John Green News

DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's fastest growing full service brand, today announced the opening of its newest location in Montgomery, Alabama. The 131-room DoubleTree by Hilton Montgomery Downtown, formerly a Clarion, has undergone a 16-month, $13 million renovation to transform the property into an upscale, full-service hotel owned and operated by Ascent Hospitality

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, will be celebrating 'World Book Night' on Tuesday, April 23. All Annie audience members at the Tuesday performance will receive a paperback book, courtesy of World Book Night, for them to pass on to a reluctant reader or a reader in need.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, is proud to sponsor World Book Night for a second year in a row on Tuesday, April 23. World Book Night is an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books, person by person, thanks to the generosity of publishers who print special World Book Night editions of carefully selected books and provide them to volunteer "givers" who hand them out to light readers and non-readers in their communities.

Hilton Worldwide continues its expansion in Spain with the arrival of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center La Mola, a hotel taking its name from one of the highest peaks in the nearby Catalan Pre Coastal mountain range. Having recently opened Spain's first DoubleTree by Hilton in Emporda and first Hilton Garden Inn in Sevilla, Hilton Worldwide now has eight properties trading across Spain.

Hilton Worldwide today announced the official opening of the first DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in South Africa - the 183-room DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town - Upper Eastside. Owned and operated by Upper Eastside Hotel (Pty) Ltd under a franchise license agreement, the newly renovated, upscale full-service property is located in Cape Town's upcoming district of Woodstock, a dynamic area which is home to an abundance of fashionable art galleries, boutiques, music bars and trendy restaurants. The hotel becomes the fifth Hilton Worldwide property in South Africa and the third DoubleTree by Hilton in Africa.

Aimbridge Hospitality and DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's fastest growing full service brand, today announced the opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Greenway Plaza in Houston, Texas, which will soon undergo a $15 million dollar renovation. Formerly a Renaissance, the hotel is conveniently located in the trendy Greenway Plaza area just minutes from The Galleria, Midtown, the Museum District, Minute Maid Park and Reliant Stadium. Garrison Investment Group owns the hotel, which will be managed by Aimbridge Hospitality.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, with Penguin Young Readers Group, has launched a monthly book club in celebration of Roald Dahl. Tonight at 7:30 EDT fans can watch Lucy Dahl during a Google+ Hangout video chat as she explores topics and themes from the book "Matilda" and shares her own stories of growing up as the daughter of best-selling author Roald Dahl. To watch the Google+ Hangout visit: www.MatildaTheMusical.com/bookclub.

DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's fastest-growing full service brand, today announced the opening of the Hotel MdR Marina del Rey - a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. The rebrand marks the start of a dramatic $7 million transformation, which will be conducted between November 2013 and February 2014 to complete contemporary design upgrades across the property. Formerly the Courtyard Los Angeles Marina del Rey, the hotel was purchased by Channel West Group and Arris Investments LLC. Evolution Hospitality of San Clemente, CA is the operator and senior principals of Evolution have also made an equity investment in the hotel.

Travelers to the Turkish coastal resort of Kusadasi will now be able to enjoy the warm welcome of DoubleTree by Hilton, with the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Kusadasiin a prime location next to the resort's marina, overlooking Kusadasi Bay and the Aegean Sea. This latest opening provides travelers with yet another holiday destination to choose from within the rapidly expanding portfolio of Hilton Worldwide-branded hotels and resorts in Turkey. More than 21 new properties will open across the country in the next few years, joining the portfolio of 24 already trading including the upscale Hilton resorts in Bodrum and Dalaman, as well as hotels in much visited leisure destinations such as Istanbul, Bursa, Cappadocia and Konya.

South African Oscar Pistorius captured the world's attention last year when he made history as the first double leg amputee to participate in the Olympics. Known as the Blade Runner, Pistorius is now making news around the world once again, only this time for allegedly murdering his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Steenkamp was fatally shot by Pistorius in the bathroom of the star athlete's home this past Valentine's Day. But was the killing a cold-blooded murder or an accident?

Spotlight Theatre presents The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, directed by Carol Petitmaire, running February 23 through March 30, 2013.

"Robin's Journey" takes viewers on a candid, inspiring and intimate journey inside Robin Roberts' challenging fight against myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder. Roberts returned to "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, February 22, five months to the day since she underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat the MDS. The hour includes never-before-seen private moments, beginning with the pre-transplant treatment, through her time in the hospital, to the "all clear" moment to return to "GMA," as well as many challenging times and milestones along the way. "Robin's Journey" airs on a special edition of "20/20," FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

ABC has your VIP ticket to experience a first in the history of the Academy Awards: Katie Couric takes movie fans of all ages inside the vast Oscar archives to witness the greatest moments in the show's history and to see rare behind-the-scenes footage and home movies of some of Hollywood's most iconic stars. 

How far would you go to find - or keep - the person of your dreams? "Crazy, Stupid Love" airs on "20/20," FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

From the little boy who survived a seven-day stand-off with a madman in an Alabama bunker this past week to incredibly lucky people who walked away from unbelievable crashes and freak accidents, "20/20" reports on survivors, rescues, near-death experiences and spontaneous acts of heroism. "Saved" airs on "20/20" TONIGHT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

ABC has your VIP ticket to experience a first in the history of the Academy Awards: Katie Couric takes movie fans of all ages inside the vast Oscar archives to witness the greatest moments in the show's history and to see rare behind-the-scenes footage and home movies of some of Hollywood's most iconic stars. 

Born into the spotlight for better or for worse, '20/20' reports on the kids of celebrities. 'Stars, Scars and Showbiz Kids' airs on '20/20' FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

Born into the spotlight for better or for worse, "20/20" reports on the kids of celebrities. "Stars, Scars and Showbiz Kids" airs on "20/20" FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

A call for nominations for the 2013 Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award opens on Feb. 1 and extends through March 22, 2013. The award is a program of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation and recognizes the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation. It is funded by the generosity of The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.

In partnership with The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department presents Double Edge Theatre, performing a work co-commissioned by the Theatre Department and The Dance Center tonight, January 18th and 19th at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The company also will participate in The Dance Center's 14th season of FamilyDance Matinees Saturday, January 19, including a free movement workshop with the artists followed by a family-friendly performance.