LOS ANGELES, CA (June 15, 2015) To mark the beginning of Men’s Health Week, the Movember Foundation is launching its first podcast. Movember Radio: Continuing the Conversation will air stories from men around the world who share personal, empowering and often funny narratives behind the experiences, people and decisions that have shaped their lives. Lifting the lid on society’s often damaging ideals about masculinity, each episode seeks to challenge people across the globe to re-think what it really means to be a man.

Running all year, each week will feature a one-on-one interview, hosted by Australian Mo Bro and TV personality Osher Günsberg. The first episodes feature interviews from a diverse range of inspiring men including: George Parros, former NHL hockey player.

As the world’s leading men’s health organization, the Movember Foundation knows firsthand the key challenges faced by men today, many of which revolve around traditional stereotypes relating to masculinity and what it means to be a ‘man’. This can lead to reluctance to take action on well-being issues and an unwillingness to have conversations about significant life events.

In America, 87 men die by suicide every day.[1] The Foundation is determined to highlight these issues and continue the conversations that began with the growth of a moustache.

Adam Garone, CEO and co-founder of the Movember Foundation, says men often compare themselves against a masculine ideal which values power, strength, control and invincibility.

“From a young age, our society teaches boys they need to act tough and not talk about how they’re feeling. Men are expected to be a provider and protector, in control at all times and never vulnerable. If you break any of these ‘rules’, you supposedly aren’t a real man,” said Garone. “As men, we often don’t like talking about how we’re feeling or discussing the impact of significant life events such as the breakdown of a relationship, loss of a job or becoming a father, but the reality is that we all go through tough times. It’s how men deal or don’t deal with these moments that has an affect on mental health and, unfortunately, suicide rates.”

Research funded by the Movember Foundation found that men aged between 35 and 54 years are at the greatest risk of social isolation and more likely to have mental health problems, which can be an indication of suicide risk.[2] These alarming statistics highlight the need for a continued and united effort to encourage men to have conversations about their health and well-being as well as put the issue on the global news agenda.

“Our aim for the Movember Radio podcast is to share the ‘hairy’ tales that inspire men to have real conversations and make simple changes that can lead to a big difference to their lives and their families,” said Garone.

Episodes will be available at here and through iTunes.

About Movember the Foundation

The Movember Foundation is a global charity raising funds and awareness for men’s health. These funds deliver breakthrough research and support services to allow men to live longer, healthier, happier lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising more than $650 million and funding over 830 programs through impact investments, focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

The Foundation runs awareness and fundraising activities year-round, with the annual Movember campaign in November being globally recognized for its fun and innovative approach to raising money and getting men to take action for their health. During Movember, we challenge men to grow a moustache or to make a commitment to get active and MOVE, both of which are about real action for health and are done to spark conversation and raise vital funds and awareness.

The Foundation’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the state of men’s health.

Movember is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and for the past two years, has been named a Top 100 best NGO by The Global Journal. For more information please visit Movember.com. Movember is a registered 501(c)(3) charity.

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[1] National Vital Statistics Report (2013)

[2] Men’s Social Connectedness Report, Hall & Partners Australia (2014)

Veteran Chef Dean Salerno Offers Unique Culinary & Social Destination Featuring Upscale Comfort Food in a Vibrant Bistro Setting

Wilmette, Ill. (June 11, 2015) – Firefly Kitchen, the Brooklyn-inspired upscale neighborhood bistro, will open its doors this week at 111 Green Bay Road in Wilmette. Renowned New York City chef Dean Salerno, who relocated to Chicago, will offer a seasonal menu made from scratch and inspired by his deep NYC roots.

The restaurant builds upon Chef Salerno’s Bronx upbringing and experience opening five NYC restaurants, including David Burke’s signature restaurant at The James New York, as well as his successful Firefly Events and Catering business located in Chicago. Trained in classic French, creative American, and Pan-Asian cuisine, Chef Salerno’s menu offerings will include comforting dishes like Roasted Organic Chicken with Roasted Shallot Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Romaine Steak Salad, Hibachi Skewers served on a tableside grill, and multiple styles of house cut fries and chips, in addition to flavorful brunch favorites such as Stacked Pancakes with Passion Fruit Purée and Prime Rib & Egg Stuffed Yorkshire Pudding.

The restaurant will also feature an extensive cocktail and wine list, expertly curated by James Pierce, former head of The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago along with Morton’s The Steakhouse in Rosemont and Sofitel Chicago. Pierce will feature unique local and small batch spirits and a selection of signature cocktails including “Got a Guy” and “Firefly Rye.” He has also selected a wine program that compliments the bistro’s upscale but approachable menu.

Firefly Kitchen delivers a welcoming, 60-seat, whimsically-lit and modern vintage setting. In addition to Firefly Kitchen’s innovative food and beverage program and first class service, the restaurant will feature a rooftop herb garden and a 35-seat patio that will serve as the perfect setting for a relaxing brunch or intimate dinner.

“Firefly Kitchen will offer Chicagoland a first-rate culinary experience a la Brooklyn that doesn’t currently exist,” said Chef Dean Salerno. “We’ve worked extensively to bring an eclectic and modern taste to the neighborhood, and look forward to being a destination for city guests as well.

Firefly Kitchen will be open for dinner seven days a week, and serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant is located at 111 Green Bay Road, on the border of Wilmette and Evanston and just steps away from Metra’s Central Street Station. The restaurant will also offer valet parking for $5.

Firefly Kitchen’s food and bar menu is available for takeout. 2015 also marks the third year of operation for Firefly Events and Catering, which offers broad scope services ranging from a “Ravinia Basket” (complete with wine and beer selections) to black tie galas.

For more information about Firefly Kitchen and to make a reservation, visit FFKitchen.com and www.OpenTable.com.

Hours of Operation

Mon.-Thurs., Sun. dinner: 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Fri., Sat. dinner, 4 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Sat., Sun. brunch: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

“Like” Firefly Kitchen on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FireflyKitchen and follow the Company on Twitter and Instagram @Firefly_Kitchen

About Firefly Kitchen

Firefly Kitchen is a neighborhood and destination bistro led by NYC-native and veteran chef Dean Salerno, who aims to bring a “Taste of Brooklyn” to Chicago’s North Shore. The bistro offers upscale, comfort food in a glowing and vibrant bistro setting, along with a carefully curated cocktail and wine program led by James Pierce, former head of The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago. Firefly Kitchen brings an unpretentious approach to bistro food for every guest in a modern vintage style.

About Firefly Events and Catering

Firefly Events & Catering specializes in creating elegant, memorable, and illuminating experiences. Whether a wedding, corporate event, or any other special occasion, we are dedicated to providing impeccable service and carefully handcrafted cuisine in beautiful, timeless settings.

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Award-Winning, Artisan-Crafted Rum Will Make a Donation for Every Picture Posted with the Hashtag #PilarPreserves from June 8 through July 21

Key West, Florida (June 8, 2015) – Papa’s Pilar®, the premium sipping rum, will honor the literary giant’s adventures on the water by supporting a cause dear to Hemingway and his heirs. In a grassroots effort to make “Papa” proud, the award-winning artisan-crafted rum, will partner with The Ocean Foundation in their efforts to protect and restore oceans and coastal environments around the world.

From World Oceans Day on June 8, through Hemingway’s birthday on July 21, the brand will donate $1 to The Ocean Foundation for every picture rum fans take enjoying Papa’s Pilar near the water, and post to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #PilarPreserves.[1] Additionally, the Hemingway family donates 100 percent of their profits from Papa’s Pilar Rum to charity, a portion of which will benefit The Ocean Foundation. 

A partnership with The Ocean Foundation is a perfect fit for Papa’s Pilar, given its dedication to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments, and Hemingway’s commitment to conservation. The Foundation supports, strengthens and promotes organizations and initiatives (below) in many of the locations where Hemingway once lived, including Key West, the Caribbean and Cuba, or traversed the nearby seas in his beloved boat Pilar:

• Key West – proactively restoring sections of damaged seagrass beds in the Florida Keys
• Caribbean – partnership with JetBlue and The Clinton Global Initiative to protect the long-term health of the Caribbean’s natural resources, the same location where Papa’s Pilar hand-selects some of its premium rum
• Cuba – working with Havana University to eradicate an invasive species of lionfish and control its impact on Cuba & the Caribbean, the very same water Papa sailed and wrote about in The Old Man And the Sea

“We’re excited to recognize Ernest Hemingway’s legacy and his adventures at sea as we partner with Papa’s Pilar Rum,” said Mark J. Spalding, President of The Ocean Foundation. “We share his love of the ocean and her biggest and fastest fish, and we want to make sure that future generations can see them in all their majesty.”

Papa’s Pilar was crafted for water enthusiasts who live by the same creed as Hemingway, and is meant to rekindle a sense of adventure in us all. “Papa” lived an epic life full of perpetual motion, and Papa’s Pilar was crafted to accompany rum enthusiasts as they sink their teeth into life. Named for his muse and one true constant, Pilar is the vessel that allowed America’s literary giant to reach beyond the shoreline, feast on life and remind us to never be a spectator.

The inaugural Dark & Blonde varieties are hand-selected from ports-of-call in the Caribbean, Central America and the U.S.A. for their age, character and maturity, and then solera aged and blended in a unique process using American Oak Bourbon barrels, Port Wine casks (dark only), and finishing in Spanish Sherry casks.

Papa’s Pilar Dark is a bold and complex sipping rum and was named “Best Rum in America” by the Caribbean Journal in 2014. At 86-proof, it is both pot and column distilled and boasts hand-selected rums up to 24 years old, and a long, velvety finish. The Expression also won a “Double Gold” Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Papa’s Pilar Blonde, the first categorized ‘blonde’ rum, is crisp and nuanced and includes column stilled aged rums 3-7 years old. At 84-proof, it’s a premium sipping rum with a layered and exceptionally smooth finish and makes for an indulgent cocktail. Papa’s Pilar Blonde was awarded “Best in Class” White Rum at the 2013 Rum Renaissance Festival.

In addition to supporting The Ocean Foundation, Papa’s Pilar is the “official rum” of the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida and a partner of the International Game Fish Association.

“We’re proud to help raise awareness and funds for the important conservation work of The Ocean Foundation,” said Lindsey Kops, National Brand Director, Papa’s Pilar Rum. “And, we couldn’t be more thrilled that the Hemingway family is also supporting this project.”

Papa’s Pilar rums are available in 750ml bottles in both on- and off-premise accounts in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, DC. The suggested retail price of the Dark and Blonde are $39.99 and $29.99, respectively. Prices may vary by market.

For more information, please visit www.papaspilar.com “like” us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PapasPilarRum and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/papaspilar #PilarPreserves

About Hemingway Rum Company, LLC

Hemingway Rum Company, LLC is a distilled spirits company based in Florida that’s dedicated to producing super-premium multi-sourced solera blended artisanal rums. The Company’s inaugural offerings are Papa’s Pilar® Dark and Blonde rums, incepted and crafted by a seasoned team of best-in-class partners. The Company encourages consumers of legal drinking age to Live Courageously and Drink Responsibly and proudly supports local organizations that serve Ernest Hemingway’s adventurous, literary and conservational legacy.

About The Ocean Foundation
The Ocean Foundation (“TOF”) is a 501(c)(3) scientific, educational and charitable tax-exempt organization incorporated under the laws of the state of California with headquarters located at 1320 19th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036 USA.  The Ocean Foundation (TOF) is a specialized international community foundation with a mission to support, strengthen, and promote organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world.  

Papa’s Pilar® is a proud member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

[1] Up to $10,000

Chicago, Ill. (June 4, 2015) – Whether you’re attending a concert at Millennium Park, dining on the Ravinia Festival lawn, or relaxing right in your very own back yard, Pastoral, the trio of national award-winning neighborhood cheese, specialty foods and wine shops, has you covered during picnic season.

This summer, Pastoral presents six perfectly packaged picnics, which offer the highest quality, cut-to-order domestic and international specialty cheeses, freshly baked breads and perfectly chosen accompaniments. Guests can also add wine and a number of new gourmet accompaniments, including Dick Taylor Craft Chocolates and Brooklyn Brine Co. Pickles, to their picnic selections. Each basket is made to order and ready for same day pickup or delivery by calling 800.721.4781 or ordering online at http://shop.pastoralartisan.com/index.php/picnics.html

New this year is the Picnic Royale ($99.99), a luxurious and bountiful basket for four, which includes a broad spectrum of fresh, aged and classic cheeses that are paired with prosciutto from heritage breed pigs, savory mixed olives, and crisp bread, complemented by single varietal honey and a few chocolates for a sweet treat. Contents include: Earthy, nutty Pleasant Ridge Reserve (WI – raw cow), cakey and decadent Manchester (MI – cow), creamy Morbier-style Jeune Autize (FR – goat), smooth and lemony Driftless (WI – sheep), sweet Tamworth prosciutto (IA – pork), single varietal Ames Honey, light and crisp Rustic Bakery Panforte, country olives, and individual Chocopods in surprising flavors (CA).

Additional picnic baskets for purchase include:

The Grand Picnic for Two ($69.99)

• Enjoy a deluxe artisan picnic spread for two – an abundance of artisan cheese, traditionally crafted charcuterie, sweet and salty almonds, nutty oatcakes, and local confections to round it out with subtly sweet notes.
• Contents: Smooth and earthy Prosciutto San Daniele (IT – pork), Dodge City Salame from Smoking Goose Meatery (IN – pork), buttery St. Malachi (PA – cow), rich and fluffy Miette (MO – goat), classic Alpine-style Spring Brook Raclette (VT – raw cow), sweet and salty Effie’s Mini Oatcakes (MA), house-made Spiced Almonds and a duo of handmade truffles from Katherine Anne Confections (IL).

Decadent Picnic for Two ($39.99)

• The perfect blend of sweet and savory, this palate-balanced picnic for two will leave you wanting to incorporate dessert into every meal; featuring silky, nutty and indulgent cheeses and a bounty of sweet treats from near and far.
• Contents: Fluffy and decadent Manchester (MI – cow), rich and grassy Brabander gouda (NL – goat), savory and complex Hittisau (AT – cow), cocoa dusted Piedras (ES), small batch raspberry and rose preserves (WI), handmade caramels from Katherine Anne Confections (IL) and soft and delicious Pastoral house made cookies.

Francophile Picnic for Two ($39.99)

• This classic French picnic for two features a classic saucisson, creamy, sweet and savory cheeses and a delightful variety of accoutrements to complement these treasures.
• Contents: Creamy Cantal ‘Entre Doux’ (FR – raw cow), fluffy and fresh Driftless (WI – sheep), decadent Brillat Savarin triple crème brie (FR – cow), sweet, rich Rosette de Lyon saucisson (NY – pork), small batch fig and black tea preserves (WI), Niçoise and Picholine olives, cornichons and grainy mustard.

Taste of the Midwest Picnic for Two ($39.99)

• The Midwest region is flush with talented artisan producers represented in this hometown spread for two – featuring carefully crafted artisan charcuterie, old school cheeses with new school flavor, lightly salted butter and sweet and savory accouterments that burst with local flavor.
• Contents: Creamy and slightly funky Aged Widmer’s Brick (WI – cow), fruity and mild Chandoka (WI – cow/goat), lightly salted Amish butter (OH – cow), Borsellino salami (IA – pork), hearty summer sausage from Underground Meats (WI – beef/pork), shallot confit and dried Michigan cherries, house made spiced almonds and grainy mustard.

Carnivore’s Feast Picnic for Two: ($39.99)

• Conscious carnivores rejoice – this charcuterie-filled picnic for two is for you! Artisan charcuterie producers focus on the sustainability and heritage of their herd and the products they make, crafting intensely rich and flavorful, salami and whole muscle cures to please your palate. Salty, spicy and crunchy pickled vegetables and mustard complement the spread perfectly.
• Contents: Country style Pig and Fig Terrine (IN – pork), spicy Calabrese salami (UT – pork), intense and rich Jamon Serrano, savory Mortadella (IN – pork), zesty house-made pimento cheese featuring two sharp cheddars (cow), cornichons, pickled vegetables and grainy mustard.

About Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine

Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine is a trio of national award-winning neighborhood cheese, specialty foods and wine shop offering the highest quality, cut-to-order domestic and international specialty cheeses, freshly baked breads, perfectly chosen accompaniments and small production wines, along with hand-crafted, cheese-loving beers and spirits. Pastoral also offers custom gift collections, gourmet sandwiches and salads, picnics and catering. Pastoral is committed to providing the highest level of service and education for customers, striving to make shopping for and consuming artisan goods enlightening, approachable, fun and delicious. Pastoral welcomes customers at three Chicago store locations, and ships nationwide at www.pastoralartisan.com. The company was named Outstanding Retailer of the Year in 2007 and 2012 by the Specialty Food Association. In 2012, the Company opened Bar Pastoral, an award-winning, Michelin Guide recommended cheese & wine bistro serving shareable fare, in a cozy, inviting neighborhood setting. Pastoral will open its newest location in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood in late summer 2015.

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