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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-size:33.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Announces Opening Date For
<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">New Restaurant Partnership with
<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-size:30.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Stephen Starr<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="PlainText1" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold Italic","serif"">“Hybird”</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold Italic","serif""> to Open its Doors in
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="PlainText1" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold Italic","serif"">New York City’s Famed Chelsea Market on May 18<sup>th</sup>
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold Italic","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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“?uestlove” Thompson</span> is proud to announce the opening date of <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
Hybird, </span>his new restaurant venture with renowned restaurateur <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
Stephen Starr </span>(Morimoto, Buddakan). The gourmet fast food eatery, which gets its name from a play on the word “hybrid,” will feature ?uestlove’s signature fried chicken, “Love’s Drumsticks.” The chicken, challenged to a dual on
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Italic","serif"">Late Night with Jimmy Fallon </span>
late last year by Momofuku’s David Chang, will be the main menu item at <span style="font-family:"Calibri Italic","serif"">
Hybird</span>. The menu is as diverse as the artist himself. Guests can pick up everything from
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Mornay's Truffled Egg Dumplings
</span>to <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Tom Yum Cupcakes </span>to a
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Watermelon-Jalapeño “Love Slush,”
</span>for those hot summer days, served by Hybird staff who will be wearing custom designed shirts by New York based graphic artist,
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Filip Pagowski</span> creator of the Comme Des Garcons PLAY logo.
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">?uestlove began his culinary excursion with <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
“?uest Loves Food,”</span> off-premise catering for exclusive entertainment and food events, featuring Creole and Korean inspired soul food with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and “on-a-stick” decadence. Located in the Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Avenue
in New York City) with a post- modern food truck-like facade, designed by Award-Winning South African architect,
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Lindy Roy</span>, Hybird will open
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Saturday, May 18<sup>th </sup></span>at 10am.<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
</span>Hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 10am-8pm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">About Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Drummer, DJ, producer, culinary entrepreneur, author and member of
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">The Roots</span> <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
- Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson</span>, is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He is also the Musical Director for
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold Italic","serif"">Late Night with Jimmy Fallon</span> where his beloved Roots crew serves as the house band. The
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">4-time GRAMMY </span>award winning ensemble was recently just nominated for
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Best Rap Album </span>for the 2011 release of
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold Italic","serif"">undun</span>. This brings the band’s GRAMMY nomination count to twelve.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Beyond that, this GRAMMY award winning musician's
<span style="color:#0F1A43">in</span>disputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">D'Angelo</span> to <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
Eminem</span> to <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Jay-Z.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><u><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">About Starr Restaurants
</span></u><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Founded in 1995 by Stephen Starr, Philadelphia-based STARR Restaurants is one of the fastest growing multi-concept restaurant companies in the country. STARR Restaurants include
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Buddakan, Morimoto, The Continental, Barclay Prime, Continental Mid-Town, El Vez, Jones, Alma de Cuba, Pod, Parc, Butcher and Singer, Pizzeria Stella, El Rey, Ranstead Room, The Dandelion, Talula's Garden, Frankford
Hall, Il Pittore, Route 6</span>, seasonal food-stand <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
SquareBurger</span> and most recently BBQ joint <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
Fette Sau</span> in Philadelphia; as well as, <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
Morimoto and Buddakan</span> in New York City's thriving Meatpacking District. STARR Restaurants expanded to Atlantic City, NJ, with
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Buddakan</span> and <span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">
The Continental</span> located in the Pier Shops at Caesars in 2006, and to Florida with
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Steak 954</span> at the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale in 2009, and
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Makoto</span> in the Bal Harbour Shops in 2011. Starr’s newest venture which opened in the spring of 2013 is French brasserie,
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Le Diplomate,</span> located in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C. STARR Events is the group's full-service catering and special events division, managing projects including
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Granite Hill</span> at the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Caffè Storico</span> located in the New-York Historical Society,
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Serai</span> at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City, and
<span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Rat's Restaurant</span> at Grounds For Sculpture in New Jersey. For more information, please visit:
<a href="http://www.starr-restaurant.com/"><span style="color:#2B51FE">http://www.starr-restaurant.com</span></a><span style="color:#1F32FE">.
</span>Like us on Facebook at: http://<a href="http://www.facebook.com/StarrRestaurants"><span style="color:#1F32FE;text-decoration:none">www.facebook.com/StarrRestaurants</span></a> and follow us on Twitter @StarrRestaurant, and Instagram @Starr_Restaurant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">For more information please visit Hybird on the web
<b><a href="http://www.hybirdnyc.com/"><span class="Hyperlink1">www.hybirdnyc.com</span></a></b> or on Twitter
<b>@HybirdNYC</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Press Contacts for Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PRESS HERE<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Carleen Donovan/ Katie Leggett <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">212-246-2640<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:carleen@pressherepublicity.com">carleen@pressherepublicity.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:katie@pressherepublicity.com">katie@pressherepublicity.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family:"Calibri Bold","serif"">Press Contact for Starr Restaurants:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">THE DOOR<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">Caroline Bubnis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR">917-685-0343<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:caroline@thedooronline.com"><span class="Hyperlink1"><span lang="FR">caroline@thedooronline.com</span></span></a>
<span lang="FR"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Carleen Donovan</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#C00000">PRESS HERE </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">(New York)</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">138 W. 25<sup>th</sup> St., 9<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York, NY 10001</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">P: (212) 246-2640</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:carleen@pressherepublicity.com"><span style="color:blue">carleen@pressherepublicity.com</span></a></span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#C00000">PRESS HERE </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">(Los Angeles)</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">8105 West Third St.,</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#C00000"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Los
Angeles, CA 90048</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#C00000"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">P: (323) 556-9752 </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> </span></i><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/presshere"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:blue">www.twitter.com/presshere</span></i></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Click to view website:</span></i><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.presshere.com/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="79" height="33" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01CE5152.68528650" alt="Description: Description: Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CD6F46.9F2B47A0"></span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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