BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #310 — Friday, 07.20.12
++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++
Compiled today by Beth Kormanik in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. G.S.A., PART TWO: An internal investigation is reporting on another General Services Administration event, this one a $268,732 one-day performance-awards ceremony in November 2010. Reuters: "A partial accounting of expenses from GSA inspector general Brian Miller revealed that the agency paid a public relations firm $140,464 to manage the November 2010 gathering. That sum included $20,578 for 4,000 drumsticks given to attendees as part of a "drum band exercise." Miller also notified lawmakers of $28,364 spent on 4,000 picture frames that displayed the time and temperature and were distributed at the conference. Another $7,697 was spent on a "commissioner's reception" for 200 attendees who were serenaded by a violinist and a guitarist as they consumed beverages, hors d'oeuvres and pastries." http://reut.rs/NVPNv8
2. THE REAL TOP CHEFS: British Chef Gordon Ramsay tops Forbes's list of highest-paid chefs, earning $38 million last year. Rachael Ray is second at $25 million, followed by Wolfgang Puck at $20 million. Forbes: "One common thread among the ten chefs on our list is that it is no longer enough for a chef to just own restaurants. Restaurant margins, especially at the fanciest locations, are notoriously thin. In order to make real money, chefs need TV shows, merchandise and even magazines." http://onforb.es/NzUDB3
3. PRINCESS KATE'S OLYMPICS FOUL: Associated Press: "London Olympic organizers will look into whether Pippa Middleton and her family are breaking laws that prevent unofficial games merchandise from being sold. Products featuring Olympic-style rings are being sold on the website of mail-order company Party Pieces, which is owned by the family of Prince William's wife, the former Kate Middleton." http://huff.to/P7HvS2
4. BEST OLYMPIC ADS: Brands such as McDonald's, Visa, and Omega made Adweek's list of the top Olympic spots. "Olympic ads tend to play on the same obvious tropes: Anticipation, adversity, cheering crowds, teamwork, nationalism—not to mention, you know, sports. We've rounded up (with some help from Unruly Media) a handful of this year's quintessentially Olympic ads—sometimes soaring, sometimes saccharine, sometimes both." http://bit.ly/Ow7fKp
Creative tension over the opening ceremony of the Olympics is causing a rift between director Danny Boyle and Olympic Broadcasting Services, which provides the video for international broadcasters, according to reports. http://bit.ly/Lucm9M
5. THE WHO HONORS TICKETS: Billboard: "Fans still holding tickets for a canceled 1979 show in Rhode Island by British rock band The Who can finally use them. The Who's 1979 concert in Providence was canceled by then-Mayor Buddy Cianci, who cited safety concerns after a stampede before a show in Cincinnati, Ohio, killed 11 people. The band hasn't been to Providence since." http://bit.ly/Oxh8r6
6. DRINK TO THIS: A Chinese wine expo has an eye-catching centerpiece: a three-ton bottle of wine filled with a new variety created for the event. The enormous bottle is part of entertainment including "paper canons, giant billowy pink clouds and dancers with wine glasses." Huffington Post: http://huff.to/Ov76qB
7. PATRĂ“N POLITICS: John Paul DeJoria, owner of PatrĂłn Spirits Company, will bring his PatrĂłn Tequila Express rail car to Tampa and Charlotte for the Republican and Democratic national conventions. The restored rail car will serve as the company's mobile entertaining venue to host cocktails with dignitaries and VIPs. The company will also be involved with events in both cities with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: Event Leadership Institute ++
Check out our editor's collection of top-rated video chapters from our class library, and sharpen your event insight. Our Suggested Summer Learning compilation includes content from David Merrell, Jes Gordon, Mindy Weiss, Preston Bailey, Mary Wittenberg, Colja Dams and others. 41 minutes | 10 clips | lots of ideas
* BEST IDEAS OF THE WEEK *
Here’s a look at 10 steal-worthy ideas we spotted this week, including the decor at ESPY Awards pre- and after-parties, Jose Cuervo's Bucking Lime Wedge in Chicago, Project Runway's 20-foot-long interactive digital runway in New York, a 900-foot-long zip line at the Calgary Stampede, and a celebration of Bastille Day in Washington. bizba.sh/PgXI7y
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
"NACE, formerly the National Association of Catering Executives, announced today that it has become the National Association for Catering and Events, citing an emerging industry in which catering and event professionals must be trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of event planning, design and execution." Press release: http://on.mktw.net/Q9d4Rn
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Brisa Tapas and Wine, an open-air Spanish restaurant, is now open in the Cohasset Harbor Inn.
CHICAGO: Taste of the Nation Chicago is August 8 at the Navy Pier ballroom, with tastings from 60 local chefs and 30 mixologists.
LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas Sun has a report on the Las Vegas Film Festival, which celebrates its fifth anniversary with a slate of films running through Sunday at LVH. http://bit.ly/NVXOjv
Wendoh Media Companies and Insomniac will bring the inaugural 7K GlowRun and a multi-block party AfterGlow to downtown Las Vegas October 7. More than 10,000 runners dressed in illuminated costumes are expected to attend.
LOS ANGELES: Eyewear brand Carrera will host a launch party for its newest sunglass collection at the Chateau Marmont Saturday, with sponsor Covergirl.
Michael Doneff has launched his own marketing firm, M Collective. The company focuses on the hospitality, design, and food and beverage worlds, and offers brand development, marketing, and communications services.
The Grammy Museum, in cooperation with the family of Whitney Houston, will debut "Whitney! Celebrating the Musical Legacy of Whitney Houston" August 15. It will be the first major museum exhibition to explore Houston's career.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI: Go Big Productions announced that the first UR1 Music Festival will take place at Bayfront Park December 8-9 to coincide with Art Basel Miami. It will have five stages spread over the 32-acre park.
NEW YORK: The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund will host its 15th annual Super Saturday event July 28 at Nova's Ark Project in Water Mill, with sponsors QVC, Covergirl, and InStyle. Celebrity guests include Kelly Ripa, Paula Patton, Donna Karan, and Ariel Foxman.
"Sylvia Woods, “the Queen of Soul Food’’ whose Harlem restaurant became famous around the world for comfort food like fried chicken and barbecue ribs, died yesterday at 86." New York Post: http://nyp.st/OBDeZE
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: AFR Event Furnishings kicks off its national networking tour Thursday at the Majestic Events Center in Orlando. The event, showcasing new AFR products, will travel to 10 more cities including Dallas, Washington, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles before wrapping up November 19 in New York.
Three members from Visit Orlando'’s executive team have been appointed by Visit Florida's Board of Directors to serve on its various sales and marketing committees. Peter Cranis is chairman of the Advertising & Internet Committee, Zita Steglich-Ross sits on the Sales Committee, and Denise Spiegel replaces Susan Lomax on the PR Committee. All three will serve through June 30.
TORONTO: The T&T Waterfront Night Market kicks off today at the T&T supermarket and continues through Sunday, with an Asian-inspired theme.
The TECHmunch food blogger conference takes place Sunday at the Harbourfront Centre.
WASHINGTON: The CTIA Wireless Foundation Awards Dinner is Monday evening at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium. Events by Andre Wells is producing the event, which will have an island theme.
Johnny’s Half Shell owners John Fulchino and Ann Cashion unveiled a $135,000 renovation to the restaurant's 95-seat patio. The 1,000-square-foot space features 10 marble columns, each 30 feet high and draped with weather-resistant ivory curtains. The renovation also added a 14-foot-long copper bar draped with 25-foot midnight blue velvet curtains, a stone fire pit, and new furnishings.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 


With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Alexandra Brandt, Rose Chevalier, Julia Elstrodt, Beth Kormanik, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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Call Sheet #310: Forbes Names Top-Paid Chefs, Another G.S.A. Conference in Spotlight, Olympic Organizers Probe Middleton Party Business
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