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Updated: November 17, 2009, 10:46 am	Share    Print    Email

Martha Stewart branded turkeys should be available just in time for Thanksgiving. All photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan.com

Southampton - Martha Stewart trussed up for Thanksgiving dinner? To quote another happy homemaker, "You betcha!" Just in time for our annual celebration of the Puritans first Thanksgiving feast, Martha Stewart-branded turkeys should be available in your local grocery through yet another big deal that the Domestic Goddess' Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has inked with The Hain Celestial Group and Hain Pure Protein. The gobblers all vegetarian-fed and antibiotic free will be available fresh or frozen. In early 2010, the turkey launch will be followed by natural baking mixes from Arrowhead Mills and dried pastas from DeBoles.

In a statement released this week, Robin Marino, MSLO's president and chief executive officer of merchandising said, "Our previous experience in the retail food arena has taught us a great deal about how to develop high-quality, healthy and delicious food for the retail shopper. Our expanded relationship with Hain Celestial is part of our merchandising strategy to partner with the best manufacturers who have vast and robust retail distribution networks."

Turkey and cake mixes aren't the only things Martha and her team are cooking up. To clean up all that mess - greasy turkey pans, spills on kitchen counters and floors - her partners at Hain Celestial have already developed a branded line of all-natural cleaning solutions, called Martha Stewart Clean. The line is expected to roll out next month.

Steven Spielberg to be recognized for his human rights work.

Martha's old Lily Pond neighbor Steven Spielberg will soon be recognized for his human rights work with his Shoah Foundation and numerous other activities. The director will be presented with The Anti-Defamation League's highest honor - America's Democratic Legacy Award - at their annual Los Angeles fundraiser next month.

The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all." Now the nation's premiere civil rights/human relations agency, ADL fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all. The event will be held on December 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and will feature entertainment from Adam Lambert and Israeli singer Noa Dori.

Yet another group of high profile folks will be honored for their humanitarian and philanthropic efforts at the An Enduring Vision Gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation on November 16 at Cipriani Wall Street. The Enduring Vision Gala is an annual event that last year raised over $2 million for the organization. Sir Elton's event has attracted celebrities Gladys Knight, Tim Allen and Whoopi Goldberg in the past, and this year's event promises to be bigger than ever. This year Sir Elton will honor President Bill Clinton, Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, Lily Safra, and Sharon Stone.

Sharon Stone to be honored by Sir Elton John Foundation.

Sir Elton set up his AIDS Foundation to provide funding for educational programs targeted at HIV/AIDS prevention and/or the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for programs that provide services to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.

The following night promises yet another celeb laden red carpet with the Fifth Annual Autism Speaks Concert at Carnegie Hall where Jerry Seinfeld will headline a star-studded night of comedy and music. The evening will include a special appearance by The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. The unprecedented event, emceed by NBC News' "Meet the Press" host David Gregory, will help increase awareness about autism and raise funds to benefit the work of Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization.

Proceeds from A Concert for Autism Speaks will go toward funding research into the causes, prevention, treatment and a cure for autism, which is now diagnosed in one in every 150 American children. Since its founding in 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism, Autism Speaks has committed more than $131 million to scientific research.

The committee list of Hollywood and Hamptons' celebrities include Jamie Foxx, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Conan O'Brien, Seth Rogen, Martha Stewart, Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Glenn Close, Celine Dion, Will Ferrell, Edie Falco, Troy Aikman, and Harry Smith are among the committee members supporting this one-of-a-kind event. Sir Elton John, Senator Al Franken, Donald and Melania Trump are among those serving as the evening's honorary Co-Chairs.

Here's an event for all you fans of "The Sopranos." 'Junior Soprano' a/k/a Dominic Chianese will perform at a special event for the Joy Through Art Foundation on November 24 at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. The Foundation brings live music and entertainment to nursing homes, hospitals, senior centers and assisted living facilities throughout the New York area. The evening will be a rare, up-close and personal performance in the theater lobby by one of America's most popular actors and a special friend of the Patchogue Theatre. Dominic's memorable songs and personal stories about his childhood in the Bronx and long career in show business have entertained and inspired Patchogue Theatre audiences for many years. Friends of the veteran actor and musician are not surprised at his work for the foundation. Long before getting the call for "Godfather II" which helped put him in the national spotlight, Chianese was working for the Drug Commission of New York State as a recreational worker in a rehab center. He taught guitar to women who were serving time for drug-related crimes.

Pamela Fiori releases new book.

Congratulations to Town & Country editor Pamela Fiori of Sag Harbor on her gorgeous new book "In the Spirit of Capri" just released by Assouline this week. The beautiful tome is chock full of images and the history of the tiny island throughout the years. Fiori celebrated the release on the third floor of Saks Fifth Avenue nestled between the Proenza Schouler and Zac Posen Collections. Lucky Pamela had a few surprise drop-ins for her book signing designers Valentino and Vera Wang, who came to get their personally autographed copies. Friends like Leonard and Evelyn Lauder, Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio, Olivia Chantecaille, Josie Natori, Cathie Black, Kelly Bensimon, Bryant and Hilary Gumbel and the ageless supermodel Carmen Dell'Orefice lined up to have the style maven sign their books.

What little girl didn't dream of living in Barbie's dream house as an adult? Our tastes may have changed since we were little, but so has Barbie's! The icon, who turns 50 years-old this year, is moving to Malibu and none other than "Top Design" judge Jonathan Adler of Shelter Island is designing the interiors. The interior design star will be updating Barbie's bedroom, living room, and, of course, her closet, in an actual Malibu beach house, which will serve as the backdrop to the doll's 50th birthday bash on March 9. And for those of us who still love playing house, Barbie and Adler will be launching a "Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie" collection in the fall of 2009, including designer pottery, pillows, and decorative objects.

Adler has said this was his most fun design project yet. He said "Barbie was a dream client because she doesn't exist as a person, she exists as fantasy. She's always happy and fun and loves everything. She also doesn't have a husband to rein in the fantasy or tone down the glamour. I totally understand. My husband (the wonderfully wacky and brilliant creative director of Barney's Simon Doonan) is pretty trusting of my design style, but I can only imagine what my house would look like if I lived alone."

Steve Martin to co-host the Academy Awards.

There is yet another new girl in town - or will be in November when New York toymaker Jailbreak Toys releases the new Michelle Obama action figure doll. The six-inch figure is the brainchild of Jason Feinberg, Jailbreak Toys' 32-year-old founder. Feinberg, whose company began selling a Barack Obama action figure doll in mid-2008, said that Michelle Obama's "energy" was "muted, subdued, and classy" coming out of last year's campaign while her husband's image was much more like that of a superhero.

The new Michelle Obama doll is available in three different outfits: the purple dress worn when the Obamas shared their famous fist bump during the campaign, the red and black dress she wore on election night, and the black and white floral dress she wore during an appearance on "The View." All three dolls show Michelle Obama in a sheath dress and with bare arms, attributes that have both become personal trademarks during her tenure as First Lady.

Speaking of fun toys and childish things, is Stephen Schwarzman becoming the new Walt Disney. The chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone Group, known for his lavish lifestyle, donated $100 million to the New York City Library in March of 2008, which led to the main building being renamed in his honor. In October 2009, it was announced that the Blackstone private equity empire is buying 10 U.S. theme parks, including SeaWorld in Florida and California, for $2.7 billion from brewer Anheuser-Busch. That's a lot of rides!

Just learned that another empire builder Kimora Lee Simmons will emcee the upcoming Emery Awards Gala, A Special Tribute to Harvey Milk at Cipriani Wall Street on November 10 to benefit The Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk School, the only school for LGBTQ teens. They will honor Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Dr. Joyce Hunter, co-creator of the Harvey Milk School. Rosie O'Donnell, B. D. Wong, Mary Louise Parker, Cheyenne Jackson and Congressman Barney Frank are among the special guests.

Alec Baldwin to co-host the Academy Awards.

Mark March 7 on your calendar and order some take-out for a stay at home night to watch the Academy Awards telecast. Why you may ask? It is guaranteed to be one of the funniest with the two co-hosts announced today. No, the Academy aren't bringing in Neil Patrick Harris - although having seen him in tights swinging on the trapeze at Hayground School this summer that would be just dandy by me. The first time producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman didn't want to follow in the footsteps of the Tonys and the Emmys - instead they're going the "Saturday Night Live" route. This year's hosts for the 82nd Oscar show, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, also happen to be the two most frequent hosts in the history of NBC's late-night comedy show, SNL. The choice of Martin isn't a thunderbolt as he has previously hosted the show twice. The producers decided to revert back to the early days of the Oscars when co-hosts were not unusual - some 50 + years ago.

Bob Hope and Jimmy Stewart did the honors in 1946, almost a decade before the first Oscar telecast. Hope and John Cromwell did it the previous year. And back in 1929, the first Oscar ceremony was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and Academy president William C. deMille.

Get out your love beads and headbands and head on over to the CBS "Early Show" on The Plaza at 59th and Fifth Avenue where the entire cast and all-star band of "HAIR," the Tony-Award Winning Best Musical Revival, will perform live
on CBS's "The Early Show" this Friday, November 6. The cast will perform songs from the hit musical as part of the show's "Time Machine" Series. Friday's show takes viewers back in time to - you guessed it - 1967, the year "HAIR" had its world premiere at the Public Theater. Fans interested in attending should arrive at the CBS "Early Show" Plaza, located at the Southeast corner of 59th Street and 5th Avenue, by 7 a.m. Fans are encouraged to dress in hippie garb, bring signs, and help "Let the Sun Shine In!" And there may even be a few surprises! After the performance you can head across the street and hang out at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park - the setting for many of the scenes in the Milos Forman film version of the musical and have a Hippy day!