Century Center Cinema

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 30, 2013

Arena Cinema is pleased to announce its upcoming May schedule of new film releases and exclusive Los Angeles engagements. The new independent film venue located in Hollywood powered by Voltaire Media will be presenting films from Phase 4, IFC, Breaking Glass Pictures.

Beginning May 10th, Arena screens “Assault on Wall Street” directed by Uwe Boll and starring Dominic Purcell with an all-star cast featuring John Heard, Eric Roberts and Keith David. Jim (Dominic Purcell) is an average New Yorker living a peaceful life with a well paying job, but when the economy crashes causing Jim to lose his job, home and wife, he snaps and goes to extreme lengths to seek revenge for the life taken from him.

On May 17th, Arena Cinema will exclusively screen the new IFC Film action thriller “Java Heat” starring Kellen Lutz (currently starring-in and shooting “Hercules”) and Mickey Rourke in an exciting action-thriller shot entirely in Indonesia. A mysterious American (Kellen Lutz) teams with a Muslim cop to hunt down a dangerous international jewel thief (Mickey Rourke) who kidnaps a Sultan’s daughter in a plot to steal the royal treasury: exotic intrigue amid ancient palaces, mosques, temples, subterranean labyrinths and stone pyramids in the heart of Java. “Java Heat” runs exclusively at Arena Cinema May 17th-May 30th.

On May 31st, from Breaking Glass Pictures comes George Griffiths From the Head, featuring a great ensemble cast with Matthew Lillard (The Descendants), Jon Polito (“Gangster Squad”) Based on Griffiths real-life experiences and shot entirely in a strip-club bathroom, this semi-autobiographical tale explores the dysfunctional assemblage that populates the strip scene and their affect on the psyche of its resident bathroom attendant.

“Our audiences are so grateful there is another screen in Los Angeles showcasing new indie films,” said Christian Meoli of Voltaire Media, which operates Arena. “LA is the cinephile capital of the world. We’re excited to be working with IFC, Phase 4 and Breaking Glass on these great, new films.”

About Arena Cinema

Arena Cinema showcases the best in Independent Film, the hard-to-find indie gems LA cinephiles search for and yearn to see that aren’t getting the big screen love anywhere else! Formally a part of the historic Egyptian theater in the 1970s and 1980s when the venue was known to Los Angeles moviegoers as Egyptian 2 and 3, now it is an independent endeavor operated by Christian Meoli and Voltaire Media.

About Voltaire Media

Voltaire Media is a full service media company that specializes in Entertainment and Media Services in Los Angeles and nationwide. Our focus is on digital marketing strategy, brand identity development, corporate design, social media, strategic marketing concepts, SEO analysis, traffic acquisition, for clients in film, theatre, music, photography and television entertainment. We also procure and negotiate distribution and licensing in all platforms for completed films. We create strategic media campaigns, digital media planning, community relations and brand management, online reputation management, social network marketing, social media, content syndication, promotions, website consulting/content development and online marketing.

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LAS VEGAS/CINEMACON (PRWEB) April 15, 2013

Fandango, the nation’s leading moviegoer destination, announced today it has extended its ticketing contract with Regal Entertainment Group, the largest movie theater circuit in the United States, for an additional five years, till 2018.

With this renewal Regal has expressed its continued confidence in Fandango as the leader in online and mobile ticketing, theater innovations such as print-at-home ticketing, reserved seating and its award-winning mobile and tablet apps. Regal has been rolling out Fandangos paperless Mobile Ticket service to more than 1,000 of the circuits screens across the country, in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego , San Francisco, and Seattle.

Our partnership with Regal has helped provide the best moviegoing experience to film fans throughout the country, says Paul Yanover, President of Fandango. We look forward to many more years of shared success, as we add more convenience and moviegoer innovations for Regals guests.

Fandango was founded in 2000 to make moviegoing easier, and together, we will continue to innovate for the convenience of Regals patrons, says Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group. Our partnership with Fandango has led to breakthroughs in the areas of online and mobile, adding value to Regals guests with mobile ticketing and mobile barcode ticket scanning.

Fandangos conveniences have helped change the face of moviegoing. Fandango in 2012 enjoyed its best year in the companys 12-year history, with record highs in ticket sales, web and mobile traffic, and app downloads.

About Fandango

Fandango, the nation’s leading moviegoer destination and an NBCUniversal company, sells tickets to more than 20,000 screens nationwide. Fandango entertains and informs consumers with reviews, commentary, celebrity interviews and trailers, and offers the ability to quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and conveniently buy tickets in advance. For many theaters, fans can print their tickets at home or receive them as a paperless Mobile Ticket on their smartphones. Fandango is available online at http://www.fandango.com, via smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, and at 1-800-FANDANGO. Fandango’s top-ranking movie ticketing apps, with 31 million downloads, are available on the iPhone and iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 and many other platforms. Fandango is enjoyed by more than 41 million online and mobile visitors per month. Film fans find Fandango on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fandango and on Twitter @Fandango.

About Regal Entertainment Group:

Regal Entertainment Group operates the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuit in the United States, consisting of 7,367 screens in 580 locations in 42 states along with Guam, Saipan, American Samoa and the District of Columbia as of March 29, 2013. The Company operates theatres in 46 of the top 50 U.S. designated market areas. We believe that the size, reach and quality of the Company’s theatre circuit not only provide its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable movie-going experience, but is also an exceptional platform to realize economies of scale in theatre operations. Additional information is available on the Company’s Web site at http://www.REGmovies.com.

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Newport Beach, California (PRWEB) April 19, 2013

Celebrated as one of the leading lifestyle film festivals in the United States, the 14th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival (http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com) brings the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world to Newport Beach for eight spectacular days, April 25 May 2, 2013.

The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) will showcase more than 350 films from 50 countries and host nightly special events, red carpet galas, compelling conversations with filmmakers, international spotlight events and seminars. The Festival offers filmgoers unique opportunities to mingle with celebrities, filmmakers from around the globe, and film industry professionals in a beautiful seaside locale.

OPENING & CLOSING NIGHT GALAS

The Newport Beach Film Festival will open with the West Coast Premiere of the documentary BROADWAY IDIOT which takes a behind-the-curtain look at how Green Day’s punk rock, blockbuster album American Idiot, became an acclaimed musical. The red carpet screening of Broadway Idiot will take place on Thursday, April 25th, 2013 at 7:30pm at Edwards Big Newport (300 Newport Center Drive) followed by a gala reception at Fashion Island (401 Newport Center Drive) where American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will perform.

On Closing Night, NBFF proudly presents the West Coast Premiere of THE WAY, WAY BACK starring Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, AnnaSophia Robb and Toni Collette and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. The film follows 14-year-old Duncan spending his summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and his daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in the gregarious manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through their funny, clandestine friendship, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world all during a summer he will never forget. The closing night film and party will take place at Via Lido Courtyard (3417 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA 92663).

WORLD PREMIERES

The 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival will screen over fifteen world-premiere feature films including AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR starring Parker Posey and Bruce Greenwood, B-SIDE; THE GOLDEN SCALLOP starring James Cosmo; I AM I; IN LIEU OF FLOWERS; IN SECURITY starring Michael Gladis and Ethan Embry; LETS ROLL; THE O’BRIENS; TOUCHDOWN NEWPORT; WALK ON; WE’VE GOT BALLS; WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE; and A FISH STORY.

SPOTLIGHTS/FEATURES

Highlights of this years festival include 40 feature films including Australian Spotlight DRIFT, starring Sam Worthington, Lesley-Ann Brandt and Xavier Samuel; A SINGLE SHOT starring Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy and Ted Levine; SOME GIRL(S)starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell; WHAT MAISE KNEW starring Alexander Skarsgard, Steve Coogan and Julianne Moore; THE ICEMAN starring Michael Shannon, Chris Evans and Winona Ryder; STUCK IN LOVE starring Greg Kinnear, Logan Lerman, and Jennifer Connelly; WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE starring Adam Brody, Kristen Schaal, and Jean Claude Van Damme; THE EAST starring Ellen Page, Alexander Skarsgard and Patricia Clarkson and I AM I starring Simon Helberg, James Morrison and Jason Ritter.

ACTION SPORTS

The NBFF Action Sports Film Series, an international showcase of films celebrating athletes, visionaries, filmmakers, cinematographers, pioneers, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, artists and designers who have shaped the action sports culture and cultivated its progression with their innovation, energy and creativity. Co-produced by the Newport Beach Film Festival and Orange County-based production company ChopShop, with support by SKATEBOARDER Magazine, SURFING Magazine, the NBFF Action Sports Film Series will spotlight 18 films from around the world including, BIRDMEN: THE ORIGINAL DREAM OF FLIGHT, a documentary about wingsuit skydivers; ISOLATED, a film about a group of intrepid surfers searching for the worlds last undiscovered waves, narrated by Ryan Phillipe; and THE MOTIVATION, a chronicling of eight of the worlds best pro-skateboarders as they prepare for the upcoming Street League Championship in New York City, starring skateboarding headliners like Rob Dyrdek, Paul Rodriguez and Ryan Sheckler.

ART, ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN

NBFFs award-winning Art, Architecture + Design series will showcase 10 films from around the world including: 16 ACRES, the story of how and why the historic rebuilding of New Yorks World Trade Center came to be; BENDING STICKS: THE SCULPTURE OF PATRICK DOUGHERTY, focusing on one mans artworks consisting largely of bending and shaping sapling trees; COAST MODERN, which takes a look at Modernist architecture on the west coast, traced from 1926 to the present; and IF YOU BUILD IT, a heartwarming film about a duo of design professionals who use their teachings and compassion to help a struggling North Carolina school district.

COLLEGIATE

The Newport Beach Film Festival will present a Collegiate Showcase featuring fresh cinematic works produced by collegiate filmmakers from our eight partnering SoCal Institutions: USC, UCLA, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach, Chapman University, Orange Coast College, Saddleback College, and CalArts. Each year the Festival gives students from these Southern California colleges and universities an opportunity to showcase their short films on the big screen and engage in post screening Q&A sessions with the filmgoers. The Festival offers students an opportunity to connect with film industry professionals, new audiences, alumni, media and other filmmakers.

DOCUMENTARY

NBFF Documentary Film Series will showcase 19 films from around the world, including: LOVE, MARILYN featuring Elizabeth Banks, Lindsay Lohan, Evan Rachel Wood, Ben Foster, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, Viola Davis, Jeremy Piven, Ellen Burstyn, Adrien Brody, Marisa Tomei and Glenn Close; TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY; OUT OF PRINT narrated by Meryl Streep; CASTING BY starring Marion Dougherty, Woody Allen, Jeff Bridges and Robert Redford; HOW TO MAKE MONEY SELLING DRUGS from Executive Producer Adrian Grenier starring 50 Cent, David Simon and Russell Simmons.

SHORTS PROGRAMS

The Newport Beach Film Festival continues its proud tradition of hosting some of the best shorts filmmakers in the world with its numerous and genre-spanning shorts series. Uniquely curated into thematic programs, the Festival will screen over 200 short films in categories ranging from romance to animation, from comedy to documentary.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The Newport Beach Film Festival partners with many local environmental organizations to raise awareness of important issues affecting our environment through cinema. The Festivals Eco Spotlight is REVOLUTION from Director Rob Stewart and Executive Producer Gus Van Sant. Other highlights include CRITICAL MASS; THE FRUIT HUNTERS and LA SOURCE. All films in this series cover a wide spectrum of eco-conscious topics including water quality, natural resource preservation and the the effects of globalization.

MUSIC

The Newport Beach Film Festivals highly popular Music Series continues to expand for the Festivals 14th year. The Music Film Series features 9feature narrative and documentary films that put music center stage highlighting musical performances, historic headlines and the unique stories behind struggling musicians. The punk band, Green Day, is featured in two documentaries: the Opening Night Film BROADWAY IDIOT and

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (PRWEB) April 10, 2013

Having practiced architecture for over 20 years, author Peter Lagomarsino has a unique perspective into the urban components of the built environment and a valuable visual assessment of their aesthetic value. In his new publication, Urban Forms as Art Volume 1, he embarks into an aesthetic journey through the American landscape, focusing on the component details of the urban community, some of which were accidental.

In this first volume of the book, The Visual Survey of the American Fire Escape, he shows an interesting physical form in urban vocabulary by visiting the fire escapes from twelve American cities in different regions. Specifically, it is a survey of a component which is really an architectural afterthought.

According to Lagomarsino, civil and industrial leaders placed more value on their own business in the construction of industrial spaces, than the lives of the many workers inside their capitalist machine, leaving legislators to come to the rescue with an external architectural solution. This iconic form is glorified with scenes in movies, but their everyday existence is to hang there as lonely as the wealthy industrialists that initially omitted them. They speak of being the savior in an impending doom, and do so in shadows of light and mirrored reflections seen in complex overlapping Cartesian coordinates, like angels to carry the people to safety.

This book shows the beauty of a dying and unique American architecture. The images highlights the fire escape as eerily frozen in time like they are from cold war East Berlin, waiting for their removal by a follow on urban renewal that may never come. And yet very few architectural forms exhibit this much soliloquy of repetition and rhythm that is so involved with the hieratic form of a life safety function. They are ironic and speak of human condition.

Urban Forms as Art Volume 1 is a truly enlightening book that does not only focus on the aesthetic value of architecture, but also brings to light the touch of humanity behind the structures and their forms.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Peter Lagomarsino, a Principal Architect at Neptune Design Group in Scottsdale Arizona, has practiced Architecture for over twenty years. Hes the author of Confessions in a Crown Vic and a critique of the American Dream and the story of what really happened in development this last century. He is an avid photographer of architecture with over thirty six years behind the camera. He also paints acrylic on canvas for art sales and commissioned work. He has Bachelors of Arts in Architecture from the University of New Mexico, a Masters of Architecture from Clemson University and is LEED Accredited. Part of his Masters, was at the Charles E. Daniels Center for Urban Design at Clemsons Villa in Genoa Italy where he traveled extensively in Europe, Greece, and the Middle East capturing over six thousand images on slide medium.

Urban Forms As Art Volume 1 * by Peter Lagomarsino

The Visual Survey Of The Fire Escape

Publication Date: March 4, 2013

Picture Book; $ 41.99; 72 pages; 978-1-4797-9060-9

Picture Book Hardcover; $ 51.99; 72 pages; 978-1-4797-9061-6

E-Book; $ 3.99; 978-1-4797-9062-3

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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San Clemente, CA (PRWEB) April 09, 2013

Each year, Projector Reviews, Inc. releases its Best Home Theater Projector Report, which compares the current 30+ home theater projectors they have reviewed. Projectors are organized into three price Classes: Under $ 2000, $ 2000 – $ 3500, and $ 3500 – $ 10,000+ projector models.

The award winners, by class:

Best In Class Under $ 2000: Sharp XV-Z30000

Best In Class $ 2000 – $ 3500 (Tie): Epson Home Cinema 5020UB/e, Pro 6020UB

Best In Class $ 2000 – $ 3500 (Tie): Sony VPL-HW50ES

Best In Class $ 3500 – $ 10,000: Sony VPL-VW1000ES

Projector Reviews also determined several “Runner-Up,” “Best Value Proposition” and “Special” awards, which were awarded to Acer, BenQ, Epson, JVC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Sony projectors across all three price ranges.

The full report is now online, covering how to navigate the report, overviews of all 32 projectors considered, physical tours, image quality, brightness, sharpness, audible noise, screen recommendations, warranty, head-to-head comparisons, and, of course, this year’s winners.

Editor Art Feierman had this to say about the projectors considered:

“This year’s crop of home theater and home entertainment projectors raises the bar for quality. That’s true whether considering under $ 1000 projectors, those in the $ 2000-$ 3500 sweet spot, or the massively amazing $ 25,000 true 4K projector from Sony, which demonstrates what to expect in future, more affordable home theaters.”

Feierman also commented on how 3D came into play:

“This year’s bunch is overall brighter than last year’s–a real benefit for 3D viewing! 3D and Home Theater Projectors are made for each other. I can’t get excited about 3D on a 50″ LCDTV, but fire up an exceptionally bright projector, such as the Epson Home Cinema 5020UB or the Panasonic PT-AE8000U, at a 120″ diagonal screen, and you can expect the experience to blow away your local movie cineplex.”

Projector Reviews will also release its new “Guide to Buying the Right Home Theater Projector for You” in early April, a viewer-centric rather than product-centric approach to projector shopping.

Feierman says, “We’re excited to launch our new Guide, which will help both first timers and seasoned enthusiasts choose the best projector for their situation (including room, content they watch, and when they watch it). Combine the guide with our Projector Reviews TV videos on individual topics to get the full indoctrination into the mystic world of home theater.”

About Projector Reviews:

Based in San Clemente, CA, ProjectorReviews.com provides an in-depth look into the industry’s top home theater projectors. Art Feierman and the rest of the Projector Reviews staff have been reviewing both home and business/education projectors since 2000.

The Projector Reviews website and blogs reach approximately one and a half million unique visitors a year. Thats a lot of folks with projector interest.

To contact Projector Reviews, email Art Feierman at reviewer(at)projectorreviews(dot)com or call (949) 291-2867.

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LAS VEGAS, NV (PRWEB) April 07, 2013

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the worldwide leader in motion-imaging standards and education for the communications, media, entertainment, and technology industries, today announced the launch of its Centennial Predict-the-Future Contest. Participants projections regarding the state of television and cinema technology in 2016, the 100-year anniversary of SMPTEs founding, will be collected from April 7 to Nov. 1, 2013, and the winners identified by renowned analysts will be recognized during the Gala SMPTE Centennial Event in 2016.

In 1916 C. Francis Jenkins filed the SMPTE founding papers, establishing our organization and its commitment to advancing theory and development in the motion-imaging field, said Peter Lud

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (PRWEB) April 05, 2013

When you are passionate about supporting a cause you believe in, you can make things happen. says Shreedhar (Shree) Kothari of Gumbiner Savett Inc., a Santa Monica, California based accounting firm. For the fourth year in a row, Shree is in the middle of tax busy season and is still making things happen as a board member and treasurer for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.

The festival runs from Tuesday, April 9 to Sunday, April 14. (The end date is one day shy of Kotharis April 15 tax busy season deadline.) This years impressive program reflects the rich diversity of Indian cinema, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, as well as the future of Indian filmmaking, with cutting-edge filmmakers bringing their acclaimed films to Los Angeles. The festival now in its 11th year, serves as a portal between the two largest entertainment industries in the world U.S. and India and helps to create a platform for up-and-coming filmmakers to tell their story.

Ive always been fascinated with the entertainment industry and my passion for Indian cinema, in particular, began at a very young age when I was growing up in India, says Shree. When I came on board four years ago, the festival was already very well established but I have seen it grow so much more, the quality of the films and the sponsors have improved every year.

Due to Shrees financial expertise and deeply-rooted presence in the local community his number 1 job is to raise money for IFFLA and has increased fundraising efforts and sponsorship outreach. Not only is the festival experiencing an increase of sponsorship since last year, but Kothari says sponsor interest is at an all-time high. With sponsors like Dish Network, Nickelodeon, Comcast/NBC Universal, Sony, Walt Disney, Deluxe, SAG-AFTRA, Taj Hotels and Resorts, Heineken, Turkish Airlines and Wells Fargo, it is clear that the festival is well recognized by not only Hollywood but also large brands.

We are so thrilled to have Shree on our board, says Christina Marouda, the board chair and festival organizer. We appreciate his leadership and guidance, not just for accounting and tax issues related to nonprofits, but also for fundraising opportunities and providing creative ideas to keep IFFLA growing. His presence and participation on the board has had a great impact to the success and growth of the festival.

Gumbiner Savett has been a sponsor of the event for the last four years, and has a long-time relationship with the entertainment industry, working with various clients including independent production entities, film and television studios, foreign entertainment companies, post production houses, independent record labels, and distributors, as well as agents, lawyers, artists, musicians, actors, producers, directors, screenwriters and authors.

Its important for our partners to integrate themselves into the local community and were extremely supportive of Shrees participation with IFFLA, said Gumbiner Savetts Managing Director Michael Savoy. Its rare to find a cause you are passionate about that also allows you to use your business skills to give back to your culture and your community.

About Gumbiner Savett Inc.

As one of the largest CPA and business advisory firms in Southern California, Gumbiner Savett prides itself as being a leader in providing strategic financial services including auditing, taxation, transaction due-diligence, litigation support, estate and trusts, business services and general business consulting. For more information, please visit http://www.gscpa.com.

About IFFLA

Now in its 11th year, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora. The six-day festival will showcase more than 35 films from the Indian filmmaking community across the globe, host the highly anticipated opening and closing red carpet galas, and the closing awards ceremony.

For a full line-up of the films participating in the festival:

http://www.indianfilmfestival.org

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Boston, MA (PRWEB) March 28, 2013

The world lost Ed Koch on February 1st, 2013; however, Mr. Koch who left only a 2007 will* to direct the distribution of his estate without the use an irrevocable trust such as the UltraTrust irrevocable trust has left much of his estates worth to the government in estate taxes and probate fees.

Mr. Koch desired in his will** to bequeath his estimated estate of $ 10 to $ 11 million* to his sister, Pat Thaler, her three sons whom he adored, his faithful serving secretary of almost 40 years, Mary Garrigan, and some to the LaGuardia and Wagner Educational Fund with the remainder to other family members.

Mr. Kochs estate will** have to pay a New York state tax of 16% on every dollar over $ 1 million and a 40% federal tax on every dollar over $ 5.25 million. If it is assumed that his estate is worth $ 10 million, this would equate to $ 1.44 million in NY state estate tax and $ 1.90 million in federal taxes.

That is a lot of money in taxes which could have been easily avoided, exclaims Rocco Beatrice, Managing Director of Estate Street Partners, LLC.

Mr. Koch was many things: a soldier, a New York City Councilman, a congressman, a TV personality, a movie reviewer, and, as he was best known as, the former mayor of New York City. He was also commended for uplifting New York out of the economic struggles of the 1970s during his term.

In addition, Mr. Koch was a lawyer and managed his finances well by investing astutely. Irrespective of all this and his net worth, he was a hero to his family and fans.

He was such an accomplished, well rounded bachelor and a man of great Jewish faith. But I find it so surprising, himself being an attorney, that Mr. Koch did not manage his estate plan with the same veracity. I believe he could have done a much better job of avoiding the massive amount of taxes his estate will eventually have to pay, laments Mr. Beatrice.

Im saddened by this because much more of his estate could have gone to his family especially to his three beloved nephews, Jared, 49, Jonathan, 52, and Shmuel, 54.

From preliminary reports of the probate court, Mr. Kochs will was insufficient to have protected his assets from probate and the estate taxes. Apparently, no use of any trust, revocable or irrevocable trust was implemented in his estate plan.

For someone of that kind of wealth and charitable causes, a well-drafted irrevocable trust would have managed his estate much better, explains Mr. Beatrice.

In his will**, which was publicly available March 18th, Mr. Koch left $ 500,000 to his sister, Pat, $ 100,000 to his secretary, Mary, $ 150,000 to his sister-in-law and her two children, and $ 100,000 to set up the LaGuardia and Wagner Educational Fund to promote public and government service.

Additionally, according to the court documents, the will* also apportioned $ 150,000 to Mr. Kochs older brother, Harold, who is now passed away. But Harolds survivors will partake in this allotment. $ 50,000 goes to Harolds widow, Gail Koch and $ 500,000 to Joey Koch, their daughter. The last $ 50,000 is left to Andrew Koch, Harolds son by his first marriage.

The rest of the estate goes to his sisters three sons in equal shares.

Although the will sounds like it covers all the bases, if falls woefully short in several areas. Mr. Koch could have accomplished the same thing with significant savings and privacy using irrevocable trusts. His will does nothing to protect these assets or avoid probate and does absolutely nothing to avoid state and federal estate taxes, critiques Mr. Beatrice.

A will is good for naming the guardians of your children, but not much else.

If Mr. Koch would have placed his businesses in an irrevocable trust, then only the original value of the business would count towards a gift tax. If the business was out of the estate, when Mr. Koch died, there would be no estate tax. Additionally, Mr. Koch could have started gifting away $ 14,000 per year to a person or to what is known as a Crummey Trust.

There are many types of irrevocable trusts that accomplish many different things and a person taking advantage of irrevocable trusts needs to have a team that thoroughly understands the legal and tax ramifications, extols Mr. Beatrice.

Not only would these irrevocable trusts have saved on taxes, but they also serve as an asset protection tool from many different types of lawsuits – especially contingent-based, frivolous cases. When Mr. Koch gives the money to his sisters children, it is theirs and theirs alone.

One of the best ways to protect your assets, ironically, is to not own them directly.

Perhaps Mr. Koch wished to keep things simple, although probate court is never a simple process.

To learn how to protect assets visit UltraTrust.com, the irrevocable trust experts. Visit MyUltraTrust.com to set up a DIY irrevocable trust plan.

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About Estate Street Partners (UltraTrust.com):

Assets can be protected from frivolous lawsuits while eliminating your estate taxes and probate, and also ensuring superior Medicaid asset protection for both parents and children with their Premium UltraTrust

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Daytona Beach, FL (PRWEB) March 28, 2013

Dr. Elizabeth Rush Kruger, blogger on strategicpower.biz, explains how customer love can go viral. Her tip sheet shows entrepreneurs how organic buzz can spark their profits.

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(PRWEB) March 26, 2013

Butterfield 8, an established restaurant in NYC, introduces new happy hour specials for the month of March. Happy Hour is a special time of day where friends and todays professionals can get together after a hard day of work. With these new happy hour specials, there will be no better place to congregate than Butterfield 8 NYC. Every Monday through Friday during the last week of March, the bar will be serving $ 3 imported and domestic beer, $ 5 house wines and $ 5 mixed drinks. There will be plenty of time to enjoy these affordable drink specials, because happy hour lasts from 4 pm to 7 pm.

On top of the daily happy hour deals, Butterfield 8 NYC makes each day special, giving each day their own unique drink specials. Celebrate Tuesday nights with a twist. Butterfield 8 NYC will be celebrating Tuesdays with a Twist, by offering half-price martinis. The bar features an extensive menu of specialty cocktails. Wine connoisseurs will enjoy Wine Down Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, guests will be able to choose $ 5 select red & white wine all night long at Butterfield NYC. The fun grows from there, as Butterfield NYC presents Student Night, every Thursday night. Students who show their student ID at the bar will receive 50% off all of their drinks. This special excludes happy hour prices, so come for the happy hour specials and stay for the student special. For more information on daily specials, please contact info(at)butterfield8nyc(dot)com.

Butterfield 8 NYC has been featured on CitySearch many times, with customers leaving rave reviews about their dining experiences. In Short Young midtown professionals flock to this restaurant and bar–named after a 1960s Liz Taylor movie–for American fare (wraps, steaks, and apple pie) and, perhaps more important, after-work relaxation. Guys in collared shirts and well-heeled ladies fill the brown-leather booths and jostle their way to the long wooden bar. Although the music gets loud and the crowd grows thick on weekends, few customers seem to mind after several rounds of draught beers and specialty cocktails.-CitySearch

About the Company:

Butterfield 8 is the premier restaurant and lounge in NYC, where business professional meets social scene in this contemporary American Restaurant & Lounge. The restaurant features warm wood paneled walls; big leather booths and oversized lampshades offer a unique dining experience perfect for corporate power lunches, after-work cocktails or pre and post theatre dining. Private parties in NYC, large groups & special events are welcome, with private dining & event space available for guests.

To learn more details on upcoming events or specials, visit http://www.butterfield8nyc.com.

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