Author: Alfredo Casuso

Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com  

SS United States Gala 68 Variety Show — Friday, July 3 (4pm Pacific / 7pm East Coast)

In celebration of the 68^th anniversary of the SS United States’ maiden voyage on July 3, 1952

First Ever “Virtual Gala” for SS United States Conservancy  recreates style of 1950s-era “Colgate Comedy Hour” as filmed aboard SS United States

Celebrity Video Salutes from Dolly Parton, Kate Burton, and Mercedes Ellington

Special Guest Performances feature Klea Blackhurst and a Rendition of
the SS United States theme song: “First Lady of the Sea”
Featured Guests include Glenn Farrington from The Magic Castle,
Akira Sky singer-songwriter & star of DreamWorksTV’s “Junk Drawer Magic” and Nita Whitaker and her daughters Skye & Liisi LaFontaine

Conservancy West Coast Chapter Co-Chairs Mark Perry & David Perry Host with Susan Gibbs, Conservancy President and Granddaughter of
SS United States designer William Francis Gibbs

Beyond Pix Studios of San Francisco Produces Online Event

www.ssusc.org 

9 June 2020 — Hollywood, CA: The Coronavirus won’t stop the effort to save an enduring symbol of America’s spirit and resilience. On the anniversary of her record-breaking maiden voyage, “America’s Flagship” the SS United States will again serve as a powerful, unifying symbol of American triumph over adversity. On July 3, 2020 (4pm PST / 7pm EST), the nonprofit SS United StatesConservancy’sWest Coast Chapter(www.ssusc.org) willhost its first “virtual gala” in the style of the 1950s classic “Colgate Comedy Hour” variety show, once filmed aboard SS United States.  The online gala will be available on the Conservancy’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/VideoSSUSC . 

This exciting digital event will feature celebrity appearances by country music legend Dolly Parton and actress Kate Burton (daughter of SS United States one-time passenger Richard Burton), Mercedes Ellington (granddaughter of jazz icon Duke Ellington who once performed aboard the ship), singer-songwriter Akira Sky, singers Nita Whitaker and her daughters Skye and Liisi LaFontaine, a performance of the ship’s rarely performed theme song “First Lady of the Sea” by cabaret sensation Klea Blackhurst accompanied by pianist Michael Tekulsky, and feats of magic from Glenn Farrington of Magic Castle fame. Donating technical support and sponsorship for the event is Beyond Pix Studios, an internationally recognized leader in broadcast services, headquartered in San Francisco.

“This is what happens when a ship geek with Hollywood connections gets an idea,” said Mark Perry, an Emmy and Golden Globe award winning writer-producer, Conservancy Board Member and founder of the Conservancy’s West Coast Chapter. “The Colgate Comedy Hour of the 1950s was quintessential must-see TV of the era, and once filmed aboard the SS United States. We want to add a little of that mid-century modern sparkle to our preservation and fundraising efforts.”

“Mark and I aren’t related by family, but rather by something much stronger: the family of ship lovers around the world,” said maritime historian and author David Perry, who is co-hosting the gala.“The SS United States is much more than a ship. She is an irreplaceable part of American history and an era when that history represented the very best of human achievement.”

The largest and last remaining ocean liner  built  in America, “The Big U” shattered the transatlantic speed record in both directions on her maiden voyage in 1952.  No passenger vessel has ever broken it. She played host to presidents, Hollywood stars and celebrities, tourists, and immigrants in the days before jet air travel, serving as a global ambassador of American promise. The ship was the height of American post-war innovation, technology, and design. Withdrawn from service in 1969, the SS United States has been berthed in Philadelphia since 1996 awaiting renewal.

The SS United States Conservancy prevented the ship from being scrapped in 2011, and today leads a global campaign to save and revitalize the vessel. Raising funds through donations and working to attract private investment, the Conservancy aims to redevelop her into a mixed-use destination and world-class museum.  In December of 2019, the Conservancy entered into an agreement with a prominent commercial real estate development firm, RXR Realty, which has been exploring a range of options for the SS United States’ redevelopment.

In addition to live commentary, rare film clips, and interaction with virtual audience members, the online gala will feature an auction of rare items related to the famed ocean liner, including a stunning painting by maritime artist Robert Lloyd and original sketches by famed author-illustrator David Macaulay.

“At this challenging time when our nation needs unifying symbols more than ever, the SS United States endures as a pinnacle of technological and artistic achievement. She’s a monument to the American can-do spirit,” says Susan Gibbs, President of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the ship’s designer, William Francis Gibbs.

“As our nation contends with COVID-19 and other challenges, ‘America’s Flagship’ once again conveys a message of hope and resilience,” Gibbs adds. “Through the miracle of digital technology and allure of Hollywood glamour, this event will introduce the soaring story of the SS United States to a wider audience.”

In the coming days, further details about the online event will be forthcoming. Updates will also be posted on SS United States Conservancy’s website at www.ssusc.org. 

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

(Updated 5/22/20 – 5pm)

WHAT: Palm Springs “Retail Shop Local” Campaign

10% of proceeds benefit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter

Promoted by Main Street Palm Springs & Palm Springs Retailers 

WHEN: Saturday, Sunday, Monday: May 23 – 25, 2020, Times: Various

WHERE: Downtown & Uptown Palm Springs participating retailers

WHO: (Participants alphabetically as of 5/22/20 — 5pm) 

Retail:
Andecor
Baby La La
British Invasion Clothing
Christopher Kennedy
Crystal Fantasy
Destination PSP
Havianas
Kimbals
Marianne of Palm Springs
Michael Weems Gallery
Mitchells Palm Springs
Modern Travel of Palm Springs 
Oooh La La
Peepa’s
Puppy La La
Running Wild
PS212 HOME
SHAG Store Palm Spring
Shoe La LaWil Stiles Palm Springs
Wabi Sabi Japan Living 

Restaurants:
Il Giardino

WEB: www.palmcanyondrive.org 

www.psanimalshelter.org

www.palmspringsca.gov/government/covid-19-updates

SOCIAL: #SafeInPalmSprings

WHY:  This is an opportunity for the Palm Springs community to come together again (via physical distance from their car) and support struggling small businesses that have been compliant with the Shelter-In-Place over the past two months and can now engage in Curbside Pick-Up. Additionally, retailers are delighted to support the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and provide a 10% donation of the weekend’s sales to assist such a great local organization.

QUOTE: “The retail community in Palm Springs, and country-wide, has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and also by the understandable business shut-down. While we are totally supportive of our state, county and local government and health officials, we look forward to the day when we can once again welcome customers back fully into our stores. Until that day, we’re grateful for this opportunity to highlight our curbside retail options. We want to remind shoppers that we’ll soon be back in business as a vital part of the Palm Springs community.” 

– Joy Meredith, President, Main Street Palm Springs

“The State of California has allowed non-essential retail to do curbside delivery and the City of Palm Springs advocated for and fully supports that decision.  Per State rules, please order by phone or online and then you can have your items delivered to your car curbside or pick them up at the store’s door.  If you are picking something up, you need to wear a mask and practice six-foot social distancing from others waiting to pick up their items pursuant to City rules to protect the public health.   We look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when all of our retail and small businesses will fully open for business. This effort helps us get there.” 

– Geoff Kors, Mayor of the City of  Palm Springs

Palm Springs COVID-19 Protocols and Resources:
The City of Palm Springs recently amended several emergency City orders related to COVID-19 as a way to fill gaps left by the County of Riverside’s rescission of its orders. Here is an update (links to orders in orange below and item and page number if required).

NOTE: In store shopping is allowed only for businesses that the State of California State has designated as essential such as groceries, doctors officers and pharmacies.  No in-store shopping is yet allowed for non essential retail at this time by order of the Governor.

Face CoveringsMUST be worn at all open businesses and in all other public settings when 6 feet distancing is not possible.

Examples include:

• Waiting in line to go inside a store

• Shopping at a store

• Picking up food at a restaurant

• Picking up retail goods at a retail store that is allowed to be open

• On public transportation (or waiting for it)

• In a taxi or rideshare vehicle

• Seeking healthcare

• Going into facilities allowed to stay open

• Working an essential job that interacts with the public

Face coverings are no longer required to be worn by people who are outside walking, golfing, playing tennis, pickleball, hiking, bicycling or running. However, people must comply with social distancing during these activities, including maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from other people. People should also have a face covering readily accessible.

Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc/David Perry
(415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Free “Virtual Happy Hours” Bring Together Designers & Font Fans
from San Francisco’s Letterform Archive

Tuesday, May 19 (12noon Pacific) – Global Edition

 Thursday, May 21 (5pm Pacific) – Evening Edition

All Summer Programming – including one-on-one classes – offered online
www.lettarc.org/events

18 May 2020 — San Francisco, CA: Who’s Zoomin’ who? On Tuesday, May 19 (12noon PDT) with Type Directors Club (TDC) and Thursday, May 21 (5pm PDT) the answer is designers and font fans from around the world taking part in two unprecedented, free “Virtual Happy Hours” from San Francisco’s nonprofit Letterform Archive (www.letterformarchive.org): toasting the universal  accessibility of and creative team behind one of the most comprehensive online collections of typographic history assembled. Additionally, all of Letterform Archive’s programming has been converted to online events, including the organization’s first public workshop offerings. Unlike many online courses, however, Letterform limits class sizes so there is one-on-one instruction and interaction. Registration for the Online Archive celebratory virtual happy hours and the Archive’s online courses is at lettarc.org/events

“We didn’t expect to sort of break the Internet,” laughs Letterform founder and executive director, Rob Saunders. “One month, two server crashes, and over 200,000 hits later seems like a good time to take stock and raise a glass, virtually, for now. And until we’re back to a tactile experience, high tech allows us to teach our very personalized class offerings high cyber touch.”

Since its launch April 7 during the height of COVID-19, Letterform’s free online archive continues to grow, providing a powerful tool for students and professional designers around the world. The two “Virtual Happy Hours” will provide an opportunity to chat with Letterform’s curatorial team – Saunders, Kate Long, and Stephen Coles – and the Online Archive design/development team, including Murray Grigo-McMahon, the database prodigy behind the project, along with Jon Suedaand chris hamamoto who developed the front-end design for the site.

“With the Online Archive reaching people all over the world, we want to join our global community to celebrate this special milestone and provide a backstage tour of highlights from the nearly 1,500 objects and 9,000 hi-fi images housed online,” says Saunders. “We’ll toast online with designers everywhere, including the TDC community, using the Zoom video conferencing platform.  We’re doing one at 12noon Pacific – Tuesday, May 19 – to be as accessible as possible for as many time zones as possible, and the second at the traditional cocktail hour, Thursday, May 21 at 5pm Pacific time.”

Located in San Francisco’s creative Dogpatch neighborhood, Letterform Archive is a unique collection where artists, scholars, and the font-loving public come in and learn from – and touch – a collection with objects ranging from a 4,000-year-old cuneiform clay tablet to a page from a Gutenberg Bible to style manuals from Apple Computer. From a fifteenth-century handmade Rothschild Book of Hours to psychedelic ’60s posters and the early pixelated digital type designs of the 1980s, it is a collection unparalleled in the Bay Area and unique across the world.  During its five-year history, Letterform Archive has welcomed over 10,000 visitors from 30 countries, including students, practitioners, and letterform admirers from every creative background. Later this year, the Archive will move into a new, expanded building, providing more hands-on access, when such access is once again available.

About Letterform Archive’s Online Archive:

For the last four years, Saunders and his team of librarians, curators, developers, and designers have been preparing for this moment: making its world-class digital trove of typographical artifacts available – free of charge – to anyone and everyone on the planet. The Archive’s online repository of digitized materials related to lettering, typography, calligraphy, and graphic design spans thousands of years of history. Opened as a beta in 2018, the Online Archive was previously available to members only.

The Archive developed its own photography standards, in consultation with E. M. Ginger of 42-Line, to produce high-fidelity imagery that is as true to the original as possible. Visitors can zoom in and pan around the images for a more detailed view of each object. Viewers will gain access to materials in a variety of formats, including books, periodicals, packaging, posters, original artwork, sketches, type specimens, and related ephemera. 

“Many of our materials are unique, curated from designers’ archives or donated by collectors. They represent centuries of design history for the benefit of current and future generations of design students, professionals, and researchers,” said Saunders, a collector of the letter arts for over 40 years. In 2015, his personal passion opened to the public, eventually offering hands-on access to a curated collection of over 60,000 items. “Some come with specific research ideas in mind, while others are simply looking for inspiration. Invariably, thanks to the breadth and accessibility of the collection, they stumble on something unexpected. Serendipity is key to the Archive experience.”

The most obvious feature of the site is what Saunders calls its “big, beautiful imagery.” Nonetheless, Saunders and project lead, Librarian Kate Long, are equally proud of the metadata behind those images. Volunteers Murray Grigo-MacMahon and Websy developer Nick Webster developed the site and its incredible data architecture, while Jon Sueda and chris hamamoto led the charge on its exquisite design with Omar Mohammad.

“It’s the information that fuels the powerful search and filter functions of the site, and it’s written specifically with graphic designers in mind,” says Long, noting that this first phase of the site surfaces just a small percentage of the metadata collected by the Archive, with more to be revealed as the project develops. “Our challenge was to draw on our existing library services knowledge, but also rethink standards and terminology for the material and audience unique to the Online Archive. We wanted to create an intuitive experience for designers using the words they use, with a user interface full of rich imagery.”

 Contact: (415) 651-2929 / dani.grindlinger@schooleymitchell.com 

Retailers need new modes of transacting business with their customers

Dani Grindlinger of Schooley Mitchell’s new San Francisco location offers solutions

18 May 2020 — San Francisco, CA: For the first time in two-months, retailers selling books, games, home furnishings, cosmetics and other “non-essential” products will be able to open on Monday for curbside pick-up and delivery. Business owners will need to provide customers with a way to select products and safely pay for their purchases without entering the store. Many business owners will need to implement new ordering and/or payment systems to enable sales. 

There is a new resource for Bay Area retailers to investigate their options. Schooley Mitchell is the leading cost reduction consulting firm in North America. Strategic Partner, Dani Grindlinger, offers cost-saving solutions and operational recommendations in several areas, such as telecommunications, merchant services, waste removal, and small package shipping. Grindlinger established the San Francisco office in January 2020. 

“Contactless card readers are available with any of the major processors and even most of the smaller ones,” advises Dani Grindlinger of Schooley Mitchell. “Because electronic data is captured at the time of the sale, payment processors consider these to be a ‘low-risk, card-present’ transaction – meaning the store saves on processing costs compared to an order taken over the phone, on a website, or using electronic invoicing.” 

Schooley Mitchell consultants like Grindlinger deliver independent, objective operational expertise to retailers, manufacturers, and service-based businesses. They analyze their clients’ existing and changing business needs then work with vendors to develop the most cost-effective solutions. They do not receive kickbacks or incentives from vendors. Schooley Mitchell’s fees are self-funded out of the savings generated through their services. 

“I am a small business owner myself, and literally just got started when COVID-19 hit. I am thrilled to be in a position to help other businesses right now,” says Grindlinger. “There is no cost for my initial analysis and recommendations. I share in the savings that I am able to find using Schooley Mitchells proprietary tools and processes for cost reduction and vendor management.”  

To learn more about how Dani can help you prepare for the changes to your operations, and improve your bottom line call her at 415-651-2929, email, or visit www.schooleymitchell.com/dgrindlinger.

About Schooley Mitchell:

Schooley Mitchell is the largest independent cost-reduction consulting firm in North America, with offices from coast-to-coast in the United States and Canada. To date, Schooley Mitchell has delivered over $340 million in documented savings to our clients. For additional information about Schooley Mitchell’s services and opportunity, visit www.schooleymitchell.com