Benihana is a meal and a show!

There are two ways to win:

1. On Facebook: Write a haiku about Benihana, food, hunger, or the Best Buddies organization on our Facebook wall. The haiku with the most “Likes” by each Wednesday, 3pm PST during the month of November will win a $50 gift card to Benihana. We’ll have one winner each Wednesday until November 27, 2009, four winners total. One entry per person per Facebook account.

Just in case you need a poetry refresher: Haikus are Japanese poems that are three lines. The whole poem is 17 syllables (five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line), and they don’t have to rhyme.

An example haiku (with number of syllables for each line):

Daydreaming of food (5 )
Fresh stir-fry heart-shaped fried rice (7)
Benihana now!  (5)

2. On Twitter: Follow us on Twitter, and retweet this sentence: Follow @FIJIWater and RT this for a chance to win a $50 Benihana gift card http://www.bit.ly/fijihaiku #FIJIhaiku. One entry per retweet.

That’s it! Don’t forget the #FIJIhaiku hashtag, because that’s how we’re tracking your entry on Twitter. We’ll randomly choose one follower who retweeted the message as our winne by 4pm PST every Wednesday, until November 27, 2009.

Here are the official rules. Now, go get your haiku and retweet on!

FIJI Team leader, Moses Hicks, demonstrates the clean water filter.

Since 2008, the Give Clean Water organization has installed more than 1,000 household water filters in communities around Nadi and Ba. Beginning July 2009, the FIJI Water Foundation has donated $30,000 USD (more than $60,000 FJD) toward the installation of as many as 300 water filters in Ba area homes. Friday and Saturday’s volunteers installed more than 130 water filters in the Natunuku and Sasa villages. In 10 years, Give Clean Water aims to install a filter in every home in Fiji.

The PointOne filters, which eliminate 99.9% of all disease-causing bacteria and are designed after filters used in kidney dialysis, come with a lifetime guarantee if used and maintained properly. The Give Clean Water and FIJI Foundation team also conducted a community education session on the importance of drinking clean water. Give Clean Water has three local Fiji staff who will return to these communities in a few weeks to do a follow-up visit and check on the filters.

A big vinaka vakalevu (”thank you”) to everyone who helped out. We really appreciate the gift of your time and effort!

Read more about the Give Clean Water and The FIJI Water Foundation :
Fiji Times: Clean Water at Last for a Flood-Hit Village
Fiji Sun: No More Dirty Water

Teams compete in different sports including tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, bodybuilding, weightlifting, and sailing.  This year, some of the nations who participated in the 12-day event included the Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Norfolk, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and, of course, Fiji.

Our representative for the 2009 Pacific Mini Games, Ernest Petueli

We are proud to announce that our representative for the Pacific Mini Games, Ernest Petueli, Jr., took home the Bronze Medal in the Long Jump. Ernest has been playing soccer since the age of seven and has received three gold medals from the mayor and the community of Tavua. He represented Fiji at the Oceania Championships in Brisbane, Australia, and then at the Pacific Mini Games. Ernest’s father, Ernest Petueli Sr., is a a FIJI Water employee and they are both very active members of the Fiji community. You can find them volunteering at community events such as walkathons and cleanings of local schools. Congratulations, Ernest! We are so proud of you!

It’s confirmed! FIJI has met NSF, FDA, and EU standards for safety and quality, and we couldn’t be more proud.

So, what does that mean, and why does it matter?

NSF International is an independent, not-for-profit organization that helps protect consumers by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, and consumer goods. In order for FIJI to receive the NSF Certification, our facility in Yaqara, Fiji, was subject to a rigorous audit to verify that the bottling facility met Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Requirements. It was also tested to both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European requirements for more than 160 chemicals, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological contaminants. The process also included annual unannounced plant inspections covering every aspect of the operation, from the source of water, through the disinfection and treatment, to the container closure process.

Click here for more information on NSF’s Beverage Quality Certification. You can also find FIJI Water’s certification on the NSF website.

Ongoing testing and annual audits will ensure continued compliance with NSF standards, as well as U.S. and European requirements, so you can be sure that FIJI Water will remain the purest and best tasting water.

We’ll drink to that!

Let's do right by the earth.

We all know that climate change affects each and every one of us through our environment, health, and daily living. It’s a big issue, but no single person or business is responsible for everything. At FIJI Water, we believe that we’re all responsible when it comes to our earth. When it comes to environmental issues, we like to share what we’re doing and hope others will do the same. Here are some things any one of us can do to bring awareness to climate change:

Communicate: Remember the phrase “Sharing is caring?” Well, it’s true! Openly talk about your sustainability practices, your environmental solutions, and goals. Sharing your stories and progress not only holds you responsible but encourages others. At FIJI Water, we’re striving to be more transparent in our solutions by posting our latest updates right here on our blog and reporting on our progress.

Educate: Knowing is half the battle. It’s hard to decide between plastic or glass, for example, if you don’t have the facts. You can do your part by educating others about climate change issues, climate strategy, the newest sustainability practices, and renewable energy projects. By doing so you’ll be encouraging responsible decision-making and helping to pave a path towards sustainability.

Inspire: Anything and everything we do to work towards being green can inspire thought and action in others. At FIJI Water, we do what we can everywhere we can. From working with non-profits to engage in environmental or reforestation projects to advocating government recycling laws — each is but a small step towards a big goal.

By communicating, educating, and inspiring, we can all play a part in finding a sustainable solution to our climate crisis. Unlike pet rocks and Tamagotchi’s, sustainability isn’t a fad, it’s a continuous path. One of our core beliefs is that sustainable business practices are “common business sense.” Because, whether you’re a customer or a corporation, every little bit helps.

Photo courtesy of rAmmoRRisen

Dust off your platform boots and get ready to enter for a chance to nab two VIP tickets to see the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour in either Greensville, SC, or Hampton, VA.  In each city, we have tickets for diehard fans who can best display their devotion for the band. There are two possible ways to rock and roll you way into the concert:

1.    Take a picture of yourself, a bottle of FIJI Water, and a piece of KISS memorabilia.
2.    Find an old photo of you from back in the day and post it to the Facebook page.

Whichever of the two options above you choose, you must post your photo to our Facebook Page by the dates listed below. If your photo is chosen, we will contact you via Facebook for information on how to get the tickets to you. Photos must be posted to our Facebook wall by 3PM Pacific Time, Monday, October 12; any photos posted after this time will not be considered. In your photo’s caption, include why you should be chosen to receive the concert tickets and in which city you would like tickets.  Ticket recipients must be 18 or over.

Hampton, VA: Friday, Oct. 16 at Hampton Coliseum – Two pairs of tickets available (two photos chosen)
Greensville, SC: Saturday, Oct. 17 at Bi-Lo Center — One pair of tickets available (one photo chosen)

Please be sure your user profile on Facebook is set to be able to receive messages via Facebook; otherwise, there is no way that we can contact you if you are chosen and your prize may be given to someone else. You can post as many times as you like, but only complete posts that fulfill all the requirements will be considered. Transportation to and from the event is the recipient’s sole responsibility.

Want to get alerts on more FIJI Water giveaways and events? Follow us on Twitter.

FIJI WATER KISS CONCERT CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN IN THE FIJI WATER KISS CONCERT CONTEST (”CONTEST”). Entry into this Contest constitutes your acceptance of these Official Rules.

CONTEST ENTRY DATES: Contest begins October 8, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (”PST”) and ends October 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. PST (”Contest Entry Period”).

WHO MAY ENTER: Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, District of Columbia and Canada (excluding residents of Quebec, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) who are of legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (and at least eighteen (18) in the U.S. and nineteen (19) in Canada). Void in Quebec and where prohibited by law.  Contest subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  Employees of Fiji Water Company LLC (“Sponsor”) and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and such employees’ immediate family members (parent, spouse, sibling, child, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest.  Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.  Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility qualifications of the winners.  Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.

CONTEST ENTRY/OBJECTIVE: The objective of the Contest is to submit a photo of yourself on FIJI Water’s Facebook Page for a chance to win two (2) tickets to the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour concert in Greenville, South Carolina or Hampton, Virginia.

HOW TO ENTER: To enter, you must submit a photo of yourself (“Photo”) on FIJI Water’s Facebook Page (“Contest Web Site”).  During the Contest Entry Period, you must go to the Contest Web Site to submit your Photo (your “Entry”).  Any Entry that does not include all required information and adhere to the foregoing and following requirements will be considered void and will not be considered in the judging of this Contest.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

Each Entry must either be: (1) a photo of yourself with a bottle of FIJI Water and a piece of KISS memorabilia; or (2) an old photo of yourself from back in the day displaying your devotion for the KISS band.

For each Entry, you must include a caption on the Photo stating why you should be chosen to receive the concert tickets and in which city you would like tickets for.  Concert tickets are available for the following dates and locations:

• Hampton, Virginia: Friday, October 16 at the Hampton Coliseum – Two (2) Photos will be selected and each Photo will win two (2) tickets to the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour Concert
• Greensville, South Carolina: Saturday, October 17 at the Bi-Lo Center – One (1) Photo will be selected and win two (2) tickets to the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour Concert

Winners of the Contest must be 18 years of age or over.

Transportation to and from the concerts is the winner’s sole responsibility.

All Entries must be received by October 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. PST.  For purposes of these Official Rules, “receipt” of an Entry occurs when Facebook’s servers record the Entry information resulting from contestant post on FIJI Water’s Facebook Page.

Contestant warrants and represents: (a) he/she is the sole and exclusive creator and owner of the Entry, including all rights therein, and that the Entry has not won any previous awards or competitions; (b) Contestant has the full and exclusive right, power and authority to submit the Entry and to grant Sponsor the rights to the Entry, including but not limited to the worldwide copyright; (c) no part of the Entry has been published, or; (d) no rights in the Entry have been previously granted to any person, firm, corporation or other entity. Sponsor reserves the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any Entry at any time in the event it is determined that the Entry is offensive, inappropriate, not in keeping with Sponsor’s images or if it is determined that the Contestant has not otherwise complied with these Official Rules.  If the Entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Contestant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Contestant is responsible for obtaining, prior to Entry of the Entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the Entry by Sponsor in the manner set forth in these Official Rules.  Sponsor reserves the right to request proof of these permissions in a form acceptable to Sponsor from any participant at any time.

Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entry for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion.

PRIZE JUDGING: Judging begins October 12, 2009 and ends October 14, 2009.  All eligible Entries received will be judged by a select panel of Fiji Water employees who will serve as judges to determine the winners.  The judging will be based on the originality and creativity of the Entry which shall be determined at the judges’ discretion and criteria (“Judging Criteria”).

Judges’ and Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding.

WINNER NOTIFICATION: Winner will be notified via Facebook and provided information on how to receive the concert tickets.  Please be sure your user profile on Facebook is set to be able to receive messages via Facebook. Potential winners may be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release (”Affidavit/Release”) as well as any other documents which may be required by Sponsor, all of which must be received fully-executed within seven (7) days of date printed on notification or he/she may be disqualified. If after three attempts to contact a potential winner, Sponsor has been unable to do so, he/she will be disqualified. Any Canadian resident who is a potential winner of any prize must correctly answer a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question administered by telephone without assistance or mechanical or electronic aid in order to receive a prize. If a selected Canadian potential winner cannot be reached by telephone within a reasonable time period or answers the skill testing question incorrectly, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, he/she may be disqualified, and, at Sponsor’s discretion, the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner.  If a potential winner is eligible but considered a minor in his or her state of permanent residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be required to execute and return the Affidavit/Release and all other required documents on such winner’s behalf as well as comply with any other requirements imposed on winner set forth herein. In the event it is determined that a potential winner has not complied with these Official Rules, has failed to execute and return any required documents within the specified time period, has made false statements or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, then potential winner will be disqualified. Should a winner make any false statement(s) in any document required by Sponsor or prize supplier, such winner will be disqualified and required to promptly return to Sponsor the value of his/her prize. If a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, at Sponsor’s discretion, Sponsor may declare an alternate winner.

PRIZES: Three (3) Grand Prizes: Each winner will receive two (2) tickets to the KISS/ALIVE 35 Tour Concert in Hampton, Virginia or Greensville, South Carolina, subject to these Official Rules.  Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): US$125.00 each ticket.  Total ARV for all prizes = US$750.00.  All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsor.  Federal, state and local taxes and other expenses not specified herein are winners’ sole responsibility.  Prizes are non-negotiable and not redeemable for cash, credit or merchandise except as specified.  No substitutions or cash redemption of the prizes is permitted except that Sponsor retains the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater retail value. No transportation shall be provided to and from the concert by Sponsor, and shall be the winner’s sole responsibility.  Additional restrictions may apply.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Winning constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) for Sponsor and its designees to use winner’s name, Entry, hometown, likeness, prize won, and photo and video (all at Sponsor’s discretion) for future advertising, publicity in any and all media now or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission. Contest parties and their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees (collectively, “”Released Parties”) are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, stolen, altered, garbled, incorrect, incomplete or delayed Entries or votes; all of which will be void. Released Parties are also not responsible for problems uploading or downloading any Contest-related information or materials from the web site or for any other technical malfunctions of electronic equipment, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer hardware or software failures, phone lines, failure of any Entry or vote to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems, traffic, congestion on the internet or the web site, or for any other technical problems including telecommunication, miscommunication or failure, and failed, lost, delayed, incomplete, garbled or misdirected communications which may limit a contestant’s ability to participate in this Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for any other errors or malfunctions of any kind, whether network, printing, typographical, human or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors or malfunctions which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of Entries, the submitting or tabulating of votes, the announcement of the prizes or in any Contest-related materials. Mass Entries or votes or Entries or votes generated by a script, macro or use of automated devices may, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Contest in the event it becomes infected by a computer virus or is otherwise technically impaired, and to cancel or suspend the Contest in its entirety should tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or other causes corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Contest and, if terminated, at Sponsor’s discretion, determine the winner using all non-suspect, eligible Entries received up to time of cancellation using the judging procedure outlined above. In the event of a dispute regarding Entries received from multiple users having the same e-mail account, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account at the time of Entry will be deemed to be the contestant and must comply with these Official Rules. Authorized subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual (and void his/her Entry and vote) it finds to be tampering with the Entry or voting process or the operation of this Contest or website, intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other contestant, Sponsor or any of its representatives or to otherwise be acting in violation of these Official Rules. CAUTION: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operations of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other such remedies from any such contestant to the fullest extent permitted by law and to disqualify such contestant from the Contest.

ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS: Contestant hereby acknowledges that Entry and all other materials of every kind whatsoever created by contestant relating to the Contest (collectively, the “Work”) are a “work made for hire” (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act) for Sponsor, and Sponsor is the sole and exclusive owner, in perpetuity and throughout the universe, of all right, title and interest in and to the Work, including without limitation all copyrights in and to the Work (and all renewals and extensions thereof now or hereafter provided by law) and all the rights therein and thereto, and may exploit the Work (and all rights therein) in any manner throughout the world without restriction. Without limiting the binding effect of any of the foregoing provisions, in the event that any part of the Work is not deemed to be a “work made for hire” for Sponsor, then contestant hereby irrevocably and exclusively grants and assigns to Sponsor (or, if any applicable law prohibits or restricts such assignment, contestant hereby grants to Sponsor an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable license of) unlimited right, title and interest in and to such Work, including, without limitation, all rights of every kind and nature (whether now known or hereafter devised, including all copyrights therein and thereto and all renewals and extensions thereof), throughout the universe, in perpetuity, for all purposes, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised.

By submitting an Entry, contestant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor may obtain many submissions under this Contest and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to others submitted under this Contest and/or other contests staged and/or sponsored by the Sponsor, and waive any and all claims contestant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any composition, film and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the Sponsor (or its designees) may be similar to his/her Entry. Contestant acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsor does not have now, nor shall any of them have in the future, any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of any copyright in and to contestant’s Entry.

MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS: By participating in the Contest, contestants (i) agree to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) agree to be bound by the decisions of Sponsor and judges, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to permanently disqualify any person it believes has intentionally violated these Official Rules and void all associated Entries and/or votes.
RELEASES: By entering the Contest, contestants agree to release and hold harmless Released Parties from all claims, liability or damage caused or claimed to be caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in connection with participation in this Contest, or acceptance or use of the prize, the substitution of a prize in accordance with these Official Rules, the administration of the Contest, the operation of the website or Released Parties’ use of any of the rights granted herein. Released Parties assume no responsibility for the conduct of any contestant or voter or the responses of anyone appearing in any Entry.

ARBITRATION AND CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Contest, contestant agrees that (1) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association and held at the AAA regional office nearest the contestant; (2) the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and (3) judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will contestant be permitted to obtain awards for, and contestant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than contestant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with entering this Contest), and contestant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of contestants and Sponsor in connection with this Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of California, USA without regard to California choice of law rules.

WINNERS LIST: If you would like the names of the winners (available after January 20, 2010), please send a self-addressed stamped envelope by March 20, 2010 to: Fiji Water KISS Concert Contest Winners, 11444 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90064.  Winners’ names will also be posted on the Contest Web Site.

SPONSOR: Fiji Water Company LLC, 11444 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

Nobu Matsuhisa shows off his Chocolate Yuzu dessert, which he served at the FIJI Water booth.

This past weekend, one of America’s premier culinary events, American Wine and Food Festival,  joined together the talent of the world’s top chefs and spirit purveyors for 2,700 party-goers to enjoy a memorable  evening of epicurean delights, fine wines , live music, dancing, and a luxury silent auction, all within the backdrop of fantastic Hollywood movie sets at Universal Studios backlot.

AWFF gives guests the opportunity to sample a variety of tastes from internationally acclaimed chefs while supporting the Meals On Wheels program. Since the event’s inception in 1982, the Puck-Lazaroff Foundation has raised more than $15 million for the program that serves thousands of meals each day to Los Angeles’ homebound, senior, and disabled citizens.

Guests capped the night off in The Lounge, an after-hours retreat featuring sparkling wines from France’s Loire Valley and tempting desserts by a multitude of pastry chefs. Watch the video for a tantalizing recipe from Pastry Chef Gabrielle Riva & Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, a Ghirardelli sponge cake layered with raspberry jelly, set in a yuzu caramel sauce and finished with Ghirardelli dark chocolate cremoso, chai tea ice cream, and caramelized pumpkin seeds.

INGREDIENTS

Chocolate Sponge

300g butter
100g confectionery sugar
450g 60% Ghirardelli dark chocolate
500g egg yolks
8g baking powder
200g cake flour
150g almond flour
750g egg whites
320g sucrose

Chai Tea Gelato

523g chai infusion
170g milk
90g milk powder
40g dextrose
20g glucose powder
150g sucrose
7g stabilizer

Dark Chocolate Cremoso

250g milk
250g cream
100g egg yolks
100g sucrose
225g 70% Ghirardelli dark chocolate
Raspberry jelly
1kg raspberry puree
100g sucrose
25g gelatine

Caramelized Pumpkin Seeds

100g pumpkin seeds
60g sucrose

The show was a huge success.

FIJI Water was enjoyed at more than 50 events during the week, including shows from Marc Jacobs, Cynthia Rowley, Zac Posen, Luca Luca, Alexander Wang, Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto, Thom Browne, and many more. Models, stylists, production crew, PR people, and guests could all be seen carrying FIJI Water’s square bottles and enjoying what’s inside them. We received calls on our cell phones from panicked designer reps if our deliveries were even a little bit late, all with the same, “The models need FIJI Water!” You’d think it was an emergency. And maybe it was.

For sheer drama this season we’d have to choose the Marc Jacobs show. When we arrived an hour before showtime, we saw that the clothes were just arriving, too. As assistants wheeled them off the truck and into a service elevator, a

FIJI Water was available behind the scene.

headset-wearing production person kept yelling, “Hurry! They need the clothes now!” Backstage it seemed more peaceful, as the makeup folks carefully painted models’ faces a stark white. FIJI Water bottles littered the makeup tables as photographers snapped away. Outside hair and makeup, the all-white set constructed for the show started to fill with guests. Anna Wintour arrived early. Rachel Zoe followed. The room filled almost to capacity and then a pack of large guys — bodyguards — entered, and we heard excited whispers all around us: “It’s Madonna!” We could only see the top of her head, but we recognized companion Jesus Luz in tow.

When the show started, we finally got to see those late-arriving clothes that the New York Times later described as a “combination of Eastern and Western styles” with “ruffles and frills everywhere” and overall “a terrific presentation.” The amount of detail on each look made them fascinating to watch as they went by, almost as if — but, wait! What is happening over at the main entrance to the room?

Each detail contributed to an exciting, event-filled week.

It’s Lady Gaga! She has arrived, wearing a leather-studded Venetian Carnivale mask as only she can. The afterparty is to be in her honor, so as the important guest that she is, she is accompanied by Marc Jacobs’ boyfriend, Lorenzo Martone. But since the show has started, they cannot be seated, and so have to stand for the full 15 minutes, with Lady G in sky-heeled boots. It made for great theater but distracted from the clothes!

Locals meet on the train to experience the fantastic mobile art exhibit during Art on Track 2008.

For the second year in a row, Chicago plays home to the world’s largest mobile art exhibition, dubbed Art on Track. Join FIJI Water for an unforgettable ride circling the Chicago Loop in celebration of fine arts culture, or be the first to spot the FIJI Water-themed train for a chance to nab a $150 gift certificate for art supplies from Blick!

Created by SALVO, a Chicago non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of visual art, Art on Track is a mobile art experience that takes over an eight-car CTA “L” train to display the fine works and art installations of more than 200 local emerging and established artists. Among train cars furnished by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and others, FIJI Water will provide a car that proudly displays the works created by the Flatiron Artist Association, a renowned artist group and cornerstone of the Wicker Park neighborhood artist community.

In further support of Chicago’s local artist and art student community, we’re offering a $150 Blick gift certificate to the first person to correctly identify the tagline displayed on the outside of the FIJI Water train.  The FIJI Water train car will be on route throughout the week leading up to Art on Track, so keep an eye out for FIJI Water on the CTA Orange Line. If you just want in on the creative fun, join us on October 10, 2009 from 11AM-8PM at the Adams and Wabash CTA platform for a ride around the Loop aboard the FIJI Water art train.

Look for the FIJI Water tagline on the tracks!

To be eligible for the $150 Blick gift certificate, simply visit our Facebook Page and be the first to post the tagline that appears on the side of the train car. Please keep in mind that only those posts submitted after 12PM Central Time, October 6, when the FIJI Water train begins running, will be considered eligible. Please make sure that your Facebook settings allow you to receive messages from non-friends, as someone from FIJI will be contacting the recipient via Facebook. If we are unable to contact you in this way, another recipient will be chosen.

SALVO NFP is an organization dedicated to increasing cultural awareness and education through exposure to the fine arts. SALVO provides free alternative public spaces for arts organizations to showcase their talent to an expanded demographic, and to reach out to those who may otherwise be isolated from the city’s vibrant art culture.

Guests have a variety of chef luncheons, wine seminars and cooking demonstrations to choose from at SFW&C Fiesta.

Each September, the historic Southwestern city of Santa Fe welcomes visitors from all over the country for the annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta.  Recognized as one of “America’s 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences” by Food & Wine Magazine, the week-long festival is a celebration of the famed Hatch chile, whose aroma fills the fall New Mexico air every year.

The week kicked off in grand style with a welcome reception hosted by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson at his hilltop Governor’s Mansion.  Attendees enjoyed the next few days with chef luncheons, wine dinners at top Santa Fe restaurants, compelling wine seminars, and cooking demonstrations at the Santa Fe School of Cooking.

The week culminated with the Grand Tasting, held against the backdrop of the City Different’s opera with a remarkable view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in their golden fall glory.  Four giant tents housed more than 60 unique Santa Fe restaurants and more than 100 world-class wineries.  FIJI Water was in the middle of the action, with a giant tent that offered attendees a relaxing environment to enjoy a cold bottle of FIJI  while taking a break from such amazing foods as the green chile cheesecake from Tesuque Village Market. Guests also lined up for an opportunity to make their own Fijian lei at the FIJI Water Lei Making Bar.

Guests cool off in the FIJI tent to make their own Fijian lei.

This year’s fiesta was the 19^th annual celebration of the SFW&C Fiesta, which started in 1991 as a one-day grand tasting of 20 restaurants and 20 wineries. Since then, the SFW&C Fiesta has transformed into one of the country’s best culinary celebrations. FIJI Water is proud to have been the official water partner since 2002.