THURSDAY, MAY 17 AT THE MUSEUM OF FLYING, SANTA MONICA

WHO: Renowned comedic writer and honoree Alan Zweibel, comedienne Laraine Newman, artists Janet Roberts and Billy Zane with hosts Frances Fisher, Shoshana Blank and Ann Benjamin (daughter of CSC founders) along with special performance by Louie Cruz Beltran.

WHAT: Newman will present her long-time friend Zweibel with the first ever “Gilda” at Fresh Canvas; a benefit evening for Cancer Support Community – Benjamin Center (formally the Wellness Community). This inaugural award is a tribute to the late Gilda Radner, one of the Center’s first participants 30 years ago and whose intrepid spirit continues to comfort cancer patients today. Newman, Zweibel and Radner were all part of the original Saturday Night Live cast and crew and, in her memory, continue to support CSC.

Roberts and Zane, will showcase a total of 30 environmentally friendly paintings that will be sold during the evening to benefit the Center. Roberts is a four-time cancer survivor and active participant at the CSC-Benjamin Center. In her words, “the CSC-Benjamin Center is a sanctuary; a place where people can nurture their mind body and soul.”

Innovators at the forefront of the sustainable art movement, both artists share a passion for constructing their pieces with recycled or eco-sustainable materials. Zane began painting during the filming of “Titanic,” utilizing only local materials to create his abstract works. Roberts uses eco-friendly supplies by infusing soy, milk, clay and organic elements onto organic cotton and linen canvas. Each will bring their distinctive style and vision to create an incredible display of masculine and feminine perspective.

Louie Cruz Beltran will give a special performance at the event. Louie Cruz Beltran has crafted his musical career upon the soulful sounds of his ethnic American background and flavored it with contemporary R&B, Jazz, Latin Jazz, and Salsa.

DETAILS: Museum of Flying
3100 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Thursday, May 17, 2012
6:00 P.M. VIP Artist Preview Reception
7:00 – 10:00 P.M. Art. Cocktails. Bites. Music
For Event and Sponsorship Inquiries Contact Chantal Lundberg at Chantallundberg@verizon.net
To Purchase Tickets Call 310-314-2589

About The Cancer Support Community – Benjamin Center is at the forefront of patient-centered cancer care, which incorporates the idea that the body and mind are connected, and psychosocial support is a key element for quality of life and may even help with recovery. Today the organization continues to serve people living in West Los Angeles and the broader Los Angeles community with a full menu of free-of-charge, essential programs overseen by licensed therapists including; support groups, mind/body classes, educational and nutritional workshops, social activities, and individual counseling sessions.

From its beginnings 30 years ago to today, the Cancer Support Community, now headquartered in Washington, D.C., has expanded to 57 chapters, 100 satellite locations (i.e. in-hospital services) and online support that reach 750,000 people worldwide. All services are free of charge.

Media Contact:
Jenna Greene, CK&D
949.233.7950
Jenna@ckd-la.com

Children are welcome and there will be some exciting games and activities just for them including a face painter and Mad Hatter themed arts and crafts! There will also be live music from the fabulous Des Afinados featuring Jessica Vautor (Bossa Nova with Caribbean flavor).

Park Grill will be serving all of your brunch favorites plus small bites such as Mini Maine Lobster Rolls, Mini Philly Cheesesteaks and Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. There will be a carving station with Prime Rib of Beef, Barolo Reduction and Horseradish Cream and a fabulous raw bar serving Snow Crab Claws, Peel and Eat Shrimp, West Coast Oysters in the Half Shell and Peruvian Style Mahi Mahi Ceviche.

Pastry Chef Orlando will provide a delightful selection of his hand crafted miniature desserts to round off this springtime feast!

Please call Park Grill at 310 284 6536 to make your reservations. Prices are: $65 per adult; $80 for brunch and unlimited Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Bellinis; $29 for children 4-12 years and free for children under 4 (tax and gratuity not included).

For full menu and further information, please visit our website www.intercontinentallosangeles.com

About InterContinental Los Angeles An urban oasis on Avenue of the Stars – The renowned landmark of the InterContinental Los Angeles Hotel is just minutes away from Beverly Hills, major entertainment studios and sun-drenched beaches. The hotel features 361 spacious and stylish guestrooms including 148 suites, all of which offer inspiring panoramic views of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Ocean. Guests can dine in either the Park Grill Restaurant or in the elegant Lobby Lounge which offers tapas style shared plates, including the award winning sushi creations of Bar-Hayama. InterContinental Los Angeles offers 16,650 square feet of meeting space, including the newly renovated Grand Salon with more than 4,000 square feet of divisible space. Additional hotel amenities include SPA InterContinental featuring Zen-inspired villas, a 24 hour fitness center, rooftop yoga and Zumba, sauna and steam room, as well as an outdoor heated infinity swimming pool. The InterContinental brand is located in more than 60 countries, operating 138 hotels worldwide and 48 hotels in the Americas region. For more information and to make a reservation please visit www.intercontinentallosangeles.com or call 310.284.6500

Contact:
Miranda House, Director of Communications
Tel: 310 284 6580
miranda.house@ihg.com

“As we expand our presence in California, we were looking for an office space and location that could evolve with us and our clients,” said Matt Gorson, President of Greenberg Traurig. “Moving to The Plaza will allow us to do this. We are excited at the opportunity to be located in the hub of one of the busiest and most prominent business and financial corridors in the city.”

Greenberg Traurig will occupy four floors of the building, including the penthouse, which will house a state-of-the-art sky lobby and conference center dedicated to client and business meetings. The conference center will feature 15-foot high ceilings and views of the city, as well as high-tech audio visual amenities and a large multipurpose room that will hold approximately 100 people. Architectural products used in the project were selected with sustainable design as a goal, and specified furniture will provide maximum ergonomic benefits for employees and guests. Los Angeles based AREA Architects developed the architectural design for the new office. SAW + Associates provided project management oversight.

“The flexibility and efficiency of the new space enables the firm to more effectively accommodate unique and individual client requests,” said Gorson. “We believe the new office will foster a collaborative work environment, whether it’s among our clients, employees or friends of the firm, and also offer the technological sophistication and advances our clients demand today. We are looking forward to April when the build-out will be completed.”

The Plaza at 1800+1840 Century Park East, managed by CB Richard Ellis, is Silver LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. CBRE’s Clay Hammerstein represented Greenberg Traurig in the lease transaction.

The Los Angeles office, established on January 1, 2001, is comprised of 93 attorneys with practices including Business Reorganization & Financial Restructuring, Corporate & Securities, Governmental Affairs, Immigration, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Land Development, Litigation, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate, Tax and Trusts & Estates.

Over the last 16 months, the Los Angeles office has grown strategically with the addition of seven lateral shareholders and one director: Ginger Heyman Pigott of the Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation practice group; Dana Treister and Gregory Fishman of the Real Estate practice group; Linda Bernhardt, Co-Chair of the Los Angeles Land Development practice group and Managing Director of the Southern California Governmental Affairs practice group; Mathew Rosengart and Robert Herrington of the Litigation practice group; Mark Kemple of the Labor & Employment practice group; and Mark Kelson of the Corporate and Securities practice group.

Greenberg Traurig has more than 200 attorneys in California. In addition to Los Angeles, the firm is located in San Francisco, Sacramento, Orange County and Silicon Valley.

“We are committed to California and our clients here and look forward to working and growing with them,” said Gorson.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1800 attorneys serving clients from 34 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In the U.S., the firm has more offices than any other among the Top 10 on The National Law Journal’s 2012 NLJ 250. For additional information, please visit www.gtlaw.com.

Contact:
Coral-Mary Southam
Telephone: 310.586.7717
Email: southamc@gtlaw.com

The InterContinental Los Angeles opened its newly renovated Grand Salon Ballroom with an event for around 500 guests last Thursday, 12^th April. The contemporary space with chrome, white and charcoal accents has an extended pre-function area with built-in LED lights, and state of the art technology. Music was provided by the Infusion Experience, from 11H Entertainment, and guests were treated to chair massages and manicures from Spa InterContinental.

The official ribbon cutting was performed by Ms. Susan Bursk, President and CEO Century City Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Mari Miyoshi, Hotel Owner and President Sumitomo Realty Development USA, and Mr. Steve Choe, General Manager InterContinental Los Angeles. 

The hotel was able to keep the integrity of the original structure and many of its unique features including the chandeliers from the original construction in 1988. The brass from the chandeliers has been resurfaced to sparkling chrome and the crystals were preserved and revitalized to create a breathtaking centerpiece.  Being situated on the back lot of 20^th Century Fox studio and keeping in line with the hotel’s rich entertainment heritage, set designers from local movie and TV studios were brought in to hand paint the woodwork with their ‘scenic art’ for a spectacular and dramatic effect.

In keeping with the hotel’s mission to sustain the environment, and to enhance the design of the Ballroom, LED lighting has been introduced into the space. The lights can reflect any color from the color spectrum allowing clients an infinite number of options for their event. The versatile Grand Salon Ballroom accommodates 400 for a reception, 300 for a seated dinner and 200 classroom style. The adjoining Grand Salon Foyer has also been extended and makes a perfect break or pre-reception area.

For all catering and event queries, please contact Robert Nichols, Director of Catering, at robert.nichols@ihg.com or call 310 284 6500.

General Manager of InterContinental Los Angeles, Mr. Steve Choe:

“I grew up coming to this hotel for some of the most memorable and amazing events having attended the local high school of Beverly Hills. I was always wowed by this hotel and it’s truly a dream come true and an honor to be at the helm of this great property. The staff here are special and the very best I have ever worked with. Our new Grand Salon Ballroom is a wonderful compliment to our staff in assisting our legacy of delivering these memorable and amazing experiences for the generations to come.

This project was a great experience in working closely with our Owner and President of Sumitomo Realty Development, USA.  I realize that in today’s hotel world it is not common to work daily with an owner on such a project, however I have to say it truly made the process much easier than typical renovations and the outcome exceeded our expectations.  So a very special ‘thank you’ to Ms. Mari Miyoshi as this entire project would have not been possible without her support.”

About InterContinental Los Angeles – An urban oasis on Avenue of the Stars – The renowned landmark of the InterContinental Los Angeles Hotel is just minutes away from Beverly Hills, major entertainment studios and sun-drenched beaches. The hotel features 361 spacious and stylish guestrooms including 148 suites, all of which offer inspiring panoramic views of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Ocean. Guests can dine in either the Park Grill Restaurant or in the elegant Lobby Lounge which offers tapas style shared plates, including the award winning sushi creations of Bar-Hayama. InterContinental Los Angeles offers 16,650 square feet of meeting space, including the newly renovated Grand Salon with more than 4,000 square feet of divisible space. Additional hotel amenities include SPA InterContinental featuring Zen-inspired villas, a 24 hour fitness center, rooftop yoga and Zumba, sauna and steam room, as well as an outdoor heated infinity swimming pool. The InterContinental brand is located in more than 60 countries, operating 138 hotels worldwide and 48 hotels in the Americas region. For more information and to make a reservation please visit www.intercontinentallosangeles.com or call 310.284.6500

InterContinental Los Angeles Century City at Beverly Hills
2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles CA 90067
Tel: 310 284 6500
www.intercontinentallosangeles.com

PPMG’s services for RKF will focus on generating awareness of RKF’s growing presence in the Southern California and national trade media sectors.

Headquartered in New York, RKF specializes in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services, and serves a broad spectrum of domestic and global clients. Services range from national tenant and owner representation to advisory, consulting and disposition. RKF has been responsible for identifying scores of real estateopportunities throughout the United States for leading American and international chains, retailers, developers and institutional clients. RKF has offices in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Northern New Jersey, San Francisco and Chicago opening this year.

PPMG will work in tandem with New York-based Quinn & Co. who represent RKF nationally and in all other regional markets.

“We partnered with PPMG because of their marketplace knowledge and expertise in helping professional service firms. Their work in Southern California is an extension of our national branding and marketing communications initiatives; we look forward to the firm’s strategic counsel and tactical approach,” said Elyse Bandel, Executive Vice President Marketing & Communications at RKF.

Noemi Pollack, founder and CEO of PPMG said, “RKF is a true leader in the industry, creating transformational changes in the commercial retailsector. The revival of the commercial/retail real estate market in Southern California, together with its hotly sought after sub-markets, has industry power-players fully engaged in the competitive landscape. Because of the current marketplace changes, the timing is just right for us to partner with RKF’s Southern California team to bring more awareness to the amazing work they do for some of the leading retailers and restaurants.”

ABOUT THE POLLACK PR MARKETING GROUP The Pollack PR Marketing Group (PPMG) headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, is a 27-year old mid-sized, multi-specialty agency that develops communication platforms and programs, manages corporate reputations, launches new products and services and promotes brand engagement for clients ranging from innovative start-ups, to Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on consumer products and services, technologies and professional services. PPMG is a partner in The WORLDCOM Public Relations Group, a consortium of over 100 partners with offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.ppmgcorp.com, or http://www.pollackblog.com, or follow us on Twitter @PollackPRMktg

Contact:
Stefan Pollack
The Pollack PR Marketing Group
310-556-4443
spollack@ppmgcorp.com

The Ponzi Book:  A Legal Resource for Unraveling Ponzi Schemes by Century City Chamber member, Kathy Bazoian Phelps, and her co-author, Hon. Steven Rhodes, is now available through LexisNexis at www.lexisnexis.com/ponzibook.   It is the only such resource providing a comprehensive understanding of the competing rights, claims, and defenses of all of the parties impacted by a Ponzi scheme.  The trustee of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC, Irving Picard, has described The Ponzi Book as “one stop shopping for the facts needed to understand the complex fall out from a collapsed Ponzi scheme as well as the legal strategies that exist and are required to unravel it.”

The Ponzi Book presents expert guidance on virtually all issues that arise in the unwinding of a Ponzi scheme, covering issues of relevance to plaintiffs, defendants, investors,  and anyone otherwise affected by a Ponzi scheme.  Specifically, The Ponzi Book includes advanced analysis of, among other issues: the elements of common fraudulent transfer lawsuits (clawbacks) and preference lawsuits that are filed in Ponzi cases; the defenses that investors, brokers and others can assert to those claims; a wide variety of statutory and tort claims for relief that may be brought against third parties to enhance recoveries in Ponzi cases; the complex legal issues of deepening insolvency, standing, and in pari delicto as they arise in Ponzi litigation; the competing claims for assets in parallel insolvency and criminal proceedings; the prejudgment remedies available to freeze assets both domestically and overseas; the claims allowance and distribution process; and the tax law consequences to Ponzi victims.

As the number of defrauded victims of Ponzi schemes continues to grow, The Ponzi Book is the only resource that provides attorneys and in-house counsel with the strategic guidance they need for effectively handling the consequences that result from the unraveling of these investment schemes.  For more information about The Ponzi Book, go to www.theponzibook.com, and to stay current on the latest Ponzi news, sign up for Kathy’s blog at www.theponzibook.blogspot.com.

Please see new menu here for full details and pricing. Reservations can be made by calling Park Grill at 310 284 6536. As part of the hotel’s continuing efforts to help the environment, Park Grill restaurant and the Lobby Lounge were recently awarded a 2 Star Green Restaurant Association certification.

About InterContinental Los Angeles – An urban oasis on Avenue of the Stars ‐ The renowned landmark of the InterContinental Los Angeles Hotel is just minutes away from Beverly Hills, major entertainment studios and sun‐drenched beaches. The hotel features 361 spacious and stylish guestrooms including 148 suites, all of which offer inspiring panoramic views of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Ocean. Guests can dine in either the Park Grill Restaurant or in the elegant Lobby Lounge which offers light fare, including the award winning sushi creations of Bar‐Hayama. InterContinental Los Angeles offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space, including the Grand Salon with more than 4,000 square feet of divisible space. Additional hotel amenities include SPA InterContinental featuring Zeninspired villas, a 24 hour fitness center, rooftop yoga and Zumba, sauna and steam room, as well as an outdoor heated infinity swimming pool. The InterContinental brand is located in more than 60 countries, operating 138 hotels worldwide and 48 hotels in the Americas region. For more information and to make a reservation please visit www.intercontinentallosangeles.com or call 310.284.6500

Contact:
Miranda House
Director of Communications
Tel: 310 284 6580
Email: miranda.house@ihg.com

Articles:
3/2012: Los Angeles Business Journal: Subway Report Seeks New Location of Century City Station

3/2012: Westwood-Century City Patch: Metro Officials Support Constellation Avenue Stop for Century City

1/2012: The Source: California Geogolical Survey issues letter about LA Weekly Story

10/2011: Experts Recommend Constellation Station for Subway Project for Safety Reasons

10/2011: Zev Yaroslavsky- Fault Findings Break New Ground

8/2011: Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Subway’s Tunnel Vision

8/2011: Westside Neighborhood Council Backs Constellation Subway Station

7/2011: City Watch’s Beverly Hills Rejection of Century City Station: Embarrassing and Tiresome

6/2011: Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Keeping the Subway on Track” article

6/2011: City Watch’s “Constellation Blvd: The Subway Stops Here”

6/2011: Huffington Post’s “Rejecting Century City Subway Station Adjacent”


Videos:
10/2011: Metro Board of Directors Planning & Programming Committee, Part 1: Oral report/presentation

10/2011: Metro Board of Directors Planning & Programming Committee, Part 2: Committee discussion/questions & public comment

10/2011: Metro Board of Directors Planning & Programming Committee, Part 3: News briefing

Information/Resources:
Westside Subway Extension Century City Area Station Options

Westside Subway Extension: Subway Planning in the Century City Area

Online Constellation Blvd. Subway Stop Petition

Century City Chamber Press Conference:
Post-Event Press Release

Press Conference Photos

And, on Thursday, June 9th, the Century City Chamber along with Councilmember Paul Koretz, the Century City Homeowners Alliance and the Comstock Hills Homeowners Association held its first ever Press Conference regarding the proposed  metro station stop in Century City, which made the KCAL 9 Channel news:

Work crews for Pacific Coast Energy Company LP will be relocating existing pipelines. The work is being managed and performed by Pacific Coast Energy Company LP (formerly known as BreitBurn Energy Company LP), the owner of the pipelines, and its subcontractor, PCL Industrial Services.

When:
Monday, March 19, 2012 through Friday, March 23, 2012

Where:
Military Avenue at Exposition Boulevard

Work Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

To view the complete notice from the Pacific Coast Energy Company LP, please click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — LOS ANGELES, CA (March 6, 2012) – Spring break happens at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles!  An affordable way for families to share time together this Easter holiday, families will enjoy a value package that includes a compilation of discounts and gifts that get the whole family excited, even the family pet! Rates start as low as $219. Room rates do not include tax and are subject to availability.  For more information and reservations visit www.centuryplaza.hyatt.com or call 310-228-1234.

The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza spring break value package includes something for the whole family!  For the adults, the package includes: a $20 gas gift card, nightly happy hour at the Lobby Court & Patio from 4pm – 7pm, 15% off Equinox Spa treatments and a complimentary Shopping & Dining VIP discount card to Westfield Century City Mall. For the children, the package includes: a daily breakfast at Breeze where children 12 and under pay their age and a keepsake wristband with 8 items to redeem for FREE throughout their stay including a complimentary lunch poolside, ice cream and cookies just to name a few. And for that family pet, we’ve even thrown in a nightly
“yappy” hour from 4pm – 5pm.

And if your travels keep you here over Easter Sunday (April 8^th), hop over to The Century Plaza’s Breeze restaurant for Executive Chef Manfred Lassahn’s gourmet Easter Brunch Buffet served from 11am – 3pm. A long-standing tradition at The Century Plaza, the Easter Brunch Buffet features a locally sourced and inspired menu, plus a stand-alone kids buffet. Plus, kids can take part in an Easter egg hunt on the lawn and a special visit from the Easter Bunny will bring joy to all. The Easter Brunch Buffet costs $65 per adult; $35 for seniors 62 and older; $25 per child ages five – twelve plus tax and gratuity. For children ages four and younger, the Easter Brunch Buffet is complimentary! Indoor and outdoor seating is available. For larger groups and families, Breeze offers private dining rooms that seat 12 – 30 people. For more information and reservations visit www.centuryplaza.hyatt.com or call: 310-551-3334.

Located at 2025 Avenue of Stars in the heart of Los Angeles’ fashionable Westside, the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is often frequented by celebrities, politicians and dignitaries. All of the hotel’s 726 guestrooms and suites are designed with modern décor with residential touches. Hotel amenities include: a one of a kind, ground level, VIP Regency Club; a Starbucks Coffee Bar; a state-of-the-art Equinox Fitness Club & Spa; the famous Lobby Court & Lounge; Les Clef d’Or Concierge staff; an infinity edge pool; on-site Hertz rental desk and 24- hour in –room dining service. For reservations and more information, call: 310-228-1234. For reservations at any Hyatt hotel worldwide,
call 800-233-1234 or log onto www.hyatt.com.

Contact:
Adrienne De Vore
adrienne.devore@hyatt.com
310-551-3299