January 21, 2015: Preston Bailey Asks if Big Flowers Are Over, Davos Adds Charitable Component, NBC Plans Free Live Stream of Super Bowl

1. PRESTON BAILEY ASKS IF BIG FLOWERS ARE OVER: On his blog, event designer Preston Bailey—famous for his gorgeous, over-the-top floral designs—shares criticism of his designs and aesthetic and wonders if the era of big flowers had ended. “If this statement is true, is it because the cost of flowers have become so high that most florists cannot afford to use a certain quality and quantity of flowers while still making a profit? Is it because the new “trend” is to use minimal flowers? Or could it be that, perhaps, I am stuck in the past using an abundance of flowers in a time that no longer call for the aesthetic?” http://bit.ly/1E1Aujz

2. DAVOS ADDS CHARITABLE COMPONENT: Planners of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, perhaps sensitive to the topics of the world’s richest people gathering at a time when others are struggling, has introduced a charitable endeavor. At the conference, which begins today, attendees can wear a FitBit electronic pedometer in an effort called the Davos Challenge: Walk for Education. Huffington Post: “For every participant who signs up and walks 3.7 miles—the same distance half a million South African students must walk every day to access education—UBS and its grant-making foundation will donate a bike to a schoolchild in need.” http://huff.to/1CwVUkb

3. NBC PLANS FREE LIVE STREAM OF SUPER BOWL: NBC will produce a free 11-hour live stream of the Super Bowl that football fans can access from their desktop computers and tablets (Verizon has the smartphone rights). TechCrunch: “According to NBC execs, the plan is to use the Super Bowl event and all the eyeballs it brings to promote the industry-wide effort called “TV Everywhere,” and NBC’s own TV Everywhere offerings. NBC last month had announced its plans to further develop and expand its TV Everywhere-powered streams in 2015, which began with 24/7 live streaming of content from NBC-owned stations. … This year’s stream event is notable, too, because it marks the first time that NBC has gained the rights to live stream the Super Bowl halftime show, which is set to include performances by Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz.”

* LOCAL NEWS *

AUSTIN:  X Games Austin returns to Circuit of the Americas June 4 -7. In addition to sports, the event will feature musical performances, including by headliner Nicki Minaj.

BOSTON:  Concept Kitchen hosts a ramen night at Cambridge’s Pop-Up Dinner Venue tonight. The three-course menu includes tonkatsu ramen and green tea cake.

CHICAGO:  Rural Society restaurant will open at the Loews Chicago Hotel in March. From the Garces Group, the Argentine steak house will offer wood-fired meats and South American wines and cocktails.

LAS VEGAS:  The Las Vegas Hospitality Association will hold its board installation luncheon in the Acacia Ballroom at the Four Seasons on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES:  Event Eleven will once again design and produce the SAG Awards Gala on January 25. It will have a Prohibition-era motif.

After nearly three years at Pivotal PR, Shae Savin will return to his former company, EMC Bowery, as director of corporate branding and events.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The New York restaurant Quality Meats is planning a Miami Beach location to open in February. AvroKO is designing the space, which will seat more than 200 diners on two floors. In addition to the main dining room, the space will have a patio, second-floor private dining rooms, and an eight-person wine nook.

NEW YORK:  Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre will host the Crystal White Gala March 14 at the New York Law School.

The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, slated for March 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, will include the Pride of New York Marketplace/Taste NY Pavilion with products from local growers and producers.

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

ORLANDO:  The Downtown Food & Wine Fest will take place February 21-22 around Lake Eola. The event is produced by CBS Radio Orlando in partnership with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

TORONTO:   Presented by Yahoo and the Institute of Communication Agencies, the Ad Ball will take place at Uniun Nightclub on January 29. The theme of the evening is “graffiti.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Watergate Hotel has hired Jon Chocklett as its vice president of sales and business development. The property reopens this summer.

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 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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