Press Releases Received March, 2009

GuideGecko Launches Online Shopping & Publishing Platform for Travel, Lifestyle and Entertainment Guides 

Authors can publish their guides immediately on www.GuideGecko.com 

Singapore, 31 March 2009 - GuideGecko, a new online platform for travel, lifestyle and entertainment guides, officially launches its website today at www.GuideGecko.com. Part online shop and part publishing platform, the portal offers all major guidebooks as well as guides by independent authors.  

GuideGecko attracts customers with its large variety of guides, tailor-made search functionalities to help them find exactly the guides they need, and very competitive prices at 17 to 30% below the suggested retail price for commercially available guides. Thus, it provides a perfect marketing platform for independent authors to reach out and sell their guides to customers worldwide. Authors and publishers can offer their guides for download and as printed books. Guides can be updated at any time and customers will always get the latest version. 

GuideGecko Seeks Authors and Publishers 

GuideGecko invites all writers, aspiring authors and publishers to upload and sell their guides on any travel, lifestyle and entertainment topic. GuideGecko accepts guides of any length, from a few pages to hundreds. Guides are published instantly and listed on GuideGecko's front page, where they receive maximum visibility. Customers can then order the guides immediately. 

Publishing is free and authors/publishers set the retail price themselves. They earn 50 to 75% on every sale, whilst retaining full control over their content and copyrights. Users only need to write and upload their guides, since everything else from secure payment collection to printing and shipping is handled by GuideGecko.  

"Every food lover has his favorite restaurants; every student knows the best places to party. We provide the perfect platform to turn this insider knowledge into money - in a fun and easy way. You can publish on GuideGecko no matter if you are a publishing greenhorn or an expert writer," says Daniel Quadt, Founder and Managing Director of GuideGecko. 

More information on publishing can be found on www.GuideGecko.com/publish. 

GuideGecko currently offers more than 1600 guides on 167 countries and 227 cities and regions around the world. Guides are classified into 68 categories from diving to dining, shopping to sightseeing, trekking to traveling with children; all quickly accessible using tailor-made and easy to use search functionalities.

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About GuideGecko 

GuideGecko is your platform for Travel, Lifestyle & Entertainment Guides. Find and buy exactly the guides you need, or become an author and sell your own. 

GuideGecko offers the best guides - from independent authors to acclaimed publishers, from diving to dining, from download to print. Read reviews, get detailed information and compare guides. Or publish your own guides and turn your insider knowledge into money. It's free, fun & easy - and you earn on every guide sold. 

All guides on one site, all at very low prices. That's GuideGecko!  

GuideGecko is developed and operated by Net Gecko Pte Ltd, a Singapore registered company, and managed by a team of eager travelers with a strong background in the web development and publishing industries. GuideGecko is located in Singapore, a leading travel, lifestyle and entertainment hub in Southeast Asia and a gateway between Asia and the world - hence, a perfect location for GuideGecko. For more information, please visit www.GuideGecko.com. For photos, logos and screenshots, please visit www.GuideGecko.com/media.

Raffaldini Vineyards Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

Thomas Salley
Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery
336.835.9463
thomas@raffaldini.com 

Ronda, NC, March 5, 2009-Five years ago, a quaint, Italian-style vineyard in Wilkes County first opened its tasting room to a large group of thirsty guests. Today, Raffaldini Vineyards has established itself as one of North Carolina's premier wine and event destinations.  

"Our goal is that when uncorked, a bottle of Raffaldini wine will evoke the Italian ideals of a slower pace of life and an emphasis on friends, family, great food and, of course, reflection," said Barbara Raffaldini, managing partner and family member. 

Although emphasizing "La Dolce Vita" with visitors, Raffaldini has worked tirelessly to enhance NC's wine industry by experimenting with Italian grape varietals never grown before in the US, adding a state-of-the-art winery and two-story tasting room and event venue and leading the petition to form the Swan Creek AVA. 

To commemorate this event, Raffaldini Vineyards has planned a celebration on Sat., Mar. 28. Joseph Robert Mills, author of A Guide to NC Wineries, will read from his book of poetry Angels, Thieves and Winemakers at the top of every hour from noon to 5pm. Classical pianist, Keary Reid, will perform from 1pm-4pm. The Raffaldini family will guide free tours of the vineyards at 1:15pm and 3:15pm. 

"During this important milestone, we express sincere appreciation to our guests, staff members and suppliers for their continuing support as partners in our growth," Raffaldini said. 

Nestled in the Yadkin Valley Region of North Carolina, family-owned Raffaldini Vineyards brings Old World charm to the Old North State. Known as "Chianti in the Carolinas" Raffaldini currently produces five single varietal wines and four blends: Vermentino, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Sangiovese Riserva and Montepulciano. Raffaldini hosts public and private events throughout the year. Please visit our web site, www.raffaldini.com, call 336.835.9463 or email info@raffaldini.com for more information.

SCULPTURES ON THE SQUARE RETURN TO TROY, OHIO

Play Video of Past Sculptures Exhibition 

Troy, Ohio – March 9, 2009 – Since 2003, Sculptures on the Square has attracted thousands to the beautiful and historic city square of downtown Troy, Ohio, from early May through mid-September. Recognized as one of Ohio Magazine’s Best Hometowns, Troy has a proud cultural heritage.  Past exhibits have featured the sculptures of J. Seward Johnson and fiberglass WACO planes painted by local artists, and attracted crowds from throughout Ohio and the Midwest.  Permanent installations in the city include works of various artists to include Carole Kerber, Mike Major, Aka Pereyma, and Michael Bashaw.   

In 2009, Sculptures on the Square will host works from many different sculptures representing a wide assortment of artistic approaches. This five-month exhibit will begin May 4 and extend through September 20.  As a result of extensive promotion, hundreds of thousands of people have attended exhibits of the previous "Sculptures on the Square". 

The upcoming exhibit will provide an excellent showcase for sculptures and will include two components, the outdoor sculptures located around the downtown, and the small sculpture exhibit hosted by the Troy Hayner Cultural Center.  Sculptures will include wildlife, modern, historical, whimsical, and classic sculptures of bronze, metal, wood and concrete. 

Sculptures on the Square is a public, non-profit and private partnership project. All proposed works are juried to ensure artistic merit and subject matter is appropriate for general and family viewing.  Visitors will be able to browse all the sculptures within easy walking distance and enjoy dining destinations and shopping around the downtown area. 

The Troy Hayner Cultural Center, a stately mansion on West Main Street and one of Troy’s most-pictured landmarks, will hold an exhibition of smaller relief or full three dimensional sculptures in conjunction with the outdoor exhibit. These pieces will be on display at the Hayner Center between June 21 and August 15, 2009.  Hayner provides year around exhibitions featuring a wide variety of arts. 

For details related to Sculptures on the Square including a full list of Sculptures and Artists, visit www.troymainstreet.org or call 937.339.5455.  

Sculptures on the Square is made possible by a grant from the Troy Foundation, with partnership from the City of Troy. 

Contact: Chuck Fox, Executive Director
Troy Mainstreet
937.339.5455
Troymainstreet@bizwoh.rr.com