SIMON Malls Rebrands to Relaunch Nationwide

Access And Aspiration Becomes Relevant And Possible For All.

 

SIMON, the brand behind the brands you love, has revamped the underlying concept of their national shopping center portfolio to become a physical community that brings to reality the virtual connectedness of the online world. A newly invigorated visual identity communicates their commitment to uniting the world of retail experiences; from a stylized “S” comes a representation of infinity, continuation and an ongoing connection between their vast assortment of shopping mall centers to create a community throughout this dispersed nation.

As the global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development, Simon Property Group owns and operates over 325 locations, each becoming an indispensible destination and lifestyle reference for the local community. SIMON properties are the intersection where the disparate aspects of the modern lifestyle meet, bringing together the fashion, the outdoors and the technological. With the world's leading and most revered brands under SIMON's roof, SIMON becomes the voice of authority in relevant cultural conversation.

“It’s with great pleasure that we reveal the next generation of shopping malls through this rebranding and repositioning of SIMON”, says Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Simon. “Today’s social landscape is saturated with information and opportunity, and it’s an honor to be able to contribute real and relevant value within that landscape.”

With an inspiringly visionary approach to adapting the shopping center experience to a fast-changing world distracted by online possibility, SIMON introduces a world of opportunity that keeps pace with the virtual. The shared nation-wide community that SIMON brings together comes to life through a rich program of experiential and social engagement, both within each mall and beyond to become the life of this new community.

For more information visit www.simon.com.  For all media inquiries contact VOCAL.  

SLS Nike SB World Tour Lands in Los Angeles

• The second 2014 SLS Nike SB World Tour stop takes place in Los Angeles with its first-ever arena event in skateboarding’s hometown

• This Los Angeles event determines the final eight skateboarders for 2014 SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship

• Finals air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO on Sunday, July 27 at 8:00 PM ET

The 2014 SLS Nike SB World Tour makes the first-ever arena stop in Los Angeles on July 27 at the Galen Center at USC, featuring the world’s greatest skateboarders. As the second stop of the tour, current points leader and past tour champion Nyjah Huston looks to hold off some of the biggest names in the game including 2013 SLS Super Crown World Champion Chris Cole, Australian tech wizard Shane O’Neill, Brazilian Powerhouse Luan Oliveira and Southern California favorites Paul Rodriguez and Ryan Sheckler, in his quest for the $100,000 first-place prize and express “Golden Ticket” straight to finals the 2014 SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship in August.

While Huston won the last stop, the margin of victory was razor thin with both Oliveira and O’Neill skating amazingly in Chicago and falling just a few points and essentially one trick short of the prize. Other challengers could emerge as well. Although 2013 Champ Cole hasn’t seen a win this season, he always has the potential to recreate his mind-blowing performance that earned the title last year. His main rival for last year’s title, Rodriguez, has been gaining momentum through this season and could easily use his hometown edge to prevail in Los Angeles. Adding further intrigue for both fans and competitors alike are the three rookie wildcards who have joined the Tour from the season-opening SLS Monster Energy Pro Open. As is so common in skateboarding, it is the unknown young gun like Matt Berger, Davis Torgerson and Trevor Colden, who break onto the scene and can pull off the unbelievable upset.

Added pressure is on all 24 competitors as this is the last stop to qualify for the $200,000 SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship in August. With Huston already securing a win this season, seven spots remain for the rest of the field to fight over.

"This year's tour is picking up incredible energy heading into Los Angeles,” says Brian Atlas, President of Street League Skateboarding. "Not only did we see the last event in Chicago come down to the final trick with Shane and Luan battling Nyjah at the highest level, we saw the new blood from the Pro Open skate at an elite level as well. All in all, everyone will be busting out their best tricks at this stop because it’s the final chance to qualify for the Super Crown World Championship. It should be one of our best events yet."

As the only competitive platform for professional skateboarding in Los Angeles, the SLS Nike SB World Tour will completely transform the USC’s Galen Center with a custom built, one-of-a-kind concrete skate plaza. Constructed by California Skateparks, Street League’s innovative courses are a skateboarder’s dream complete with creative transitions, challenging ramps, and unforgiving steel handrails. To win, the world’s most elite skateboarders not only have to conquer these challenging obstacles, but also continually one-up their competitors with trick difficulty, consistency and style. It is this unique format and the clarity of the ISX scoring system that continues to draw unprecedented appreciation of skateboarding from both the skate and broader communities alike.

REMAINING SLS EVENT DATES AND VENUES:

·      July 27:                SLS Nike SB World Tour: Stop 2 | Galen Center at USC | Los Angeles

·      August 24:          SLS Super Crown World Championship | Prudential Center | Newark

The SLS Nike SB World Tour airs on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO, in addition to the official live webcast on www.streetleague.com.

FOX SPORTS 1 TELECAST SCHEDULE:

·      SLS Los Angeles: LIVE: Sunday, July 27 (8:00 PM ET – 9:30 PM ET)

·      SLS Super Crown World Championship: LIVE: Sunday, Aug. 24 (9:00 PM ET – 10:30 PM ET)

The Finals of the SLS Nike SB World Tour in Los Angeles air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO on July 27 at 8:00 PM ET.

Live coverage of the pre-show, practice and prelims will be webcast on www.streetleague.com, www.foxsports.com, and the FOX Sports GO app on July 27.

Following its inaugural season with presenting partner Nike SB, Street League Skateboarding continues to elevate competitive skateboarding and grow its audience. A new partnership with FOX Sports 1 this season expands Street League Skateboarding’s live television coverage throughout the United States and abroad.

For more visit information visit www.streetleague.com. For all media inquiries contact VOCAL  or John Stouffer at FOX Sports: john.stouffer@FOX.com.

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About Street League Skateboarding

Street League Skateboarding (SLS) is the first-ever professional league for street skateboarding. The SLS season features 25 of the world’s most exciting skateboarders competing in an easy-to-follow, ISX™ instant scoring format on one-of-a-kind concrete skate plazas, all for the largest prize purse in skateboarding history. Each arena stop of the 2014 SLS season will air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO with a live international webcast on Streetleague.com.

For more information, visit www.streetleague.com and follow @streetleague 

About Nike SB

Nike SB is dedicated to serving skateboarders, delivering product innovation and creating new consumer experiences. Since 2001, Nike SB has supported a diverse team of inspirational pros and upcoming amateurs who continue to meet the demands of a constantly evolving sport. With influence in all corners of the world, Nike SB is uniquely suited to bring skateboarding to new audiences and grows the sport globally. Based at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike SB is obsessed with finding new ways to support the skateboarder by championing innovation and individuality.

For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @NikeSB. 

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FOX Sports 1; FOX Sports 2; FOX’s 22 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.

Nyjah Huston Wins 2014 Street League Skateboarding: Chicago

• Nyjah Huston edges out a charging Luan Oliveira for his second consecutive Street League win—Nyjah is unbeaten in 2014

• Custom concrete skatepark inside UIC Pavilion hosts largest skateboard contest in Chicago history

• Huston takes home $100,000 prize and a Golden Ticket to the $200,000 SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship in August

History was made on Sunday as the 2014 SLS Nike SB World Tour visited Chicago for the very first time. Street League Skateboarding delivered on the fans requests as 25 of the world’s best pro skaters descended on the Midwest’s street skateboarding capitol to put on a jaw-dropping show. It all went down inside the UIC Pavilion, which was transformed, into a one-of-a-kind, custom skate plaza complete with huge sculpture-like concrete transitions and high-risk big gaps to ledges that forced even the most seasoned SLS pros out of their comfort zone.

The 2014 Street League Skateboarding series kicked off in May with the SLS Monster Energy Pro Open, a new qualification event at Nike SB’s private, state-of-the-art Sixth & Mill Skatepark in Downtown Los Angeles. Through that event, Matt Berger, Davis Torgerson, and Trevor Colden moved up to the elite ranks of the 2014 SLS Nike SB World Tour, with Felipe Gustavo and Alec Majerus being added to the SLS pro alternate list.  With SLS pros Sean Malto and Dylan Rieder not competing in Chicago, Gustavo and Majerus both made their debuts along side the veteran SLS Pros at the first arena stop of the 2014 season.

The contest began with the qualification Prelims, cutting the field to just eight skaters for the Final. Among 25 of the world’s best, highlights included:

·      The rookies making their presence felt. Matt Berger made his first official Final with creative moves like a Frontside Hurricane on the gap to hubba, as well as an Ollie to Wallride 180 out. For his part, Felipe Gustavo set-off the high-scoring 9 Club tricks early, with a flawless 360 Flip to Crooked Grind on the ledge.

·      Pressure was at an all-time high for Chicago native Chaz Ortiz, an internationally known skater who still maintains his roots in the Midwestern metropolis where he has a private skatepark and training facility. Despite his smooth lines and a monster Fakie Flip down the big two steps, his scores weren’t enough to carry him to the Final. Defending 2013 Street League Super Crown World Champion Chris Cole also suffered an off day, and was eliminated in the Prelims.

·      Brazilian Luan Oliveira shocked the crowd when he decided that instead of skating the flat ledge, he would up the ante by going right over the entire obstacle. He Kickflipped and Backside Kickflipped the ledge at high speed; the latter earned him a score of 9.5.

As the Final went live on FOX Sports 1, the eight skaters remaining included Luan Oliveira, Paul Rodriguez, Tommy Sandoval, Nyjah Huston, Torey Pudwill, Shane O'Neill, Matt Berger, and French fan favorite Bastien Salabanzi. Highlights of the Final included:

·      In the first of the three sections, the Flow Section, Nyjah Huston showed why he’s Street League’s top dog, putting on a consistency clinic and delivering fluid lines punctuated by tech moves like a Backside 180 Nosegrind to Revert on the ledge along the stairs. Luan Oliveira also showed he was ready for his first SLS win, speeding around the course with powerful pop. Paul Rodriguez went to his strong suit, showing off an array of technical tricks, including a huge Switch 360 Flip to finish his run.

·      As the skaters began going big in the Impact Section, Shane O’Neill set the crowd on fire with an unbelievable Switch 360 Double Flip down the big two steps, scoring a near-perfect 9.8 and surging to the top of the leaderboard. Nyjah coolly responded with a Caballerial Kickflip in the same place to keep himself in the race. Meanwhile, Bastien Salabanzi launched a wicked Half-Cab Double-Flip off the big two that earned him a 9.3, and eliminated SLS rookie Matt Berger from the contest.

·      In the final and decisive Control Section, the win was on the line and the skaters began turning up the heat. First to attack, Shane O’Neill dropped a dizzying Nollie Bigger Spin down the big two for a 9.1 and control of the leaderboard. Then, the crowd exploded as Luan Oliveira upped the ante on the skateboarding world with a high-speed Switch Backside Flip over the ledge he’d kickflipped earlier, for a well-deserved 9.5 once again. But in the end neither Luan nor Shane could put it all together as consistently as Nyjah. The skateboarding prodigy put up big scores all day, sealing his win with tricks like his massive Nollie Backside Heelflip across the wedge gap in the Control Section.

Congratulations to SLS Nike SB World Tour: Chicago champion Nyjah Huston. In addition to the trophy and $100,000 first place check, Nyjah holds a ‘golden ticket’ to the $200,000 Super Crown World Championships in August. With one more event before the SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship, is 2014 the year that Nyjah sweeps the season?

Highlights and complete coverage of the SLS Nike SB World Tour: Chicago can be viewed on www.streetleague.com, www.foxsports.com, and the FOX Sports GO.

2014 SLS UPCOMING EVENT DATES AND VENUES:

·      July 27: SLS Nike SB World Tour: Stop 2 | Galen Center at USC | Los Angeles

·      August 24: SLS Nike SB Super Crown World Championship | Prudential Center | Newark

The SLS Nike SB World Tour airs on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports GO, in addition to the official live webcast on www.streetleague.com. 

2014 FOX SPORTS 1 TELECASTS:        

·      SLS Los Angeles: LIVE: Sunday, July 27 (8:00 PM ET – 9:30 PM ET)

·      SLS Super Crown World Championship: LIVE: Sunday, Aug. 24 (9:00 PM ET – 10:30 PM ET)

For more visit information visit www.streetleague.com. For all media inquiries contact VOCAL.  

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About Street League Skateboarding

Street League Skateboarding (SLS) is the first-ever professional league for street skateboarding. The SLS season features 25 of the world’s most exciting skateboarders competing in an easy-to-follow, ISX™ instant scoring format on one-of-a-kind concrete skate plazas, all for the largest prize purse in skateboarding history. Each arena stop of the 2014 SLS season will air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sport Go with a live international webcast on Streetleague.com.

For more information, visit www.streetleague.com and follow @streetleague

About Nike SB

Nike SB is dedicated to serving skateboarders, delivering product innovation and creating new consumer experiences. Since 2001, Nike SB has supported a diverse team of inspirational pros and upcoming amateurs who continue to meet the demands of a constantly evolving sport. With influence in all corners of the world, Nike SB is uniquely suited to bring skateboarding to new audiences and grows the sport globally. Based at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike SB is obsessed with finding new ways to support the skateboarder by championing innovation and individuality.

For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @NikeSB. 

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FOX Sports 1; FOX Sports 2; FOX’s 22 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.

New York’s Own Authentic Taste of Germany

Internationally Acclaimed German-Style Charcuterie Makers Continue Their Tradition of Gastronomic Perfection.

Almost a century after opening its doors, Schaller & Weber continue as New York’s very own masters of German charcuterie. As a family-run business, they are still dedicated to producing the same premium meats according to the same exacting standards and time-honored recipes that originated in long-forgotten butcher shops. To enjoy Schaller & Weber meat goods today is to experience something increasingly rare in this world—the tradition of taste.

Established in 1937 by master charcutier Ferdinand Schaller, Schaller & Weber traditional German meats have become a New York culinary institution. To celebrate this long history, Schaller & Weber have recently rebranded to bring a contemporary twist to their old-world heritage, drawing from a rich personal story to thoroughly revamp their entire line. The new branding takes notes from multiple eras in the company's long, storied past to create a look and feel that embraces the past while tempting and enticing the modern consumer.

The packaging has been completely reimagined as well. With a strong focus on telling the story of both product and company, each package has been carefully tailored to maximize impact at retail.  New products set to launch include all natural Pâtés, Cervelats, Landjäger "The Outdoorsman's Survival Snack," and, after years of perfecting, the Bacon Cheddar Brat. With the re-launch, comes a multifaceted marketing initiative that utilizes traditional in-store promotion, branded collateral, and event sponsorships, as well as modern outlets such as social media, digital content creation, and cross brand collaborations.

Schaller & Weber is the first and only American sausage and meat producer to repeatedly win gold medals of honor at international exhibitions in Holland and Germany. In 2000, Schaller & Weber entered twenty different products at Austria’s Wesler Volksfest and won fourteen gold and six silver medals—and the fair’s most prestigious international award, another first for an American chacuterier. While the new Schaller & Weber reinvents the brand visually, it maintains a melding of their timeless gourmet quality with modern aesthetics that is as rich and distinguished as the company history.

For more information please visit schallerweber.com. For all media inquiries contact VOCAL.  

Ilegal Mezcal Confessions Campaign Takes Off This Summer

Ilegal Mezcal Gets the World’s Secrets, One Confession at a Time

Mexican artisanal liquor makers Ilegal Mezcal have been producing handcrafted spirits for nearly a decade. Already esteemed among mezcal and tequila drinkers, Ilegal Mezcal has launched an innovative engagement campaign to let everyone else know what they’re all about, and just why their products are worth filling glasses raised by the masses -- by letting the masses speak for them.

The Ilegal Confessions project utilizes social media to enable anyone in the world to contribute at any time by posting deep inner thoughts and secrets or defining moments with a picture on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and tagging @IlegalMezcal and #IlegalConfessions. Ilegal Mezcal will select the most interesting submissions and personally contact contributors to get the entire story to be included in their final project. The end result is a completely spontaneous and original set of stories that spans creeds, classes, and continents.   

The Ilegal Confessions project comes as an extension of the company’s origins. Born from founder John Rexer’s illegal smuggling of thousands of bottles of mezcal from Mexico to his bar Café No Se in Antigua Guatemala, the company’s history and namesake are a sort of personal confession from Rexer to the world. According to Rexer, the process in which Ilegal Mezcal is made is as distinguished as its origins, and those who drink it: "It's like old hand-tooled leather versus cheap pleather. It's seductive. People from all walks of life understand the difference. It's a way of thinking and wanting to live as much as it is fine liquor."

To confess your personal story, visit www.ilegalconfessions.com.            

For more information please visit www.Ilegalmezcal.com. 

For all media inquiries contact VOCAL.  

NYWC: Raise a glass with us

The New York Whiskey Club brings together a group of discerning aficionados to discuss cultural happenings in fashion, film, politics, sex, music, art.

Street League Skateboarding Nike SB World Tour Releases Tour Dates for 2014

SLS Enters Their Fifth Season with New City Stops, a New Media Partner and a New Format

Street League Skateboarding (SLS) today announced the dates for their 2014 Nike SB World Tour, which includes the additions of Chicago and Los Angeles (the birthplace of skateboarding) as new tour stops. Following the restructure of the competitive format to facilitate the rise of new blood into the pro ranks, SLS has also announced their partnership with FOX Sports to televise each main event throughout the tour on FOX Sports 1 and distributed globally through the FOX family of networks.

As the sport’s most elevated and recognized competition platform for professional street skateboarding, the SLS Nike SB tour calendar dictates the year’s skate agenda, for both pros and fans alike. Spanning the weekend of May 16-17, the SLS Pro Open kicks off the season in Nike SB’s downtown Los Angeles facility. The two following stops in Chicago on June 29 and Los Angeles on July 27 will determine the finalists for the Super Crown event in Newark on August 24. See below for details.

Traditionally a shortlist invite-only competition series reserved for the peerless of skateboarding, this year SLS has added the Pro Open event that establishes a forum for the world’s best to shine alongside the elite of SLS and truly confirm themselves as pro-worthy. A select list of 20 skaters will battle it out for an invitation to the only tour that matters, hundreds-of-thousands of dollars, and the chance to make history as the next SLS Super Crown champion. Emerging victorious, the three best skaters at the Pro Open will advance into the 2014 SLS Nike SB World Tour, formally starting with the Chicago event. As the highest requested city by online fan voting, the addition of Chicago as an SLS stop will bridge the West Coast and East Coast skate scenes. Itself rich in skateboarding culture, Chicago is the skate capital of the Midwest and home to SLS pro Chaz Ortiz.

Veteran skater Chris Cole stands strong to defend his 2013 title against younger skate superstars and previous Super Crown champions Paul Rodriguez and Nyjah Huston. Added to this will be the three wildcards emerging from the SLS Pro Open, making the 2014 Street League Skateboarding Nike SB World Tour promises to be the most riveting to date.

MAY 16-17                 Los Angeles, CA – Pro Open, Sixth & Mill Skatepark, 7pm EST

JUNE 29                      Chicago, IL – UIC Pavilion, 7pm EST

JULY 27                      Los Angeles, CA – Galen Center, USC, 8pm EST

AUGUST 24                Newark, NJ – Super Crown, Prudential Center, 9pm EST

For more visit information visit www.streetleague.com.

For all media inquiries contact VOCAL.  

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Street League Skateboarding (SLS) is the first-ever professional league for street skateboarding. The SLS season features 24 of the world’s most exciting skateboarders competing in an easy-to-follow, ISXTM instant scoring format on one-of-a-kind concrete skate plazas, all for the largest prize purse in skateboarding history. Each arena stop of the 2014 SLS season will air live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sport Go with a live international webcast on Streetleague.com.

For more information, visit www.streetleague.com and follow @streetleague 

Nike SB is dedicated to serving skateboarders, delivering product innovation and creating new consumer experiences. Since 2001, Nike SB has supported a diverse team of inspirational pros and upcoming amateurs who continue to meet the demands of a constantly evolving sport. With influence in all corners of the world, Nike SB is uniquely suited to bring skateboarding to new audiences and grow the sport globally. Based at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike SB is obsessed with finding new ways to support the skateboarder by championing innovation and individuality.

For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com and follow @NikeSB. 

Introducing: MAN WOMAN

MAN and WOMAN fashion trade shows are dedicated to building a well-edited community of brands from around the globe, each with their own unique identity and determined purpose; all together offering an unparalleled industry perspective on quality over quantity.

From the humble introduction of MAN in January 2012 and WOMAN in October of that year, the shows welcomed an array of key media from GQ and Monocle to i–D & Selectisim. With an emphasis on exposure to key media, MAN / WOMAN remain devoted to offering their brands a welcomed introduction to the right cultivated buyers, from large scale department stores to independent, off-the-beaten-path boutiques. MAN / WOMAN are first and foremost a place to connect an inspiring community and do business. 

VOCAL handles all brand and event marketing and media relations for MAN and WOMAN. By establishing strong relationships with media and press such as Monocle, WGSN, and Hypebeast, MAN / WOMAN has established itself as one of the most productive trade shows to attend in the key cities of New York, Paris and Tokyo. 

Man-Woman.co