BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #197 — Friday, 02.10.12
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. ELTON'S OSCAR MOVE: From Los Angeles bureau chief Alesandra Dubin: After seven years at the Pacific Design Center, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar viewing fund-raiser is moving—but not very far away. The event will take to the newly redesigned West Hollywood Park, just across the street from the design center. The new larger space will allow the event to accommodate 890 for dinner instead of last year's 740. Producer Virginia Fout of V Productions explained that the move required much finesse, since the park—although ahead of construction deadlines—is not complete. The city's goal to keep the event within its boundaries motivated it to suspend construction long enough for the event, including a long load-in and load-out that begins February 17 and wraps February 28. Here's the full story:
http://bit.ly/wSF7Om
In other Oscar news: Bloomberg: "Charitybuzz.com, which runs auctions for nonprofits and philanthropic causes, is offering two tickets to the [Vanity Fair party] after the Academy Awards. The bidding ends February 20, six days before the event, with proceeds going to a Los Angeles charter school. The highest tender so far: $16,000." Last year, Charitybuzz sold tickets to party and the Elton John bash as package to benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council for $100,000.
http://bloom.bg/wnhZmr
New invites: Marc Friedland, the designer of the Academy Award winners' envelope, has designed the first-ever collection of academy-sanctioned invitations for Oscar Sunday viewing parties. The collection is now immediately available for download exclusively on Evite Postmark, Evite's new premium site.
2. TALE OF TWO CONVENTION CENTERS: While New York mayor Michael Bloomberg's plans to revitalize the unsightly and repair shop-filled Willets Point area in Queens with a convention center has been stealing headlines, Governor Andrew Cuomo has begun to roll out plans for another Queens center near Aqueduct racetrack. The question is, does Queens need two convention centers? The New York Times: "Queens officials have also regarded the city’s redevelopment plan as intimately intertwined with a convention center. Helen M. Marshall, the borough president, was reportedly taken aback when she heard of the governor’s Aqueduct proposal. ‘What happened to Willets Point?’ was the way Dan Andrews, her spokesman, described her reaction. ‘Oh my God, there’s going to be two!'”
http://nyti.ms/wRLA0i
3. PEPSICO SPENDING: The company announced Thursday it will invest an additional $500 to $600 million in advertising this year in order to take back market share from Coca-Cola. It will also reduce the number of agency partners and lay off 8,700 employees worldwide. Ad Age:
http://bit.ly/wT1RsU
4. MSG PROFITS DOWN: The shortened N.B.A. season caused nearly a 22 percent profit loss for Madison Square Garden. ESPN:
http://es.pn/ysBGex
5. ICY COCKTAILS: Restaurants around the country are garnishing drinks with something more than just a lemon slice or olives. Spots like Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington D.C. are purchasing ice machines that shape ice into squares and others that make flavored ice to craft cocktails like a mojito topped with a mint infused cylindrical ice cube. The Washington Post: "From the Pegu Club in New York to Bar Agricole in San Francisco—and all across Fly Over Land (Aviary in Chicago counts a staff member who just cuts ice)—craft cocktails have never been hotter."
http://wapo.st/w1KLo2
6. DJ FOR DRINKS: DJ Jus Ske has signed on as brand agent to promote Premier Beverage Group's Oso energy drink brand.
http://mwne.ws/zYzeZk
7. SONG LISTS: WeddingMuseum.com has launched a 40-plus song list to help planners find the right song(s) for clients. The song lists are characterized by decade and genre.
http://bit.ly/Atc7Uz
* THE WEEK IN EVENTS *
Here’s a look at 10 highlights from our event coverage this week, including the flying DJ booth at Rolling Stone's Super Bowl bash, dancers in sound-making suits at the Museum of Contemporary Art ArtEdge gala in Chicago, and chocolate-filled museum from M&M's.
http://bit.ly/wlfZwq
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Catered Affair will serve a five-course "Chapters of Love" mini tasting menu at the Courtyard restaurant at the Boston Public Library on Valentine's Day. Items include Yukon gold potato blinis, strawberry and spinach salads, short ribs, and a trio of sweets.
Somerville's Center for Arts at the Armory will host “TEDxSomerville: Creative Economy, Sustainable Community” March 4.
http://bit.ly/bF6L8t
Boston will host the 2012 NCAA Men's or Women's Division Basketball East Regional Championship March 22 and 24 at TD Garden.
CHICAGO: The Association Forum of Chicagoland will host the first of its Medical Meetings 2012 series at Marriott Suites Chicago O'Hare March 21.
Live Nation is hosting a talent show for service and hospitality industry pros at House of Blues February 20.
Jeffrey Faveur has been named communications director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He starts February 21.
To promote T-Fal's new line, chefs Emeril Lagasse, Danny Boome, and Ingrid Hoffman will attend the Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Place March 10-13.
DALLAS: The renovated Dallas Marriott City Center now has a new restaurant, 400 upgraded guest rooms, and fitness center.
LAS VEGAS: The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced Thursday that the destination attracted 38.9 million visitors in 2011, the second highest visitor total in history.
Great American Country: "Toby Keith and his newly-launched Wild Shot Mezcal will help toast the opening of the 27th annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show held March 12-14 in Las Vegas."
http://bit.ly/x64gB2
Bloomberg: "Caesars Entertainment Corp., the U.S. casino chain with more than $22 billion in debt, jumped 71 percent in its trading debut after completing an initial public offering a fraction of the size of its failed 2010 effort."
http://bloom.bg/zRZXkS
Sports Illustrated will promote its swimsuit issue at a launch party at Pure next week, where Bruno Mars will perform. Fox News:
http://fxn.ws/yyiFcf
The Las Vegas Hospitality Association will hold its first membership mixer of the year at Hyde at the Bellagio February 29.
LOS ANGELES: L.A. Times: "The Los Angeles Times' 14th-annual Travel Show and inaugural industry conference, January 27-29, convened more than 24,300 celebrity speakers, travel professionals, industry leaders, members of the media and consumers at the L.A. Convention Center, smashing the previous attendance record by more than 21 percent."
http://lat.ms/x5dREl
Emily Davis is leaving BWR for a new position with PMK-BNC's brand marketing department.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Flamenco lounge and restaurant Cava opens today in Coral Gables. Guitarists and flamenco dancers will take to the stage every Thursday through Saturday.
More than 200 exhibitors and a record-breaking number of attendees, 8,200, attended the ItExpo East conference January 31-February 3 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Enhanced Online News:
http://bit.ly/zvVQXf
NEW YORK: The School of American Ballet's Winter Ball is March 5 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The black-tie dinner and dance is expected to draw 500 guests. Cajun food will be served and Dixieland music played.
NY Tech Meetup and Nasdaq have partnered to promote an event series focused on women in technology that will be held at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square.
http://bit.ly/wK6MTD
Highlights for the upcoming Scope Art Fair, which is being held at a pavilion across the street from the Armory Show March 8-11, include installations by Robert Montogomery and Kenton Parker, and a duel installation and performance by Lainie Love Dalby.
The Setai Fifth Avenue, a Capella Hotel, has been awarded as "Best Hotel in New York" by U.S. News & World Report.
Early-bird registration has opened for BlogWorld & New Media Expo, which is being held June 5-7 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
http://bit.ly/wJ99Iv
The Code Purple event is February 16 at the USS Intrepid. Funds raised at the event will benefit spreading awareness about malaria.
http://bit.ly/ytJk5i
ORLANDO: Premier Beverage Company is participating in three events during N.B.A. All-Star weekend, February 23-26. Each is being held at the Exchange Building on Church Street. Thursday night will be a private party for Premier's customers with entertainment from Kostya Kimlat, the official magician of the Orlando Magic. Friday night Premier Beverage and J. Wagner Group will host "Jocktails," a fund-raiser for the Irie Foundation with N.B.A. players doubling as bartenders. And Saturday night Premier will offer a public happy hour. At each event, guests will be able to see the "Art of Basketball"—artwork created from pieces of the court from last year's All-Star game.
In other NBA news: The N.B.A. is creating the All-Star "Giving Tree" Sunday morning at Lake Eola Park. The N.B.A. will place 1,000 tickets to the All-Star Jam Session on an oak tree for fans to grab for free. There will also be a face painter at the event and every fan that gets his face painted will receive a free Jam Session ticket. The All-Star Jam Session will take place February 23-26 at the Orange County Convention Center.
OTTAWA: On Wednesday, the Ottawa Convention Centre announced that Paul Keogh has been appointed senior vice president, sales and client services. Keogh has been with the centre since 1999.
TORONTO: Doors Open Toronto will allow visitors free access to around 150 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural, or social significance for a city-wide celebration May 26-27.
WASHINGTON: Sixth Engine, an American bistro in a historic firehouse, opens today in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood.
The Conservative Political Action Conference kicked off yesterday with a full roster of panel discussions and speakers, including former presidential hopefuls Herman Cain, Michelle Bachmann, and Rick Perry. The conference, which attracted a record 11,000 conservative activists last year, runs through Saturday at the Marriott Wardman Park.
http://bit.ly/rjlUYw
The Park Hyatt Washington is hosting the Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine March 24. There will be an educational tea tasting, cooking class with Blue Duck Tavern pastry chef Peter Brett, and a spring lamb dinner with executive chef Sebastien Archambault.
http://bit.ly/dAm4YV
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Jana Schiowitz and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
