November 6, 2013: Remembering Chef Charlie Trotter, Exclusive Culinary Retreat Comes to the U.S., Voters Reject Plan to Save Astrodome

1. REMEMBERING CHEF CHARLIE TROTTER: Chef Charlie Trotter, credited with recreating the food scene in Chicago when he opened his eponymous restaurant in 1987, died Tuesday. Read the Chicago Tribune’s coverage here: http://trib.in/1b73g0s and for a look at the 25th anniversary party that also marked the closing of his restaurant last year, read BizBash’s coverage here: http://bit.ly/19CiY5h

2. EXCLUSIVE CULINARY RETREAT COMES TO THE U.S.: Most retreat guests would not appreciate being told to come up with their own meals. But at Cook It Raw, an exclusive gathering of chefs that first came to the United States this October, that is the challenge. New York Times: “Cook It Raw has nothing to do with raw food. Its guiding idea is to strip cooking to its raw elements: foraging, hunting, fishing, farming and low-tech skills like butchery and cooking over fire. A taste of the wild—hunting deer, gathering mushrooms, pulling wasabi from creek beds—is part of each carefully orchestrated and extensively documented program. … The chosen ones are considered kitchen innovators whose work displays a respect for agricultural tradition and a command of culinary technology.” http://nyti.ms/1hKWQsW

3. HOUSTON ASTRODOME FACES DEMOLITION: Voters rejected a plan to turn the Houston Astrodome into a convention and event center, meaning that the world’s first domed stadium faces demolition. Associated Press: “The referendum had called for creating 350,000 square feet of exhibition space by removing the interior seats and raising the floor to street level. Other changes included creating 400,000 square feet of plaza and green space on the outside of the structure as part of the project, dubbed ‘The New Dome Experience.’ A coalition of local and national preservation groups as well as a political action committee had banded together to try to convince voters that the Astrodome should be reborn, not razed.” http://es.pn/19AWMbM


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

The National Hockey League and Ticketmaster, a Live Nation Entertainment company, announced the extension of a multiyear ticketing agreement. New this season, select N.H.L. games will offer Ticketmaster’s TM+ beta feature, enabling fans to see unsold tickets from the teams alongside tickets being resold by fans.

Freeman announced enhancements to Plantour, its Web-based event planning and sponsorship tool. The new tool is part of the Freeman Technology Suite, an integrated platform of tools that is free to its customers.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  This morning, Nia Vardalas spoke at Horizons for Homeless Children's 15th annual Women's Breakfast at Westin Copley Place.

CHICAGO:  A 10, a new restaurant from Matthias Merges, is now open in Hyde Park. With dishes such as wood-fired snails and spinach pizza, the venue hosts private events.

LAS VEGAS:  USA Today has a roundup of top attractions in town for attendees of SEMA and the Motor Trend International Auto Show: http://usat.ly/1hebvyW

LOS ANGELES:  Dick Clark Productions announced that Pitbull will host the American Music Awards, which will broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24.

Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson will be honored with the Grammy museum's first Architects of Sound Awards at a Motown-theme gala at the museum and Club Nokia at L.A. Live Monday. The event will also celebrate the museum’s five-year anniversary.

Los Angeles Times: "As Hillary Rodham Clinton weighs whether to try again to become the nation's first female president, notable women politicians from Los Angeles will headline a fund-raiser Wednesday for a group urging her to run.” http://lat.ms/16Du6xv

Breeze, the signature restaurant at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, has launched a paleo menu.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The 19th annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball was Saturday, raising more than $2 million. Transformed into a Vaudevillian sideshow, the hotel welcomed more than 900 guests; actress Gabrielle Anwar served as celebrity auctioneer for the evening’s live auction while singer Adam Lambert entertained guests with a near hour-long performance.

NEW YORK:  The Museum of Chinese in America will host its annual Legacy Awards Dinner November 14 at Cipriani 42nd Street. This year's theme is Titans and Tastemakers, with a focus on culture, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. The dinner menu will feature a special culinary creation by chef Susur Lee.

The Real Estate Division of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation will host the 30th anniversary of its Empire Ball at the Grand Hyatt New York Hotel on December 11. The annual fund-raiser, supported by the New York real estate community and its affiliates, aims to raise $1.4 million in support of the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

The Citymeals-on-Wheels 27th annual “Power Lunch for Women” is November 22 at the Plaza Hotel. Katie Couric will serve as M.C. at the benefit, which is expected to raise $1.1 million, or enough to provide more than 171,000 meals for New York’s frail homebound aged.

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

ORLANDO:  Shelly Ransom has been appointed director of travel industry sales at Grande Lakes Orlando, which comprises the 582-room Ritz-Carlton and the 1,000-room JW Marriott hotels.

PHILADELPHIA:  The Rittenhouse hotel is launching a new brand campaign for its marketing pieces and guest resources, including a new Web site and blog. As part of the effort, the hotel commissioned filmmaker Debra Scherer of the Little Squares to create a series of three documentary films that focus on the hotel’s sense of place, taste, and style; they are hosted on the new Web site.The new brand identity comes on the heels of its $10 million renovation.

TORONTO:  The Royal Ontario Museum has a newly minted partnership with four area caterers: L-Eat, Daniel & Daniel, Presidential Gourmet Catering, and Olivier & Bonacini.

The Canadian Opera Company's fund-raising gala, Centre Stage, is November 26 at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

WASHINGTON:  Washington Post Live and Post Sports Live will host a live discussion today at Hill Country Barbecue Market on the Washington Capitals with defenseman Steve Oleksy, writer Neil Greenberg, and Post Sports Live host Jonathan Forsythe.

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 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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