The nominations for the 80th Academy Awards were finally announced last week, by Academy President Sid Ganis and Oscar winner Kathy Bates. Of course, we’ll expect to see the traditional glitz and glamour of A-list celebrities decked out in their stunning haute couture - sauntering along the red carpet and posing deliberately for the obsessive paparazzi. Without a doubt, The Kodak Theater at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles, California will be the prime scene on Oscar night, February 24, 2008.

Unfortunately, not all of us can obtain a coveted seat to the awards show, but if you’re a fan…there are plenty of other ways to take part of the cinematic excitement:

Join Oscar Talk with Jan Wahl, the celebrated movie critic and film historian, who will dish the dirt about the upcoming Academy Awards on Saturday evening, February 2nd at Landmark Vineyards. Win prizes for playing movie trivia…and partake in a lively discussion about whether George Clooney or Daniel Day-Lewis should take home the golden statuette!

See for yourself the Oscar Nominated Short Films Program on February 21st which will contain many of the narrative live-action and animated shorts that are in the running for the 2008 Academy Awards. This is one special category that we don’t often get to see much of!

On February 23rd, the night before the Oscars, walk the red carpet to Oscar-winning music including favorites from Lord of the Rings, Titanic and The Sound of Music with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s: “Off To the Oscar’s” performance.

For those who like extravagant galas and like to be treated like a star, attend a gala event on the official Oscar night: February 24th! There’s the “Oscar Night America - Raleigh” event at Theater in the Park in North Carolina or “Oscar Night America - Buffalo” - both officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Hard Rock Cafe in Boston will be hosting The Ellie Fund charity gala for breast cancer with proceeds benefitting the innovative Care for the Caregiver program.

Take note that there are only 26 days left until the live telecast hosted by Jon Stewart! Be sure to stay tuned to see which of the lucky contenders will get to take home Mr. Oscar! Can we say cha-ching?!!?

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Super Bowl XLII is just around the corner in Glendale, Arizona, just west of Phoenix in the new home of the Phoenix Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium. The new digs are a replacement to the Cardinal’s long time home at ASU Stadium in Tempe and the 88 luxury suites and 25 acres of surrounding retail and entertainment make for the ideal destination for this year’s big game.

We all, perhaps, think of the Super Bowl not for the game itself but the commercials, half time show, and guacamole (it has been said that American’s eat more guac on Super Bowl Sunday than the rest of the year combined) but we at Zvents noticed that it isn’t about Sunday as much as as the amazing list of things to do in Phoenix leading up to February 3rd.

Catch Chris Rock, February 2nd, at The Best Damn Super Bowl Party Period as he performs at their after party live at Ultra Lounge at Prive Super House. If you are lucky enough to score tickets, go for the entire event which starts Thursday with Jenny McCarthy, Ludacris and Holly Robinson Peete of the Hollyrod Foundation who is in town for fashion show fund raiser, “Gridiron Glamour.”

If fashion is your thing (wait… this is a football game isn’t it?), players wives come together to host the Off the Field Fashion Show, a benefit for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital on February 1 from 10am - 2pm. The event gives attendees an opportunity to visit the new SouthBridge real estate and retail development in Scottsdale, said to rival Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive.

Rather party with the celebs? Just opened Taste Ultra Lounge is hosting Friday Night Lights on February 1st with Hugh Hefner, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, and Jamie Foxx making an appearance. The “Tao inspired nightclub” has been one of the hottest places to be in Arizona since its opening in October, 2007.

On January 31st, P. Diddy (or is it just Diddy now?) is hosting a block party outside mega club Axis/Radius in Scottsdale. This two-story dance club has been a Scottsdale epicenter for over a decade and continues to throw the best party in town. You might as well bring a sleeping bag (or Red Bull) to stay first in line for Snoop Dogg on Friday night, Kid Rock and Bud Bowl on Saturday, and (ahem) Girls Gone Wild after the Super Bowl.

If you get past the crowd and inside Axis/Radius on Thursday, you’ll find Nick Lachey hosting the Super Skins Kick Off Party while P. Diddy performs under the stars. We encourage you to find a moment of peace from all this hype and sign up with Nick for the Superskins Celebrity Golf Classic. Multi-platinum recording artist Nick Lachey and two-time reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson have partnered with Prime Cuts Productions to form the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic prior to Super Bowl XLII. Proceeds from the event, a special Super Skins Online Auction and Super Skins Party, will benefit multiple charities including “The Nick Lachey Foundation” and ” The Jimmie Johnson Foundation.”

Believe it or not, we’ve just scratched the surface and we’re out of breath. Take advantage of Navteq’s Map Network Super Bowl XLII Event Guide which covers just about everything going on in Phoenix related to the game; otherwise, search Zvents for much more in town or stay tuned and we’ll share other opportunities to party in desert.

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World AIDS Day takes place every year on December 1st. It was originally established by World Health Organization in 1988, and was created to raise awareness around the globe about the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “an estimated 38.6 million people worldwide are living with HIV and more than 25 million people having died of AIDS since 1981. The United States, like other nations around the world is deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. More than one million people in the U.S. are living with HIV and there are approximately 40,000 new cases of HIV every year.”

What can you do to help prevent the spread of HIV? Have you ever thought about getting involved in local organizations or community activities that aim to help support the cause, but didn’t know where to start?

There are several World AIDS Day events that you can attend – no matter where you are. Meet new people who share the same interest and concerns in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Here are a few ways to recognize World AIDS Day:

• For locals who’d like to respond to a global challenge, help assemble “World Vision Caregiver Kits” that will be distributed to people caring for those dying of AIDS in Africa.
• See a World AIDS Day film like: A Ripple In The Water: Healing Through Art as a way to address HIV/AIDS awareness.
• Kiehl’s World AIDS Day Shopping Benefit for YouthAIDS – Kiehl’s retail store will donate 20% of all net sales to contribute to YouthAIDS
• World AIDS Day at Boston University for a day long symposium on AIDS, arts, healing and leadership.

Find an World AIDS Day event and get involved!

Photo Credits: (Red Ribbon Candlelight Vigil - Franciscans International; Caregiver Kit - World Vision)

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Today, the sunny weather was perfect for running the Nike Women’s Marathon ‘07, a Marathon and Half Marathon, in San Francisco, California. The race kicked off at Union Square with participants traversing across the city past major landmarks, such as Coit Tower, The TransAmerica Building, Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, and The Ghiradelli Square. The typical fog was absent so that runners could enjoy clear and scenic views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Pacific Ocean.

This year’s event, which signed up about 20,000 participants, benefited The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For runners, crossing the marathon’s finishing line meant conquering a feat of endurance. Once they had passed the finishing line, they were congratulated and rewarded with a 2007 Finisher Necklace designed by Tiffany & Co. The streets of downtown were later flooded with participants proudly touting their signature pink Nike Finisher tees.

This year’s Nike Women’s Marathon was a major event displaying fun, fitness, and health awareness. If you missed this one, there are plenty of other opportunities hosted by Nike to build both physical strength and show support for your favorite charity/health organizations. Check out the upcoming Nike events offered nation-wide!

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