Brooklyn-based Victoria Fine Foods, the top-selling slow kettle cooked pasta sauce manufacturer in the U.S., announces today that it will expand distribution this month in more than 400 cities across Florida and California. In total, nearly 2,500 stores across Florida and southern California will stock the company’s premium line of kettle-cooked pasta sauces by the end of the month. Suggested retail price for Victoria’s premium line of pasta sauces range from $7.99 - $8.99 per 24-ounce jar.
Victoria’s growth is, in part, a reflection of growing consumer interest in better-for-you, minimally-processed foods; a trend that fits the company’s core ingredients-first approach. In fact, since its inception in 1929 the company has used only fresh, real food ingredients that are kettle-cooked in small batches to provide a true homemade sauce in ready-to-eat form.
To celebrate its new availability in California and Florida, Victoria has launched a recipe contest to identify the best pasta dish in each new region. Participants can enter simply by uploading a photo of their favorite pasta recipe using the hashtag #Pastaratzzi for a chance to win a $1,000 kitchenware makeover and other prizes. For contest details, visit www.Facebook.com/VictoriaFineFoods.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7630151-victoria-fine-foods-expansion/
Today, Suzhou Tourism launched its first-ever campaign to directly target North American travelers – the “Experience Suzhou: The Venice of China and the City of Scholars” sweepstakes, open for entries now through October 23, 2015 at www.TraveltoSuzhou.com/Sweepstakes. Available to residents of the Continental United States and Canada, the online promotion will award 18 travelers (nine winners plus one guest each) a six-day visit to Suzhou between November 2015 and January 2016.
Situated just west of Shanghai, Suzhou is deeply rooted in culture and heritage as one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin dating back more than 2,500 years. With its narrow streets and winding waterways, Suzhou truly lives up to its nickname as “Venice of China.” Taking advantage of this hidden gem location, sweepstakes winners and their guests will enjoy a six-day package inclusive of round-trip coach airfare, accommodations at one of the city’s top hotels, three meals daily, and a guided trip through the city each day. The trip itinerary will offer a quintessential Suzhou experience featuring visits to a selection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Humble Administrator’s Garden and Lingering Garden, as well as Tiger Hill, Suzhou Museum, Pinjiang Road, Silk Museum, Tongli, and authentic experiences at iconic restaurants such as Songhelou and Deyuelou. The trip is the ultimate vacation adventure for anyone who wants to visit China and experience true Chinese culture.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7584351-suzhou-tourism-sweepstakes/
XQ Institute is launching XQ: The Super School Project, a challenge to reimagine and design the next American high school. Harnessing the best of American ingenuity in cities and towns across the country, XQ aims to help spark a movement to rethink the American high school—an institution that was designed to meet the needs of the Industrial Revolution and hasn’t changed in more than a century.
“Our nation is radically different than it was 100 years ago. Nearly every aspect of our daily lives—from how we communicate to how we work and play—has changed dramatically,” said Laurene Powell Jobs, Chair of the board of XQ Institute. “But our high schools have stayed frozen in time. Together, we have an opportunity to help fuel a movement for students, to inspire great high schools, and even to rethink school itself. Our passion at XQ is to help educators everywhere foster students who are curious, engaged, and creative—armed with the new literacies, knowledge, and skills needed to thrive,” she added. “To do that, we must use our collective imagination.”
From the Model T to the Tesla and the switchboard to the smart phone—everything has changed except for how we prepare our kids for the future. XQ: The Super School Project is a rallying call to America to change the outdated model that has failed to prepare our students for the demands of the global economy, and an open call to every community to rethink high school for today and tomorrow. XQ Institute will provide a fund of $50 million to support at least five selected schools over the next five years. It will also partner with them to provide expert support and guidance to turn their ideas into real Super Schools that can inspire the country.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7611851-xq-institute-super-school-project/
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announces yet another massive leap in the field of breakfast superiority with the launch of the “Pancake Selfie Express,” the newest stroke of genius from the Holiday Inn Express® brand’s Creative Director and Breakfast Excellence Honcho, actor/comedian Rob Riggle. The nine-city tour, which hits the road today, allows flapjack fans in some of the busiest cities in the Southwest and along the West Coast to enjoy a selfie on a pancake made by “The Stack Station,” the brand’s super smart, one-touch pancake machine. The innovative piece of breakfast machinery was named this summer through a crowdsource naming contest in which more than 28,000 wordsmiths suggested their best and brightest monikers for a chance to win bragging rights and a trip to Vermont, maple syrup Heaven.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7612951-hiexpress-rob-riggle-pancake-selfie-express/
America’s traffic congestion recession is over. Just as the U.S. economy has regained nearly all of the 9 million jobs lost during the downturn, a new report produced by INRIX and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) shows that traffic congestion has returned to pre-recession levels.
According to the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard, travel delays due to traffic congestion caused drivers to waste more than 3 billion gallons of fuel and kept travelers stuck in their cars for nearly 7 billion extra hours – 42 hours per rush-hour commuter. The total nationwide price tag: $160 billion, or $960 per commuter.
Washington, D.C. tops the list of gridlock-plagued cities, with 82 hours of delay per commuter, followed by Los Angeles (80 hours), San Francisco (78 hours), New York (74 hours), and San Jose (67 hours).
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7430751-inrix-2015-urban-mobility-scorecard/
For two decades, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Artist Series wines have celebrated the inspired collaboration between artisan winemaking and fine art. To commemorate the 20th vintage, Chateau Ste. Michelle is partnering with Dale Chihuly, the first artist to present artwork on the Artist Series label with the 1993 vintage. The 2012 Artist Series featuring Chihuly will release nationally in August with a suggested retail price of $65.
The Artist Series red blend is a unique, collector’s wine that represents the highest quality and pedigree from Chateau Ste. Michelle. Each Artist Series vintage features the work of renowned artists on the label, from blown glass to bronze sculptures to paint on canvas.
“I’m honored to have my artwork on the 20th vintage Artist Series label,” says Chihuly. “This piece is one-of-a-kind and very special to me. I couldn’t think of a better use than portraying it on this significant wine project.”
For the 20th vintage label, Chihuly selected his Cast Silver Venetian. This unique sculpture was created by Chihuly, and then cast in sterling silver at the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington State. Inspired by Italian Art Deco, Chihuly started his Venetian series in 1988 with Italian glassblower Lino Tagliapietra. Chihuly is known for his artwork and ambitious architectural installations around the world in museums, historic cities and gardens.
To view the multimedia release visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7409453-ste-michelle-artist-dale-chihuly/
Olive Garden is introducing another way for guests to enjoy its iconic breadsticks with a new menu offering – Signature Breadstick Bun Sandwiches served with fries and choice of unlimited homemade soup or Famous House Salad. Beginning today, guests can satisfy their lunchtime cravings with one of two Breadstick Bun Sandwiches, starting at just $6.99.
The much-anticipated Signature Breadstick Bun Sandwiches have been making headlines with fans across the nation looking forward to their first taste. That’s why Olive Garden is inviting guests to celebrate the new menu offering throughout the summer with Breadstick Nation – a seven-week-long nationwide tour of four Olive Garden food trucks that will be giving away free samples of the Signature Breadstick Bun Sandwiches. The tour will hit the road today with one food truck in New York City and will be joined by additional trucks visiting 20 cities nationwide.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7303851-olive-garden-breadstick-bun-sandwiches/
Cycle for Survival, the national movement to beat rare cancers, completed its annual series of rides in March. Indoor cycling instructors from Equinox led rides in 13 cities across the country, with over 21,500 participants at the inspiring, high-energy events.
2015 marked a record-breaking year in fundraising, participants, and supporters. Nine years after the first event, Cycle for Survival is the fastest-growing athletic fundraising event,* and raised $25 million from more than 150,000 supporters.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7484551-cycle-for-survival/
Likely 2016 presidential candidates are already visiting battleground states where casino gaming supports more than half-a-million jobs and contributes $75 billion to local communities. The American Gaming Association (AGA) today launched a national initiative, “Gaming Votes,” to ensure presidential candidates understand gaming’s vital role in providing middle class jobs and driving economic growth.
“The 2016 presidential candidates will wage their campaigns in the casino gaming industry's backyards – including at national nominating conventions in the casino cities of Philadelphia and Cleveland next summer,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “Our ‘Gaming Votes’ initiative will mobilize our workforce, highlight the path to the middle class that our industry provides and emphasize our commitment to strengthening communities across the United States.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7442251-aga-get-to-know-gaming-votes/
Curious culinarian and James Beard Award–winning chef Andrew Zimmern continues his search for the most interesting dishes across the globe in the new original series “Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations,” premiering with back–to–back episodes on Monday, January 26 at 9:00 p.m & 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. The 13–episode series, an extension of the popular “Bizarre Foods” franchise, takes viewers on an international journey to iconic cities around the world for a taste of their quintessential, not–to–be missed dishes. From melt in your mouth chocolate in Zurich to decadent gelato in Florence, savory paella in Barcelona to creamy clam chowder in Boston, the half–hour weekly series is an exploration of iconic foods, where they came from, how they are made, and the right way to eat them.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7038059-travel-channel-bizarre-foods-delicious-destinations-andrew-zimmern/
Diabetes initiative and the global fight against the urban diabetes epidemic. These two major metropolitan centres are the first Chinese cites to become part of the global partnership programme, which was initiated in Mexico City in March 2014, followed by Copenhagen in Europe and Houston in the United States last week.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7377451-novo-nordisk-shanghai-diabetes/
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) will launch its international Super 1 Day photo workshops on Monday, October 6. For two weeks, professional and aspiring professional photographers from around the world may participate in one-day intensive training workshops. The event runs through October 20 in over 100 cities throughout the U.S., Canada, Korea and Australia and is open to both PPA members and non-members.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7319451-professional-photographers-of-america-ppa-super-1-day-photo-workshop/