New York, NY, United States (NewsBahn) – On Nov. 29, Emperial Americas announced Tequila Distinguido will launch a marketing partnership with VH1 “Basketball Wives” cast member Ashley Walker. Tequila Distinguido has already won high marks at the San Francisco World Spirits competition among critics and the public. The tequila is positioned as “authentic and all natural.”

Walker might not be known to the public quite yet as a “Basketball” wife – she joins the show in its second season, which will premiere December 13 on VH1. She also isn’t technically a wife – while she is a mother of two, she is just the girlfriend of Houston Rockets’ point guard Rafer Alston.

However, despite her fame as a new reality personality, the tequila company chose Walker to be a brand ambassador because she is philanthropic and demonstrates responsibility in addition to her glamorous life; she has her own organization, The Mission of Love, that helps students in Kenya, and also finds time to mentor teenage girls.

“The partnership between Tequila Distinguido and Ashley Walker creates the perfect synergy to market Tequila Distinguido’s luxury product,” Alonzo Pierce, National Brand Manager for Tequila Distinguido, said in a statement.

“Ashley Walker is distinguished and epitomizes positivity, confidence, originality and exudes class, making her the ideal choice to partner with Tequila Distinguido – a brand that emulates these characteristics. Ashley is philanthropic, responsible and beautiful, a lifestyle that Tequila Distinguido represents, and is sure to resonate with our consumers.”

Walker told Vibe magazine she was nervous to join the “Basketball Wives” cast, but does not get involved in drama.

“I talk about my foundation and I try to stay out of all the drama going on. There wasn’t a point where I had to fight back at all because nothing was really said to me to my face. So I didn’t have to go there at all. I’m not confrontational but I’m not going to let anybody disrespect me either.”

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Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Cirque du Soleil has revealed the first details of the upcoming Michael Jackson show since it was first announced earlier this year. “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” will launch its national tour in October 2011.

“Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” will begin October 2nd, 2011 in Montreal. It’ll hit 27 cities across North America, including stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Houston. It’s currently scheduled to perform thru June 29th in Atlanta.

“Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” will combine the music and choreography of the King of Pop with the performance and visual effects Cirque du Soleil is known for. The first sketches from the show were unveiled from the show Wednesday, which features imagery inspired by “Smooth Criminal,” “Scream,” and “They Don’t Care About Us,” among others.

Also seen in the sketches is the show’s centerpiece, Michael’s inspirational Giving Tree, described as “the wellspring of his creativity.” “The secrets of Michael’s inner world are unlocked—his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature,” the press release reads. “Earth Song,” anyone?

The show is written and directed by Jamie King, who also worked on Britney Spears’ “Circus” tour and Madonna’s “Confessions” outing. It’s his first show with Cirque du Soleil.

In late 2012, the Michael Jackson show will receive a permanent home in one of the twelve MGM Mirage properties in Las Vegas. Along with its permanent home in Las Vegas, a Michael Jackson-themed nightclub is expected to open alongside the production.

Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour

2011 Tour Dates

• October 2-3 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

• October 7 Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place

• October 12 Hamilton, ON – Copps Coliseum

• October 15 Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena

• October 18 London, ON – John Labatt Centre

• October 21 Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

• October 26 Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

• October 29 Saskatoon, SK – Credit Union Centre

• November 1 Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

• November 4 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

• November 9 Seattle, WA – KeyArena

• November 18 Portland, OR – Rose Garden

• November 29 Salt Lake City, UT – EnergySolutions Arena

• December 3-11 Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Events Center

2012 Tour Dates

• January 6 Denver, CO – Pepsi Center

• January 10 Sacramento, CA – ARCO Arena

• January 13 San Jose, CA – HP Pavillion at San Jose

• January 18 Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena

• January 21 San Diego, CA – Valley View Casino Center

• January 24 Anaheim, CA – Honda Center

• January 27 Los Angeles, CA – STAPLES Center

• February 10 Houston, TX – Toyota Center

• March 2 Miami, FL – AmericanAirlines Arena

• March 24 Quebec City, QC – Colisee Pepsi

• April 3 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

• April 10 Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

• June 29 Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena

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“I started as a dishwasher and hadn’t even so much as bartended prior to the opening night of my own first restaurant, “TJW Gleason’s” in Manhattan,” says Gleason. “I recall that Gin & Tonics were only 75 cents back then and a Whiskey Sour was 85 cents. After a week of trying to keep up with all the varying drink prices, I just decided to make everything $1.00.” Gleason opened that first restaurant & tavern in 1960 and it quickly became the jewel of its Manhattan neighborhood, its popularity proven by its mention in a June 6, 1977 supplement of New York Magazine called ”Columbus Avenue, Rebirth of a Vibrant Street” which included a write-up of TJWs. Gleason’s other successful restaurants over the span of his career have resided in NYC, New Jersey, Florida, St. Croix and right here in beautiful upstate, NY where his remaining restaurant resides: The Ripe Tomato in Malta, NY.

The Ripe Tomato in Malta, now in its 15th year of service was once called the “Elm Tree Tavern” but after experiencing a difficult start, Mr. Gleason was ready to put the restaurant back on the market after only two years of business until his wife, Lynn suggested that they first try to rename the establishment and roll-it out with a new theme, tomatoes! A grand reopening was planned to resurrect the struggling restaurant and on its opening day, the Ripe Tomato stopped traffic on busy Route 9 in Malta when an elephant named “Beulah” graced the parking lot to encourage visitors into its doors. Yes, the couple had cleverly rented a mammoth pachyderm to market the business and had adorned her with a saddle covered in tomatoes. Beulah was a big success and brought not only passing visitors but also a slew of media attention to the newly named restaurant. “Business tripled after that and it’s been a successful business for us ever since” says Gleason.

Today, the Ripe Tomato stands proudly on a strip of Route 9 conveniently located about half way between Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park, NY. Its inviting red glow and big country farmhouse feel continues to beckon visitors inside (even without Beulah pacing the parking lot).

Inside, checkered tablecloths continue the country-feel and smells from the kitchen coupled with unique wall art that incorporates big bright tomatoes into famous works of art (such as the Mona Lisa and American Gothic by Grant Wood), all designed by Lynn; complete the comfortable, warm atmosphere.

Although Gleason’s early restaurants served a limited menu of burgers and pub fare, the Ripe Tomato boasts an extensive menu that is a mixture of American country fare and Italian classics. House Specials on the menu include a Cedar Salmon dish served over a cedar plank for unique flavoring and a Shrimp and Scallop Bisque touted as having been voted the “Best Soup in Saratoga”. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list and any patron should be sure to leave enough room for one of their incredible homemade desserts. Homemade pumpkin pie was the temptation on the day that this writer visited the establishment.

Gleason and the restaurant’s managing partner, Mr. Milan Vesic welcome patrons to come in for any occasion from a weekday family dinner to a romantic dinner for two or for any special occasion. They say that their ultimate goal is to leave every customer feeling, “full and happy” and my visit did just that!

Taunia Kipp is an independent Business Author and the Chief Operating Officer for Mountain Media, a privately held corporation located in Saratoga Springs, NY. The company’s proprietary eCommerce management platform, known as “Mountain Commerce” was named to Practical eCommerce magazine’s list of notable shopping cart solutions in late 2007. Additionally, the company offers a full compliment of commercial Web services such as Search Engine Marketing, Graphic Design, Web Hosting and Merchant Services.

Learn more at: www.mountainmedia.com
Visit The Ripe Tomato, Malta, NY

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