Night Lodging 1919

This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera,theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights. These include a rare, fully staged production of Iris, a forerunner of Madama Butterfly by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin;the world premiere of Fantasque, a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's authentic and sensationally popularSpiegeltent,hosted by the inimitable Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. Taking place between July 1 and August 14 in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College's stunning Hudson River campus, SummerScape's 2016 offerings provide new opportunities to discover that, as Time Out New York puts it, "the experience of entering the Fisher Center and encountering something totally new is unforgettable and enriching." Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 15; click here for more information.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing, a 348-room hotel located in downtown Philadelphia.

With vacation days expiring for many workers at the end of the year, Hilton Hotels & Resorts announces 'International Use It or Lose It Week,' a holiday campaign from November 18 - 22, 2013, that encourages working professionals everywhere to use their hard-earned vacation days and enjoy leisure time with friends and family this holiday season. The campaign is part of a larger effort by Hilton Worldwide's flagship brand to combat 'Vacationitis,' defined as an 'epidemic creating high levels of stress and claiming countless hours of unused vacation time as it spreads among employees who have not taken enough time off this year.' Patients can seek emergency care, including the chance to win one of 15 weekend getaways, at www.vacationcarecenter.hilton.com.

The NYC400 is the first-ever list of New York City's ultimate movers and shakers since the City's founding?from politics, the arts, business, sports, science, and entertainment.