December 22, 2014: Live Nation Buys Stake in C3 Presents, Is Event Spending on the Rise?, the Return of Lavish Holiday Parties

1. LIVE NATION BUYS STAKE IN C3 PRESENTS: California live events company, Live Nation, completed a deal that gives it a controlling stake in C3 Presents, the Austin-based independent producer founded in 2007 by Charles Attal, Charlie Jones, and Charlie Walker that is behind big music festivals including Lollapalooza, Wanderlust, and Austin City Limits. Billboard: "Neither party revealed financial terms behind the deal, but sources told Billboard in recent months that LN was paying in the region of $125 million for a 51% stake in C3 Presents. ... In a joint statement, Attal, Jones and Walker added, 'We are excited to join Live Nation and become a part of their global family, while continuing to grow our festivals within a culture of entrepreneurship that will empower our team to keep improving these festivals and the fan experience.'" http://bit.ly/1x2s1am

2. IS EVENT SPENDING ON THE RISE?: If this year's events seemed bigger and grander—creating a landscape that felt altogether busier—than previous years, perhaps it's because the industry is seeing luxury brands spend more, raising comparisons with the 1980s. Even Billy Farrell, of eponymous photo agency, noted that the end of this year saw clients throw parties of a larger scale and hiring more vendors and photographers. The New York Times: "‘It’s more over-the-top,’ writer Bob Colacello said of the recent surge of entertainments, five or more a night and in almost all five boroughs. ‘It’s uptown, downtown, Brooklyn,” he added, and even in the Bronx, if you count last week’s gala at the New York Botanical Garden. ‘It reminds me a bit of the ’80s, with big gowns, big jewelry, big money spent in restaurants,’ he said. Now, as then, the Champagne rivers are flowing, and they are vintage French and not some California sparkling. The caviar mounded again in iced silver buckets is also imported. And, as Mr. Colacello said, ‘Now there are white truffles shaved over everything.’" http://nyti.ms/1sPKova

3. LAVISH HOLIDAY PARTIES RETURN: "Over the top" is how some vendors are describing this year's corporate holiday parties, at least in relation to the events that took place during the economic downturn. According to the Boston Globe, one survey shows nearly 90 percent of companies are hosting holiday parties this year and the festivities include elaborate decor schemes, lavish catering, and plenty of activities and entertainment. "In the years following the recession, the mindset was cautious: We can spend more money for a party, but it can’t show. This year, as profits mount and employers look for new ways to reward their workers, all bets are off—though many are still reluctant to talk about anything that could be perceived as extravagance and declined to discuss their festivities. But even companies that are blowing the lid off this year have retained lessons from the economic downturn. Organizers are seeing more company-wide parties, versus separate events for different departments, perhaps spurred by a greater 'we’re in this together' spirit as companies grew leaner and barriers were broken down during the recession." http://bit.ly/1Jg9duy

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  Son of a Butcher Tavern will open in Logan Square early next year. Serving dinner and brunch, the venue will offer rare cuts of meat, classic cocktails, and whiskeys. A backyard beer garden and a sidewalk patio will open later in 2015.

LAS VEGAS:  On January 1, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas will launch its newest theme room, “The Hangover Experience,” complete with hotel room and wedding chapel.

LOS ANGELES:  The Screen Actors Guild announced the creative team for the 2015 SAG Awards will include Keith Greco, who will design the entrance and showroom decor; Andrea Wyn Schall, who will coordinate the awards' event design and logistics for the 16th year; the team at Wolfgang Puck catering, who will serve seasonal dishes such as grilled salmon with truffle tomato vinaigrette, arugula, and shaven fennel; and Christopher Matsumoto of C.J. Matsumoto & Sons, who will provide classic Hollywood-inspired floral arrangements. http://bit.ly/1v71TXM

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  YVE Hotel Miami, a 243-room property in downtown Miami, has opened. The hotel has 1,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. It took over the former B2 Miami Hotel.

NEW YORK:  Governor Andrew Cuomo will be publicly sworn in at the World Trade Center. NY1: http://bit.ly/1Cu5mWg

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

ORLANDO:  STK will open a 14,000-square-foot restaurant at the new Disney Springs development in 2015. The restaurant will seat approximately 400 people and have rooftop and private dining options.

SAN FRANCISCO:  398 Restaurant and Bar is now open in Union Square. The venue serves items such as lobster bisque, salmon tartar, and Burgundy snails; it also has wines and specialty cocktails.

TORONTO:  Toronto Star: "Canadian taxpayers will pay more than $9 million—roughly $1,000 for each international participant—to help competitors and their coaches travel to Toronto’s Pan Am and Parapan Am Games next year. The travel grants are benefits in addition to the free food, accommodation and ground transportation provided to all participants by Toronto’s host organizing committee. The practice of giving travel grants for international competitions has been growing, and former Ontario premier David Peterson, now chair of the TO2015 organizing committee, said it is a bidding ‘tradition’ for cities that hope to host multi-sport events." http://on.thestar.com/1E2aQfx

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Chef Mike Isabella of Graffiato removed a menu from his restaurant's website after accusations it was racist and offensive appeared on Twitter. The menu, which was planned for a Hip-Hop-theme dinner in February, included items such as "blood money sausage" and "thug rice." Grub Street: http://grb.st/1wa5gNH

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, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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