Soulful pop singer Daniel Powter will set out on his first-ever American tour this summer in support of his internationally best-selling self titled debut album, which was released on Warner Bros. Records April 11. The 12-date mini-tour, which starts July 17th in Philadelphia and culminates August 4th and 5th in Los Angeles, will stop at theaters across the country and allow fans to hear Powter up close and personal in intimate settings. A larger-scale fall tour is currently being planned.

Powter's fans got a taste of what's to come when the singer performed his unstoppable hit "Bad Day" on a series of high-profile TV shows, including "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "The Today Show," "Ellen DeGeneres" and "Live with Regis and Kelly." He also performed live on the final performance night of FOX's "American Idol" on May 23rd. The infectious piano-driven single was played numerous times over the show's closing montage this season.

Powter will als...

WHITTMANHART, a Chicago-based premier services company providing integrated solutions in digital communications, process improvement and enabling technologies, is the top international Webby Award Winner in the retail category for 2006 for its development of the Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer. The New York Times calls the Webby's the "Oscars of the Internet."

"WHITTMANHART worked closely with us to create a color visualization and project planning tool that helps our customers realize the full potential of their decorating projects," said Sheri Thompson, director of color marketing and design for Sherwin-Williams. With the Color Visualizer, homeowners and professionals alike have access to an array of more than 1,400 colors and color combinations that have been coordinated by the Sherwin-Williams color and design experts. Users ca...

Acme Packet®, the leader in session border control solutions, today announced the new Acme Packet Technical Certification Program. Building upon the experience gained in training more than 1,000 students to date in classes held at its corporate training facility in Burlington, MA and at locations globally, Acme Packet has developed standards for evaluating and certifying Net-Net session border controller (SBC) knowledge and skills. This program will optionally authorize, certify and provide on-going support for the delivery of training by non-Acme Packet personnel. The program will launch in July 2006 and certification testing will be available worldwide.

The program allows qualified individuals who use the Net-Net family of products -- Acme Packet distribution and technology partners, service provider customers and systems integrators -- to distinguish themselves by demonstrating a thorough knowledge of integrating Net-Net SBCs into complex VoIP networks. Partners and custome...

David M. Layman, a shareholder with the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, was recently elected to a two-year term as President of the Board of Directors of The Children's Place at Home Safe, Inc.

The Children's Place at Home Safe is a nationally accredited, non-profit organization that provides housing and centralized intervention services for children who are the victims of sexual and physical abuse. The organization has been protecting and nurturing abused and neglected children from newborn to age 18 since 1979.

"This honor represents another example of our firm's commitment to public service in our community," said Howard Bregman, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's Palm Beach County offices.

A member of the Board of Directors of The Children's Place at Home Safe for eight years, Layman previously served as vice president of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville. A graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law...

The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWRG) today announced sales for the fiscal month of May 2006.

Total comparable consolidated restaurant sales were $9.3 million for the fiscal month ended May 29, 2006, a 3.9% decrease from the $9.7 million from the same time period in 2005. This year, Memorial Day was observed within the same timeframe as in 2005, and it's typically a quiet week in the restaurants.

Comparable consolidated restaurant sales include only units that have been open for 15 months or longer and exclude the Smith & Wollensky location in New Orleans, the Manhattan Ocean Club, and Quality Meats. Total consolidated restaurant sales for May 2006 were approximately $9.7 million, down 6.9% from May 2005.

About Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group

The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group develops and operates high-end, high-volume restaurants in ma...

Restaurant industry icon Truett Cathy, founder and chairman of Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. celebrates a 60-year legacy that is as much about values as business success. And while he is perhaps best known as the inventor of the quick-service industry's first chicken sandwich, Cathy is also widely recognized for his philanthropic efforts and the values he has been able to instill in young people.

Still at the helm of the chain, the 85-year old patriarch of the Chick-fil-A® brand has adapted to changes in American culture, the restaurant industry and the corporate environment, but stayed true to the principles he held 60 years ago when he opened his first restaurant. Now a $2 billion company with more than 1,250 restaurants in 38 states, Chick-fil-A remains a family-owned business that still adheres to its 60-year-old "Closed on Sunday" policy. With the recent opening of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Tampa, Fla. that is operated by Cathy's grandson, Andrew, the family's third ...

The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWRG) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 3, 2006. Chairman and CEO Alan Stillman said, "Obviously, our earnings were impacted by significant increases in the cost of beef during the quarter. The second quarter has commenced on a positive note with the opening of Quality Meats, our newest restaurant in Manhattan that is receiving wonderful initial public response and critical acclaim. For example, a recent review in Crain's New York Business stated 'If it were called a steak house, I'd call it the best in town.'"

Conference Call

Alan Stillman, Chairman & CEO, and Sam Goldfinger, CFO, will conduct a conference call to review the Company's financial results for the first quarter ended April 3, 2006 on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Interested parties may listen to the live ...

Virgin Records' rock band 30 SECONDS TO MARS has just released their exclusive "Two Beautiful Lies" EP through iTunes. Two weeks ago the band asked their fans to submit photos for a set of digital liner notes to accompany their new single for "The Kill" and the response was tremendous. In just 24 hours, over 1,000 fans submitted their digital photos. The photos have been transformed into a 36-page photo book that is now bundled with the EP, which includes "The Kill" and a previously unreleased live recording of "Attack" at iTunes for $1.49.

The video for "The Kill," loosely inspired by themes of isolation and insanity present in the Kubrickian nightmare "The Shining," was ranked #1 in the Hot 5 Videos on MTV.com for the past two weeks while, during the week of May 1, it was #1 on Fuse's Oven Fresh. The video comes midway through their first national headlining tour, where 30 SECONDS TO MARS is leaving a trail of sold-out shows, with dates added constantly and venues often upgra...

Winners were announced the night of May 8th for the 2006 James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation's premier honors within the culinary industry. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the New York Marriott Marquis that included a poignant tribute to the restaurants of New Orleans for their heroic resilience and service to their community in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Established in 1990, the awards recognize excellence in the categories of books, restaurants and chefs, broadcasting, print journalism, restaurant design and industry achievement. A total of 70 award recipients were named this year. Winners received a bronze medallion engraved with the image of James Beard. A list of award nominees and winners can be found at www.jamesbeard.org.

A festive celebration followed the awards ceremony, featuring classic and contemporary fare from more than 20 chefs from New Orleans and a live jazz band. Another highlight was a new exhibit from The South...

The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWRG) today announced sales for the fiscal month of April 2006.

Total comparable consolidated restaurant sales were $9.2 million for the fiscal month ended May 1, 2006, a 4.7% decrease from the $9.7 million from the same time period in 2005. Some of the sales decline in April can be attributed to the timing of this year's observance of Easter, which was included in our March results in 2005. Easter is typically a quiet week for the restaurants. Comparable consolidated restaurant sales include only units that have been open for 15 months or longer and exclude the Smith & Wollensky location in New Orleans, the Manhattan Ocean Club, and Quality Meats. Total consolidated restaurant sales for April 2006 were approximately $9.4 million, down 10.2% from April 2005.

On April 10, 2006, The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group opened ...