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Event Coverage BRANDING PROMOS Kia Stages Interactive Promotion With Videos, Tattoos at Vans Warped Tour Ikea Puts Marketing Message—and Furniture—in a Bottle to Promote Tampa Store   FOOD AND WINE EVENTS Orlando Caterers Whet Appetites and Open Wallets For Breast Cancer Fund-Raiser Abundance of Sudsy Options Mark Lowry Park Zoo's WaZoo Beer Festival   FUND-RAISING EVENTS With Spending Down, Nece Foundation Kept the Haul Steady at Annual Benefit Tampa's DeBartolo Gala Recreates Gothic Gardens WEDU's Annual Fund-raiser Pays Homage to Spain   TRADE SHOWS InfoComm Show Brings 29,000 Audiovisual Professionals to Orlando     EVENT REPORT    11.02.09 9:00 AM U.S.F. Announces Fund-Raising Goal at Pep Rally-Themed Party Branded bars at the party Photo: Joseph Gamble The University of South Florida held its official capital campaign kickoff party on October 20 at its new Marshal Student Center to announce publicly its $600 million fund-raising goal. The event came after the school reached the halfway mark, a move typical in academic fund-raising, according to the university's director of donor and campaign events, Karen Ritter. More than $316 million has been raised thus far for scholarships, research endowments, and academic funding. More than 550 top donors—many of whom have given more than $100,000 to the school—along with the campaign committee and prospective donors attended the pep-rally style event. "The theme of the campaign is 'USF: Unstoppable,' so instead of doing a more elegant traditional event, we wanted to be more contemporary and futuristic," Ritter said. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS University of South Florida EVENT REPORT    10.30.09 12:42 PM Microsoft Introduces Windows 7 With Cute Kid, Product Vignettes TV commercial star Kylie introduced Microsoft C.E.O. Steve Ballmer at the Windows 7 launch. Photo: Richard Koek FROM NEW YORK Given Microsoft's enormous customer base—a January 2009 report put the technology giant's market share at 88 percent—when it launches a product, there's always a certain amount of buzz surrounding it. But rather than replicate the elaborate marketing stunt it produced for the debut of the Windows Vista operating system, Microsoft took a simpler approach to the press event introducing Windows 7. Inside Skylight Thursday, October 22, some 340 journalists, software testers, and executives from hardware manufacturing partners gathered for a six-hour launch that combined art gallery-style exhibits with live demonstrations and product vignettes. "We wanted to create an event that represented the product and be mindful of the current state of the economy and the broad consumer mindset. So we set a tone that was simple, approachable, and authentic while demonstrating the excitement we all feel for Windows 7," said Windows group marketing manager Ed Chase, who led the planning of the project. To pull it off, Chase collaborated with Pinnacle Exhibits and a crew of other local and West Coast companies. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Microsoft, Windows, Dell, Samsung EVENT REPORT    10.28.09 12:52 PM Shriver's Women's Conference Adds Second Day of Programming—Plus a Step-and-Repeat—for 25,000 in Attendance Helen Devore Waukazoo on the podium with Maria Shriver at the Minerva Awards Photo: Gold/Wong FROM LOS ANGELES It might be said that 2009 is a year that created a particular need for inspiration and community support—especially in a state like California, where budget shortfalls and the unemployment rate have become notorious. Either in spite of or because of that climate, California's first lady, Maria Shriver, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Women's Conference once again drew masses of women from all over the state to join a packed roster of about 70 high-level speakers and participants at the Long Beach Convention Center. This year, the program ballooned from a single day to two full days—to accommodate the increasing number of would-be attendees. (Each year, full-day passes to the conference sell out in record time. Tickets this year sold out in less than two hours, beating last year's record of three.) The first day's program, a Day of Transformation, served as somewhat more informal programming, with two 1,500-attendee sessions and six 400-person breakout sessions. "We were getting so much feedback from people who wanted to participate and have access," said executive producer Alexandra Gleysteen. "It's a way to get more hands-on information—how to get a new job, start a nonprofit—all in a spiritual context and a serene environment. It's on a different scale, more intimate, than the main program." MORE >> RELATED TOPICS The Women's Conference, Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwarzenegger EVENT REPORT    10.26.09 4:19 PM Volkswagen Party Launches Car and Its iPhone App Counterpart The 2010 GTI Photo:John Minchillo for BizBash FROM NEW YORK More than 100 members of the gaming and automotive press made their way to the mouth of the Holland Tunnel last Wednesday, where Volkswagen launched both a tangible and video game version of its latest GTI model at the Classic Car Club. To cater to the tech savvy crowd, Volkswagen brought in G4TV's Olivia Munn to host, built several gaming stations, and filled the room with suggestions to guests to post comments about the party to Twitter. As of the morning after the party, the 2010 GTI became the first vehicle launch on Apple's app store—with a role in a free version of the popular Firemint Real Racing game—so the mobile application was woven into the fabric of the party almost as much as the car itself. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Volkswagen, Apple, Twitter EVENT REPORT    10.26.09 1:28 PM Warbird Adventures Celebrates Oktoberfest With Inaugural Fly-In One of Warbird Adventures' World War II planes Photo: Neal Sands Warbird Adventures, the company behind the Kissimmee Air Museum, hosted its inaugural Fly-In on October 17, with 200 people in attendance at the Kissimmee airport. The company’s two airplane hangars, one of which houses the museum, hold 12 World War II planes, and Warbird coordinated the daylong event in an effort to give local residents a look at the historic planes and increase awareness about the museum. “It seemed only natural,” said Warbird public relations director KT Budde-Jones. “We have German planes, October is wonderful flying weather, and the event is a great way to promote the restoration of the fighter planes we have here and encourage people to discover the museum.” MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Pilots N Paws, Angel Flight, SunState Aviation, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Strong Parachutes, Valient Air Command EVENT REPORT    10.21.09 8:00 AM Tampa Gay & Lesbian Film Fest Celebrates 20th Year, Sponsorship Dollars Up 50 Percent The main event space at the Ritz Ybor Photo: Nick Cardello Photography The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival wrapped up on Sunday after 10 days of events and movie screenings of more than 60 short films made for, by, or about the gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender community. The festival celebrated its 20th anniversary at a black-tie gala on October 9 at the Ritz Ybor with about 225 guests. Nonprofit organization Friends of the Festival, which produces the annual event, increased its overall sponsorship dollars by nearly 50 percent, despite a 40 percent drop in the number of corporate sponsors. “Macy’s was completely missing this year, and it’s been one of our four larger sponsors for the past decade,” said Chuck Henson, executive director of Friends of the Festival Inc. “The economy really dictates what these [companies] are going to do, so we had to do a lot more fund-raising for $1,000 or $2,000, instead of $10,000 and $15,000, sponsorships.” Henson added that donations from individuals doubled, thereby offsetting the loss of corporate dollars. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Tampa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Friends of the Festival, Macy’s EVENT REPORT    10.14.09 5:04 PM Movie Pictures: A Look at Meatballs, Zombieland, Law Abiding Citizen, and Whip It Premieres Food props on the red carpet of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Photo: Line 8 Photography FROM LOS ANGELES In some parts of the world, fall brings crisp weather and colorful leaves that crunch under foot. In Los Angeles, it brought a hyper-busy event calendar filled with parties that included movie premieres packed with ideas—like an army of zombies, oversize donuts that hung overhead, and decor that begged to be admired but definitely not touched. Here is a selection of photos from the arrivals scenes and bashes for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland, Whip It, and Law Abiding Citizen. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Zombieland, Whip It, Law Abiding Citizen, Sony, Fox Searchlight, Overture Films, Columbia Pictures, Derby Dolls EVENT REPORT    10.14.09 8:00 AM Cointreau-Sponsored Block Party Expands to Tampa A model being carried to the fashion show runway Photo: Amy Pezzicara/Pezz Photo for BizBash Last year Sarasota-based gallery owner Rainer Scheer organized his first Chillounge block party, sponsored by Bacardi, on the street in front of his gallery as a way to draw more people inside and provide local businesses networking opportunites in a relaxed atmosphere. Tickets for the inaugural event sold for $15 and attracted nearly 2,000 buyers. This year, spirit brand Cointreau signed on as the title sponsor and Scheer expanded Chillounge Night to Fort Meyers, and then to Tampa on Saturday night, where the event attracted nearly 3,200 people. “We spend four to five months connecting with people [to get attendees],"Scheer said. "I have a street team that goes to high-end events [in the area], and I give away a lot of my [lounge] furniture to sponsor charity events when I'm not using it, and that helps raise awareness of Chillounge." MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Bacardi, Cointreau, TabacosSantandres Cigars, Opera Tampa, Michelob Ultra, Anheauser-Busch TED KRUCKEL    10.06.09 4:59 PM As Gourmet Bites the Dust, October Is Food Month in New York Jacques Pépin at New York magazine's Culinary Experience Photo: Larry Busacca FROM NEW YORK It’s getting hot in here and the pressure is mounting. I’m in the kitchen with Jacques Pépin and about 20 students who are racing against the clock to complete their stuffed ballotines of chicken. Pépin is perspiring and working furiously as he goes from one student to the next, showing each the main steps that he demonstrated twice onscreen already. It is 4:15 on a Saturday afternoon at the French Culinary Institute, and I’m sitting in on a New York magazine-sponsored deluxe weekend of instructional cooking, the New York Culinary Experience, with some of the world’s leading chefs. In addition to Monsieur Pépin, fellow F.C.I. deans André Soltner (formerly of Lutèce) and Alain Sailhac (formerly of the 21 Club) are sauntering around the room, assisted by six sous chefs, by my count. In two days, the announcement that Gourmet is closing will shock this community, but today we are all blissfully enjoying Food Month. MORE >> RELATED TOPICS New York Magazine, Gourmet magazine, Bon Appétit, French Culinary Institute EVENT REPORT    10.06.09 12:54 PM Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Launches Inaugural Food and Wine Festival With Runway Show Models posing with designer Carlos Alberto Photo: Brandon Dowling for BizBash The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando combined food and fashion at its Roast and Runway event—part of the chamber’s inaugural Latin Food and Wine Festival—for more than 300 guests on Friday at the Red Coconut Club in Universal’s CityWalk. The chamber created the three-day festival, which took place October 1 through 3, to showcase the local Latin community’s culinary culture. “This event offers the opportunity for many [Orlando residents] to understand the true taste of the community,” said chamber director of events and operations Edward DeAguiler, who organized the festival. “It also gives people an understanding of how Latin cuisine is now a main staple in the U.S. culinary world and helps many businesses in our community reach new potential customers and economically develop their businesses.” MORE >> RELATED TOPICS Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, Orlando Fashion Week, Miss Universe 2009 MORE NEWS Search for Suppliers Activities/Experiences Catering/Food Services Decor/Design/Flowers Entertainment Event Planning & Marketing/Meeting Planning/PR Event Production/Audiovisual Services Gifts/Premiums/Awards Industry Resources Invitations/Name Tags Photography/Videography Planning Tools/Software Rentals/Props Security/Fire Services/Insurance Signage/Banners/Printing Special Effects Staffing Trade Show Services Transportation/Parking Services Search for Venues By Type All Types Activity Venues Ballrooms (All Venues) Banquet Halls Bars/Clubs/Lounges Boats/Yachts Conference Centers, Convention Centers & Auditoriums Entertainment Venues/Performance Spaces Golf Courses/Clubs Hotels Independent Event Spaces Lofts/Photo Studios/Raw Spaces Mansions/Houses Museums/Cultural Spaces Outdoor Spaces Private Clubs Quick Trips Resorts Restaurants Retail Venues Spas/Relaxation Places Stadiums/Arenas Terraces/Roofs/Gardens (All Venues) By Neighborhood/Location All Neighborhoods Greater Orlando Area Tampa/ St. Pete /Clearwater Area Sarasota Area Brevard County (Space Coast) Show Only New Venues MOST POPULAR STORIES 1. U.S.F. Announces Fund-Raising Goal at Pep Rally-Themed Party 2. Microsoft Introduces Windows 7 With Cute Kid, Product Vignettes 3. Warbird Adventures: Kissimmee's New Airplane Hangar for Events 4. Poll Results: 2010 Event Budgets Look Bigger 5. 50 Budget-Friendly Ideas for Holiday Parties: Food, Gifts, Decor, and More 6. Gossip Girls in Chanel at Four Seasons and David Rockwell's High-Tech Taste on Paper Plates 7. What Are You Looking for? We Want to Help

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