May 1, 2013: How to Improve the Oscars, Houston's Go-To Event Designer, an Unusual Wine Auction

1. HOW TO IMPROVE THE OSCARS: The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences—the group that hosts the Oscars—is meeting Saturday, and the Hollywood Reporter offered tips for how to improve the award show, from removing some categories from the telecast to adding more youthful members and signing on hosts for multiple years. "For an organization that is so obsessed with developing and protecting its brand, to the extent that it has sued a single mother for operating a blog with the word 'Oscar' in its title, it’s surprising that the Academy has not sought to exact a multiyear commitment from potential hosts of the Oscars telecast." http://bit.ly/10UJ6qw

2. GET TO KNOW HOUSTON'S GO-TO EVENT DESIGNER: Event designer Darryl Murchison, whose Houston-based company Darryl & Company has handled such events as the Texas State Society's 2013 Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball, shares how he has succeeded in the industry despite challenges. Houston Chronicle: "A warehouse fire destroyed half of his equipment seven years ago during the holiday season. That didn't prevent him from completing 17 weddings and eight parties that were on the calendar." http://bit.ly/14TWlsB

3. FRENCH TO AUCTION WINES FROM PRESIDENT'S CELLAR: The French government announced Tuesday it will auction 1,200 bottles of wine from the cellars of Élysée Palace in a symbolic nod to the economic austerity movement. New York Times: "The wine cellars of the Élysée are rightly famous for showcasing the best of French wines. And while Mr. Hollande has offered guests a knowledgeably chosen selection of more modest wines, selling some of the older stock is a bit like selling grandmother’s silver." http://nyti.ms/18on7Wt

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  On May 13, the salons and spas on Newbury Street will participate in the Boston Strong Celeste-a-Thon. In support of Celeste Corcoran, a stylist at Emerge Spa & Salon who lost both of her legs in the Boston Marathon bombings, 20 local businesses will offer special prices on haircuts, blowouts, spa services, and more; proceeds will go to the Celeste and Sydney Fund.

Joe's American Bar & Grill will host the "Life Is Good Playmakers Martini Shake-Off" at its waterfront location May 15. A fund-raiser for the Life is Good Playmakers, the event will offer several types of martinis along with appetizers, live music, games, and raffle prizes.

CHICAGO:  K2 Apartments' grand-opening event takes place tonight. Benefitting the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, the event will feature interior designs by Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill, Morgante Wilson, and Design for a Cure.

LAS VEGAS:  Las Vegas Weekly: "Tickets for June’s Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway are sold out, according to a statement released today by organizer Insomniac Events." http://bit.ly/13H2x2L

LOS ANGELES:  The Crystal & Lucy awards fund-raising dinner, in support of Women in Film, is June 12 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

El Corazon de Costa Mesa is a new restaurant on the second level at the rebranded Triangle in Costa Mesa. Outside, the restaurant has a patio with oversize palapas, rattan chairs grouped around fire pits, and tropical foliage. The dining room and patio share a double-sided fireplace.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Honey Shine’s 11th annual Hats Off Luncheon is Tuesday at Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom. This year’s theme is “Peace, Love, Honeyshine,” with colorful, retro chic 60’s décor, welcome reception, silent auction, and fashion show featuring girls enrolled in the nonprofit's programs.

NEW YORK:  The Webby Awards, honoring excellence on the Internet, named Eventbrite the winner in the Events category. The awards will be presented at Cipriani Wall Street May 21.

Skate And Surf Festival has relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, from its original location at the Plaza Green at iPlay America in Freehold. The festival is May 18-19 and returns after an eight-year hiatus.

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

ORLANDO:  The Westin Imagine Orlando has changed its name to the Westin Orlando Universal Boulevard.

Fred Sawyers is the new general manager of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel. Most recently, he served as a complex general manager for the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans.

TORONTO:  Westbury National, the show services and audiovisual systems integration firm, has launched a redesigned Web site, www.westbury.com.

WASHINGTON:  Washington Post: "The color of Dutch royal family was worn proudly and aggressively to a buffet luncheon at Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink’s Kalorama residence Tuesday celebrating the investiture of King Willem-Alexander, reports our colleague John Kelly. Bekink sported a bow tie with an orange pattern. Guests donned orange ties, blouses, toted orange purses. Charles Groenhuijsen, a D.C.-based Dutch journalist, had threaded orange shoelaces into his brown shoes." http://wapo.st/17w7qOj

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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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