1. COVERING ALL BASES: In its new ad campaign for Head & Shoulders and Old Spice, Procter & Gamble is looking to own baseball strikeouts. In addition to wrapping New York's number 7 subway train leading to this year's All-Star Game site Citi Field, the effort includes getting fans to use the hashtag #Whiff every time a pitcher strikes out an opponent. Ad Age: "P&G will give $1 for each strikeout to Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and fuel social media by giving the M.L.B. club whose fans rack up the most #Whiff tweets monthly an additional $10,000 for local chapters." http://bit.ly/16p1aaq
2. DRINKING GAMES: With warmer weather comes the festivals and apparently a fight between Chicago beer fests. The Chicago Beer Festival is claiming the Soldier Field Festival—the inaugural American Beer Classic—tattled to the Illinois state board, preventing it from hosting the unlimited tastings as advertised to ticket buyers. Huffington Post: http://huff.to/16575PS
3. SOCIAL GRACES: As smartphones and social media grow in importance, a new wave of bloggers, consultants, and YouTube videos are looking to teach the digital generation how to properly conduct themselves in offline as well as online situations. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/Y2wfyh
With this in mind, how should planners adapt events to handle attendees more interested in what's on their screens than what's happening in front of them? Tell us: tips@bizbash.com
4. FIGHTING FOR FACE-TO-FACE: The U.S. Travel Association is continuing its efforts to convince Washington of the value of government meetings. In an email, association president and C.E.O. Roger Dow detailed some victories, including the defeat of a recent Senate amendment to limit government meetings to no more than 25 people. Additionally, the association's next Travel Effect research report will look at the value and productivity of federal travel and government conferences.
5. GETTING THE BALL ROLLING: With the Washington National Opera Ball moving from June to April, organizers are hoping to boost the event's fund-raising take and attendance. WWD: "... Ball organizers have yet to match the $2.6 million raised by [Placido] Domingo’s last year when the ball, hosted by China in 2011, attracted 800 guests. Last year’s event, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, brought in $1.1 million and 500 guests. This year, with the gala coming at the peak of the fund-raising season—and in the midst of both a continued weak economy and sequester-mandated cutbacks in federal spending—it’s anyone’s guess how many embassies will host pre-ball dinners." http://wwd.us/16eimh7
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: New Generation Energy and Trade will host the Mint Party on April 20. DJ Deja will spin, and there will be a specialty vodka-grapefruit cocktail dubbed the "Environ-Mint."
Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference will complete its multimillion-dollar renovation in May. The updated venue will have a renovated lobby, ballroom, and fitness center; the guest rooms have also been refreshed, and there's a new concept for the restaurant and lounge.
CHICAGO: Untitled will host American WhiskeyFest on April 25. The event, an unofficial kickoff for WhiskeyFest, will let guests sample some 50 whiskeys and meet distillers from all over the country.
Advocate Christ Medical Center will host its Salute Gala at the Field Museum on April 27. "Oh, What a Night" is the theme of this year's event.
DALLAS: Event company Freeman has acquired U.K.-based event services firm SO Group. Press release: http://yhoo.it/125A7lT
LAS VEGAS: John Legend will headline the 12th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational April 5 at the Aria Resort and Casino. The event will be hosted by Wayne Brady and the Blue Man group will perform.
Las Vegas Hotel & Casino's Burger Bistro opened March 28. The menu offers six different burger options including turkey breast and lump and black fin crab, as well as toppings like foie gras terrine with sweet apples.
LOS ANGELES: The Kaleidoscope Ball is April 7 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The event will benefit the U.C.L.A. Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute at Mattel Children's Hospital U.C.L.A. LL Cool J will be presented with the Kaleidoscope Award and Blue Sky Riders featuring Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman, and Garry Burr will perform. A silent auction will include dollhouses created by notable designers and architects.
The Hollywood Film Awards will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 21.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Westin Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale opened Amatsu Sushi & Sake Friday. The restaurant seats 32 and features rolls made by Japanese cuisine veteran Kon W. Lee, hot and cold sakes, and Atlantic Ocean views. Amatsu is Japanese for "heavenly."
NEW YORK: According to the New York Post, on April 17 the Human Rights Campaign and Calvin Klein will host an event to support marriage equality. Held at the fashion brand's store on Madison Avenue, the affair will see guests including Neil Patrick Harris, Stefano Tonchi, Alan Cumming, Linda Evangelista, André Balazs, and Uma Thurman. http://bit.ly/Z0NDj9
The Village Voice will host its third annual 4Knots Music Festival on June 29. The free event will be held at South Street Seaport and the after-party will take place at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Project Group's latest restaurant, the Greenwich Project, is slated to open April 4. The Greenwich Village eatery will be available for buyouts and seat 40 upstairs and 34 downstairs. The food menu will offer meat, seafood, and vegetarian options and the cocktail menu includes classic and New York-inspired cocktails, as well as the "bartender's choice" option where guests can choose from a list of cocktail characteristics like "savory," 'light," and "boozy."
ORLANDO: L. Gale Lemeran and one of the co-founders of Stonewood Grill & Tavern will open 10 Pie Five Pizza Company restaurants in Florida. The first restaurant is slated to open late 2013, and the stores will be spread over the Orlando, Melbourne, Daytona Beach, and Gainesville areas. http://bit.ly/1080Iuq
PARK CITY, UTAH: The second annual Park City Celebrity Smile Ski Challenge took place Saturday at Canyons Resort. Celebrity skiers included Kate Walsh, Zachary Levi, and NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke. Funds raised will benefit Operation Smile, a medical charity dedicated to helping children that suffer from cleft lip and cleft palate.
TORONTO: Madison8 will host its first Events and Wedding Boutique Trunk Show on April 2 at the Oliver & Bonacini Planning Studio. The evening will include cocktails, canapes, and desserts, as well as mingling with local wedding and event planners.
WASHINGTON: In honor of the "Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, 1909–1929: When Art Danced with Music" exhibit at the National Gallery of Art, chef Michel Richard will create a special menu for the Gallery's Garden Café, which will be called the Garden Café Ballets Russes. The menu will be available May 7 and include Russian and French bistro classics from the Ballets Russes period.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Jenna Berris, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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