December 7, 2015: Stabbing at Art Basel Unnerves Patrons, Lollapalooza Expands for 25th Anniversary, How the White House Preps for the Holidays

1. STABBING AT ART BASEL UNNERVES PATRONS: A woman attending Art Basel Miami Beach on Friday was stabbed with an X-Acto knife after a fight with another patron, according to police—and some witnesses thought the act was performance art. Miami Herald: “Police and Art Basel officials announced this week that, after the terrorist attacks in Paris, they had beefed up security in and around the convention center, and at other events during the four-day fair that closes Sunday. Inside the convention center, security guards and event organizers worked quickly to clean up the scene, and to keep public attention focused on the art and not the stabbing. One bystander said he asked a guard what happened, and was told that a very expensive statue had fallen on someone. Once patrons learned what had occurred, though, their reactions ranged from shocked to bewildered.” http://hrld.us/1YPfmou

2. LOLLAPALOOZA EXPANDS FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY: For the 25th edition of Lollapalooza next year, the music festival will add a fourth day of programming. The event will take place July 28-31 in Chicago’s Grant Park, although it’s unclear whether the expanded festival will be a one-year change or permanent. Entertainment Weekly: “It’s our 25th Anniversary and we wanted to do something really special and different for our fans,” founder Perry Farrell said in a press release. “There’s a lot of really great music coming out in 2016; with the abundance of talent that wanted to help us celebrate 25 years we got to thinking… ‘How are we going to fit all those great artists in one weekend?’ Then we thought about what a special day Thursday has become. When the party can’t wait for the weekend, the movers and shakers make it happen on Thursday!” http://bit.ly/1Tvvyrq

3. HOW THE WHITE HOUSE PREPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Think your holiday calendar is full? The White House hosts 20 holiday parties this season—its busiest time of year. Of course, it has a dedicated staff, volunteers, and members of the military who help to pull it all off. The New York Times: “‘The holidays really are an all-hands-on-deck time frame for us, where every single shop in the house has to step up, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work has to take place before we get to the actual finished product that we all get to enjoy,’” said Angella Reid, the chief White House usher, who oversees team leaders in charge of various aspects of the reception — linens, electrical wiring, flowers. “‘Our mission is really to make sure that whatever we do is unseen. I sometimes describe it as Disney — you throw the pixie dust, and it all looks perfect.’” http://nyti.ms/1R4TbsX

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Cafe ArtScience will host its “La Dolce Vida” dessert prix-fixe event on January 11. The event will comprise a cocktail reception followed by a five-course tasting menu featuring desserts inspired by pastry chef Renae Connolly’s travels.

CHICAGO:  Scarlett Johansson will received the 2016 Renaissance Award from the Gene Siskel Film Center at its gala on June 11. The gala will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Chicago.

HOUSTON:  South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center announced a multimillion-dollar renovation to the property that will include a marina-side pool and deck, a refreshed restaurant that features local flavors, and a redesign to 238 guest rooms and two multilevel penthouses. The hotel and 25,000-square-foot conference center will remain open during the renovation, which is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2016.

LAS VEGAS:  Aria Resort & Casino, by the end of the month, will have finished an upgrade to its 300,000-square-foot convention space with new media walls, high-tech furniture, charging stations, registration areas, and more.

LOS ANGELES:  The Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles Third Annual Wishing Well Winter Gala, sponsored by the Goldwin Foundation, will take place Wednesday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is among the honorees, and TV personality Billy Bush will host the event.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Hilton Garden Inn Miami South Beach-Royal Polo, a 96-room hotel, has opened in a historic Art Deco building. The property has a full-service restaurant, Café del Polo.

NEW YORK:  The New York International Auto Show today launched a new logo—its first new one since 2000—and brand strategy. The show runs March 25-April 3 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

New York Live Arts 2016 Gala will take place March 24 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

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

SAN FRANCISCO:  Out of respect for the victims of the mass shooting in San Bernardino, Governor Jerry Brown canceled the state's 84th annual tree-lighting ceremony in Sacramento. San Francisco Chronicle: http://sfchron.cl/1XNGlyq

TORONTO:  First Canadian Place formally launches its updated food terrace today. The terrace offers sit-down restaurants, take-out eateries, and fast-casual options.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Harper Macaw, a chocolate factory that makes treats using Brazilian cocoa beans, is scheduled to open on Saturday. It will offer tours as well as private tastings and other events. Washington City Paper: http://bit.ly/21CWYSb

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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.

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