May 16, 2014: New York Dedicates 9/11 Museum, Hedge Funder Turns Conference Into TV Show, Marketing Stunt Aims to Put Product on Moon

1. NEW YORK DEDICATES 9/11 MUSEUM: The new National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated Thursday with help from President Obama to a Broadway singer whose husband died at the World Trade Center. The New York Times: “About 700 guests attended the somber ceremony held in the museum’s Foundation Hall, 70 feet beneath ground level at bedrock. As some audience members wiped tears from their faces, or held on to family members, elected officials, survivors and rescue workers rose one by one to talk about the victims and what was left behind.” nyti.ms/1gMm6Ms

2. HEDGE FUNDER TURNS CONFERENCE INTO TV SHOW: SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci plans to revive the finance show Wall Street Week and mold it after his annual hedge fund conference. New York Post: “The annual hedge fund confab, SALT, which he launched in 2009 and planted in glitzy, tawdry Las Vegas, has been a smash hit. This year’s event featured former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.” http://bit.ly/1nRp9e8

3. MARKETING STUNT AIMS TO PUT PRODUCT ON MOON: Japanese beverage maker Otsuka plans to place a titanium can of its Pocarai Sweat sports drink on the moon. The Atlantic: “The company is taking advantage of the fact that, if all goes according to plan, the first private moon-landing mission will launch in October 2015. Otsuka is planning to put some Pocari Sweat in the Falcon 9 rocket meant to make the trip—and then to have the firm Astrobotic Technology … deposit the canister on the moon.” http://bit.ly/1nPc2Ko


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Destination management companies are reporting that business improved in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same time last year, but the response time between receiving an R.F.P. and the event date has shortened, according to the Association of Destination Management Executives International.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander will perform with his newly formed the Robin Zander Band May 23 at the Verve—Crowne Plaza Natick.

Precinct Kitchen & Bar is now open at the Lowes Boston Hotel. The venue serves modern, New-England-style cuisine, including beer-battered fish and chips; cocktails include the blueberry-flavored “Remember the Maine.”

The Verb Hotel in Boston, which is set to open in July, has appointed Anna M. Gaffney as general manager.

CHICAGO:  Taste of River North is July 18-20. The neighborhood showcase will offer live music, restaurant tastings, the Walmart Healthy Cooking Stage, and a kids' zone.

LAS VEGAS:  For ReCon 2014, May 18-20, the International Council of Shopping Centers and Coca-Cola will partner to bring the ICSC Coca-Cola Happiness Lounge to the show floor. It will offer a lineup of speakers that will present on a variety of digital and social technologies in the retail space, plus Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages.

LOS ANGELES:  Sadie Kitchen & Lounge celebrated its two-year anniversary with an event for 700 in conjunction with Project Ethos on May 13.

Global Green USA’s Millennium Awards are June 7 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Turnberry Isle Miami resort has appointed Jon Gersonde as managing director.

NEW YORK:  Northside Festival is July 12-19 in Brooklyn, and organizers have announced 150 acts added to the lineup including Talib Kweli, Animal Collective, and Albert Hammond Jr.

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

PHOENIX:  Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has started renovations at Amara Resort & Spa in Sedona that include a design refresh of the resort’s 100 guest rooms, common areas, and restaurant.

SAN FRANCISCO:  N.F.L. Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Jerry Rice and other former 49ers players will compete in a flag football game against a team of N.F.L. stars captained by Hall of Famer Dan Marino on July 12 at the soon-to-be-demolished Candlestick Park.

TORONTO:  Liberty Entertainment Group will celebrate Italian Heritage Month in June with a lineup of cultural events at Casa Loma.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Washington Post continues its Behind the Headlines series Wednesday with a discussion on effects of war on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans held at the newspaper's headquarters.

N.F.L. wide receiver Pierre Garçon will host the second annual All White Charity Event June 5 benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington at the Millennium Building.

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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, and Anna Sekula in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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