Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Award-winning singer songwriter Bret Michaels

LOS  ANGELES, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning singer songwriter Bret Michaels has recorded and produced a contemporary version of the timeless holiday classic "Jingle Bells." Michaels, an iconic musician and frontman mixed modern recording techniques and contemporary grooves with traditional orchestration and feel to create a completely fresh new version of one of the most recognizable holiday songs of all time, while staying true to the original spirit of such a recognizable body of music.

This is the legendary frontman's first time releasing a holiday song and he says, "It was such an awesome experience that I plan to have a full-length release of holiday music next year." Fans can expect the song to be packed with high energy, great grooves, and the ever-present spirit of a good time evident in all of Michaels' music.
Jingle Bells will be available to fans on Friday, Nov. 17th via all major digital music retailers and streaming outlets, with other related and exclusive content available only at www.bretmichaels.com.
Also known as an avid philanthropist, Michaels will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the song to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Michaels' Life Rocks Foundation will also be holding its annual fundraising drive. The Life Rocks Foundation makes donations to such causes as Hurricane Harvey Relief, The American Red Cross, military charities and JDRF among others. To donate visit www.bretmichaels.com
About Bret Michaels:
Bret Michaels, whose career has spanned over 30 years in the entertainment business and weathered the ever-changing tide of the industry, has created an unprecedented fanbase that embraces 3 generations. Michaels is part rock star, part reality star and part philanthropist, having incredible success in every avenue. Selling over 40 million records worldwide, Bret is the face of an entire genre. With the astonishing success of his hit reality show "Rock Of Love" that spanned 3 seasons and remains in syndication worldwide, Michaels became a "Cultural Touchdown" as described by former head of Viacom, Judy McGrath. From there Bret went on to star in and produce several other TV shows, including VH1's smash hit "Life as I Know It," and he won season 3 of "The Celebrity Apprentice." To this day, the reality star is considered the fan favorite from all seasons of NBC's number one show.
Being a lifelong diabetic and brain hemorrhage survivor, Michaels has always embraced the need to help and "Give Back" to those in need and has been active in raising money for the cure for diabetes his entire life. In recent years, the avid philanthropist took it even further with the creation of his unique "Life Rocks" foundation. With Bret's foundation you find him stepping out from his own needs as a diabetic and giving to veterans, women's shelters, animal shelters and many other causes. Bret has raised and continues to raise money and donate in hopes of making the world a better place.
For all things Bret Michaels, please visit www.bretmichaels.com.



SOURCE Michaels Entertainment Group

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

VINCE GUARALDI TRIO'S BEST-SELLING ALBUM
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
TO BE CELEBRATED WITH AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE
 
CLASSIC SOUNDTRACK TO THE TELEVISION SPECIAL INCLUDES ICONIC TRACKS
"LINUS AND LUCY" AND "CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE"  

 
LOS ANGELES, CA - Craft Recordings, the Catalog Division of Concord Music, is pleased to announce a high-end vinyl reissue of the Vince Guaraldi Trio's beloved jazz album, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Due out November 17th, the LP will be released on 180-gram vinyl, and housed in an old-school style, tip-on jacket, featuring the rarely seen artwork from the original 1965 album. Lacquers for the album were cut by George Horn and Anne-Marie Suenram at Fantasy Studios, while the vinyl was pressed at Quality Record Pressings.
 
A Charlie Brown Christmas, certified 4X Platinum by the RIAA in 2016, is one of the best-selling jazz albums in history, second only to Miles Davis' Kind of Blue; and it's no surprise: Guaraldi's engaging score to the synonymous holiday television specialhas introduced generations of children and their parents to the joys of jazz music, with tracks like the instantly recognizable "Linus and Lucy," and yuletide favorite "Christmas Time Is Here." The album was inducted into the GRAMMY® Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry five years later, and continues to be a perennial favorite, thanks to annual airings of the Christmas TV special.
 
A native of San Francisco, Vince Guaraldi became one of America's most successful jazz artists during the course of his lifetime. Though Guaraldi's legacy is most famously tied to his association with Peanuts, he was already an established, GRAMMY® Award-winning artist by the time that producer Lee Mendelson tapped him to score the first of many animated specials based on the Charles Schulz-penned cartoons. In a 2003 interview, excerpted from the biography Vince Guaraldi at the Piano (Derrick Bang; McFarland Books), Mendelson declared, "There was no doubt in my mind that if we hadn't had that Guaraldi score, we wouldn't have had the franchise we later enjoyed."

Pre-order: A Charlie Brown Christmas on Amazon

Track List:
Side A
1. O Tannenbaum
2. What Child Is This
3. My Little Drum
4. Linus & Lucy
5. Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)
 
Side B
1. Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)
2. Skating
3. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
4. Christmas Is Coming
5. Für Elise
6. The Christmas Song






TALK SPORTY TO ME

Talk Sporty to Me Founder Jen Mueller "Grabs Life by the Balls"




SEATTLE, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly two decades of experience in sports broadcasting means Jen has been talking about balls (and other sports equipment) with well-known athletes the rest of us only dream of having a few moments with.
The new book is already flooded with praise from the likes of NFL sideline reporters Erin Andrews, Pam Oliver, Alex Flanagan, and Laura Okmin, as well as NFL Pro-Bowlers Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, and Doug Baldwin (who also provided the foreword).
Jen's humorous, no-nonsense approach to career development is refreshing and accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Unlike others who might shy away from the big topics, Jen challenges sacred cows and the most common excuses in chapters like, "Does This Make My Bias Look Big?" and "Sexism Versus Poor Communication Skills."
What makes this book different? Jen's access to professional athletes provides a unique and interesting perspective – with lots of direct stories from her interactions (including an answer to the common "What's it really like in the locker room?" question, and the story of how she wound up with her very own Super Bowl ring). Her approach leads to a fun, engaging, and interesting read, with practical tips that demonstrate how strong communication skills set the stage for career development opportunities in any field.
But don't take our word for it, listen to Seahawks Pro-Bowler Doug Baldwin, who says: "You're not always going to know what to say, and sometimes what you say won't come out right, but if you use the techniques Jen demonstrates in the book you'll be well on your way to communicating more effectively, becoming an Influential Conversationalist and finding new ways to lead."
About Talk Sporty to Me and The Influential ConversationalistJen Mueller's passion for improving the way people approach business communication motivated her to launch Talk Sporty to Me in 2009. The company facilitates corporate training on how to make sports conversations useful in business, and provides an outside-the-box approach to business communication. The Influential Conversationalist is now available on Amazon.



Monday, October 23, 2017

Melonhopper Halloween Costumes

Its that's time again to capture your inner most desirable alter ego! HALLOWEEN is your time to be that sultry mermaid even captivating wicked witch with curve appeal, but to those with big hearts but naughty desires a nurse costume is in order for that emergency.  Melonhopper is your one stop shop for stepping outside of the same old boring costumes, this year add some sizzle to your one night to capture the night of any party. With shipping all over and wide range of select choices to make sure you won't have the same costumes across the room. You'll find on https://www.melonhopper.com/? For your needs with global shipping and handling to secure your package delivery! Follow on social media Instagram @melonhopper be sure to catch the sales and highlighted specials, make this year your own note worthy event! Let your wildest fantasies take flight gitty up and get ready before sale ends.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Dean Collection X Swizz Beatz

The Dean Collection X Swizz Beatz Announce Epic Year For No Commission 2017 As Event Goes Global
The Dean Collection x BACARDÍ  are set to take their innovative, experiential art and music platform No Commission global as they announce three, world-class events for 2017, starting with Shanghai.
The driving force of No Commission Shanghai is the digital future. China’s population, particularly its youth, is committed to the notion of 21st century human and digital existence as inextricably linked. Their primary language of communication is digital interface and Shanghai as a unique metropolis, is the hub for artistic communities successfully experimenting with the convergence of creative output and digital terrain. Chinese millennials have therefore staked a claim on the future by going beyond simply the use of digital landscapes — they have designed a whole new creative language out of it.
The intersection of contemporary art and advanced digital technology has produced a new generation of Chinese artists who are leaders of the New Media Art movement.  No Commission Shanghai presents the artwork of aaajiao, Cui Jie, Ben Jones, Lin Ke, Tingwei Li, WangNewOne, Saya Woolfalk, Tian Xiaolei, Lu Yang, Wang Yi and Miao Ying, nine innovators in the New Media realm and two painters who incorporate the language of the future into their craft. 
The art and music fair will then move to Berlin in late June.The show will then make its way back to the US, finishing the year at Miami Art Basel – a homecoming for No Commission having launched there in 2015.
The Dean Collection X BACARDÍ present No Commission: Shanghai on the 7th – 9th April 2017










Monday, March 13, 2017

Russell Simmons' All Def Digital to Create THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF HIP HOP; Partners with Emmy Award Winning

Russell Simmons' All Def Digital to Create THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF HIP HOP; Partners with Emmy Award Winning Producers Stephen David Entertainment and GroupM Entertainment to Bring to Life the Untold Stories Old and New Behind the Artists, the Music and the Movement That Changed American & Global Culture Forever
LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Russell Simmons' All Def Digital, the fastest growing platform in hip hop and urban youth culture and Emmy award winning producers Stephen David Entertainment announced today a partnership with GroupM Entertainment, a global content investment and rights management company, to develop and produce THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF HIP HOP, a sweeping documentary series that tells the exhaustive story of hip hop, from its seminal, underground roots to its now most iconic, global artists. Stephen David will Executive Produce the series, along with GME's Richard Foster and Simmons himself. The project is in development and slated to begin production this year.
THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF HIP HOP begins in the early 1970s, chronicling the rise of the first DJs and emcees in New York City.  But what started as a way for marginalized youth in New York City to escape or explain the stark realities of the inner city, rapidly spread from the East to West Coast as it evolved into a global phenomenon.  Today, it is a multi-billion dollar industry and cultural force that shapes music, art, fashion, language, and all forms of entertainment from films to television and digital programming to social media.
"Hip hop began in the Bronx and Queens, and was fueled by pioneering new artists with an incredible hunger to express themselves in unimaginably bold new ways," said Simmons. "The Definitive History of Hip Hop is the untold story of the birth of this art form – the series gets behind the scenes of what drove the beats, the rhymes, the ideas -- and the people -- that so powerfully hit a chord with all of youth culture in America and around the world.  It starts with the OGs of this disruptive force in entertainment, spotlights some of the lesser known artists who've fallen out of history or favor, and of course looks at the icons who are now household names whether you're in LA or London, Toledo or Tokyo.  The music is just as important, classic and timeless today as it was 40 years ago.  We've partnered with amazing filmmakers in Stephen David Entertainment and with GroupM, the largest media investment firm in the world, because we believe this will be a long-running, global franchise," Simmons said.  "We are going long, and deep, and plan to follow the characters and story lines, the drama, the dreams, the deaths, the disruptions, that have made our narrative one of the most compelling American stories of the last three decades.  And its future is still being written today, so the story is both timeless and endless."
Using SDE's award-winning cinematic and storytelling style of weaving filmed scenes and classic documentary treatments, together with groundbreaking visual effects, archival footage and celebrity interviews, THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF HIP HOP tells the incredible personal stories of the pioneers of hip hop and rap, set against the larger historical context of a country in turmoil.  From DJ Hollywood and Run DMC, to Dr. Dre and Jay Z, this authoritative and expansive series captures the mystique and magnetism of the personalities and music that helped transform the American mindset and, in the process, set off a global movement premised on speaking truth to power.
"The birth of hip-hop and its ascent into the American mainstream is a fascinating story, one that has tremendous historical and social importance and relevance in our society," said Stephen David. "We really could not imagine a greater partner for this project than the founder of the movement, Russell Simmons, and the team at All Def Digital.  We are privileged to be working with the man who took a musical art form and created multiple industries and a global movement in youth culture."  
As the company behind the EMMY award-winning series, THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA, the EMMY-nominated THE WORLD WARS and THE MAKING OF THE MOB: NEW YORK, SDE has established itself as the leading producer of hybrid-genre programs that combine traditional documentary techniques with scripted storytelling elements.  "We create documentaries as if they were scripted series - we thrive on characters and story arcs."  SDE has projects at Netflix, Amazon, History Channel, and NatGeo among others.
"We at GroupM Entertainment have a track record of partnering with creative voices and producers around the world to deliver premium content to the world's biggest networks and platforms," said Richard Foster, CEO of GroupM Entertainment.  "The dominance of hip hop in global culture is clear in so many international markets.  Investing into the project and partnering with All Def and SDE is a fantastic opportunity to bring this story to a global audience.  GroupM Entertainment is one of the largest financiers and co-producers of original programming in the UK and is active in over 20 global markets including the US.  The company is part of WPP, the world's largest advertising and marketing services group.
"With the break-out success of entertainment properties like Straight Outta Compton and Moonlight in film, Empire and Atlanta in television, even Hamilton on Broadwaythere could not be a better time to tell this story about the embryonic days of hip hop," said Sanjay Sharma, All Def's Chief Executive Officer.  "Hip Hop is the most listened to category of music in the US and its universal appeal is, in part, due to the fact that it has always been about speaking truth to power - nothing could be more timely than this.  Aside from dominating pop culture, this thread dominates the global social and political climate as well.  We want to create an immersive experience that will engage today's youth, as well as old-school fans, with the origins of the movement through premium content, live, social and interactive, experiences, and more."
In addition to DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF HIP HOP, All Def recently released a standup comedy special on HBO, a sketch comedy series on MTV2, the All Def Roast of Snoop Dogg and the All Def Movie Awards on Fusion, and soon will release global, premium digital series with YouTube Red and Spotify.

About All Def DigitalAll Def Digital (ADD) is the leading media company for youth culture rooted in hip hop. ADD produces and distributes original content through its own media properties, social channels, traditional and premium television, theatrical motion-pictures, live events, and brand partnerships through its in-house agency ADHD.  ADD also manages a curated network of emerging and established talent including social video stars, stand-up comics, writers, actors, poets and hip hop recording artists.  ADD is the fastest growing media brand in urban youth programming, touching over 100 million fans monthly across YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat, with category-leading engagement metrics. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with offices in New York.  Its investors include Nu Horizons, Greycroft Partners, Third Wave Digital Partners, e.ventures, Advancit Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and WPP.

About Stephen David EntertainmentStephen David Entertainment (SDE) – a Banijay Group Company – is an Emmy® Award-winning, New York-based production company with its own in-house post-facility. SDE counts The Men Who Built AmericaThe World Wars and The Making of the Mob: New York among its popular, hybrid documentary series. In the five years since its inception, SDE has developed numerous docudrama mini-series and select scripted projects, utilizing high-end production techniques and cutting-edge VFX. In 2014 and 2015, SDE was named to Realscreen's Global 100 list of top production companies.

About GroupM Entertainment: GroupM Entertainment is a global content investment and rights management company, which creates, finances, produces, distributes and commercializes content via innovative, strategic commercial models and partnerships. In partnership with some of the world's leading production and distribution talent, GroupM Entertainment's global business interests extend across all media platforms and a broad range of genres. GME is part of GroupM, the world's leading full-service media investment management operation, a WPP company.


Contact:
Steve Elzer
Elzer & Associates
213-607-3591
steve@elzerassociates.com






E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Flip or Flop's Christina El Moussa

"in a Very Good Place" With Ex-Husband Tarek

 E! NEWS  http://www.eonline.com/news/835612/flip-or-flop-s-christina-el-moussa-in-a-very-good-place-with-ex-husband-tarek

Christina El Moussa and Tarek El Moussa make co-parenting look easy. Over the weekend, E! News' Carissa Culiner caught up with Christina during the All-Star Chef Classic at L.A. Live, where the Flip or Flop star opened up about her new life as a single mom. "The kids are great. My son is literally like the happiest kid on the planet. He brings so much joy to our lives," she said. "Taylor is amazing. She's feisty and funny. She's a very sweet, loving girl." Christina, 33, attended the event with daughter Taylor El Moussa, 1, while son Brayden El Moussa, 1, stayed home. The El Moussas announced their separation in December, after quietly breaking up in the spring of 2016. Last month, Tarek filed for divorce from his co-star. It's been a year of big and little transitions for the El Moussas. Tarek left the family's home Yorba Linda, Calif., last summer and bought a bachelor pad in Newport Beach. While it's an adjustment, co-parenting is "going great," his ex-wife said. "Tarek and I are in a very good place right now. We're doing a really good job. We share the kids 50/50 and our communication is great. Like I said, the kids are happy, so everyone's doing really well.” Prior to their breakup, the El Moussas lived a relatively "normal" life. But once news of a prior domestic incident made headlines, interest in their split ushered in a new normal. "I don't even think about it until sometimes I step out of my car and there's paparazzi taking pictures of me," Christina said. "Honestly, it hasn't really changed my life that much. Honestly—this may sound weird—I don't even think about it at all. There are so many false stories, so I just let it slide." Amid the media frenzy surrounding their breakup, the El Moussas have continued to shoot episodes of their hit TV show. "Filming is amazing. We've had the same crew for a couple years on Flip or Flop, and we're all best friends. We all have the best time together filming," Christina said. "And it's just a really happy environment and we look forward to continuing more shows." "It's all guys and me, so it's a lot of testosterone," she added. "But aside from that, it's all good." Christina's comments came days after the network announced Flip or Flop will be expanding with other stars. "We were approached about a year ago that they were going to explore doing Flip or Flop in some other states, and we gave it our blessing," she said. "Honestly, it's just cool that the show did so well that now they're franchising it out. We couldn't be happier for HGTV."


 For more from Christina, watch E! News tonight at 7 and 11, only on E!










Thursday, March 9, 2017

SXSW as the First Free Mobile Childcare






For immediate Release
Contact: Blair FitzGibbon, 202-503-6141


Moms-in-Film to Launch at SXSW as the First Free Mobile Childcare Service for Film Industry 
 

Austin, TX - Moms-in-Film, an organization founded to energize the careers of mothers in film and television by providing community, funding and advocacy, is poised to alleviate the childcare issue for filmmaker-parents on the ground at SXSW 2017. The Bi-coastal organization is partnering with Collab&Play, LA’s first coworking space with on-site childcare, to provide professional, free childcare using the funds received from a SXSW community grant. 

This pilot of the Wee Wagon, a mobile childcare unit which will provide childcare to the film community on set as well as at festivals, will launch the service which will be available from Moms-in-Film later this year. In addition to providing free childcare in the Wee Wagon from March 13 to 17, Moms-in-Film is presenting a panel on Parenthood and Filmmaking, to address the challenges facing parents of both sexes working in various fields within film. 

The Wee Wagon is an advocacy initiative as well as a practical service, in an “industry which is not currently structured to support parents; a reality that disproportionately affects women and accounts for much of the industry’s gender imbalance,” says Mathilde Dratwa, founder of Moms-in-Film. “The lack of provisions for childcare keeps women off set as well as away from festivals, where they miss out on networking opportunities and meetings that could lead to funding, distribution, collaboration, and future projects.” 

To efficiently support the parent filmmakers presenting at SXSW, Moms-in-Film is constructing a temporary “Wee Wagon” in a film trailer from Austin-based Film Fleet.  Much like the plans for the future Wee Wagon, the unit will be decorated and furnished to meet the needs and wants of young children, and using it to showcase the potential of a mobile unit for childcare. For use on set, the Wee Wagon offers unique benefits including proximity to your children when working long and often inflexible hours, especially for parents who travel out-of-state. Dratwa says, “It’s so exciting to think of a bespoke, imaginative, play-based space created for the children themselves.”

The SXSW “Wee Wagon” will be stationed outside the ZACH theatre and will always be staffed by two early childhood professionals from Collab&Play. The Wee Wagon can accommodate up to 5 children at a time (between the ages of 3 months and 4 years). Chirsty Lamb, director of Strategy & Development for Moms-in-Film, says “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Collab&Play for this initiative. As a new mom living in Los Angeles, I use Collab&Play all the time: it’s a fantastic solution for creative professionals with young children. We are thrilled to bring their concept to SXSW and adapt it for the film industry.” 





E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: David Arquette and Wife Christina Arquette











E! NEWS EXCLUSIVE: David Arquette and Wife Christina Arquette Welcome a Baby Boy Named Augustus Alexis Arquette

Congratulations to David Arquette and his wife Christina Arquette!
E! News can exclusively reveal that the couple has welcomed their second child together, a baby boy named Augustus Alexis Arquette. Augustus, who they plan on calling Gus, was born March 8, 2017. Gus' middle name serves as a tribute to David's late sister, Alexis Arquette, who passed away at age 47 in September 2016. David and Christina are already parents to a 2-year-old boy named Charlie Arquette. Both sons also have a half-sister, Coco, whom David shares with ex-wife Courteney Cox.
E! News also has an exclusive look at their newborn, who couldn't be any cuter. Wearing his hospital beanie, little Gus has the most cherubic face! But he probably just wants to take a nap.
David took to Instagram in October to announce that he and Christina were expecting their second bundle of joy together. The Scream actor shared a precious video of their 2-year-old son, Charlie, and revealed a second boy was on the way. 
"So incredibly blessed and honored that my wife @christinaarquette is pregnant with a baby boy!" he captioned the video. "Thank you Christina and humbled gratitude to G-D for this tremendous gift!"
David continued, "Charlie and Coco are so excited and I am over the moon!!!"
In the video, Charlie is seen holding up a sonogram and hugging it closely to his face, giving it the littlest kisses. He then looks at his mom and asks, "A baby?"
Christina responded, "Yeah! It's a baby in my belly! Say, 'Hi, brother!'" The 2-year-old responded adorably, "Hi baby! Hi brother!" before giving the photo a big kiss.



 


37 Problems is a series









LOS ANGELES - From director, creator and star Lisa Ebersole, 37 Problems (an official selection of the Austin Film Festival),  is a new series about fertility, growth, and finally getting your s**t together. The series also features Pej Vahdat (Sneaky Pete, Shameless), Stephanie Sanditz (Snuggle Bunny w/Zosia Mamet, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Joseph Reitman (Townies on ABC, The Drew Carey Show), Catherine Carlen (How To Get Away with Murder), James Morrison (Six Feet Under, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and many other notables.
Amanda (Ebersole) is a struggling 37 year-old screenwriter who's all about her career, finds out she has one egg left. Suddenly she has to get a guy to fertilize the egg, freeze the egg, or do nothing and live a different life than she imagined. (It's a comedy, we promise.)
37 Problems is a series about fertility, ambivalence around motherhood, career, and what it’s like to be a single woman in a world where biology still has its clock on you when you desperately wish it didn’t. It’s also a series about what it takes to be happy. Viewers watch as Amanda looks for happiness in work, friends, love, relationships, and the idea of a baby. She’s searching for completion and the series challenges her to find it.



Below episodes 1 & 2  full series on  https://www.37problems.com/classes/

SFW - 37 PROBLEMS / #1 / "Reality Check" from Lisa Ebersole on Vimeo.




37 PROBLEMS / #2 / "Shame" from Lisa Ebersole on Vimeo.


An award-winning playwright and filmmaker, Lisa's plays have been produced Off-Broadway and regionally. They include: BABY (Best of The Fringe Festival) MOTHER (starring Buck Henry and Holland Taylor) BROTHER (published by Samuel French) PEOPLE DIE THAT WAY (Editor’s Choice Time Out New York & Backstage.) Her films include the feature adaptation of BROTHER (Tribeca Cinemas) the short film PUDDIN’ (Palm Springs Film Festival) and the web series 37 PROBLEMS (Austin Film Festival, Brooklyn Web Fest, Hollyweb Festival.)


Fourth Annual Southwest Maker Fest




For information contact:
Cindy Ornstein 480-644-6601


Fourth Annual Southwest Maker Fest invades Downtown Mesa on March 11!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThe fourth annual Southwest Maker Fest (SWMF) will bring over 100 exhibitors, presentations and workshops to downtown Mesa on March 11!  The FREE festival engages visitors in exploring all kinds of hands-on creation and ideas, from art and technology to food and DIY projects.  On March 11, 2017, noon to 7pm, exhibits, demonstrations, community art projects, opportunities to meet makers and to try your hand at new things, and fun learning experiences will fill the festival, which is located on Macdonald and Pepper Streets just north of Main Street in downtown Mesa. The i.d.e.a. Museum is open free to the public throughout the festival. Details and opportunities to volunteer can be found at SouthwestMakerFest.com.

This collaborative one-day festival and community of makers is seeking to achieve the vision of a connected community, empowered by creativity. SWMF’s mission is to celebrate, engage, and inspire the maker in each of us. The fourth annual festival is easily reachable from the Center Street or Country Club stops on Valley Metro Light Rail, and there is plenty of free parking nearby.

This year, SWMF is adding an exciting new feature area specifically designed to support Arizona’s educational community and inform education advocates. N-Compass Village is intended to showcase how integrating creative experiences into the school curriculum can increase engagement, enhance active, student-centered discovery and deepen learning.  N-Compass Village is a place where all can experience hands-on making, integrated with  a variety of subject areas taught in our local educational systems. Located in the Atrium at i.d.e.a. Museum, it offers exhibits and presentations of interest to the entire community.

Southwest Maker Fest celebrates the uniquely human power of creativity and invention, and the entrepreneurial spirit.  Visit SWMF to experience, learn, play and shop.  Exhibitors in 2017 include 3D Printing, Rocketry, Storytelling, Bicycle Repairing, Sound Sculptures, LEGO Activities and much more. Special festival “zones” are devoted to Arts & Sustainability, the Tech & Industry Village and N-Compass Village. A Makers Marketplace features makers selling their handmade creations, and a Food Court offers both food trucks and food exhibitors.

The all-volunteer organization has engendered tremendous energy and excitement about building an inclusive and highly creative regional event, with exhibitors from across the Valley. Last year’s event welcomed 5,500 visitors. SWMF has actively recruited exhibitors who offer demonstrations and hands-on learning, and presenters willing to share exciting stories, artistry, inventions or extraordinary journeys. SWMF 2017 is designed to stimulate curiosity and inspire the maker inside each visitor!

The “maker” movement is booming in the U.S., with very large events held annually in New York, the Bay Area, and numerous other major metropolitan areas. Southwest Maker Fest celebrates makers, innovation and creativity, and builds upon the growing Do-It-Yourself movement and a thirst for active experiences. Organizers have developed SWMF to build on our state’s strength as a fertilelocation for new ideas and entrepreneurial spirit.

Southwest Maker Fest is once again a signature event of the Arizona SciTech Festival. The event is being held under the auspices of Ultimate Imagination Inc., the 501(c)3 non-profit arm of the Downtown Mesa Association.  Event sponsors include Intel, Stax 3D, Mesa Recycles, K’é—A Place to Grow Small Business, The Collaboratory, i.d.e.a. Museum, Mesa Arts Center and Downtown Mesa Association.

Event details and volunteer sign-up is available at the event website at SouthwestMakerFest.com.