BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #329 — Thursday, 08.16.12
++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++
Compiled today by Beth Kormanik in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
TODAY'S CALENDAR: Sunset Strip Music Festival kicks off (through Saturday) in Los Angeles
* INCOMING *
1. SOCIAL SCORE: In a push to boost its perks and become more appealing to brands, social-influence analyzer Klout announced a big update Tuesday. Ad Week: "The redefined data crunching will give insights-hungry advertisers and agencies a better idea of who influencers are … the new Klout scores influence based on 400 signals—up from 100—and measures 12 billion pieces of information per day since it now includes real-world data like Wikipedia and LinkedIn titles in addition to previous sources such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Foursquare." http://bit.ly/Pnamot
2. SMARTPHONE PURCHASING SAFETY: Looking to further the initiative of implementing mobile-payment services, a group of 14 merchants including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and 7-Eleven have teamed up to compete against Google Wallet and other such providers. But are digital wallet transactions safe? L.A. Times: "A recent security conference in Las Vegas demonstrated that the technology may not be ready for prime time. Tech pros at the event showed the ease with which hackers could steal photos, surf the Web and even make phone calls from your device thanks to the mobile-payment system." http://lat.ms/RZps6h
3. HIT THE ROAD: The "Rock the Vote" tour bus will kick off its 2012 road trip August 28. With a focus on voter registration, education, and engagement, the bus tour will make its way through several cities, including Tampa for the Republican National Convention, Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention. Several sponsor activations will have a tech theme, such as "beaming stations" from Twonky where visitors can wirelessly and immediately “beam” content, as well as a video-confessional booth where celebrities and attendees will record one-minute videos sharing their thoughts on the upcoming election.
4. PIN THIS: Wednesday Pinterest released its mobile app for Android and iPad, as well as an update for its iPhone app. New York Times: http://nyti.ms/SoX4X6
5. BUT DO YOU STILL TIP? The future of bartending may include these five robotic bartenders. ABCey Events blog: http://bit.ly/NEbJiG
++ 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
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Venom, the private event space at Poe's Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, is available for fantasy football parties this fall. Thematic menu offerings include five styles of buffalo wings, nachos, and deli sandwiches. Audiovisual equipment is available upon request.
Zagat published a list of Boston's 10 best restaurants for business lunches. They included Aragosta, Capital Grille, and Oak Long Bar & Kitchen.
Hops N' Scotch, a new restaurant in Coolidge Corner, accepts reservations for groups with more than six guests. Focusing on craft beers and whiskey, the spot also serves scotch eggs, pimento grilled cheese sandwiches, and will host "bring your own blanket" nights this fall, inviting guests to bring blankets to keep them warm in a dining room with the windows open.
CHICAGO: Dance for Life, a benefit for H.I.V./ AIDS awareness, is Saturday at the Auditorium Theater. The event, billed as the Midwest's largest performance-based AIDS benefit, includes entertainment from eight local companies and a buffet dinner and reception at the Hilton Chicago.
As part of the Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival presented by MasterCard, the new Magnificent Taste culinary event will take place on August 28. On Pioneer Court, the event will offer cocktails and snacks from the likes of Top Chef winner Paul Qui.
The Chicago Tribune: "SMG, which manages operations at McCormick Place, has been selected to manage the historic Grand Ballroom and meeting space at the end of Navy Pier beginning Sept. 1." http://trib.in/PmcDAx
LM Bistro is now open in River North, in the space formerly occupied by Elate. The French restaurant has options for private dining.
LOS ANGELES: Gary Menes of Le Comptoir in Los Angeles will serve as lead chef of the 31st annual Taste of the Town, Santa Barbara. Proceeds from the event benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI: The Back to School Bash fund-raiser is scheduled for tonight at Funderdome Indoor Play & Café in Ft. Lauderdale. The event benefits the Heart Gallery of Broward County.
NEW YORK: White Plains Linen announced the opening of a 100,000-square-foot "green" facility—a $6 million investment that should reduce the company's energy usage by 25% immediately.
D Pet Hotel—a 10,000-square-foot dog-only hotel—is slated to open in Chelsea later this summer, with a gym, designer beds, and 42-inch TVs with cable. New York Post: http://nyp.st/PeBBCu
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Mojo Cajun Bar & Grill on Church Street is changing its focus from Cajun to sports bar. Orlando Sentinel: http://thesent.nl/NmqMLr
TORONTO: Toronto Life magazine will host a launch party for its style issue at the Shangri-La hotel September 6. Sponsors include Disaronno, Fiat, Nexxus, and Cayman Islands.
WASHINGTON: Walter Isaacson will discuss his biography, Steve Jobs, September 21 as part of the Author Series at The Hay-Adams hotel. Hosts are the Hay-Adams president Kay Enokido and Washington Post chairman Donald Graham.
The 2012 U.S.O. Gala is scheduled for November 2 at the Washington Hilton. For the first time, the U.S.O. will recognize members of the National Guard in addition to the five branches of the military. Jordin Sparks will provide entertainment for the estimated 1,100 guests.
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 Rose Chevalier, Beth Kormanik, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
Advertise here: [email protected]
