Ever heard of Mexican whiskey or French brandy? Actually you might not recognize them by their past nicknames, but after campaigning for a legal distinct name, you know them today as tequila and cognac. Today, cachaça (pronounced ka-SHAH-sa) makers are working to remove the Brazilian rum moniker to replace it with the accurate name of cachaça. One of the world’s largest distributors of cachaca, Leblon Cachaça, has launched their “Legalize Cachaça” campaign with their first stop in the U.S in Los Angeles at Cedd Moses’ downtown Doheny Bar.

Master Distiller, Gilles Merlet

During the “Legalize Cachaça” event, Leblon Cachaça’s Master Distiller, Gilles Merlet met on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 with industry professionals and media to discuss and further educate about Leblon Cachaça by showcasing the Maison Leblon replica of their Brazil distillery. He walked the attendees through the process of distilling Leblon cachaça with a mini, portable Maison Leblon.  Merlet expertly demonstrated the cutting and pressing of fresh cut sugarcane to the fermentation process, the Alambic distillation and finally the bottling of Leblon cachaça from a copper pot still.  The guest sampled freshly distilled cachaça and were delighted by the taste.

Fresh sugarcane is the secret to Leblon's cachaça

“We are excited to have Gilles in the U.S. With Rio on the mind, and the legalization of  cachaça close to becoming its own appellation in the US, Gilles’ visit could not be more timely,” said Daniel K. Nelson from the Doheny.

Doheny's Master Mixologist, Daniel K. Nelson.

Taking Cachaça to New Heights

Master mixologist, Daniel K. Nelson of the Doheny, kept the Leblon flowing with four different kinds of cocktails to demonstrate its versatility.  The Flor de Coco, Guava Lava, the classic Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pur-EEN-ya), and Ode to Jazz drinks kept the media and bar industry happily chatting and signing petitions to legalize cachaça. Riviera Restaurant served hors d’oeuvres of cocktail shrimp, ham and dessert flan.

Here are Nelson’s recipes for your own Legalize Cachaca party:

Flor De Coco

2 Large table spoons of Coconut puree , 1/2 of a fresh squeezed Lime, 1.5 oz. Leblon, top with Champagne

Leblon Caip

1.5 oz of Sugar cane juice, 1.5 oz Leblon, 1/2 of a fresh squeezed Lime

Guava Lava

2 Large Table spoons of Guava puree, 1/2 fresh squeezed Lime, 1 oz Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, 1.5 oz. Leblon, Black pepper garnish

Ode to Jazz

1.5 oz. of Leblon, top with Thai Coffee, shred White chocolate to top cocktail

Leblon fans campaigning for legalization of cachaca.

Hollywood Loves Leblon

Not only is Leblon making a splash with mixologists in the most trendy bars and restaurants on both coasts, Hollywood celebrities are happily becoming fans as well. It was most recently found in the hands of Kat Von D and Michael Madsen at the movie premiere of The Bleeding last week.  A host of celebrities and up and coming actors in attendance at the premiere and after-party at Hyde Lounge enjoyed spicy Leblon caipirinhas throughout the night.

Here is the recipe for the cocktail Kat Von D was sipping on:

Bell Pepper and Jalapeno Caipirinha

2 1/2  oz Leblon
1 oz  oz Agave
1 slice of Red Bell Pepper
1 slice of Yellow Pepper
1 slice of Jalapeno (seeds removed)

Sliced pieces of Red and Yellow Bell Pepper, one slice each, sliced Long ways, Agave syrup, small slice of jalapeño, Leblon.  Muddle peppers, jalapeño and Agave, add ice, and Leblon and strain into a highball glass with a slice of each red and yellow pepper as garnish.

Cocktail Menu at the Event.

About Leblon Cachaça

Leblon is an ultra-premium cachaça produced at the Maison Leblon in Minas Gerais, Brazil.  The rum-like spirit, the most award-winning cachaça on the market, is made from fresh pressed Brazilian sugar cane that is then rested in cognac casks and blended to create superior complexity and taste. Cachaça is the main ingredient in the Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pur-EEN-ya), the national cocktail of Brazil.  Leblon is the leading luxury Cachaça in high-end establishments and a Four-Time Gold Medal Award Winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Best in Class at the Rum Experience International Tasting Competition – London.  Leblon is available in all 50 U.S. states and cultural capitals around the world such as Sao Paulo, London, Paris, and Bangkok. For more information, visit www.leblon.com

Photo credit: Leigh Hopkins

Psychic and Spiritual Classes

If you’d like to deepen your spiritual and psychic awareness beyond  just a session with her, Cheri offers on-going classes on fascinating and life-altering subjects. Here are some of the topics Cheri will teach you during the psychic and spiritual classes:

• How to manifest a good relationship in your life and get the person you want to be happy and fulfilled
• Discussion of goals/purpose & how you connect with them
• Karma & its connection to this lifetime
• Why you’re attracting the wrong people in your life & how to change your energy
• How to interpret your dreams and what they mean. How to remember your dreams
• Reincarnation, colors & symbols of dreams & visions and how to interpret what you see & feel
• Understanding of numbers and their meaning and your specific numbers help to tell your future and your destiny and karmic connection to loved ones and your family & pets
• Healing energy & how to disconnect from negative energy around you and to manifest wealth & power
• Creative visualization, manifestation and meditation, how to actually see what you want in life and the key to actually getting it
• The understanding symbols as you see them in dreams & visions
• Interpreting your dreams & visions in meditation
• How to learn channeling for healing for yourself and others
• Understanding how to heal yourself and diagnosis illness in yourself and other people and animals
• Learning why you are here and if you’re on the right path. What is your destiny and why do we go through the hard times in life?
• What do I want to do for the rest of my life?
• How to keep connecting to your family
• How to keep the romance in your relationship or how to attract the right person in your life

What to Expect

Psychic Cheri Mancuso.

These sessions are dealing with your specific issues in this lifetime and manifesting what you do want out of life. Her sessions are strictly geared toward you & who you are now and who you want to be in the coming future. Together, you will explore & manifest your goals. If you don’t have any idea of what you want in life, you will find out through her Guides directing you. These sessions are a “mirror” of who you have been, who you are now & who you want to be in the future. Your Guides and hers get together in these sessions and map out the “rest of your life”.

The whole goal of the sessions is to get the student to see where they’ve been in life, where they are now & where they’re going. It’s a weekly session where Cheri and you tune into the Guides each week seeing if any new developments with yourself, work, love, health, family etc have changed or any problems that arise can be resolved. Her Guides tune into what’s going on at the time you meet either in person or phone. Also, you will develop your own psychic ability, get into who your Guides are and how to connect with them. She does your astrology & numerology that tells your destiny and karma in this life with you & your loved ones. Cheri also will interpret your dreams.

Contact Cheri to start your learning your psychic abilities and manifesting powerfully, contact her via her website and for more in depth info, testimonies, and predictions: www.mediumcheri.com. Read our article on Cheri Mancuso here…

Life-Altering Vision

Psychic Medium Cheri Mancuso.

Born on an Indian reservation and growing up in the 1950’s, Cheri was like any other girl in Salmanca, NY until one summer she had her first vision of a past life experience, something that would alter her life forever. Revealed to her much later in her metaphysical studies, that vision was actually a Spirit Guide visiting her with many more in the years to come.

First Prediction Verified

On Christmas day at her father’s place, she had a vision that her dad would die of heart attack in a car – it was her first verifiable prediction. Much to her dismay, three weeks later Cheri’s father, who was never sick, dies in a car of a heart attack at age 46.

Return to the Calling

Not surprisingly, grief and guilt stricken over her father’s death, she turned away from the visions and psychic predictions for many years until she started having visions of the Los Angeles Area Night Stalker’s murders each night before they happened. She finally accepted her fate and began studying Metaphysics for five years to learn to control it and hone it.

Metaphysical Mentoring

Cheri was instantly in demand as her reputation of giving accurate predictions spread throughout the San Fernando Valley. When she went to her Metaphysical classes, people lined up and waited for hours to spend a few life-changing minutes with her.  Through her diligent studies, she learned how to interpret the Spirit Guides’ messages and symbols. The Spirit Guides also helped her find missing objects and pets, rid houses of unwanted spirits, and predict people’s future. She was ready to work on her own.

Overwhelming Success

Her immense clientele included celebrities, Fortune 500 executives and police departments. She began forecasting the stock market, predicting business mergers, selecting film scripts for movie producers and actors, predicting the outcome of important trials and more. After she found a missing person in Canada, a murdered man in just 4 days, her career took an interesting turn…she became a Psychic Detective.

Psychic Detecting

She truly felt as if she discovered her life calling and loved the challenge of finding missing persons as a Psychic Detective.  One case, a serial killer named Shawcross, Cheri predicted one year before he started killing.  She also helped parents find their missing children. She was also able to give people closure by contacting those loved ones who had passed on. The emotional and psychological demands of working as a psychic detective took it’s toll and Cheri returned to what she currently does which is help people individually and finds great fulfillment in it.

Cheri’s Present Practice

Cheri resides in Southern California where she continues to read for her clients. Occasionally, she accepts a police case, but prefers to focus on her regular, business and celebrity clientele. Cheri has found much satisfaction knowing that she has made a significant difference in the lives of everyone she has read for in over 20 years of private consultation. Cheri has many specific areas of expert psychic intervention that she can assist you in. Here are just a few of specific concerns she has helped hundreds of others with:

Medical Diagnostic: Although she isn’t a medical doctor or a healer, she can feel someone’s illness and correctly diagnose the problem without any prior knowledge to the person or illness. She can actually see the physical body via her Guides, like looking at a skeletal image or feels the pain in the exact place that is plaguing the ill person. The most important use of Cheri’s input here is that you better improve and direct your own medical treatment to a positive outcome.

Homicide or missing persons: Homicide or missing persons is something that she feels she has an innate gift for. She has had the ability to see danger not only for myself but loved ones around me. She can accurately describe in detail a crime before it has occurred and has found missing persons. She limits this service due to its stressful nature both physically and emotionally. Cheri has been working with private investigators for over 15 years and is on the advisory board of a National Investigative Agency.

Missing Objects: Cheri also can find missing objects from jewelry to corporate files lost usually in an office or a structure. If something has been misplaced and is within reach for the client who lost it, then it can usually be found. Sometimes things are stolen and the only thing she can do is give you closure. The sentimental value of an object usually are what guides are most often drawn to. They also like to see people have the good things in life. Spirit Guides are also very emotional as well as humorous.

Missing Pets: Cheri has a big heart for animals and has the capability to sometimes see into an animal’s behavior and emotions. Animals are like people, they have feelings just as we do. When an animal is going to be sick or pass over, usually she will see it. The only time her guides won’t show her is if she won’t be able to stop something from happening or the person who owns the animal doesn’t want to know. In case an animal is missing, her guides are usually more involved. They will at least let her help a person to have closure or in the case of a happy ending, they will actually find the pet. There is never a guarantee but she has successfully reunited many owners with their pets over the years.

Corporate Strategist: This is one of her biggest successes over the years. Cheri, without any prior knowledge of someone’s business or field of endeavor, is able to tune into the situation or the company. She often get the troublemakers profile and motive for their actions. Besides profiling, she is able to help strategize movements and actions that best help the person, corporation or project. Her guides want to help make life easier for everyone that comes to Cheri. They won’t do things for you, but they will show you the best way to get there.

Jury Selection: Cheri has been asked over the years by attorneys in different fields to help consult with the selection of a jury or to tune into the defendant as to whether she can assist in helping with each individual case. While she hasn’t picked a jury yet, she has assisted many attorneys {in private} in making decisions based on what her  guides reveal.

Love: Everyone always wants to find his or her soulmate. Cheri had to wait awhile for hers to come,  but her guides revealed her partner and just as they helped her, she will also be able to see yours. Sometimes he or she is not what you thought, in fact they can be the complete opposite of what you think you are looking for. Cheri will assure you that when your eyes meet, you will know it. Love plays many functions in one path of life and the spirit guides are able to show her when and who. Timing is not always accurate but she can give you a good idea as to how long you must wait. If she has a person’s photograph, well, nothing is hidden and everything is definitely waiting to be revealed. If a person is suspected of cheating then ask your spirit guides and you may be surprised as to their answer.

Prosperity and Manifestation: Can you actually help make things happen in your life? Cheri always created what she wanted by just doing rather than making up excuses as to why things aren’t happening. You can learn how to manifest and create what you want through a private reading. She can help you help yourself. Guidance is golden! Learn how to create what you want.

Meditation: Cheri has been teaching people how to meditate through private sessions and in small groups for years. You can learn in privacy or in a group session.

Group Classes & Spiritual Development: If you are interested in learning how to develop your own psychic abilities or how to cope with the stress of everyday life through spiritual awareness, email her. Other topics covered include: Spirit Guides, Karma, reincarnation and soul mates. Read about Cheri’s classes here…

Cheri Becomes a Published Author

Cheri with her soul mate John Scarano, have written a spellbinding book that releases on November 13th, 2009 called, “Coldspring”.  It takes place at the dawn of man 12,000 years ago, when a clan began to cross the Bering Strait from Eurasia following the Woolly Mammoth onto the North American continent . In their midst are two men and one woman who will eventually follow their karmic destiny through many lifetimes, leading them each time into an intertwined web of love, jealousy and violence. This is a true love story about these three people. The murders that occurred on the land called Coldspring in three of those lifetimes are actual documented events. In writing this book, Cheri Mancuso and John Scarano, came to realize that their own destiny would soon play an integral part of their lives. This is the first book of three that will chronicle the birth of the karmic ties that led to the discovery of how we reincarnate within our families, friends and communities. This epic journey is a tale of  the undeniable connection between three people through time and beyond. You will be able to order “Coldspring” via her website: www.mediumcheri.com. It will be available shortly.

Not only is Cheri a great help in person, her website is also an expansive wealth of knowledge and insight. From natural disaster predictions and prophecies, testimonials of others who have been helped by Cheri, to free card readings – her website will give you much more than answers to your questions. www.mediumcheri.com

Also, stayed tuned to LA’s The Place.com as Cheri will be writing regular articles on spiritual and psychic matters right here.

To get started transforming your life with an in person or phone reading, email her at http://www.mediumcheri.com/contact.php.

No stranger to imperfect skin, as a female celebrity facialist, Ling Chang searched high and low to remedy her acne covered face. For many years she tried tirelessly to formulate what would eventually become the secret to perfect skin. Creating her own skin care line, Ling Chang began providing help to the public and celebrity clients alike. Her success allowed her to open her own spas: the first in Manhattan at the Crown Building, the second in Barneys in New York, and third in Union Square.

After years of serving up luminous skin on the East Coast, Ling Chan has decided to expand, bringing her skin care line to the West Coast and into clients’ homes as well.  Los Angeles consumers can now head over to the luxurious SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills’ Ciel Spa or Se San Diego Hotels’ Se Spa for a complete treatment using Ling Skincare products.

Ling Home Facial Kit

Ling has also created an ‘At-Home Facial Kit’, valued at $115 but available for a mere $85 in which clients can treat their skin themselves. Included in the kit is a pamphlet that houses directions to completing a daily regimen and a weekly facial the correct way.  Chang insists that clients follow the 5 steps of the daily regimen as a means to acquiring beautiful skin. In order, clients should purify, hydrate, solve, nourish, and renew their skin. For those who are clueless as to what this means, clients should cleans and exfoliate, hydrate, apply a product for problem areas (i.e. acne, dry skin, etc), nourish with moisturizer, and renew with a weekly facial.

The kit comes with every product needed to complete the 5 steps. Included are the Purifying Facial Cleanser (to be used in the morning), Replenishing Hydrator, Moisture Plenish, Elastin Collagen, Spotlight Papaya Peel (to be used in the evening) and Herbal Clay Clarifying Mask, & Ginseng Therapy Moisture Mask. The products are made of natural ingredients and are essentially chemical free, allowing all skin types the ability to use them.

Hydration is the Key

Chang can not stress the significance of not only cleansing and exfoliating, but also hydration, which Ling Skin Care is based on.  “Dehydration is the cause for most skin care problems,” she says. While drinking water orally is important, allowing our skin to drink water is as equally significant. Hydrating is the key to healthy skin. If clients skip any step, she insists it not be the use of the Replenishing Hydrator.

The conjunction of Chang’s 30 years of experience combined with her belief in Asian tonics and medicines has not only brought her success, but has also given her knowledge to create a product that has helped and will continue to others.

For more information on Ling Skin Care products and services, visit http://lingskincare.com, www.sbe.com, www.sesandiego.com

Membership Perks

Members of the Club Culinaire French Cuisine manned all the 60 booths displaying assorted high-end wine and food products like caviar, foie gras, lamb, veal, oysters, jumbo shrimp, sweet pluots, grapes and New Zealand apples.

Premium Purveyors

Some of the premium purveyors featured at the showcase included:

Universal Seafood, Regency Wines & Spirits, Republica del Cacao (chocolate), West Central Produce, Rougie America (foie gras), Eternal Water, Contessa Premium Foods, Earthbound Farms (organic lettuce) and Goldberg & Solovy (food products).

Also showcasing their wonderful culinary delights were: Metzler Family Farms, California Olive Ranch, Three Rivers Sake, Sweet Temptations and Canihan Family Cellars.  For a full list of purveyors please visit www.clubculinaire.us.

Club Culinaire

The Club Culinaire of French Cuisine/California is a non-profit, founded in 1980.  Members are chefs, pastry chefs, bakers, cooks, sommeliers, restaurant owners and purveyors involved in French cuisine and products.  The Club has approximately 150 members between Santa Barbara and San Diego, dedicated to educating the public about the history and changing face of French cuisine and lifestyle.

The Club Culinaire hosts events throughout the year including a Holiday Gala, the Bistro and Chef A Table Dinner Series. They also support Childrens Hospital Los Angeles/ The HOPE Program and the M.E.G. Foundation in India, where a kitchen has been built to feed children who have been orphaned.

You’re sitting at the doctor’s office or at your hair dresser’s, under one of those space helmet style dryers, and your eyes clasp onto it, the headline that reads like a chilled Aquafina amidst a hot, dry desert. “FOODS THAT FIGHT BELLY FAT”, it reads. Thank god! Another expert has staked claim to a magical diet do’s and don’ts list that targets and eliminates belly bulge. I hate to break it to you but the “expert” is actually versed in marketing, not nutrition, and knows full well that particular buzz words amp magazine sales tremendously. ‘Flat’ plus ‘belly’ equals a beeline to the bank for Mr. or Mrs. Marketing Jo.

Food as Fuel

Foods are designed to contribute to our bodies and our health, not to remove ounces, pounds or self esteem. A moderate diet that focuses on getting plenty of nutrient-dense foods into your body (fruits, vegetables, complex carbs, lean proteins and healthy fats) is key to healthy weight and wellness.  Add moderate, regular activity and you’re further prepared for success. But there is still something substantial missing.

Attitude is Everything

Many health and nutritional articles fail to address the importance of peoples’ attitudes pertaining to food, their bodies and themselves. Consider this: those who are grateful for their food seldom feel shame over eating it. Those who aren’t shameful are more likely to maintain a healthy weight. And those who find pleasure and joy in eating struggle less often with stress, obesity, eating disorders and the whole array of ailments that accompany these. When a person shifts their perspective from, “How can I get smaller?” to, “How can I live larger?” everything, including one’s belly, will fall into place. It may sound obscure but you’ll find it to be true as you get there. Indeed, the proof is in that darned proverbial pudding. I challenge you to take a bite.

Ten Steps to A Flatter Belly:

1)    Wear comfy clothes that fit.
2)    Stop comparing yourself to skinny, air-brushed models.
3)    Give yourself compliments every day.
4)    Eat fruits and veggies daily.
5)    Drink plenty of water.
6)    Slow down while you’re eating.
7)    Breath.
8)    Find physical activities you enjoy and do them because you want to.
9)    Keep a gratitude journal.
10)    When you have negative thoughts about your body, remind yourself what you’d remind any close friend who expressed the same: You are not your waist size, weight or the size of your belly.

You’re beautiful precisely as you are.

For additional information or to post questions to be addressed on LA’s The Place, visit August’s blog: www.healthynutritiontalk.com.

Please support your troops by going to any of these websites and do what you can. You can make a difference in their daily lives! Make sure they know they have not been forgotten. You can donate directly at the USO website here…

At Troops Support, they provide a multitude of websites where you can support troops, veterans and families of the fallen and wounded. www.TroupsSupport.com

This Holiday Season brings a national call for Holiday Care Boxes and support for the troops! Let’s show them how much we each care and support them!

Support Our Troops^® makes this call on behalf of all 60+  troop-related groups across America who are routinely sending care packages to the troops. www.SupportOurTroops.org

The following are things the troops principally request:

The items on the list below have been specifically requested by the troops. If you want to send things to the troops, these are the most needed ones. Let’s do our part!

• phone cards (#1 most requested item; so they can phone their loved ones)
• VISA and M/C gift cards (#2 most requested item; gives them maximum flexibility
• personal hygiene items (American made for safety of course)
• wet wipes, individually wrapped in foil packs (not gel bottles)
• body wipes in plastic pull-out canisters
• disposable razors – men’s and women’s
• lip balm
• Floss
• toothbrushes
• foot powder and the like
• beef jerky and sticks
• powdered drink mix (to flavor their local water with)
• hard candy
• iTunes cards
• magazines (clean content)
• books (clean content)
• fun posters and calendars for dressing the place up
• AA batteries
• AAA batteries
• movie DVD’s (clean content)
• music CDs (clean content)
• iPODs (empty)
• small earphones
• 1 GB and 2 GB USB memory sticks (external hard drives) (blank)
• peanuts and nuts in cans with lids
• sun block
• tins and packets of flavored coffee and cappuccino
• gum
• breath mints
• small sporting equipment

You can make their most challenging journey a little less tough by doing this small favor. You’ll be happy you did! www.supportourtroops.org

Katy Perry with host Scott Harden

3OH!3 premiered their newest video for “Starstrukk (featuring Katy Perry)” on MTV today. This is the group’s latest single which can be heard in the trailer for “When In Rome,” an upcoming romantic comedy by Touchstone Pictures starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. 3OH!3’s “Starstrukk” will also be included in the soundtrack of the movie set to release in January 2010. Known for their quirkiness, 3OH!3 does not let up in this new video and Katy Perry dives right in, getting up close and personal with the boys. It is definitely one full of entertainment and will have fans watching over and over again.

Make-up like the Pros

As seen on those fabulous make-over commercials, Luminess® Air is a premium airbrush makeup system designed to deliver flawless, professional results. The same airbrush system used for celebrities in TV, film, and print, Luminess Air brings professional makeup technology home for everyone to use. Luminess is a favorite of Emmy award-winning celebrity makeup artists for popular television shows like ABC’s Desperate Housewives, Dancing with the Stars, Lost and The View as well as American Idol on FOX TV and CSI on CBS. Luminess Air is also used on most ABC and CBS morning, afternoon and evening news programs.

Camera Ready Make-up at Home

Luminess Air makes it possible to achieve a delicate “airbrushed” finish at home. The makeup system provides light to maximum coverage in an easy-to-use, compact airbrush kit. The handheld airbrush is designed for perfect distribution of makeup and diminishes the look of blemishes, age spots, wrinkles, redness and pores. Luminess Air provides a smooth, natural looking makeup application and gives the look of beautiful, young skin.

Natural Flawlessness

Luminess Air eliminates foundation marks and blends perfectly around jaw line and neck. Luminess Air provides a 99.9% exact foundation color match, only possible through airbrush makeup. Luminess Air is dermatologist tested and recommended, and makeup application time is half as long using an at-home airbrush makeup system.

Ease and Cost Effectiveness

Place a few drops of makeup in stylus of the airbrush pen. On a clean, dry, face, press the airbrush pen button to apply a light first layer of airbrush foundation. Apply added coats of foundation until a desired level of makeup coverage is achieved.

Luminess Air will save you loads of money on make-up as it only takes a few drops of foundation to cover your entire face. The Basic 1-speed is priced at $169.00, Pro 3-speed at $299.00, and Platinum Edition at $399.00.

Luminess Air also offers a line of professional make-up that is engineered to compliment the airbrush applicator. They offer satin foundation, matte foundation, blush moisturizer, metallics, concealers, eye shadows, translucent powders, and tanning products.

Availability at: www.luminessair.com

Master Chef Roy

Roy Yamaguchi, winner of the prestigious James Beard Award and former contestant on Top Chef Masters and Iron Chef, and Moët & Chandon have collaborated to bring foodies and bubble lovers alike a one-night only dining experience available at all 27 Roy’s mainland locations.

Bubbly Fun

The complementary pairing of sushi and champagne, a deliciously kept secret in the culinary world, is now available in a sensual dining experience which includes three courses of sushi, a Waygu beef entrée and dessert. Moët champagnes, including Moët Impérial, Moët Rosé Impérial, Moët Nectar Impérial and Moët Grand Vintage 2000, have been expertly paired to complement each course. The evening will begin with the Moët & Chandon Impérial “POG” Cocktail – a delicious passion fruit, orange and guava mimosa. The limited dining experience is available by reservation only for $75 plus tax & gratuity, which includes Moet & Chandon champagnes.

The sushi and champagne pairing is available at these four locations throughout Los Angeles:

Roy’s Los Angeles
800 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Roy’s Pasadena
641 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91101

Roy’s Woodland Hills
6363 Topanga Canyon Boulevard
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Roy’s Anaheim
321 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92802

For reservations for this fantastic foodie evening: Los Angeles – (213) 488-4994 or Pasadena – (626) 356-4066, Woodland Hills – (818) 888-4801, Anaheim – (714) 776-7697

For more info visit:  http://www.roysrestaurant.com/

Cuoto Origins

Couto Toothpaste was created under the name “Pasta Medicinal Couto” in Porto, Portugal in 1932 by pharmacy manager, Dr. Alberto Ferreira Couto. The doctor, helped by a dentist who was a friend of his, created a type of toothpaste with the intention of limiting the widespread cases of gingival recession.

Happy Teeth

Couto has been sold in the finest European perfumeries for over 70 years. Classic 1930’s inspired packaging adds a retro touch to any medicine cabinet and Couto’s formulation of natural peppermint, menthol, anethol, thymol and eugenol keeps teeth white and gums healthy. The toothpaste’s high quality has led to its continued success and popularity, and today in Portugal, “couto paste” is synonymous with toothpaste. The small production is still in the hands of the last heir of the Couto family, Alberto Gomes da Silva.

Cuoto is available for purchase at Gus Mayer, Kuhl Linscomb, and luckyscent.com.

30gr: $4.00, 60gr:$7.00, 120gr: $12.00.

For more info on Cuoto, visit: http://www.couto.pt/en/pastamedcouto.html

The Event took place at ‘Daves Garage’ Event Center in Torrance. Dave Parker’s vintage car collection was available to view. Many cars were from the private collection of Jay Leno.  Featured was a live performance from “27 Miles” with Kurt Custer formally of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a Hope Song runway show and a silent and live auction from “Gallery of Dream” which featured priceless signed memorabilia from the Beatles and Rolling Stones.

Project SHIFT is comprised of two amazing organizations Community’s Child & Visual Impact Now. These organizations help woman and children with eye care and shelter. The woman and children receive help with eye exams, eyewear, education, skills and training for everyday life. Project SHIFT is the stepping stone to help the woman and children break the patterns of poverty and move towards a better future.

Project SHIFT had a great celebrity turn out with Brian White, Adam Gaynor, George Grey, Tom Mallow, Travis Van Winkle, Carolina Bacardi and many more.

The success of works like Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret have led to many people revisiting concepts like goal setting and positive thinking. Advanced Cosmic Ordering (www.advancedcosmicordering.com) is connected to that discussion as the website’s founder Bradley Thompson promises insight into realizing your life dreams in anything from finances to personal relationships.

The website for the Advanced Cosmic Ordering instructional guide begins with a simple question: What if you could simply order you’re life’s desires by placing a call to a Universe Order Hotline? In asking the question, the website promises to provide the fundamentals, secrets and shortcuts to cosmic ordering. Bradley Thompson and Advanced Cosmic Ordering suggest on the home page that applying the tenet of cosmic ordering can help you achieve success in areas like:

Making More Money than You Can Handle

Buying a Brand New and Luxurious Home

Finding Your Beautiful, Ideal Partner

Making More Friends and Social Connections

Advanced Cosmic Ordering

Advanced Cosmic Ordering, a cosmic ordering guide with insight from manifestation professionals that include Thompson, Karl Moore and Michael Masterman. The guide examines cosmic ordering processes in a variety of life areas, including wealth, relationships, health, career and life experiences. The book checks in at just over 110 pages in length and examines issues like:

The Seven Steps to Instant Cosmic Ordering

The Top Three Myths About Cosmic Ordering

The Cosmic Revelations That Can Change Your Outlook on Life

The Truth Behind Cosmic Ordering Gurus

The Secret Way to Literally Test Your Cosmic Ordering Skills

The book additionally examines other factors in cosmic order, discussing what they refer to as Abundance Saboteurs and Energy Vampires as well as discovering your Anam Cara.

Recorded Instruction

Advanced Cosmic Ordering also provides a 30 minute Cosmic Ordering recording that guides you through the entire Cosmic Ordering Process. There are also five visualization recordings, each lasting ten minutes and correlating with the teachings in the written guide.

Purchasing the Kit

The Advanced Cosmic Ordering instructional guide is available for purchase at the price of 47.95. In addition to the previously mentioned features, the kit further includes:

45-Minute Cosmic Ordering Binaural Beats Recording

10-Minute Digital Caffeine Wake-Up

100 Magical Abundance Affirmations

Two Free Hypnosis Sessions

Bradley Thompson

A self-development author, Thompson’s books include Developing Your Own Subliminal-Studio, Be Psychic and Lucid Dreaming in Seven Days. Thompson claims over fifteen years of experience with cosmic ordering and is also known for his Subliminal Power tool, which is currently used on over 1 million desktops throughout the world. His 5-part Encoding System” is currently used on many subliminal CD’s.

Through his work with the WCCL Network, Thompson’s client have included AT&T, the US Army, IBM, FedEx, the BBC, British Telecom, UPS, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Network Solutions, Sun, Deloitte & Touche, Dow Jones, Merrill Lynch, the Discovery Channel, Time Warner, Nationwide Insurance, Xerox, Intel, KPMG, and Microsoft.

long-lasting Thermolon nonstick food release

GreenPan Features

The construction of this spacious 11” fry pan presents benefits for the avid chef, occasional cook and everyone in between. The aforementioned Thermolon nonstick food release reduces the need to add butter, oils or fats. An encapsulated aluminum disc in the pan’s base allows for even temperatures throughout the entire pan and is sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel, yielding greater durability.

The GreenPan from Celebrity Chef Todd English sports a rolled pouring rim that makes pouring and transferring contents easier. It stands at a 2 1/4” height and measures 11-1/2″ in diameter x 20″ in length when including the pan’s ergonomic, stainless steel riveted handle. A tempered glass lid conceals the heat while allowing an unfettered view of the food.

Pan Usage

When it comes to “pan handling”, even the most savvy chef couldn’t ask for much more in handling and durability. The GreenPan and its accompanying lid are dishwasher safe and promises to not spot or degrade over time. The pan itself is also constructed with high-heat resistance, making the GreenPan oven safe up to 850 degrees. The GreenPan’s lid is heat resistant up to 420 degrees.

Green Friendly

Living up to its name, the GreenPan is green friendly as the pan’s long lasting Thermolon is made without PFOA. PFOA is a chemical that is used in the manufacturing of traditional PTFE-based nonstick cookware coatings and other products. Though PFOA is not present in finished cookware products and there are no health risks from PFOA in cookware, it does leave its imprint on our environment. Because PFOA has been found in the environment, many companies have joined the Environmental Protection Agency in working to eliminate the facility emissions and product content of PFOA by the year 2015.

Functionality

In addition to the environmental benefits the use of Thermolon provides an added functionality by making the pan effective from low or medium heat to high heat. The chemical PTFE is traditionally found in nonstick coatings, which typically degrade at temperatures above 500 degrees. However, Thermolon coated pans can be used like your traditional nonstick coated pans while maintaining the heat integrity comparable to your stainless steel or cast iron cookware, meaning you can now use only one pan instead of multiple pans.

In a nutshell, the GreenPan Stainless Steel 11″ Fry Pan with Glass Lid Features:

• Thermolon nonstick food release reduces the need to add butter, oils or fats
• Encapsulated aluminum disc in pan base - even temperatures throughout the entire base of the pan; sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel for added durability
• Rolled pouring rim – for easy pouring and transfer of contents without messes or spills
• Tempered glass lid - strong and enable viewing of cooking process without letting heat escape
• Pan and lid are dishwasher safe – for easy clean-up; will not spot or degrade over time
• High-heat resistance; pan is oven safe to 850 degrees
• Stainless steel riveted ergonomic handle - contoured for comfort and control
• Measures approx. 11-1/2″ in diameter x 20″L (with handle) x 2-1/4″H
• Pan has Thermolon gray nonstick interior and mirror-polished exterior
• Pan is oven safe to 850 degrees; lid is oven safe to 420 degrees
• Pan is induction-ready
• Pan and lid are dishwasher safe
• Available at HSN and HSN.com
• $54.95

“Born to Stand Out” reflects Bauer’s physical fitness regimen, and shares his belief that good conditioning adds to one’s mental well-being, as well as provides a spiritual strength that contributes to all areas of one’s life. By combining balance, flexibility and strength, Bauer teaches readers how to use these principals in order to achieve peek physical fitness, while adopting a whole new outlook on life.

The Man Behind the Book
An athlete himself, Stephen Bauer has worked with many sports figures, including Maria Sharapova, who he currently coaches, as well as Conchita Martinez, who he helped climb up the ranks from number 42 to number 2 in the world in the Women’s Professional Tennis Tour. Stephen also guided junior tennis player Michael Joyce from number ten, to number one in the U.S. and number five in the world and was responsible for helping Hugo Perez make the United States World Cup Soccer Team.

Ewen McGregor, Stephen Bauer, Hugh Jackman

In addition, Stephen has trained members of the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, New York Kicks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Rockets, U.S. National Soccer Team, Oakland Raiders, as well as Pro Volleyball players, WTA/ATP tennis players and USC, UCLA & Pepperdine athletes.

With 10 years coaching on the WTA Tour, 18 years teaching professional tennis in Los Angeles and 2 years of coaching footwork and conditioning at Pepperdine University behind him, Stephen also trains many members of the Hollywood elite.

Stephen has also shared his considerable knowledge with media outlets such as, “People Magazine”, “Runners’ World”, “GQ”, “Vogue”, “Vanity Fair”, “Muscle & Fitness”, ”Tennis”, “Tennis Weekly”, “CBS”, “BBC”, “USA,” and the “LA Times.” 

When he’s not training or coaching, Stephen donates his time to many worthwhile charities. Working with the US Open Tennis Foundation, he brought Jim Carrey in to play in the tournament, lined up pro players to participate in the Bank of the West Pro Celebrity Tennis Tournament and works with the Make a Wish Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Born to Stand Out
Bauer’s book includes exercises for every part of the body, as well as demonstrates how to build the foundation for a complete lifestyle makeover by focusing on:

*The elimination of negative thinking
*The uses of positive reinforcement
*The benefits of visualization
*Making time for yourself
*Cleaning up your space
*Bringing on supporters
*Dealing with and eliminating distractions
*Finding your inner child
*The necessity of good nutrition

We sat down with Stephen Bauer to find out more about his life and philosophy: 

LA’s The Place:  What lead you into an athletic career?

Stephen Bauer:  In high school I started playing tennis and joined the track team as a 400 meter runner.  While in college I continued to excel at both sports and considered competing at the professional level. I then had an opportunity to coach on the pro tennis tour and found it to be a perfect fit as I enjoyed helping people improve themselves.

LATP:  Why tennis?
SB:  Tennis had always been a significant party of my life, I had started when I was 6 years old.  I could identify much more with the sport and found it full of opportunities worldwide.

I also appreciate the complexity in the range of techniques involved with tennis. There are so many different parts to the game (different swings, footwork, strategy, etc.).Tennis is a the kind of sport in which someone can integrate into their whole life. Finally, I like the fact that tennis is an individual sport, 1-on-1. Your success is completely in your hands, you take full responsibility for your results.

LATP:  How did you get involved in teaching celebrities?
SB:  Originally coaching with pro-tour tennis players as well as cross training athletes from other sports such as the NFL and NBA.  I met Tim Caviezel while sprint training and he suggested I start training his brother, Jim Caviezel (Jesus in Passion of the Christ).  Since then my client list has had a snowball effect, growing by word of mouth. Now I coach about 10 A-List celebrities in tennis and conditioning.

LATP:  What do you attributed to your success?
SB:  I really love working with people, very positive, never negative. I’m honest, loyal, punctual. I enjoy bringing happiness into people’s lives with success and achievement.
Helping my clients achieve their goals and improve their lives is more important to me than picking up a paycheck.

LATP:  What is different in your approach?
SB:  I am extremely visual. My coaching is very tailored to each individual. Once of my key strengths is being able to relate tennis to their personal lives in order to help them understand and learn new skills. One of my current clients, Loren Levine, was a world champion wakeboarder. I will talk with him about his wakeboarding skills and then interpret them and apply them to tennis. Regarding kids, I treat them on an equal level like adults. I can really relate to kids. Most of all, all my clients become my friends.

LATP:  What is one of the most important things you want to get across in your book?
SB:  The discipline, strength, and balance of an athlete can directly translate into balancing an maintaining the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of anyone’s personal life.

In addition to reading the success stories of Bauer’s well known clients, readers will learn how to become physically fit by participating in different types of workouts, finding the right trainer and figuring out the best workout for the individual.

Some of the top celebrities Bauer is the personal tennis coach/trainer for include Jim Carrey, Jenny McCarthy, Tom Arnold, Mariska Hargitay, Jodie Foster, Eric Braeden, Jack Huston,  Ben Stiller, Sam Mendes, Brian Robbins, Renee Taylor, Kirsten Dunst, Jeremy Piven, Ewan McGregor, Martha De Laurentiis, Mark Ruffalo, Joe Bologna, Hugh Jackman, Jim Caviezel, Christine Taylor, Morris Chestnut, Kate Winslet, Deborah Gibson, Chris Roberts, Euzhan Palcy, Kathy Bates, Stephen Schwartz, Sheryl Lee, Chris Spencer, Mike Medavoy, Cynthia Margolis, Nastassja Kinski, Charlie Sheen, Harry Abrams, Bill Bindley, David Ladd, Cybill Shepherd, David Arnold and more.

Stephen has coached members of the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Rockets, U.S. National Soccer Team, Oakland Raiders, USC & UCLA & Pepperdine Athletes, Pro Volleyball Players, WTA/ATP tennis players.

The differences between Protandim and your garden variety supplements and vitamins are so pronounced that they shouldn’t even be in the same sentence together. Protandim confronts the body’s aging processes with a scalpel’s precision, directly targeting the bio-chemical indicators of getting older. Protandim is made from five natural ingredients; silymarin from milk thistle, bacopa extract, Ashwagandha, green tea extract and curcumin from turmeric.

What Protandim Targets

From fading colors in clothes to paint that begins to chip, we can actually see the signs of something getting older. Yet the body also has an internal way of chronicling its aging, and we can observe our own fading and chipping in the form of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances). TBARS are the toxins in your blood produced by the free-radicals in your cells. The sum of these TBARS has a direct correlation to the rate at which you age; as we get older, the amount of TBARS increases.

Stopping Free-Radicals

Not only does Protandim throw up a stop sign to the TBARS by freezing the increase in toxins, it actually reduces our TBARS level, effectively hitting the rewind button on our toxic stress level. In fact, many adults taking Portandim will see their TBARS level revert to the stress quotient that a baby would have.

Protandim actually signals the cells in your body to produce its own antioxidants enzymes, which provide thousands of times more antioxidant power than any food or conventional supplement. More enzymes results in fewer of the free-radicals that harm the body.

Protandim’s Clinical Trials

Dr. Joe McCord conducted the clinical trials of Protandim by measuring the TBARS in men and women of a variety of ages. The amount of TBARS in their blood was consistent with their age; the older the subject, the higher number of TBARS in their blood.

Test subjects took one Protandim pill each day as part of the study. After 30 days, the study revealed that TBARS levels in the study’s subjects achieved an average decrease of 40 percent in TBARS, equivalent to the aging rate of a 20 year old.

Dr. McCord’s study validated that the precise combination of natural phytonutrients in the patented Protandim formula consistently and significantly boosted the body’s own production of two protective antioxidant enzymes, SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase). These two antioxidant enzymes are fundamental to neutralizing the cell-damaging free radicals associated with aging and a variety of health conditions.

Reducing Inflammation

Protandim was issued its third patent on August 25, 2009 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent acknowledges Protandim’s effectiveness in reducing important inflammation Bio-marker C-reactive Protein. Suffering from elevated basal levels of C-reactive protein is considered a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

In response to the additional patent, Dr. McCord said “This patent further underscores the unique and powerful actions of Protandim as a tool against not only oxidative stress, but also inflammation. Chronic, low-level inflammation is now known to be associated with many of the major diseases we face as we age, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases.”

Potential for Fighting Diseases

Inspired by Protandim’s dramatic effect on the level of TBARS, scientists and academics have made Protandim the subject of over 20 current scientific studies at leading universities and research facilities including Ohio State University, University of Minnesota, Virginia Commonwealth, Children’s Hospital Denver, Vanderbilt University, University of Florida, University of Michigan, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, Denver Health Medical Center, and University of Colorado.

These studies are researching Protandim’s potential for fighting disease. The diseases being studied include skin cancer, photoaging of the skin, renal failure, osteoarthritis, HIV/AIDS, pulmonary hypertension, periodontal disease, heart disease, asthma, coronary artery bypass graft failure, muscular dystrophy, optic neuropathy, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome.

Purchasing Protandim

Protandim can be purchased for 40 dollars a month at www.ProvenYouthScience.com. For more information to purchase or to distribute, contact LifeVantage distributor Dale Ross at (800) 901-7016.

To learn more about Protandim studies, visit http://info.lifevantage.com/provenyouthscience/news.html
View the ABC Prime Time Live feature on Protandim and Dr. McCord on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdRVs8MRa8.

Now you can have baby soft feet and help a great cause. The makers of the PedEgg®, the revolutionary foot file, are introducing the Limited Edition Pink Ped Egg, and enables you to make a difference in the look and feel of your feet and in the lives of others.

The Limited Edition Pink PedEgg® is decorated with the internationally recognized pink ribbon. This is special because Telebrands, the company behind PegEgg, is donating $30,000 of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Just like the original, the Pink PedEgg® is engineered with over 135 precision stainless-steel micro-files that gently remove calluses and dead skin to give your feet the incredible baby soft look and feel that you will love.

The combination of the two, high-quality emery buffing pads and the  ergonomical design that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, makes for easy and convenient use.

The best part is, there is no mess. PedEgg® has been designed to collect all the skin shavings in a convenient storage compartment allowing you to use it anywhere.

With this Limited Edition Pink PedEgg®, you can help your feet and help find a cure for breast cancer.

PedEgg® is available at major mass retailers such as Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sally Beauty Supply, Target and CVS, among others, with a suggested retail price of $9.99.

When you purchase through their internet site ($10 plus $6.99 S&H), you’ll get a second Pink Ped Egg and a tube of Soft Silky Soles foot cream to repair dry, cracked skin. You’ll have to pay a separate $6.99 shipping and handling.

This special offer for 2 Pink PedEgg® and a free tube of Soft Silky Soles is only available on their site, not in stores: www.mypinkpedegg.com

Written by Henry Jaglom. Directed by Gary Imhoff. Stars Tanna Frederick; also starring Julie Davis, David Garver, Jack Heller, David Proval, Diane Louise Salinger, and Harriet Schock. Produced by Alexandra Guarnieri.
                 
The Isaacs are a mostly Jewish extended family (there’s a little Irish, Italian and some Chickasaw thrown into the mix) of actors. George Isaacs (AKA Grisha), the patriarch, had been a third-generation star of the Yiddish theatre in his youth, before “crossing over” into English-speaking theatre as he grew up. His wife, Vivien Cooper, had also been a successful stage actress, but now mostly stays at home and looks after George. Vivien’s brother, Larry Cooper, is in a nearby dinner-theatre production of “Guys and Dolls” and therefore staying at the Isaacs’ house as well. Times are tough and theatre jobs are few, so they’ve also taken in a boarder, Sally Brooks, a fading character actress.
                 
George and Vivien have two grown daughters. Pandora (Panda), the younger, is happy she was born in a trunk and has gotten to live the actor’s life. But she has moved back into her parents’ crumbling home, just 45 minutes from Broadway, after a long-term romance collapses, the latest of several failed love affairs. Betsy hates showbiz and is uncomfortable with its inhabitants, and moved away to become successful as a “civilian”. She brings home her fiancé, Jimmy Halkin, to meet the family. Also a successful businessman (”mostly in real estate”), Jimmy is as seemingly normal as her family members are “weird”. That’s how Betsy sees them. She’s in for a surprise.
                 
They are all in for surprises. Betsy has been making plans that will affect all their lives, and not with their consent. Jimmy is not who he seems to be. He is surprised to find himself drawn to Panda’s genuineness and her determination to live life on her own terms. She’s also a ravishingly beautiful redhead. Uh oh!

Playwright Henry Jaglom’s other plays include the award-winning “Room 322″, “A Safe Place” — his debut theatre piece first written for the Actors’ Studio, later made into a film with Jack Nicholson, Tuesday Weld and Orson Welles—and “Always…But Not Forever,” his adaptation of his 1985 film of the same name (which premiered last year at the Edgemar). He is most known as a celebrated auteur of films that put women front and center (bucking the Hollywood trend) and that contain many scenes of people engaging in intelligent conversation (also defying Hollywood fashion). His movies as a writer and director include the current “Irene in Time,” “Hollywood Dreams,” “Deja Vu,” “Last Summer in the Hamptons,” “Someone to Love,” “Venice/Venice,” “Festival in Cannes,” and “Eating.”

Tanna Frederick stars as Panda. She is also the star of two Jaglom films, “Hollywood Dreams” and “Irene in Time” for which she has won rave reviews. She recently completed principal photography on Jaglom’s “Queen of the Lot” opposite Noah Wyle and Chris Rydell, which will be released next year.

Her stage credits include roles in “Always… But Not Forever” (last year at the Edgemar Center for the Arts), “A Safe Place” N. Richard Nash’s “Echoes,” “Toussaint: For The Love Of Freedom,” “Why We Have A Body,” “The Maids,” and more. Tanna was awarded the 2009 Maverick Award by the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. Also engaged in philanthropic pursuits, she is co-founder of “Project Save Our Surf” and founder of the Iowa Independent Film Festival.

Co-starring with Ms. Frederick in “Just 45 Minutes From Broadway” are an extraordinary roster of theatre artists: Julie Davis, David Garver, Jack Heller, David Proval, Diane Salinger and Harriet Schock, each boasting extraordinary credits of his or her own.

Gary Imhoff directs the new play. His other directing credits include the plays “Always….But Not Forever,” “The Devil and Daniel Webster” and  “The Dearly Departed,” as well as the upcoming films “Break,” “Scottish Dreams,” and “Wildflower.”

Also an actor, he portrayed Charlie Brown in the original production of “Snoopy!,” starred in “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (L.A. and N.Y.), “Assassins” (West Coast Premiere), often appeared in films and frequently in television episodes of “Falcon Crest” and “Eight Is Enough.”

Edgemar Center For the Arts, on the Main Stage, 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Parking is available (fee charged) in an onsite structure, and metered parking is available in nearby Lot 11, across the street from Peet’s Coffee.

Dates and Times

Show times:  Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 5 p.m.

Dark Thanksgiving Weekend, November 26 – 29.

Closes Sunday, December 20.

Admission: $25.
Reservations: (310) 392-7327.
Online ticketing: www.edgemarcenter.org

Retail stores have felt the crunch of the economy. TheSurpriseStore.com, a premier private online sales vehicle helps branded consumer product companies alleviate their inventory and find new direct-to-consumer channels for marketing and brand elevation while at the same time enriching the consumer shopping experience.

Founded by Mark S. Freeman, he states, “We feel that we are acknowledging the current climate of both the economy and of retail that TheSurpriseStore is at the cusp of a breaking consumer trend in online shopping.” This translates as: Great deals!

The SurpriseStore is primarily focused on a 14-39 year old demographic and is geared towards youth lifestyle and action sports brands and targets cross promotion opportunities to enrich both the consumer and seller experience.

“The demographic that we are targeting with TheSurpriseStore is a niche that the private online sale world has yet to really approach,” Freeman says. 

This win-win channel of distribution allows the brands to alleviate their inventories with much better returns on their investments than traditional channels as well as simultaneously connect directly to their consumers with the built-in online marketing that the pop up sales provide.

TheSurpriseStore members are given the opportunity to acquire great stuff at amazing prices and brands are able to move their product and their message to the mass market more efficiently.

This direct to consumer model is a proven winner for both sides.

TheSurpriseStore’s first sale kicks off on October 1, 2009 with the confirmed sales of Altru, Cohesive, Elm Company, PONY and Alternative Apparel watches with many more surprises on the horizon.

More Specifically, what is TheSurpriseStore?

TheSurpriseStore is a private, member’s-only club that organizes 24-72 hours sales of premium brands. Sales will have anywhere from 45%-80% off of retail.

As a member of TheSurpriseStore, an email will be sent each time a new sale is about to open. Once the sales are over the store is closed and the next sale begins.

Three huge events hitting the USC, UCLA, and Cal State Fullerton areas, top fashion companies are coming together to purge excess inventory while offering recession-proof shopping to students – Hip clothes, shoes, accessories, and products for men and women 10% – 70% off!  In a nutshell, both sides, companies and consumers, are helping each during these rough economic times!

Shopaholics Unite is hosted by Ms. Popular Enterprise and sponsored by Monster Energy Drink.

Time: 12:00pm – 7:00pm each event 

Dates and Locations:

September 22, 2009

UCLA – W Hotel

930 Hilgard Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90024September 24, 2009

USC – Radisson Hotel

3540 South Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90007

~~~~~~~

October 1, 2009

Cal State Fullerton – Marriot

2701 East Nutwood Avenue

Fullerton, CA 92831

Hosted by:Ms. Popular Enterprise

Sponsor: Monster Energy Drink

Cost: $1 dollar door donation.

For instance, Hawaii tried a system with a public option intended to cover more individuals; the program was dropped within seven months as costs spiraled out of control.  Other states have had similar experiences.

A major problem with the current insurance model is that it does not work for services used on a routine basis. Insurance is designed to work for services that are unexpected and is a very poor and ineffective method of delivery for routine, expected services. With such a system, costs skyrocket and care is poor.

With the current insurance model the only cost containment is denial of service by the insurer. Patients with insurance pay a premium, so rightfully they want to get as much as they can for their money.   Similarly, doctors seek as much treatment as they can from the insurance company, being naturally drawn to procedures that are paid the most by the insurers. Thus, to contain costs insurance companies must deny treatment.  Medical decisions are influenced more by what the insurance company will likely pay for than what is medically appropriate. Routine medical treatments are routinely denied payment or require “prior authorizations” from doctors, meaning they must fill out multiple forms to prove their patient needs a particular treatment. As a result, costs rise and care declines.

Doctors start to realize what the insurance company will pay for, which is usually high price procedures and specialty services.  Over time this results in huge amounts of unnecessary costs and an overabundance of specialists (lack of primary care physicians). Care further declines because physicians find that they can make much more money by spending little time with patients.  Doctors are no longer doctors but rather now serve as intermediaries between the insurance company and patients.

The system needs to change so that it empowers patients and physicians to work together to provide the most appropriate treatment in the most cost-effective manner. Medical savings accounts – with negotiated rates to prevent overcharging – would be a step in the right direction.  An even more significant change would be converting to payment on a cash basis. We have found that, almost without exception, laboratories, doctors, and other services will happily take 70% less if paid in cash at the time of service. They have found that their costs are increased by that much if they have to bill insurance companies and incur other expenses – plus the risk of denial – in an effort to obtain payment which, if approved, generally arrives 30 to 300 days after initial billing. For instance, we have contracts with the major laboratories at 70% less than what they bill insurance companies. CT scans and MRIs, usually billed $2500 to $3000 to insurers, are contracted at a rate of $300; colonoscopies that doctors bill at $1500 are done for $400. The cost savings are not in the care but rather the system.

Most patients with “good” insurance are relieved when their insurance pays 50-70% of the bill. They are of course surprised to find, however, that their co-pay is usually more than the cash price would have been for the service. An example is patient SC who visited our office. Extensive lab work was done (21 tests). The lab billed the insurance $1800 and the insurance paid $1200; the patient was billed a $600 co-pay. The cash price would have been less than $400.

What is the solution? It is to expand medical saving accounts. But in doing so, the government must require that all doctors, laboratories, hospitals and other services post their rates, and cash must be the least expensive rate. With these entities competing against one another, costs will plummet and quality will improve.

You ask what about those who cannot pay out of pocket. Instead of an employer paying, say, $500/month to a third party payer, $400 per month goes into the medical saving account and $100 towards catastrophic care insurance. Most of the money rolls over each month to be potentially used in the future, but some can be returned to the patient. This is a big incentive to keep costs low. With all the money saved on routine and semi-emergent care, better insurance can be provided for those most in need. Under this model, physicians would be able to provide the best medical care possible at the most cost-effective price.

Read more articles from Dr. Holtorf here in his column here in LA’s The Place…

Melissa Rycroft, Victoria Secret model Miranda Kerr and Giuliana Rancic

Dancing with the Stars alum Melissa Rycroft, newly blonde Victoria’s Secret Supermodel Miranda Kerr and television personality Giuliana Rancic, hosted the in-store launch event for the limited edition fragrance. The beautiful ladies helped customers find their perfect perfume for fall while testing the new scent out on each other, and in Rycroft’s case, her fiance Tye Strickland was on hand to help select her sexy new fragrance!

Dream Angels Heavenly Enchanted is the newest addition to the number #1 selling fragrance family in America – the Dream Angels fragrance collection by Victoria’s Secret Beauty. The mystical oriental-woody scent is perfect for fall, with sparkling raspberry, coconut milk and amber. Inspired by the lingering warmth of dream angels Heavenly, this limited-edition fragrance is richer and more sensual.

The W Hollywood, in preparation for its December 2009 opening, today announced that it will kick off its search for more than 400 Talent members on Monday, August 31, with the debut of its innovative Talent Center (W’s re-interpretation of a recruitment center).  Located next to the iconic Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, W Hollywood’s Talent Center will open at 11am with a Talent Show for inspired and dynamic Talent who will support the 305 room W Hotel and 143 W-branded residences.  Available positions range from Whatever/Whenever Agents to Style Supervisors, from Welcome Ambassadors to Bliss Nail Technicians.

“We understand our responsibility to the community and are excited about the number of jobs being created by this development,” said Jim McPartlin, General Manager, W Hollywood Hotel & Residences. “There will be more than 400 positions available when the Talent Center opens on Monday, and we hope to have a large number of applicants from the local community. We are looking for passionate, talented and enthusiastic applicants who strive to offer exceptional guest service and experience, and who want to play an important part of Hollywood’s revitalization. This is an extremely exciting time for the community. We look forward to enhancing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with the W brand!” 

The Talent Center will serve as the hub of the Talent Show and will supply “Starfinder Stations” where potential applicants can apply for jobs online and “Whisper Booths” for interviews. The Talent Center will also feature a modern W Living Room (W’s twist on the traditional hotel lobby) set-up, serving as a testament to the innovation and inspiration for which the W brand is renowned.  Old black and white Hollywood movies will be projected onto the walls. The Talent Center will also be the location of the W Hollywood virtual tour debut in a public showing!

W Hollywood Hotel & Residences is the first branded property providing hotel, retail and for-sale residences in Los Angeles. The $350 million development at Hollywood & Vine will offer a world-class lifestyle opportunity boasting lush landscaping, cutting-edge design, modern service, and innovative living spaces. Stylish design. Eco-conscious construction. Dramatic views. Modern art. Premier nightlife. Exclusive restaurants. Premium service.  In fact, an aura of exclusivity permeates everything about W Hollywood, including its residential enclave featuring 143 exclusive residences paired to the Whatever/Whenever® concierge service with access to the amenities of the adjacent 305-room W Hollywood.

Located in the heart of Hollywood, W Hollywood’s prime location offers easy access to all interest points, including Hollywood & Highland Complex, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, El Capitan theater and across from the iconic Capital Records building. Ushering a new era, W Hollywood will recapture the immortal spirit of Hollywood’s glamour while infusing energy, style and excitement that compose the signature touches of the W Hotel experience. www.whotels.com/hollywood 

The W Hollywood Talent Center is located at 6225 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90028 (corner of Hollywood Blvd & Argyle St), across the street from the Hollywood/Vine Metro Station on the Red Line. Parking is available in the lot across the street on the southeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Street. Alternatively, street parking may be available. The Talent Center will be open from Monday, August 31st through Friday, September 4th from 11am to 3pm and from Monday, September 7th through Friday, October 30th from 10am to 5pm, with appointments available on Saturdays.

About W Hotels Worldwide®

W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 33 properties in the most vibrant destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music, entertainment, design, architecture, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas.  With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Boston, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, and Downtown New York. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat.  For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Distinctive Assets' A-list Doggie Gift Bag

HollyWOOF! A-list Doggie Gift Bag Recipients:
Tori Spelling, Alicia Silverstone, Miley Cyrus, Ricky Martin, Jai Rodriguez, Charlize Theron, Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, Mickey Rourke, Hayden Panettiere, Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Griffin, Katherine Heigl, Rachel Bilson, Amanda Bynes, Denise Richards, Mischa Barton, Nicole Richie, Fergie, Ellen DeGeneres, Glenn Close, Hilary Duff, and Justin Timberlake.

Here’s whats inside the fabulous Doggie Gift Bag:
* Grrr-nola All Natural Hearth Healthy Dog Food from All American Pet Brands
* Dog supplements from BiologicVET
* Homemade natural dog food from Cleo & Patra Canine Cuisine
* Pet First Aid Kit, travel and Pet Passport from Wag’N Pet Safety Gear
* Gourmet treats for dogs and cats from GiggyBites Bakery & Marketplace
* Dog waste bags from Flush Puppies
* Alpaca/merino/bamboo/wool sweaters and blankets from Roving Woolens, LLC
* Pawpass from Check Your Paws, Inc
* Professional dog studio photography package from Otis & Lucy Photography
* Dog Duvets and Stuff Sacks from Molly Mutt
* Caprice Renae’s handmade cuffs with rosettes and gems (for every owners wrist!)
* Matching Tutu dog collars and sets for daughters from Tutu Couture
* A lifetime membership to the pet recovery service The Pet Protector
* WaterDog® The automatic outdoor pet drinking fountain
* Annual subscription, magazine and tote bag from Modern Dog
* Blankets and gift certificate from Puppy Hugger
* Be Smart Ride Safe with Bark Buckle Up Safety Kit
* PET-TABS vitamin-mineral supplements
* All- natural, certified organic pet wellness supplements from Harrisons’ Pet Products
* Super fresh dog shampoo, natural balance conditioning shampoo, safe and sure eye wipes, and easy ear wipes from TrueBlue Pet Products
* Dog harness from Buddy Belts
* Animal magazine from FIDO Friendly Magazine
* Gift certificate for 50% off for a luxury indoor pet home from Adorable Abodes
* All natural glycerin moisturizing soap bars  from Chakra Dog
* PuppyMillsBite t-shirt from The Fleas Knees
* Spill proof travel bowl from FlyDog
* Dog exerciser from Springer America
* Cape coat and custom dress from Green Dog Designs
* Wellness treats from WellPet
* Natural rope leads and collars from Found My Animal
* Cat litter from World’s Best Cat Litter (for those celebs who also have cats)
* Organic gourmet dog treats from NatureNosh
* Wet or dry meals with designer dog plates from Purina Chef Michael’s
* Petropics natural canned dog food
* Essential oil scented potpourri rocks and vacuum beads from De Lea’
* Canine-inspired eco-chic shopping buddy from Giacini Atelier
* Breed-specific specially-formulated dog food from Royal Canin USA
* Dog treats from Whole Life Pet Products
* Natural Paws pet paw relief sprays
* Collapsible containers for pets from Popware
* Biscuit treats and doggie dental care from Hartz
* Pet carriers from ZÜCA
* Pet air beds from Gertie Gear
* Engraved silver pet identification tags from BlingBling4Pets.com
* Cashmere blankets from SwaddleDesigns
* Dog bowls and toys from Petprojekt™
* Book (Speaking for Spot)/veterinary health consult from Trafalgar Square Books
* Port-A-Poo dog waste carrier from Mind, Body & Paw

To find out more about where Distinctive Assets will be celebrity gifting next: www.distinctiveassets.com