Coming (and Giving) Back

Jake is heading back after a worldwind trip to Australia.

Sydney Opera house, catching a play at the Sydney theater, out for a cruise around the harbor on a $50 million yacht, eating his way through town hitting up places like Bills in Darlinghurst, Sake in The Rocks and lunching with Bono and The Edge at Sean’s Panaroma in Bondi. Scoffing off rumors that he hit the surf at Bondi Beach.

Oprah and her audience who are currently Down Under will have a trip of a lifetime, but Jake's first trip to Oz wasn't too shabby.

"I went to some really wonderful restaurants and sat out in the sun and ran into people who I had no idea were in Sydney and had a wonderful time.

"The only other city I know in the world that's like that - but without the beautiful beaches - is New York City, where I run into people all the time."




Leaving Sydney airport for a long flight. Where he will land, LA? London? New York?

We know that he will be off and running again heading up north, North Pole north into the Arctic to celebrate his 30th birthday to swim with the walruses. Who knows maybe he'll see the Holly Jolly Man himself.

But in the coming year what will Jake be doing? Well it looks like he's going to be the ambassador of Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard program. The program's goal is to teach kids in schools across the country how to grow and cook their own food. This past fall Jake was with Alice helping to plant trees and a garden with kids in New York.

Jake's new job as ambassador is something really new for the program. In the past it has limited its celebrity affiliations only to its Advisory Board. And who's on that board? Try Mikhail Baryshnikov, Frances McDormand, Bette Midler, Jamie Oliver, Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

“We are excited that Jake Gyllenhaal will be helping us fundraise and spread our message,” said Foundation spokesperson David Prior. Adding that there is no word yet anyone else might join Jake as a fellow ambassador.

Jake talked about why he wanted to work with Alice and the organization. “I care deeply about helping children better their health, communities and environment… The Chez Panisse Foundation is not only offering an education that students will benefit from for the rest of their lives, but they’re a leading force in the movement to change the future of this country’s youngest generations.”

Alice Waters, meanwhile, said: “We are so lucky to have someone so charismatic and thoughtful who cares deeply about the philosophy of Edible Education. As an acclaimed actor, Jake has the ability to help us reach people in communities all around the world.”

Jake has shown that he is committed to teaching kids about good nutrition and growing their own food before, in the past couple of year Jake was working on a similar program with Global Green.


Mystery Moment of the Day

The Berkleyside paper said that Jake "visited Berkeley recently", speculating that it was close the deal with Waters. And they pointed out that he didn't go to Chez Panisse, but Café Gratitude. Jake in Berkley recently? And an interview date Nov. 24th, the general manager said that Jake came in daily the whole week he was there. How recently? What was he doing for a week in Berkley? Hmmmm, how did that fly under the twitter universe?



It was thirty years ago today, the world lost a man who imagined a better world.

The Hard Rock International and WhyHunger are make a difference in the life of a hungry child remembering John Lennon.

100% of the proceeds from “Imagine There’s No Hunger” will help hungry children to not only get the food they need to eat today, in the U.S., Haiti, Kenya, Thailand, and India, but to grow nutritious food in a sustainable way so that they can eat for a lifetime.

Happy Hanukkah!