expire-images2009-4-12

George Michael Shows Off Art Collection in Texas

George Michael didn't buy Damien Hirst's diamond skull but he and his partner Kenny Goss have spent plenty on other pieces of contemporary art including many works by Damien Hirst. They are currently displaying works by Damien Hirst in a Dallas, Texas gallery. The Goss-Michael Foundation's exhibition includes "Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain," featuring a black calf whose body has been pierced with dozens of arrows and "The Incomplete Truth" which shows a dove in formaldehyde. Goss, who has been with George Michael for 12 years, is a native Texan. The pair enjoying collecting art in Britain and then bringing it to Dallas, previous exhibitions have featured James White and a tribute to Tracey Emin.

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Tags: damien hirst, DamienHirst, expire-images2009-4-12, george michael, GeorgeMichael, goss michael foundation, GossMichaelFoundation, kenny goss, KennyGoss

Trump Opens New Tower, Holds Off On More Las Vegas Building

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Donald Trump opened his latest Las Vegas property on Friday at a ribbon cutting surrounded by beauty queens and fellow developers. The Trump International Hotel & Tower is a 64-story gold-covered with 1,282 suites and a restaurant named DJT (Trump's initials). The new tower joins other new towers which have luxury accommodations, dining and retail but no casinos.

All isn't rosy in Trumpland though, shares of Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. hit an all-time low on Friday after the company's three casinos reported lower revenue for March. Trump's share price is down 83 percent for the past 52 weeks. Also, Trump Entertainment issued a statement last week saying they would sell a casino or two if they thought the sale would be in the best interest of the shareholders.

Trump has said he will wait to build a second planned Las Vegas high rise until he sells all the condo and hotel units in the first tower.

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Tags: condos, donald trump, expire-images2009-4-12, las vegas, LasVegas

Love Our Children Auctions off American Idol Tickets, Charity Of The Day

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Events, Charity, Charity of the Day, Big Givers

For almost a decade Love Our Children USA has been committed to stopping all forms of violence and neglect against children. Their goal is to keep children safe and strengthen families. Programs range from education and advocacy, to raising awareness and financial support for at risk children. One of the fun ways you can help is by supporting their exciting online auctions. This week they are selling 2 front row tickets to the April 14th taping of American Idol ! Bidding starts at $3,750, and proceeds go directly to the Love Our Children programs. Check out all their upcoming auctions here, what a great way to give back and score entry to some A list events!

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Tags: American Idol, American Idol taping, AmericanIdol, AmericanIdolTaping, expire-images2009-4-12, Love Our Children USA, LoveOurChildrenUsa, tickets

Herb Alpert, Music's Big Giver

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

Eight-time Grammy winner musician Herb Alpert is giving back to the music community in a big way. Alpert, a famed trumpeter with the band the Tijuana Brass, and one of the co-founders of the A&M record label in 1962, established the philanthropic Alpert Foundation in 1988. Last November he pledged $30 million to UCLA to create the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and the LA TImes reports that he has just given $15 million to the School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts. The school will be renamed the Herb Alpert School of Music. The gift will endow faculty chairs and provide money for scholarships and music programs.

Over the past 16 years the Alpert Foundation has given grants to CalArts in order to support the Dizzy Gillespie chair in music, the Dizzy Gillespie Recording Studio, music programs, scholarships and community education programs for children. WIth the $15 million, Alpert has now given nearly $24 million to the school. The foundation has also donated $100 million to musicians, students and other programs around the country.

How does a trumpeter have so much money? Alpert and Jerry Moss sold A&M records to PolyGram in 1989 for a reported $500 million and are also said to have picked up an additional $363 million in stock and cash when they sold a music publishing company to Seagram in 2000.

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Tags: expire-images2009-4-12, herp alpert, HerpAlpert, music, music education, philanthropy, trumpet