June 19, 2015: New Twitter Project Sorts Data Around Events, Miami Swim Week Rebounds Without IMG, Controversy Surrounds International Day of Yoga

1. NEW TWITTER PROJECT SORTS DATA AROUND EVENTS: Events are the driving focus behind Twitter’s new “Project Lightning,” which will sort content based on specific events. BuzzFeed: “On Twitter’s mobile app, there will be a new button in the center of the home row. Press it and you’ll be taken to a screen that will show various events taking place that people are tweeting about. These could be based on prescheduled events like Coachella, the Grammys, or the NBA Finals. But they might also focus on breaking news and ongoing events, like the Nepalese earthquake or Ferguson, Missouri. Essentially, if it’s an event that a lot of people are tweeting about, Twitter could create an experience around it.” http://bzfd.it/1BsaxtJ

2. MIAMI SWIM WEEK REBOUNDS WITHOUT IMG: The fashion industry has been scrambling to save Miami Swim Week following the announcement that IMG was pulling out of the major trade event. There will be swimwear shows taking place July 15-21, but some are predicting a chaotic week. Fashionista: “In the weeks since the announcement, public relations agencies and production companies have scrambled to make Swim Week happen next month sans IMG. The effort has not been entirely cohesive. … There are seven event venues spread over six hotels and one tent. Those venues are scheduled to host about 25 shows so far, though that number should climb over the next two weeks. Last year, the vast majority of shows took place at the Raleigh Hotel, either in one of two tents or in the penthouse, scheduled to prevent overlap.” http://bit.ly/1Srdgbk

3. CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA: Plans for the International Day of Yoga on Sunday—with some 35,000 people expected to participate in yoga demonstrations in New Delhi, India, alone—have called for schoolchildren, celebrities, and government officials to join in. But the event planning has not been as unifying and calming as planners had hoped. Los Angeles Times: “The Foreign Ministry has flown instructors around the world and is sponsoring yoga events in 191 countries through its diplomatic missions, officials said. Thousands are expected in New York's Times Square, where yoga guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will take the crowd through poses that will be broadcast via satellite. Events are also planned in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities. … Yet in a country increasingly polarized along religious lines, some see the promotion of yoga as part of a broader pro-Hindu agenda by [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi's conservative government, which has ties to right-wing Hindu nationalist groups that are often hostile to religious minorities, particularly Muslims.” http://lat.ms/1LnfZhH

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Saltbox Kitchen will open on July 9. The 1,500-square-foot, 15-seat café will house the catering kitchen for sister restaurant Saltbox Farm.

CHICAGO:  To prepare for the Stanley Cup parade yesterday, local businesses opened early and beefed up staff and security. The Chicago Tribune: http://trib.in/1dMbFgL

HOUSTON:  Here’s a look at the Houston firm Professional Sports Partners that won the job of marketing the Final Four, which comes to the city in April 2016. Houston Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1InMk52

LAS VEGAS:  The Pharma Expo will share the Las Vegas Convention Center with the Pack Expo on September 28-30. The two shows are expected to attract 30,000 attendees and will provide access to 2,000 processing and packaging solutions providers.

LOS ANGELES:  Stevie Wonder and Avril Lavigne will perform during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games on July 25. Also featuring appearances by Eva Longoria, Jimmy Kimmel, and Michael Phelps, the ceremony was created by FiveCurrents, the same production company behind the Olympics opening ceremonies in London and Sochi. Associated Press: http://apne.ws/1Gv0x1H

Jill Estorino is the new vice president of global marketing and sales for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  An event celebrating "Transposition," a public art installation in the Miami design district, will take place Saturday.

NEW YORK:  New York Daily News: “The owners of Midtown building that houses iconic events venue Gotham Hall have put it on the market for an undisclosed sum. …  A Gotham Hall spokesperson said the venue won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, since it has a longstanding net lease through 2033.” http://nydn.us/1L5Arpp

The Beach Boys and the Pointer Sisters will perform at the 30th annual Great Sports Legends Dinner, a benefit for the Buoniconti Fund, on October 6 at the Waldorf-Astoria.

Comedian Amy Schumer announced on Twitter that she will open for Madonna during her "Rebel Heart" tour September 16, 17, and 19 at Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center. Time: http://ti.me/1JXtjfo

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Universal Orlando announced that Wet 'n Wild water park will close on December 31, 2016, after 40 years on International Drive. Universal's new water park, Volcano Bay, will open in 2017. The Tampa Tribune: http://bit.ly/1CdX2c2

SAN FRANCISCO:  Multiple events are expected to bring large crowds to the city, including a weekend visit by President Obama, during the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the City Hall Centennial celebration. More than 12,000 people are expected to attend. KTVU: http://bit.ly/1FpCLjQ

TORONTO:  Krinos Taste of the Danforth 2015 will take place August 7-9. Known as Canada’s largest street festival, the celebration of Greek culture drew 1.6 million guests last year.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The 3D Woman Conference is slated for July 9-11 at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort & Convention Center.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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