Review of Xandros Greek Restaurant Private Dinner Celebration

On Friday, October 8, 2010 we were invited to taste little of XANDROS Greek Restaurant in a private dinner celebration. Xandros Restaurant is located at  50 N. La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills, CA.


The owner and co-owners and employees treated us with exclusive VIP #1 quality service and attention. The private dinner tasting celebration started from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Lots’s of great food to taste and here is a preview of what we got and we highly recommend you to check out XANDROS RESTAURANT and please mention Diversity News and Mark Valinsky Media Group for a discount and great treatment. Thank You and enjoy the best of GREEK FOOD IN BEVERLY HILLS, CA.



The restaurant held their official grand opening celebration where celebrities showed up to taste Xandros Greek Food and walked the red carpet on October 7, 2010. Some of the celebrities that attended were: Boo Boo and Fivel Stewart, Miley Cyrus, Christina Milian, Sharon Case, Alexandra Ella, Jill-Michele Mclean, Serena Reader, Adoni Maropis, Pina De Rosa, Jessica Hall and Laura Harring.

For more information and to view the menu please visit http://www.xandrosgreekrestaurant.com/

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with quotes and more information. Thank You. Also special thanks to Actor, Producer and Doctor Mark Valinsky for making the right arrangements for this restaurant review.

Lily Tomlin and Friends Gather In Beverly Hills To Help Billy The Elephant‏

By Songirl Sez, Special for Diversity News

Legendary comedienne Lily Tomlin appeared with some of today’s hottest leading comedy acts on Saturday, August 7, 2010 in Beverly Hills, CA at the Lavinthal estate for a fundraiser held by Voice For The Animals to raise funds for Billy the elephant, who has been in solitary confinement at the L.A. zoo for over 20 years.

Held on the sprawling estate grounds, the event went from 5-9pm and was emce’d by Bruce Vilanch, who introduced an all star line consisting of fellow comedians Orny Adams, Elayne Boosler and Rick Overton. A special speech of support by Los Angeles City councilman Tony Cardenas, before Lily graced the stage at the mansion. Tax deductible tickets ranged from $100-$350 and included cocktails and fine vegan food. An auction continued after the show while desert was served.

Celebrity supporters for the evening (although some unable to attend) included James Cromwell, Kevin Nealon, Bernie Williams, Georja Umano, Mariana Tosca, Fawn and Ashley Bell. There were a host of well known animal advocates present including Patty Shanker, Ed Boks, Bill Dyer, Robin Torme’, Bryan Monell, Daphne Dimitriadi, Linda Grey Heitz, Marjorie Hirsch Loeb, Sandra Mohr and Kat Kramer.


“Lily and all of our guests understand the significance of the lawsuit, not only to save Billy from what inevitably will be an early death, but to send an even louder message,” said Melya Kaplan, founder and executive director of VFTA. She added “These magnificent, sensitive and loving creatures belong in the wild and if they’ve already been brought here, then they belong in wide-open sanctuaries designed to meet their physical and emotional needs.”

VFTA’s lawsuit originated in 2007 and was filed on behalf of two plaintiffs including the late actor Robert Culp. The suit charges the Los Angeles zoo with cruel and unusual punishment of elephants (there have been 14 elephant deaths in the zoo’s history, two in the past four years) and seeks to shut down the $42 million planned elephant exhibit the city council approved in January of 2009. It was the second time the council voted in approval of the exhibit in light of sufficient evidence that proves the care captive elephants receive constitutes civil and criminal abuse under California law. After a series of motions and appeals, the Court of Appeals finally ruled the case could go to trial.

 ”It would be a much nicer educational process for children to visit animals in sanctuaries and see how animals thrive in their wild habitat, rather than living in a zoo where animals don’t live, the actually die.” said Tracy and Robin Torme party guests.

Kaplan concluded “Lily has been instrumental from the start in helping us bring this issue to light. She loves elephants and wants Billy to go to a place where he can roam free on many acres with other elephants-our lawsuit against the Los Angeles zoo is scheduled to go to trial November 2nd.”

About Billy the elephant and why so many people gathered to help him:
Billy was born in 1985 and has been in solitary confinement since 1989 at the L.A. zoo. He was caught in the wild and forcibly taken from his native home of Malaysia, as part of a trade between the L.A. Zoo and the Malaysian Game Department. Billy lives on approximately one-quarter acre at L.A. Zoo. In the wild, elephants can walk 30 miles in a day. There are roughly 640 acres in one mile.

With no other elephants near him, Billy lives an unnatural, solitary life at the Zoo. While male elephants are often kept separate from other elephants in zoos, in the wild males can display social connections, residing in bachelor herds or frequenting areas with female elephants, sometimes moving from family to family. In India, younger bulls join with older bulls to crop raid.

For many years Billy has displayed stereotypic behavior in the form of repetitive head bobbing that goes on for extended periods of time. Stereotypic behavior is often viewed as an indicator of poor welfare, caused by factors such as restriction of movement, size of enclosure, social isolation, and lack of complexity in the physical environment. Billy has experienced all of these factors at the L.A. Zoo. In fact, Billy was routinely chained each night, likely from the time of his arrival at L.A. Zoo in 1989 until 1994, for approximately 12 to 14 hours each night. It was during this period that a keeper reportedly physically abused Billy by using electric shock on him.

Experts state that stereotypic behavior can lead to foot problems such as nail cracks (which Billy already has), and abscesses and abrasions to the sole of the foot. Foot-related problems are one of the leading causes of euthanasia in captive elephants in the United States.

If you would like more information on Billy or A Voice For Animals, please visit http://vftafoundation.org/ or http://www.helpbilly.org/

Walker and Night Trains Novels by Joseph J. O’Donnell

Novel Name: Walkers by Joseph J. O’Donnell

Joseph J. O’Donnell’s second book, “Walkers”, centers around one of the  U.S. Army’s black box programs hatched out their ’skunk works’ at Fort Meade.
Here, mind control projects have created agents possessing the ability to penetrate the deepest secrets of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Following the end of hostilities the government abandoned the project and scattered those involved back into various branches of the service.

Publishers and Filmmakers Inquiries welcome ! Contact at e-mail address below.’

One renegade general kept the project alive, however, and heightened selected agents by extending their ability to become assassins. Now that his plans were discovered, his trained agents were to become the tools to eliminate those opposed to the project. This would include the President of the United States.

Two FBI agents, along with a lone dissenter of the general’s ’school of thought’, was all that stood between democracy and despotism. The author’s ability to hold his readers from the very beginning, through the final pages, will surely make this a memorable book to fit in with such classics as ‘Seven Days In May’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’.

Novel Name: Night Trains by Joseph J. O’Donnell

‘Publishers and Filmmakers Inquiries welcome ! Contact at e-mail address below.’
Information:
In his first novel, ‘Night Trains’, in what began as a simple assault quickly became the ultimate battle between good and evil. The story revolves around a killer in the New York City subways.
This is no ordinary killer though. He can thwart the best of police efforts to apprehend him and his ability to do so stems far beyond the possibilities of reality….into the realms of the supernatural.

Contact Information:

E-mail: fictionwriterodonnell@yahoo.com

Links:

http://www.fictionwriterodonnell.com/

Editor’s Note: The above novel/movie trailers have been published with permission from the author.

Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, Premieres at The Whitmore Theater directed by Veronica DiPippo

On Friday, July 30 ,2010 Get Real Productions announced in a press release the limited engagement of Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, premieres at The Whitmore Lindley Theater directed by Veronica DiPippo.

The prestigious play will be directed by Award Winning Filmmaker, Director and Writer Veronica DiPippo and produced by Sonia Curtis Acerra and Alicia Benavides Greenfield.


The cast members starring are Sonia Curtis as Lenny Magrath, Brenda Lasker as Chick Boyle, Nate Orr as Doc Porter, Victoria Profeta as Meg Magrath, Kincaid Walker as Babe Magrath Botrelle and Alec Beard as Barnette Lloyd.

The play opens on Friday, August 13th at 8:00 pm and runs to Sunday, August 29, 2010. It will be held Fridays and Saturdays night at 8:00 pm & Sundays at 2:00 pm. The event will be held at The Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center at 11006 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601.

This special limited event is offering tickets to the general public if purchase in  advance for VIP and General Pre-Sale Seats. Individual Pre-Sale Seats for $16.00, and VIP Pre-Sale Seats for $20.00, also they welcome any charitable donation of $25.00 which it do not include ticket to see the play. For tickets and information visit http://crimesoftheheart2010.blogspot.com/ At the door General Seats cost $16.00.

About Crimes of the Heart:
At the core of this tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy’s home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The trio was raised in a dysfunctional family with a penchant for ugly predicaments and each has endured her share of hardship and misery. Past resentments bubble to the surface as they’re forced to deal with assorted relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives. Each sister is forced to face the consequences of the “Crimes of the Heart” she has committed. 

After many years of acting Sonia also began to coach actors privately and in groups and began writing and developing scripts for film and television. Last year Sonia produced and starred in a short film “Deception” directed by award winning director Pamela Dresser. Currently she has several projects in various stages of development. “Crimes of the Heart” is the first theater production Sonia has undertaken. She is very grateful for all the support she has received from Victoria Profeta, Veronica Dipippo, Alicia Benavides Greenfield, Zac Polhamus and all of the wonderful cast and crew and her amazing husband Jeremiah Acerra who has helped with many aspects of this production. For more information, please visit http://www.soniacurtis.com


About Producer Alicia Benavides Greenfield:
In 2000 Alicia Founded the NewMan theatre Company a non-profit theater company in NYC. She produced original pieces such as “Dinner at the Manse” by Ara Anasa, as well as “‘Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” by pulitzer prize winning writer/directer John Patrick Shanley in which she played the lead role as Roberta.
Alicia Majored in Film/Media at NYU and has consistently trained and worked as an actress for the past 15 years.
Currently she studies with Joanne Barron/DW Brown in Los Angeles. Alicia is honored to be debuting as a producer here in LA NOHO with “Crimes of the Heart.” For more information, please visit http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2079758/


About Get Real Productions:
Get Real Productions was founded in 1999 by Sonia Curtis with a creative vision to teach actors, inspire, write, produce and direct various projects in the entertainment industry. The main goal at Get Real Productions is to find and develop new talent and projects and encourage partnership with other talented positive people who bring hard work, good attitudes, dedication and professionalism to their craft. For more information, please visit http://www.getrealproductions.biz


If any media/press or photographers interested in covering this event please email diversitynewsppr@gmail.com to request credentials no later than 8:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, August 11, 2010.


Editor’s Note: Article was first published on the Hollywood Events Examiner page at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-35747-Hollywood-Events-Examiner~y2010m7d30-Crimes-of-the-Heart-by-Beth-Henley-Premieres-at-The-Whitmore-Theater-directed-by-Veronica-DiPippo


Sources: Wikipedia.org, Alicia Benavides Greenfield & Sonia Curtis Acerra, Producers

Rob E C performed live at Local Celebrity Los Angeles Week 6 Semi Finals

Usually, the contestants or judges get interviewed first, but this week the person who got on the red carpet was Justin Chase as a sneak preview to show people who they will see perform on 3-14-2010 at Local Celebrity LA.
“It has been an experience that has enabled me to grow for sure. I am 100% fine with it ending early.” said Shane Facchinello, Local Celebrity LA contestant.

Also, the guest judge Fred Wolf from 19 Entertainment who had worked with American Idol was interviewed on the red carpet. Rob E C who was the headline guest artist was interviewed about being part of Local Celebrity LA, and he promoted his new album “Breakout.” Later the eight remaining contestants and finally the judges were interviewed on the red carpet.

“I think the Local Celebrity LA team are doing a fantastic job in having the Local Celebrity LA singing contest. It has given a platform to people to showcase their singing talent and in the process discover gems one would never hear or see. What better place than LA to start such a noble enterprise. I look forward with bated breath for the upcoming rounds. More power to Local Celebrity LA.” said Suniil Sadarangani, Actor/Producer, Bollywood To Hollywood and September Tapes.


Rob E C performed two songs, “Heaven”, and “Right Here Waiting” almost at the end of the show. His fans showed that they liked his outstanding performance.

More than 150 people were present at the venue, which consisted of singers and fans, and also included some of the celebrities and talent courtesy of WTV. These were Eric Zuley “EZ”, Ameona Almund (Ms. Beverly Hills 2006), Derek Pratt, Joel W. Gonzales, Abby Model, Devon Guzzie and Ryan Torres. Some of the invited celebrities by EZ were Pamela Hasselhoff, Ron Whitaker, Sophie Turner, Martin Klebba, Miss California and much more. Also in attendance were Suniil Sadaranga (Bollywood To Hollywood Actor),  Eric Rowe (Local Celebrity LA producer and CA Talent president), Radhika Chaudhari (The Hunchback Actress), Adrian Reyes, GG Smith, & Nate Gaines (Former Local Celebrity LA contestants) and community leader Dr. John Carvalho (Cal State University Senator Member, Political Action Committee West Hollywood, Human Rights Campaign).


Before eliminating the two contestants, Fawn one of the judges made the following statement: “Congratulations for making it this far, you all are very, very talented and it’s such a blessing for all of us to heard you each week”. said Fawn, Local Celebrity LA judge. She continued, “Really Amazing talent and no matter what happens, I want each keep going because you will make it if don’t give up.”



The contestants that performed were Rosy Donovan (Beautiful Disaster: by Kelly Clarkson), Rachel Escalera (Too Little Too Late: by JoJo), Brian Miller ( Feeling Good: by Michael Buble), Leah Turner ( Never Again: Kelly Clarkson), Christina Aldana ( I Will Always Love You: by Whitney Houston), Jonathan Hernandez (Apologize: by One Republic), Shane Facchinello ( Superstition: by Stevie Wonder) and Leandro Fossi (Escape: by Enrique Iglesias). The two contestants who were eliminated at the end of the competition from the fans votes via texting and ballot from the prior event were Jonathan Hernandez and Brian Miller.
The event judges were Arnold G; International dance/pop recording artist, songwriter, dancer and performer, Fawn; Recording artist, songwriter and performer and Kris Searle; Singer, songwriter and international recording artist/performer.


Local Celebrity Los Angeles week 6 semi finals was the judges song choice, which Brian Miller was not able to perform, but was allowed to perform another song.


The event was held at Eleven Restaurant & Nightclub, located at 8811 Santa Monica Blvd in the city of West Hollywood, CA 90069 on 2-7-2010 from 9:00 pm to 11:45 pm. The event was hosted by Ryan Ray of Wake Up TV. Local Celebrity LA was broadcast again online via http://www.localcelebritytv.com/

Also Diversity News TV & WTV covered most of the show for possible online distribution. Photos of the event were taken by RodrigoVaz.Com. WTV covered the event and interviewed some of the contestants, guest artists, and event producers on the red carpet and inside the venue.


The event was produced by California Talent, hosted by Ryan Ray of Wake Up TV and sponsored by Diversity News Publications, Eleven Night Club Restaurant, Photos by Rodrigo Vaz and clothing for host provided by LASC.


The next show will be held on March 14, 2010 and will present Justin Chase live in concert at the Local Celebrity Los Angeles Week 7 final, The grand finale will be on March 21, 2010 with surprises.

Editor’s Note: Story was proof read by Linda Krongold, our New York, NY Special Correspondent For Diversity News. For more information you can contact her at andmeljar@aol.com

Photos courtesy of Rodrigo Vaz. You can contact Rodrigo at rodrigo.m.c.m.vaz@gmail.com for photos shoots. © 2010 By Diversity News Publications. All Rights Are Reserved.

Hand in Hand Benefit Concert – Typhoon Emergency To Help The Philippines

Hollywood, CA — October 14, 2009 A&G Records in association with Philippine Aid Society announced Multi-talented recording artists Latonius Earl, Jezda, Kris Searle, Jael Gadsden, Fawn, Asha Puthli, Stuart Guest, Rob E C and Arnold G to perform live at “Hand in Hand Benefit Concert – Typhoon Emergency.”

“To be honest, I can’t take credit for the idea. This was Arnold G’s initiative. When he approached me about doing the concert, I was all for it because I could tell he had a heart to help the Philippines” Said Tim Troutman, Executive Director of the Philippine Aid Society.
The event will be held on Monday, October 19, 2009 from 9pm to 11pm at Rage Restaurant & Bar 8911 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069. Telephone: (310) 652-7055.
He continue “I hope it will raise awareness for the Philippines and the serious need they have there. I also hope to raise some money because every dollar raised translates directly into emergency items for the victims.”
Event will be hosted by Rana Davis, popular long time hostess and emcee in Southern California.
This is a benefit concert to help raise awareness and needed funds to help the victims of the devastating floods the occurred on September 26, 2009. The Manila metro area was pummeled by Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) which resulted in the worst flooding the Philippines has seen in over 40 years. Some are calling the storm the “Katrina of the Philippines.” Nearly 699 people have lost their lives and countless thousands have lost everything they own. To be sure, millions of Filipinos, living in one of the poorest countries in the world, were deeply affected by this tragedy in the Phillipines. All proceeds will go to the Philippine Aid Society a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The goal is to raise $100,000. That will go a long way to restoring family housing, getting medicine, food and clothing to those in direct need in the Philippines.

“Tens of Thousands of people in Manila and surrounding areas have lost everything they own. We can’t give it all back to them, but this money raised will go to help them survive and recover from this tragedy.” Concluded Troutman.

Also donations of clothing and can foods will be accepted on location, as well at: Manila Forwarder: 4323 Eagle Rock Blvd, Unit 313, Los Angeles, CA 90041 Telephone: (323) 478-1599. Cash donations are being encouraged and will be managed directly by Tim Troutman, Executive Director of the Philippine Aid Society, with offices in the United States (North Carolina) and in the Philippines (Kamuning, Quezon City).

Red carpet is schedule to start at 8:30pm. The show will start from 9pm to 11pm.
Event is free, but $10 donation is recommended for the cause.
“Hand in Hand Benefit Concert – Typhoon Emergency.” is sponsored by A&G Records, RAGE, ParrisHarris and Diversity News.

About Phillipine Aid Society:
Philippine Aid Society is a non profit organization which is organized to provide a variety of charitable services in the Philippines. They are a small organization and their management staff consists entirely of volunteers.
For more information you can visit there website at http://www.philippineaid.org/
About Diversity News Publications:
Is a public relations firm specialized in Advertising, Design, Marketing, Printing & Public Relations services who combines all sources in one. Diversity News Publications publishes Diversity News Hollywood, Diversity News Online, Diversity News Los Angeles and Diversity News, a consumer news magazine.
For more information you visit web site at http://www.diversitynewspublications.com/ or follow on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/eediversitynews
Note: Video courtesy of Brian LeBow from LeBow Media, shows images on the devastating floods.

Sources: A&G Records, LeBow Media, Phillipine Aid Society, Diversity News Publications, YouTube, Facebook.

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