February 10, 2015: Local and Sustainable Movement Targets Floral Industry, Grammy Ratings Slip, Inside an Event Designer’s Over-the-Top Birthday Bash

1. LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE MOVEMENT TARGETS FLORAL INDUSTRY: In time for Valentine’s Day, the “farmer florists” movement—much like the slow food movement—is getting attention for providing local blooms. Los Angeles Times: "I think a lot of it is just this rejection of the more structural bouquets—the flowers that are the Dirty Dozen, the same-old, same-old," says Debra Prinzing, who operates Slow Flowers, an online directory of florists, wedding and event planners, and growers who use stateside flowers. "The romance of a meadow or a cottage-garden flower or an heirloom flower is really penetrating the consciousness of floral designers." http://lat.ms/1793b0v

2. GRAMMY RATINGS SLIP: Sunday’s Grammy awards dropped 11 percent compared to last year, with 25.3 million viewers for this year’s broadcast on CBS. Competition from TV shows like Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead on AMC siphoned away viewers. Advertising Age: “Despite the ratings slippage, the Grammys still made short work of the year's other big awards ceremony, outpacing NBC's broadcast of "The 72nd Golden Globe Awards" (19.3 million viewers, and a 5.8 rating among adults 18-49). The Grammys also laid claim to being the most social non-sports event of the 2014-15 broadcast season, generating 13.4 million tweets, per Nielsen Social.” http://bit.ly/1Afmn87

3. INSIDE AN EVENT DESIGNER’S OVER-THE-TOP BIRTHDAY BASH: New York-based event designer Bronson van Wyck, known for his A-list clientele, threw himself a birthday party on Saturday with a “Bal des Sauvages” theme. New York Post: “Guests … mingled under sparkling chandeliers and malevolent mounted animal heads, as they were served drinks by shirtless bartenders and danced to a performance by Flo Rida.” http://pge.sx/16Ojlvt

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Boston Herald peeks inside Boston Ballet Ball’s gala, which took place Saturday. http://bit.ly/1uvoqno

CHICAGO:  The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau will stage a promotion at a bus station at the corner of State and Adams today. The promotion will include a 50-inch monitor that allows for live interaction with beachgoers and CVB reps in Florida.

LAS VEGAS:  On February 26, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and Elvis Presley’s Graceland will hold a press conference to reveal details of a new permanent property attraction and live entertainment presentations that celebrate the life and legacy of the artist.

LOS ANGELES:  The Family Equity Council’s Los Angeles award dinner is February 28 at the Beverly Hilton.

On Wednesday, the Annenberg Foundation will host “A Day at AltaSea,” a celebration of the new innovation hub in the Port of Los Angeles that brings together science, business, and education to generate sustainability solutions. The day will include remarks by Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Councilman Joe Buscaino.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Little Lighthouse Foundation will host its Hearts & Stars gala March 14 at the Terra Veritatis estate. The theme is Casablanca.

NEW YORK:  Eli Zabar is opening Eli’s Essentials, a daytime café on the Upper East Side that will transition into a wine bar and restaurant at night. The café opens this week while the wine bar and restaurant will open in the spring.

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

PHILADELPHIA:  The Free Library on the Parkway has named Brûlée Catering as exclusive caterers for events.

TORONTO:  Reel Artists Film Festival is March 26-28 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Busboys & Poets, a restaurant and community gathering place, will open its new Takoma location on Friday. The ticketed grand-opening event will include live jazz, food and beverage, and an appearance by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Takoma Foundation.

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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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