Contest: Olive Garden Offers Guests Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip to Italy

Italian food lovers have the chance to win a trip to Culinary Institute of Tuscany


ORLANDO, Fla. (April 1, 2010) — Now through May 9, 2010, Olive Garden is offering Italian food lovers a chance to win a culinary tour of Italy and an insider's look at Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany. The sweepstakes, co-sponsored by Olive Garden and Colavita® Extra Virgin Olive Oil, will reward:

- Four grand-prize winners with an eight-day guided trip for two to explore and discover the sights, sounds and tastes of Italian culture.

- 500 first prize winners will be awarded a $25 Olive Garden gift card.

For more than a decade, Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany has served as a training ground for Olive Garden's chefs and restaurant managers. Located in a restored 11th-century village in the Chianti region, the Institute is where Olive Garden's chefs learn the secrets of great Italian foods – like how to combine fresh ingredients to create authentic meals they can share and enjoy with family and friends.

"At Olive Garden, we're committed to bringing our guests the great food and hospitality of Italy every time they join us," said Tim Rea, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Olive Garden. "Since the Culinary Institute of Tuscany opened 10 years ago, we've been able to more uniquely share that Italian experience, offering our sweepstakes winners a flavorful excursion to Italy and taking them beyond their neighborhood restaurant to where we gather our inspiration – the kitchens and marketplaces of Tuscany."

Highlights of the grand-prize trip include:

• Learning the essentials of authentic Italian cooking from master Italian Chefs Paolo Lafata and Romano Neri the Culinary Institute of Tuscany;

• Experiencing the local culture and cuisines of Rome, Florence, San Gimignano and Riserva di Fizzano, near Castellina in Chianti; and

• Exploring the Rocca delle Macie Winery to learn about the process of Italian wine-making through a wine tasting and pairings class.

Guests can enter to win at www.olivegardentriptoitaly.com. The sweepstakes accepts entries from March 15, 2010 through Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

About Olive Garden:

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with 715 restaurants, more than 87,000 employees and $3.3 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), the world's largest company-owned and operated full-service restaurant company. For more information, visit Olive Garden's Web site at www.olivegarden.com.

Fashion Designer Nary Manivong's Show Us Your Vintage! Facebook Fan Contest

For Immediate Release

DRESSED Documentary

SHOW US YOUR VINTAGE Facebook Fan Contest!

New York, NY, Summer 2009

DRESSED is a documentary about once homeless, Laotian-American fashion designer Nary Manivong and the trials and tribulations of “making it” as a fashion designer in America. The documentary, features an up-close and personal portrait of the self taught designer from his early beginnings as a homeless young boy in Ohio to the daily production routines and challenges faced leading up to the presentation of his Spring 2009 collection during New York’s infamous “Fashion Week”.

Click here to view the trailer:

Because of limited financial resources, Nary began designing and creating his “look” from vintage clothing, DRESSED. To capture that energy, a Facebook Fan contest was recently announced called SHOW US YOUR VINTAGE! and the winner will receive TWO tickets to Nary’s, September 10th fashion show (4pm-6pm) and entry to the sneak peak of the film DRESSED at 9pm that same evening. The contest runs from August 1, 2009 at 12:01am to August 31, 2009, 11:59pm only.

To join our fan page please click: DRESSED Fan Page

DRESSED Fans are asked to submit a photo of themselves featuring their favorite vintage piece, updated for the Fall ’09 trends with a caption of why they love it and why they are a fan of the film DRESSED! The winner is selected by Nary Manivong and the DRESSED Team.

The film also offers an insider’s look behind-the-scenes of the glamorous, chaotic world of fashion as well as insightful commentary from industry experts such as Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion; Ohio designer Nanette Lepore; Mickey Boardman of Paper Magazine; Author Mary Gehlhar “Fashion Designer’s Survival Guide”; Simon Collins, Dean of Fashion for Parsons, The New School for Design; Industry Consultant George Furlan; Stylist, Robert Verdi; President of The Fashion Group International, Margaret Hayes; fashion writer Lynn Yaeger and author and Creative Director at Barney's, Simon Doonan.

DRESSED is directed by award-winner David Swajeski, with executive producer Maryanne Grisz, both of onerock.tv

For more information, please contact: Maryanne Grisz at MAGrisz@onerock.tv
Other information: www.Dressed-themovie.com, www.narymanivong.com

Are Beauty Pageants Still Relevant?

by A. Brooks
Style and Focus Lifestyle PR

No, because beauty pageant were once seen as a way for young women to get more opportunities in life as well as provide the winner with a scholarship towards college. The pageant was a way for accomplished or well-rounded young women to showcase their talents in a wholesome format. Now beauty pageant are just that beauty pageants, they hold no real value. Young women no longer need to enter pageants to showcase how talented, smart, poised and socially conscious they are. There is a plethora of opportunities out there for young women to achieve their goals in our modern society. As well as the popularity of these pageants has continue to decease over the years with TV viewers.

In the past, the contestants were seen as role models for young girls and women but now many of the young contestants are dogged by so many controversies and scandals instead of promoting goodwill that it's hard for them to be seen as best and brightest. Are there still high moral standards associated with these beauty pageants? They seem to be slipping.

What do you think, "Are Beauty Pageant Still Relevant?"

OK! Magazine's Gossip Girl Contest

Okay, I promise I'm not trying to drive you Gossip Girl crazy but I was e-mailed this contest and thought I would share it.



(Photo Credit: tvguide.com)

The OK! Magazine Gossip Girl Contest will award one winner $1,000 worth of items from Kitson LA to create your own inspired outfit from Gossip Girl. For more information and rules, please click on the OK! Magazine link.