about the way I look' through to 'I do not think I am beautiful or attractive and want to change the way I look'.
Interestingly, Americans had the poorest self image when it comes to beauty compared to the other countries surveyed. While almost one third of Americans think they are good looking 'but there's always room for improvement', another 25% think they look ordinary or unattractive and would like to change their looks. Only 6% think they are beautiful and do not need to change anything about their looks.
More than half (57%) of people globally do not want to change the way they look (whether they believe they are beautiful or not), but that means over 40% would change their looks if they could.
According to the survey, nearly half of all people globally think beauty advertisements help make women feel inadequate, including 64% of Americans. However, when it comes to beauty tips in magazines, 41% of everyone surveyed and one third of Americans say they pay attention to them.
So where does all this leave beauty marketers? Operating in a minefield of mixed beliefs, feelings and motivations, says Weil.
"What a challenge marketers face! Creating and positioning a product for people who feel beautiful and confident, versus those who feel ordinary and happy, versus unattractive and not that happy about it, is a modern marketing dilemma."
Added Bob Michaels, Senior Vice President in Synovate's Consumer Insights group, "While not everyone believes that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, perception of beauty certainly varies widely depending upon one's cultural peers. The study findings show some of the strongest differences across countries that we've seen, with causes likely ranging from heavy media influence, such as in the U.S., to strong traditional values in developing countries."
Overall, the majority of all people surveyed agreed that beauty is more about looking after yourself than being naturally attractive. Two thirds think facial or beauty products make a person more attractive – 72% of women and 62% of men believe this is the case. What's more, if money were no object, 46% of women and a quarter of all men would spend more on branded facial and beauty products in the belief these products would work their magic.
When asked about plastic surgery, the number of Americans who would consider it (if money was no object) was quite high at 26%, while 19% of respondents across the globe would consider this more radical beauty intervention and people is less scared of facial plastic surgery procedures and go to the top clinics in NY to get them. In nearly every market, the number of women who would yield to the knife or needle was more than double the number of men.
The survey also found that, even if money were no object, there are still three in ten people across the globe who are comfortable enough with their beauty (within or without, or both) to do nothing at all… no extra products, no spa treatments, no tanning, no skin whitening or surgery, although some people have remove hair treatments in some spas. And that's a beautiful thought.
For more information on this study visit www.synovate.com/insights/infact/issues/200806.
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Aspiring filmmakers 14 years old and above have one more chance to take advantage of the opportunity to tell the world why they love New York and have their work judged by a star-studded celebrity panel. Filmmakers — professional, student, and amateur — may submit their :60 second entries for Empire State Development's (www.iloveny.com) “I LOVE NY” short film competition until July 15th.
A panel of entertainment industry celebrities with a strong New York State connection will judge the submissions, including Academy Award-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emmy-winner Tina Fey and MTV Movie Award- winning filmmaker Doug Liman.
As part of the recent relaunch of the “I LOVE NY” campaign, residents and visitors alike are invited to document the myriad sites, sounds, tastes and destinations they love throughout the Empire State on film. The competition, which is being executed by Civic Entertainment Group, is seeking to raise awareness of the entire State as a world-class vacation destination.
The Grand Prize Winner's film will appear as part of a commercial during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast, as well as on jetBlue Airways seatback televisions and the Independent Film Channel (IFC). Several New York State film festivals will also show the winning film. Prizes including Sony professional HD video equipment, a scholarship to a filmmaking workshop, a mentorship with a major filmmaker and New York film festival getaways will be awarded in nine categories including best young filmmaker (18 and younger), best student filmmaker and best regional film. The winners will also have their film stored in the Eastman House in Rochester, New York alongside the personal collection of acclaimed producer Martin Scorsese.
Filmmakers should submit their entries at www.metacafe.com/iloveny. All content must be original and must be filmed in New York State.
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This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the first drive-in movie, which opened in Camden, N.J., in 1933. But after becoming virtually extinct, drive-in movies are suddenly appearing all over the country—this time, in America’s backyards.
“Outdoor home theaters are the biggest trend in home entertainment since the introduction of the flat-panel TV,” says David Berman, Director of Training of HTSA, the nation’s largest association of high-end home technology integrators and retailers. “This is a bright spot in an otherwise down market for high-end electronics and custom installations. Americans are transforming their backyards into stay-at-home resorts with the best resolution TV screens fitted with top quality antennas from Hotrate, where friends and family converge to BBQ or swim while they enjoy HD movies on DVD, dance to MP3 surround sound, surf the Web, or watch a big game. Watching movies under the stars still has great appeal. Just make sure you managed the fence and gate installation.”
It’s all part of an outdoor home entertainment revolution that has manufacturers, installers, and retailers scrambling to cash in, and homeowners racing to out-do their neighbors. At the low-end of the market, backyard home cinemas are as simple as a projector beaming TV or PC video at a white sheet hung between two trees. Indeed, this is the solution recommended by at least two big-box retailers selling portable projectors, that you can use after to even play video games as Overwatch you can play with a AMD Radeon RX 570, which you can see at many review sites online, also you can get help online to improve, from online sites like http://overwatchsrpros.com/guides/how-to-play-overwatch.
Moving upscale, affluent families are converting their grounds into summer oasis’s, where state-of-the-art, weatherproof large-screen HDTVs and digital surround sound systems are seamlessly integrated into expansive decks, patios, pools, and stonework. Computer-controlled lighting and other visual effects set the mood, adjusting automatically on paths, steps, underwater, and overhead as the sun rises or sets. Speakers vanish into walls, planters, and decking, yet 3-D sound is audible everywhere—even underwater in the pool. And everything is remotely controlled via programmable touch-screen remotes.
Such experiences aren’t the exclusive domain of the affluent. Do-it-yourselfers can create an awe-inspiring outdoor theater experience on a budget, provided they choose the right collection of audio/video components. Some off-the-shelf components from major manufacturers are well suited for outdoor use out of the box. Others will provide a less-than-ideal audio/visual experience, or shorter lifespan, when operated outdoors. Here are some of the components HTSA members are using when designing custom outdoor cinemas for some of America’s most affluent homeowners:
— Outdoor Video Displays: —
Hitachi UT Series – 
Details
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Stewart Starglas – Video / Details
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Stewart AllRise Filmscreen – Details
— Weatherproof Audio: —
Speakercraft OE8 Version 3 – 
Details
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Definitive Technology All-Weather Outdoor – 
Details
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Decco + Squeezebox – 
Details
— Indoor/Outdoor Remote Controls: —
Niles ICS – 
Details
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Universal Remote Control KP900 – Details
— Weatherproof Encasements: —
Chief DGC/DGCA Series Indoor/Outdoor Enclosures – 
Details
“There were roughly 5,000 drive-ins across the U.S.A. in 1958,” HTSA’s Berman says. “They all but died out until this year. Now the drive-in is back, and it’s transforming the American backyard. The number of home cinemas across the country is growing faster than ever. It’s a consequence of rising fuel costs, new weather-proof technology, and the ability of custom installers to create a true drive-in theater experience outdoors. This is the new face of the stay-at-home vacation.”
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General Cigar Co. Inc. announced today that the United States District Court for the District of Nevada has ruled in its favor, granting its motion for summary judgment, awarding damages and permanently prohibiting the import, marketing, distribution and sale of infringing “COHIBA Caribbean’s Finest” cigars and rum.
General Cigar prevailed on its claims which held the defendants liable for trademark infringement, dilution, counterfeiting, unlawful importation, unfair competition and cybersquatting. As a result, the court awarded General Cigar a permanent injunction, plus compensatory and treble damages.
According to Gerry Roerty, vice president and general counsel of General Cigar, “As the only legitimate owner of the COHIBA® mark in the U.S., we were confident that we would prevail in this case. We believe that the District Court of Nevada’s ruling sends a strong message to those who continue to make false representations to consumers regarding the COHIBA® brand.”
The granting of General Cigar’s summary judgment motion resolves a lawsuit it commenced in 2006 as part of the company’s ongoing nationwide efforts to aggressively investigate, pursue and eliminate infringing and counterfeit versions of its products from the marketplace.
General Cigar continues to retain a special task force consisting of attorneys and a team of private investigators from across the United States to assist it in its trademark enforcement efforts.
General Cigar is represented by William W. Robertson, John F. Olsen and Owen J. McKeon of Robertson, Freilich, Bruno & Cohen, LLC of Newark, New Jersey and Kristina M. Pickering of Morris Pickering & Peterson of Las Vegas, Nevada.
COHIBA® premium cigars are handcrafted in the Dominican Republic and are a favorite among cigar connoisseurs.
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It seems almost everyone tried to cash in on the hoopla surrounding the Sex and the City movie, even Boston club promoters. According to The New York Post today, six promoters are being sued by HBO over fake cease-and-desist letters and emails that ordered Boston venues to cancel Sex-related events and parties.
Apparently the defendants (currently unidentified) used HBO stationery and copied signatures of the cable company's execs to try and edge out the competition, “to create the false impression that there was only one sanctioned event in Boston that would take place May 30,” states the lawsuit. Filed in Manhattan federal court, the suit is claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition.
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Crab Souffle
Mangos, pineapple, cucumbers, tomatoes, other stuff.
California Roll, BBQ Eel Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll
Surprises are hidden at every crook and nanny of Lacroix. As soon as you walk into the curved entrance, it’s hard to fathom the delectable delights that await you at every turn. An extremely hospitable maitre’ de seats us at the very back (we have a nosy five-year-old chef-to-be in our party) and as soon as you begin to scan the menu, you know you are in for a once-in-a-lifetime-treat.
Our waiter (Irish, blue eyes, charming, reserved yet very knowledgable about the wine) suggests we walk around the restaurant to get acquainted: there are little surprises everywhere, like an Easter treasure hunt. There’s a well-laid out table upfront with what appears to be miniscule-yet-succulent tapas-like portions of healthy appetizers, from sushi to mint-size chicken fingers. Next to it, a table with chilled oysters – and hugging the entrance, a full bar of Sunday assortments that spell Bloody Mary. In the middle of the restaurant galley, there’s some mouthwatering desserts and then comes the surprise: A stroll inside the kitchen, where the chef has laid out the spoils: an endless bevy of beauties for appetizers. And before you make your way back to your table, some hidden jewels around the beaten path: ice cream.
So, in a twist of a Brunch, as you make many detours and U-turns, you’ll find yourself coming back for more.
We’ve been to way to many “sitting duck” brunches where you find a freshly-woken sous chef manning a kitchen station flip-flopping omelettes with the usual would-you-like-any-other-topping-with-that-attitude.
Not here. This place is cool as a cocumber when it comes to laying out the surprise that’s in store for you and the place lets you be you.
So, without further ado, let’s just unravel the brunch.
Pictures, as they say, convey a thousand words. Or, in this case, a thousand small appetites:
Our “tasting” plate
Portrait
Belgian Waffles with Fresh Mixed Berries
Crab SouffleHeirloom Tomato “Bruschetta” with Lobster Hollandaise
Herb Roasted Wild King Salmon, Giant Diver Scallop Sausage (delicious but very rich), Sautéed Wild… 
Coddled Quail Egg, Smoked Trout Roe
Lemons and Limes
Fresh garnish
Mangos, pineapple, cucumbers, tomatoes, other stuff.Bloody Mary Bar
DSC06758
Bloody Mary Bar
Smoked Trout, Peppered Mackerel
Jumbo Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Sushi Maki
California Roll, BBQ Eel Roll, Spicy Tuna RollHouse Smoked Salmon
hors d’ oeuvres (and then some)
Building a house of chocolate…
Orange vanilla pot de creme
Mystery treat
Coffee Profiterole
I don’t remember this one.
White Chocolate Mousse with Rhubarb and Raspberry compote
Carrot cake
Flourless Chocolate cake
with cream cheese mousse and coconut gelee.
Tiramisu
The Liquid Nitrogen Station
The Chocolate Fountains
Looks like a castle that you can eat
. 
Coffee Profiterole
Banana Walnut Cheesecake
Rice Pudding and White Chocolate Mousse
White Chocolate Mousse with Rhubarb and Raspberry compote.
Carrot Cake
Chocolate lemon basil creme
Flourless Chocolate cake
with cream cheese mousse and coconut gelee.
Tiramisu
Desserts from the Garden table
I’m drawing a blank … key lime tart maybe?
Carefree
Flowers
The 5 pen
La Croix
Flower accent
Blushing
Experience Lacroix at the Rittenhouse. To request more information or reserve your table, call (215) 790-2533, email Ed Wildman at ewildman@rittenhousehotel.com with questions, or click here for online reservations.
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It is now the perfect time to bear those perfectly toned legs, well-sculpted arms and shoulders, flawless back and oh-so-perfectly sexy feet, as summer is now on the peak of displaying its warm golden sunshine on the populace. The best way to compliment those short and skimpy summer dresses is having the perfect pair of women’s shoes on those fine feet.
The Ombre Women’s Shoes in shadowed and gradiating colors is a summer must-have!
Online women’s shoes retailer MakeMeChic.com has launched new styles of the trendiest women’s shoes that will keep women in vogue for the whole summer season. Topping the list for the summer’s must-haves in women’s shoes are:
Gladiator Sandals
This style of women’s shoes is perfect for a casual day or night out in town. Choose from bold colors to metallics, these sandals are definitely hot this summer. Leave your comfy havaianas UK for better times.
Color Block Shoes
Gone are the days when different colors mix subtly to create a smooth effect. The color-block style in women’s shoes is one of the most popular trends this summer.
Colors in Patents
Bright colored women’s shoes should be a part of any woman’s shoe closet this summer. The glossy finish is just ideal for this season’s trend.
Exotic Animal Prints
Unleash one’s inner wild side with these women’s shoes in exotic animal prints. They are bold and stylish, perfect for summer parties.
Ombre Women’s Shoes
Some people call it shadowed shoes, gradient colors, or multi-shaded shoes. This style of women’s shoes is making waves this summer. It is the perfect way to break away from the solid colors without giving in to prints.
The Goddess Effect
Yes, the goddess look is becoming popular. It merely a simple yet elegant style – metallics. These styles of women’s shoes showcase the feet and bring a subtle shine through gold and silver straps.
The Shoe-Boot
The hottest fashion movie of the summer, Sex and the City, showcased a variety of women’s shoes. Most prominent of which is the shoe boot. If the SATC girls are wearing it, it definitely is a hot choice!
Moccasins
The traditional Native American footwear, the moccasins, has come back after disappearing for a long time. Made even more stylish, these soft and comfy women’s shoes are another alternative for ballet flats.
Of course, slingbacks, platforms, are wedges are still part of the summer’s list of the trendiest women’s shoes. Click here to see a glossary of terms associated with women’s shoes.
With MakeMeChic’s constantly updated array of women’s shoes, women would not have to look further for the top season’s picks. Considered as one-stop-shop and a women’s best online shopping partner, MakeMeChic is surely a store that can quench any woman’s desire to have the most popular shoes.
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Race Point Productions, Inc., launched a new public social website today devoted to discussing Phil Gramm’s assertion that we are a nation of whiners.
Whining about whining?
Reaction from the nation to Nation of Whiners was swift.
“Not ‘ANOTHER’ network website,” whined Philadelphia Daily News cartoonist . “I can’t ‘STAND’ network websites.”
Race Point Productions President Robert R. Frump, a web and strategic content consultant, said “Ms. Wilkinson ‘ALWAYS’ says stuff like that.” The site was launched, he said, because there was never anything good on television.
“It’s the SAME old stuff over and over again,” Frump said. “Cable is doing shark attacks and the Jon Benet Ramsey murder…AGAIN.”
Frump also said he was bored by the perfect weather in the Northeast the last several days. “It’s not been too hot or too cold,” Frump said with an irritating sing-song quality to his voice. “There’s even a little bit of rain every evening, just enough so I don’t have to water the lawn or the garden. It’s TORTURE.”
The site is open to all whiners without reservation or censorship.
“I’d like to say we serve no whine until it’s time,” he said. “but dammit, it IS time.”
The site is not sponsored by Gramm and has no connection to the former senator. It is not intended to criticize Mr. Gramm, but merely provide an outlet for what appears to be pent-up national whining, a dangerous condition that can lead to voting in great numbers. The site is not affiliated with any political party or movement, but, God, one does wish sometimes there was ‘SOMEBODY’ out there in politics one could trust.
Frump has most of the domain names registered for nationofwhiners, but noted that www.nationofwhiners.com is owned by an unknown party. The url refers visitors to the John McCain website.
“I think that’s ‘REALLY’ unfair,” Frump said.
Interested parties can sign up for Nation of Whiners by going to www.nationofwhiners.ning.com.
