September 18, 2015: How a Merger of Beer Giants Would Affect Sponsorships, Why Tech Shows Need Top-Shelf Musical Entertainment, White House Names New Head Florist

1. HOW A MERGER OF BEER GIANTS WOULD AFFECT SPONSORSHIPS: If Anheuser-Busch InBev’s plan to buy SABMiller happens, the losers could be sports leagues and others who rely on sponsorship dollars from the beer companies. Bloomberg Business: “[A merger] would result in the company controlling about half of the industry’s profits, giving it more money and less competition in sponsorship negotiations. That concentrated pricing power will drive down beer spending, which ranks among the sports market’s most lucrative categories. … Beer is tied with food for the most active category in Major League Baseball sponsorships, according to Chicago-based consultant and research firm IEG. It ranks third in National Basketball Association categories, fifth with the National Hockey League and sixth with the National Football League.” http://bloom.bg/1NGvdDc

2. WHY TECH SHOWS NEED TOP-SHELF MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: Stevie Wonder wowed the attendees at Salesforce’s Dreamforce trade show this week, providing a necessary break in the conference program. From Paul McCartney and Usher to U2 and Gladys Knight, the entertainers provide an incentive to sell tickets as well as a memorable experience for attendees. Fortune: “The upside of all this is hearing sometimes-great live music that makes the vendor sales pitches and associated B.S. a little easier to take.” http://for.tn/1OCoFoe

3. WHITE HOUSE NAMES NEW HEAD FLORIST: First Lady Michelle Obama has selected the Iranian-born Roshan Ghaffarian as the chief White House floral designer, just days before the Chinese state dinner. Washington Post: “This time around, FLOTUS seems equally enamored with  Ghaffarian’s skills as she is with her background: the California-based florist was born in Tehran and launched her fledgling business from her parents garage as a twenty-something. … Ghaffarian’s selection comes after months of speculation and a top-secret auditioning process so hush-hush one might have thought the matter at hand was nuclear codes, not color schemes.” http://wapo.st/1NHEyKJ

* LOCAL NEWS *

AUSTIN:  The Waller Creek Conservancy will host Creek Show 2015 November 12-21. The public art event will feature site-specific installations from Austin-based architects, landscape architects, and visual artists at several locations between 5th and 8th Streets on Waller Creek.

BOSTON:  The Fluff Festival will take place in Somerville’s Union Square—where the sweet condiment was invented—on September 26. The event will feature marshmallow-theme dishes from local restaurants such as Brass Union and the Independent.

CHICAGO:  Entertaining Company has launched a new sister company, the Storied Table. The online shop sells tabletop products and dining textiles.

GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT:  Serendipity magazine's fifth annual Greenwich Wine and Food Festival will take place September 26 at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. More than 150 food and drink vendors will participate.

LAS VEGAS:  Las Vegas Weekly has rounded up a variety of events taking place for Las Vegas Pride 2015 this weekend. http://bit.ly/1OA5zip

The 10th annual Pure Aloha Fall Festival is slated for October 1-4 at Rio All-Suite Hotel Casino.

Associate Luxury Hotels International will give away a one-carat diamond necklace from La Cantera Hill Country Resort to a planner attending this year's Imex America, which is taking place October 13-15 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

LOS ANGELES:  InStyle magazine is launching a new award show program: The inaugural InStyle Awards dinner is slated for October 26 at the Getty Center. Women's Wear Daily: http://bit.ly/1OzAcEK

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  MiFo LGBT Film Festival will hold its Fort Lauderdale edition October 9-11 and October 15-18 with screenings at Classic Gateway Theatre and Cinema Paradiso and opening night at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.

NEW YORK:  Pope Francis's upcoming visit to the city prompted a speedy conclusion to St. Patrick's Cathedral's three-year, $177 million restoration. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1NGkokm

Brother Jimmy’s Union Square is relaunching as Brother Jimmy’s Live, a honky-tonk-like space with live country and southern rock performances. The 7,500-square-foot space has a first-floor stage and plans to add a second stage on the lower level later this year. The venue holds 400.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Famous Toastery, a high-end brunch concept, looks to open four or five locations in Central Florida in the next three to four years. Orlando Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1iSWVja

PHILADELPHIA:  Starlite Productions and local artist Meg Saligman have teamed up to work on a projection project that will incorporate the architectural features of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. The project will involve the projection of video content onto the cathedral's aqua oxidized-copper dome during the World Meeting of Families September 26-27.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The Dorian, a seafood-centric restaurant from the Palm House team, is slated to open Tuesday in the former Circa space at the corner of Chestnut and Fillmore. SFGate: http://bit.ly/1KjNLFl

TORONTO:  Six of Toronto's top chefs discuss the significance of Canada's first Food & Wine festival this weekend. National Post: http://bit.ly/1NGxiij

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Boys and Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year gala will take place September 29 at the National Building Museum.

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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.

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

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