June 25, 2013: Bonnaroo's Sign-Language Interpreter Goes Viral, Miami Heat's Crystal-Studded Championship Cake, Inside the National Concrete Canoe Competition

1. BONNAROO'S SIGN-LANGUAGE INTERPRETER STEALS THE SHOW: Video of sign-language interpreter Holly Maniatty signing the Wu-Tang Clan's performance at Bonnaroo went viral last week after she impressed everyone with her interpretation, speed, and style. Maniatty works for Everyone’s Invited, a production company that provides interpreters for festivals and events. Maniatty has also worked at the New Orleans Jazz Fest and has shared the stage with acts like Marilyn Manson, Bruce Springsteen (who sang and signed “Dancing in the Dark” with her), U2, and Phish. She works an average of 60 events annually, paying her own way and usually getting a flat-rate fee. Slate: http://slate.me/12gj26V

2. MIAMI HEAT'S OVER-THE-TOP CAKE: After winning a second consecutive N.B.A. championship, the Miami Heat celebrated at club Bamboo with an over-the-top six-tiered tower cake by Divine Delicacies. The red velvet, cream cheese, vanilla rum cake was created weeks in advance and included a basketball covered in 36,000 Swarovski crystals. Huffington Post: "We started bedazzling the basketball 2-3 weeks ago," said Laura Candeau of Divine Delicacies. "Yes, we believed they would win and we had faith in our team." http://huff.to/130xvpu

3. CONCRETE COMPETITION DRAWS SPONSORS, FANS: The National Concrete Canoe Competition—this is a thing—gave several hundred college engineering majors a chance to see if their 20-foot-long structures could float. New York Times: "The annual competition has been run by the American Society of Civil Engineers for more than two decades, and is sponsored by companies and trade groups like the American Concrete Institute. At a time when the nation’s approach to science and engineering education has come in for criticism, the contest is a supplement to conventional teaching, giving students a sense of what a civil engineer’s life is like after graduation." http://nyti.ms/17akTeR


INDUSTRY NEWS

Event app developer DoubleDutch is releasing new lead scanning technology that allows trade show exhibitors to scan badges and connect with attendees. Scanning can be done online with a cellular or Wi-Fi signal; when scanning offline, the scans are then uploaded as soon as the app detects a connection.


COAST TO COAST

Magnolia Bakery has introduced a Dexter-inspired cupcake in time for the show's final-season premiere. The red velvet cup cake is spattered with caramel "blood" and sugar "glass" shards and is available on Sho.com and at the company's New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago bakeries through June 30.


COAST TO COAST

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced "Brits to Watch: The Screenings," a series of showcase events in New York and Los Angeles, in partnership with British Council, to introduce British film talent to the U.S. film industry.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Bronwyn, a new European restaurant in Somerville, has opened its biergarten. The wooden patio offers the restaurant more seating as well as a full menu and large selection of beers. Eater: http://bit.ly/135smh7 

CHICAGO:  Michael Roman, founder of Catersource, has passed away at age 67. http://bit.ly/11ZA6uF

One Off Hospitality will open Nico, an Italian seafood restaurant, in the Thompson Chicago this fall. Nico will service the hotel's banquet halls and provide room service.

LAS VEGAS:  The four-day Las Vegas Film Festival is slated for July 18-21 at the LVH Las Vegas Hotel.

Ahead of its opening, slated for fall 2013, the SLS Vegas has launched a daily blog. http://slshotels.com/lasvegas/blog/

LOS ANGELES:  EventWorks has announced personnel updates: account executive Kristen Rensch is new in the sales department, Michael Alvarado moved from design production manager to account executive, and Brynne Price is now a full-time event coordinator.

Omega Security Services in Northridge has launched a new Web site. Press release: http://on.wsj.com/12lja0N

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Donald Trump announced plans to move the Miss USA pageant from Las Vegas to his Doral Golf Resort and Spa for the next three years. Miami Herald: http://hrld.us/12EDCzI

NEW YORK:  In celebration of Summer Solstice, Jeff Stark, the underground impresario known for producing unauthorized site-specific theatrical performances, hosted a party—complete with a marching band performance—for 150 people in an abandoned subway station in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood.

The rooftop at the Refinery Hotel on 38th Street near Sixth Avenue has opened. Three distinct areas include a wooded indoor lounge, a bar area with an optional glass roof, and a porch-swing-adorned patio.

Soho Experiential will hold a fund-raiser July 31 at the Mercedes Club to raise money for a colleague, Lauren Murphy, who was struck by a car and is suffering severe injuries. Organizers are looking for donations for a silent auction, raffle, and gift bags to go toward the goal of raising $100,000 for her recovery.

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

ORLANDO:  Cask & Larder in Winter Park is adding lunch service July 11.

For the 14th consecutive year, AAA has awarded Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with its Five-Diamond Award. The restaurant is the only one in Central Florida to hold that designation. Victoria and Albert's offers a seven-course menu and a wine list with more than 700 selections. The restaurant has a private room for 10 people.

TORONTO:  Canada Day Weekend is June 28-July 1 and will celebrate Canada Day as well as the new Canada Square. The weekend will include music, dancing, food, and fireworks.

WASHINGTON:  Washington Post: "Peggy Olson’s on the corporate speaking circuit—who knew? Indeed, one of the star attractions at a two-day PR/marketing conference at Maryland’s National Harbor this week was Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss." http://wapo.st/19lTE5a

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job:http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Haley Holton, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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

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