January 15, 2016: New App Aims to Be "Snapchat for Events," British Designers Shake Up Fashion Week With Consumer Events, Oscar Nominations Criticized for Lack of Diversity

1. NEW APP AIMS TO BE "SNAPCHAT FOR EVENTS": The new app Upshot allows people at the same event to share their photos, but in a Snapchat-like feature, the album self-destructs after one week. TechCrunch: “The key differences with WhatsApp, SnapChat, Facebook Moments is that with Upshot you don’t take photos and then share them with your friends, but instead have something more akin to a shared camera roll. Once you turn Autoshare on, you forget about the app and start taking photos. All the photos taken from your normal camera, or saved from Snapchat, are automatically uploaded in the background. You don’t have to change your existing habits to get value from the app. Each photo stream disappears after 7 days.” http://tcrn.ch/1l9JkV7

2. BRITISH DESIGNERS SHAKE UP FASHION WEEK WITH CONSUMER EVENTS: The British Fashion Council will add runway shows for consumers during London Fashion Weekend, the event that follows London Fashion Week. Women’s Wear Daily: “The move comes at a time when the fashion show system is being rethought by numerous designers and brands, especially in New York. … The London event, to be held at the Saatchi Gallery near Sloane Square, will feature Emilia Wickstead, Holly Fulton, Mary Katrantzou and Temperley London. The BFC plans to showcase one designer per day, with the runway show repeated about two to four times throughout the day. … The biannual, four-day consumer event, held at the Saatchi Gallery, will host runway shows, designer talks, shopping galleries and trends presentations.” http://bit.ly/1lcv9yr

3. OSCAR NOMINATIONS CRITICIZED FOR LACK OF DIVERSITY: The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite was revived Thursday after the nominations for this year’s Academy Awards revealed an all-white lineup in the major acting categories and little diversity elsewhere among the nominees. Although the Academy has tried to diversify its membership, critically acclaimed performances by diverse casts and crew were bypassed, a move that could keep some viewers from tuning into the award show broadcast. The New York Times: “The Academy, stung by fierce criticism of its failure to nominate any black actors and directors last year, also seemed to ignore a plea from its own president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, for increased diversity. In November, at the Academy’s noncompetitive Governors Awards, Ms. Isaacs introduced a plan to increase diversity and implored the A-list attendees to pay attention to ‘this critically important initiative.’ Academy officials, who declined to comment on the lack of diversity, had tried to squarely face their racial issues by inviting Chris Rock to return as host for this year’s ceremony, which will be broadcast by ABC on Feb. 28. When he hosted the telecast in 2005, he repeatedly tweaked the film establishment for its homogeneity.” http://nyti.ms/1J55tzu


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Event management company SmithBucklin has acquired SDI, an incentive travel, strategic meeting, and special event company based in Chicago. SDI will retain its name and operate from SmithBucklin’s Chicago office as a wholly owned subsidiary. Press release: http://bit.ly/1RT4ELB

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Plate, a 2,300-square-foot restaurant, has opened at Fruit Center Marketplace in Milton. The venue opens at 6:30 a.m. to serve breakfast sandwiches; it also serves lunch and has a mezze bar.

CHICAGO:  Chicago’s reputation as a tourist and convention destination is suffering due to gun violence and political unrest. The Chicago Tribune: trib.in/1OkaC5A

The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will host its next Wiseguy Speakers Series presentation, “Liberace and the Mob,” on February 9.

LOS ANGELES:  The 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards take place Sunday at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica and will air live on A&E, Lifetime, and Lifetime Movie Network.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  A.S.P.C.A. and Chopard are hosting Shop, Sit & Pat for a Cause, a shopping event where guests are invited to bring their pets. The event, held January 22 at Chopard at Bal Harbour, will serve cocktails and petit fours and offer complimentary pet portraits. Chopard will donate 10 percent of proceeds to the charity.

NASHVILLE:  Mayor Megan Barry has announced that Nashville's hospitality industry has hit a milestone of 60 consecutive months of year-over-year record number of hotel rooms sold and hotel taxes collected.

NEW YORK:  The 2016 National Retail Federation Convention and Expo will take place Sunday-Wednesday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Meadowlands Regional Chamber’s annual Lunch for Love event is February 12 at Pink Restaurant at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment. The event will benefit 12 local nonprofits.

The Muse, a Kimpton Hotel, in the theater district has announced its completed renovation. Additions include tech-friendly meeting rooms and chaise-style seating in the lobby.

The third annual Vulture Festival will take place May 21-22 at Milk Studios. Outfront Media is a new sponsor for the 2016 edition of the pop-culture festival from New York magazine.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  The Color Run Tropicolor World Tour will stop by the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Saturday. The 5K event has an island getaway theme and a "Finish Festival" that features a rainbow beach with color throws and photo ops.

SAN FRANCISCO:  San Francisco Restaurant Week will take place January 20-31, with prix fixe deals at more than 100 restaurants in 14 neighborhoods.

TORONTO:  The 20th annual Canada Blooms, a flower and garden festival, will take place March 11-20 at the Enercare Centre. The festival, which will be co-located with the National Home Show, will feature more than 25 gardens inspired by a fantasy "It's a Party" theme.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Radiator, a classic cocktail bar, is slated to open adjacent to the Mason & Rook Hotel this spring. GrizForm Design Architects is designing the space, which will have a 57-seat bar area, a 23-seat lounge, and a 50-seat seasonal patio with a retractable overhang, large fire pit, and shuffleboard court.

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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.

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