CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, 20TH MARCH 2009, WITH THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S BESTSELLING PICTURE BOOKS

The official launch day of The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 40th anniversary has been appropriately chosen as the first day of Spring, 20th March 2009.

Recently voted the nation’s favourite bedtime story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which sells one copy every 30 seconds somewhere in the world, day and night, has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world. This beloved picture book has been translated into more than 45 languages and has sold over 29 million copies.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is also at No. 2 in Nielsen BookScan's 'Evergreen list' (second only to Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong). This is a list of 12 titles which have continually appeared in Nielsen’s charts since records first began 13 years ago, and gives booksellers guidelines as to titles such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which due to the longevity of outstanding sales, they cannot afford not to stock.

The Caterpillar’s 40th anniversary also coincides with Eric Carle’s own 80th birthday on 25th June 2009.

Throughout 2009, Puffin books and The World of Eric Carle will celebrate with activities at all major festivals and a variety of bookshops will be receiving a visit from the Very Hungry Caterpillar himself. Nurseries, schools and libraries throughout the UK can get involved with downloadable activities on puffin.co.uk. To commemorate the occasion there will be an assortment of new The World of Eric Carle product introductions including toys, games, apparel, bedding, bath accessories and party goods.

Also in March, Puffin Books will be launching a whole range of exciting new The Very Hungry Caterpillar publishing, including a new stationery range and The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Buggy Book, Count with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the Little Learning Library and the very wonderful The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book.

Congratulations to Eric Carle and Puffin Books from everyone at Hot Brands, successive generations of Hot Brands children have all received a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as their very first book, and we love the latest collection from Puffin Books particularly The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book which is absolutely beautiful and an heirloom to treasure. Loved by parents and children alike, this is a book that should be on every child’s bookshelf.

www.puffin.co.uk/

CAFÉ ROUGE MOTHER'S DAY MENU TO RAISE ESSENTIAL FUNDS FOR MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE
This Mothering Sunday, Café Rouge will once again be joining forces with Marie Curie Cancer Care to offer diners a special menu which is set to raise vital funds for the charity.

The restaurant chain will donate £1 from every Mother’s Day menu sold on Sunday 22 March to the charity which provides nursing care for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes.

Café Rouge’s ongoing support follows a successful partnership in 2008 which raised a total of £2,947 on Mother’s Day alone. With a delicious selection of dishes such as deep fried camembert, salmon wrapped in puff pasty and chocolate tart to choose from, it’s not hard to see why.

Guests can choose between two courses for £15.95 or three courses for £19.95 and all Café Rouge restaurants in the UK will be participating.

Michele Jennings, Marketing and Procurement Director for Café Rouge, said: “After the success of last year, we had to continue to show our support of such an important cause. Mothering Sunday is the perfect day to remind our mums how much we appreciate them and we all need to do our bit for charity. Now guests can feed their mums and their conscience at the same time!”

Charlene Asamoah at Marie Curie Cancer Care, added: “Every pound raised by Café Rouge makes a real difference to the work we do. Marie Curie Nurses work in the community to provide totally free care for terminally ill patients in their own homes, so they can be surrounded by the people they love.”

For more information on Café Rouge’s Mother’s Day menu visit www.caferouge.co.uk

Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of the UK’s largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it expects to provide care to around 27,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year and is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

Funding

Around 70 per cent of the charity’s income comes from the generous support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses, with the balance of funds coming from the NHS. In 2008/09 it needs to raise £115 million.

Marie Curie Nurses

The charity is best known for its network of Marie Curie Nurses working in the community to provide end-of-life care, totally free for patients in their own homes.

Research

The charity has two centres for palliative care research, The Marie Curie Palliative Care Unit in London and The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute in Liverpool. It also runs the world-renowned Marie Curie Research Institute, which investigates the causes and treatments of cancer.

A FANTASTIC FOODIE OPPORTUNITY
The Guild of Fine Food launches a competition to find a judge for the Great Taste Awards 2009
The search is on for one lucky winner to join the ranks of industry legends such as Mark Hix and Alex James by becoming a judge at the Great Taste Awards 2009.

Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, the Awards are acknowledged by producers, retailers and consumers as the definitive independent benchmark for speciality food and drink, and have been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food world. Premium quality food and drink of every kind from cheeses to pies to sorbets to cider from every corner of the UK - and even the rest of the world - are blind tasted by a panel of independent judges from all areas of the fine food business. The standard of entries is often extremely high, and selecting the best-tasting products can be tough – discussion between our passionate judges often gets fairly boisterous and decisions are not taken lightly! Successful entries are awarded 1, 2 and 3-Star Gold, and winning a Gold Award is a major achievement – only 74 3-Star Golds were awarded last year.

The lucky competition winner will join such prestigious and well respected foodies as Charles Campion at the Real Food Festival 2009 at Earl’s Court on May 9th, where they will judge beer, wine, chocolate and espresso coffee. So the challenge is set for any budding amateur food critic that can punch above their weight, which may well have increased by the end of the day! To enter, would-be judges should write up to 400 words about why they should be chosen along with their foodie dreams and aspirations to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The competition is open to foodies of any age and profession. The deadline is 30th April 2009. All applications will be judged by the Guild of Fine Food who organise the Great Taste Awards.

RED LIST LIVE DESIGN COMPETITION IN ASSOCIATION WITH DRAPERS MAGAZINE
Red List LIVE, the new multi-arts music festival taking place at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Kent, on 19-21 June 2009 is running a T-shirt design competition in association with Drapers Magazine for all secondary, college and university students in the South East. Designs inspired by the theme ‘Endangered Animal’ can be submitted until 20 April 2009, and the winning T-shirt will then be produced in an exclusive short run to appear at the Festival. Red List LIVE plans to raise £1 million over 5 years to donate to The Aspinall Foundation, a charity devoted to conservation of endangered species and returning them to protected areas in the wild. As well as the chance to win tickets to the festival, the competition is also a great opportunity for young designers to have their work seen by industry insiders, as entries will be judged by the fashion & features editor of Drapers magazine, Khabi Mirza. Drapers is fashion’s leading weekly business to business publication and has been the industry bible for over 100 years. The overall winner will then be invited to the Drapers offices in London for a behind the scenes tour, where they will meet the team and learn about the exciting world of fashion, and who knows, maybe even grab the attention of the experts! Khabi Mirza, fashion & features editor, commented: “The fashion Industry is constantly evolving, and here at Drapers we’re always looking for up and coming fashion talent. I’m delighted to be judging this competition and can’t wait to see what the students of the southeast have to offer.”

www.redlistlive.com

LIZ HURLEY SENDS THE PRICE OF STAMPS SOARING IN THE LEAD UP TO MOTHERS DAY
Two exclusive Royal Mail stamps featuring a photograph taken by fashion icon Elizabeth Hurley has been sold at auction for over £1,550 with the campaign helping to raise over £5000 for leading domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid.
The “one of a kind” stamps, signed by both Elizabeth and model Jasmine Guinness, were bought on www.ebay.co.uk after a ten day auction by an avid eBay stamp collector who will receive their special delivery in the lead up to Mother’s Day.

The limited edition Smilers stamps feature a photograph donated by Elizabeth Hurley of her young son Damien, symbolising for her the theme of motherhood in the lead up to Mothering Sunday. The set is completed with a second stamp featuring an image of model Jasmine Guinness with her own son.

The auction has raised much needed funds for Women’s Aid, the domestic violence charity that co-ordinates and supports a network of over 500 local services working to end domestic violence against women and children.
Elizabeth Sully from Women’s Aid commented, “It's fantastic to see that the auction has been such a success, and we are extremely grateful for such a wonderful donation.”

Elizabeth Hurley, who donated her images for the cause said: “It has been a pleasure to have been involved in such a positive initiative, and I’m delighted we have been able to raise some money for such a worthwhile cause. The images of Damien I chose means a lot to me as a mother, and it is great that my photography can be used in a way that benefits others.”

Julietta Edgar, Royal Mail Head of Special Stamps commented: “This is the third year we have run this auction having worked with Helena Christensen and Penny Lancaster in past years, and it is tremendous to once again have helped raise money for such a great charity as Women’s Aid. We would like to thank both Elizabeth and Jasmine for their support for this campaign.”

Smilers are a unique way to personalise your post by combining one of your own photos with a Royal Mail stamp.

HISTORIC EDINBURGH HOTEL RE-OPENS ITS DOORS AFTER 190 YEARS

Apex Waterloo Place Hotel unveils a piece of Edinburgh’s history...
The Apex Hotels Group opened the doors of its new Apex Waterloo Place Hotel on Monday 16 March 190 years after the building was unveiled as Edinburgh’s first purpose built hotel.

The new 187 bedroom hotel will combine contemporary style and comfort with the Grade A listed building’s many original features, showcasing the impressive architecture including its grand receptions rooms. The hotel will also include corporate facilities, a bar and restaurant, as well as a luxurious health suite including a swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam room.

Originally opened in 1819, the launch will mark another important day in the history of the building which forms a significant part of Edinburgh’s rich heritage.

The Apex Hotels Group commissioned research to uncover more information about the fascinating building, which formed part of the construction of the Regent Bridge and Waterloo buildings carried out by Archibald Elliott from 1816-1819.

The research uncovered a host of famous guests, most notably author Charles Dickens who spent a period of time at the hotel in 1861, and former Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was awarded the freedom of the city at Waterloo Hotel in September 1834.

The findings also provided a great insight into what life was like in 19th century Edinburgh, revealing the story of Alexander Smith, age 13, who was found guilty of the theft of a silk handkerchief from the foyer of the Waterloo Hotel and sentenced to seven years in the colonies. In addition several events, menus and early sketches were also discovered.

Alan Harbisher, General Manager, Apex Waterloo Place Hotel commented: “This has been a fantastic project to be a part of, and it has been great working with the architects and builders to help breathe life back into this stunning building.

“The opening has also provided us with a great opportunity to recruit and develop a new team who will be dedicated to maintaining our reputation for excellence in service”.

Angela Vickers, Managing Director, Apex Hotels Group added: “The opening of our new premises at the Waterloo Place is not only another big step forward for the Apex Group, it is also of great historical significance for the city of Edinburgh. We have invested £30m in this landmark building which will undoubtedly add great value to Apex’s portfolio and, I am proud to say, it will also help revitalise this key area of the city centre.”

The Apex Waterloo Place Hotel will join Apex’s existing portfolio of contemporary four star hotels located in Edinburgh, London and Dundee. To celebrate the launch of the new hotel, Apex has released a special introductory room rate of £69* available until the end of April.

* Apex Short Breaks Offer must be booked at least 5 days in advance. Prices quoted are per room per night based on 2 adults sharing a standard twin/double room including VAT. Exclusion dates may apply. Full pre-payment is required with a valid credit/debit card at time of booking, once booked all breaks are non-transferable and non-refundable. This offer is subject to promotional room availability.

www.apexhotels.co.uk/hotels/edinburgh-waterloo-place/

THE JUICE DOCTOR LIQUIDOLOGY FOR DEHYDRATED BRITS
Steve Redgrave launches Campaign to Hydrate the Nation

Sir Steve Redgrave is launching the Good Hydration Campaign to improve the hydration of the nation as a new NOP survey reveals that nine out of ten people in the UK are dehydrated. Nearly two thirds (61%) say they drink less than one litre of liquid a day - half the recommended daily fluid intake for an adult.

Launched in association with The Juice Doctor, the campaign aims to encourage both adults and children alike to boost their performance and be healthier by staying properly hydrated.

The Juice Doctor was co-founded by five times Olympic gold medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave and is a range of naturally isotonic drinks that are designed to fight everyday dehydration. The Juice Doctor drinks help to balance your body and re-charge your batteries so that you can get more out of your day. They are made from a natural blend of spring water, vitamins and minerals to the equivalent of 50% of your RDA.

Each drink contains only spring water, fruit juices/purees and beet sugar as well as minerals (magnesium, hydration boosting potassium chloride and zinc) and vitamins (C, A, niacin, E, pantothenic acid, B6, B1, D, biotin, folic acid, B12) and contains less than 25 calories per 100ml. There are no artificial colourings, no flavourings, no preservatives, no sodium chloride and no sweeteners.

The Juice Doctor drinks are naturally isotonic and have been scientifically developed and medically proven to stop dehydration. Instead of salt, used in most sports drinks, The Juice Doctor uses a potassium hydration booster, which promotes the Hydration Fix effect and regulates the body’s ability to retain essential water once absorbed.

The Juice Doctor range comes in the 6 great tasting flavours - Tropical, Blackcurrant, Pomegranate, Lemon, Pineapple and Apple - and are available from Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and retail at around £1.59 a bottle.

And now it couldn’t be easier to check your hydration levels throughout the day. Simply go to www.thejuice-doctor.co.uk to request the newly launched Juice Doctor’s Y’urindicator – a free handy chart that hangs on your loo door to help you monitor the colour of your pee, providing a simple and effective way to monitor hydration levels.

FIAT, JODIE KIDD, THE AA AND SEXY GREEN CAR SHOW LAUNCH ‘GREEN’ TEST-DRIVES
London – The UK’s first ever ‘eco’ test-drives have been launched in London by Fiat with support from a number of organisations including the AA and the Eden Project’s Sexy Green Car Show.

The greener test-drive, which will help people drive in a more environmentally friendly way, will be piloted through 10 Fiat dealerships in the Greater London area until Sunday 22nd March. A national roll-out will follow if the test-drives prove popular with consumers.

The initiative launched by Fiat UK marks a first for a major car manufacturer as it offers all of its potential customers a ‘green’ test-drive. The test-drive will use eco:Drive, a unique Fiat-developed scoring mechanism which measures how well driven a car is in eco-friendly terms, and gives tips on how drivers can improve their score. An improvement in score results in lower CO2 emissions and potentially hundreds of pounds saved each year for every driver.

Marketing director Fiat UK, Elena Bernardelli, says, “Test-drives are, for some, questionable from an environmental perspective, yet everyone wants to test a car before they buy to make sure they like it. Our test-drive allows them to test the car, ascertains how they drive in environmental terms and gives them tips on improving, regardless of whether they buy from us or not.

“A few very simple tips and techniques can have a big effect on the environmental impact of every journey. And if we all improved a little, it would not only save us a huge amount of money but also result in significant reductions in CO2 emissions throughout the capital.

“Since introducing eco:Drive software here in October last year, more than 10,000 customers have reduced carbon emissions by an average of almost 70kg per driver.

“If those figures were reflected across all London drivers, we could reduce carbon emissions by approximately 428,507,400 kg CO2, equivalent to the saving that would be made if every household in London switched to energy saving bulbs.”

Edmund King, President of the AA, says, “The AA is a big supporter of eco driving, which can reduce fuel bills substantially as well as cutting emissions.

“Our research shows that the vast majority of drivers care about the environment and want to take steps to reduce the environmental impact of their driving. Products like eco:Drive from Fiat help drivers drive more efficiently, and more economically by providing clear, tailor-made suggestions about how to change their driving style”.

Gus Grand, director, Sexy Green Car Show, says, “The public are increasingly interested in greener motoring, as we’ve seen from the success of the Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project. Green motoring isn’t just about fuel efficient cars, though – it’s also about engaging drivers to do their bit, and eco-driving is a great way for everyone to make small changes that can make a real difference to their carbon emissions. Fiat's eco:Drive technology is a great way to make greener driving easy and fun.”

At the launch in Fiat’s central London flagship store, former model and celebrity car-lover Jodie Kidd also gave her support to greener driving, “Absolutely. Cars are becoming more and more fuel-efficient, but I think we can all make a difference whether we have the most environmentally friendly Fiat 500 or an old jalopy, simply by learning to drive greener.”

CUBAN COOL TIE IN YOUR TRIP WITH THE ART EVENT OF 2009...
The 10th Havana Biennial Welcomes 200 artists from 43 countries to celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary
Kicking off on 27th March – 30th April the biennial showcases the best of Cuban contemporary art in its perfect setting – the city of Havana

But if you can’t make it to Havana – don’t worry
At the heart of the action throughout, a unique cultural initiative allows you to follow all the latest happenings and exhibitions including exclusive news and broadcasts from the event on
www.havana-cultura.com – official sponsor of the Havana Biennial

Inspired for the first time in its history to extend invitations to artists beyond the non-Western countries it traditionally included, 2009 is set to be the most fascinating yet.

Please Note
All information is supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items. Inclusion in a news item does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.