1. WOULD YOU TEXT AN EVENT INVITATION?: Digital invitations delivered via email have become an acceptable—if casual—way to reach out to guests. A new app, Hobnob, is taking a new approach by offering digital invitations sent by text. The company says texts will get the invites seen sooner and draw replies faster. TechCrunch: “The startup has been running a public beta with over 1,000 testers around the U.S., and has now spread the app to nearly every U.S. state. Testers have been using the app for events that range in size from just 2 people to over 340, notes [C.E.O. Tina Fitch]. And they’ve seen 300 percent higher guest response rates when compared to Facebook Events or Evites, she says.” http://tcrn.ch/1F9Df4a
2. INSIDE HERMèS V.I.P. WASHINGTON DINNER: Luxury fashion brand Hermès hosted a recent dinner in Washington to celebrate its new store in the city and fete loyal customers rumored to have spent at least $85,000 a year there. Politico: “The most dramatic flair of the four-course meal, conceptualized by chi-chi Tribeca-based caterer Olivier Cheng, was not the operatic duet performance, but the three costume changes from the masked 60-person waitstaff, all of whom were imported for the night, along with 16 wine servers, from New York City.” http://politi.co/1AKg8FV
3. COMPANY PLANS U.S. TOUR WITH GIANT WATERSLIDE: Boston, Detroit, and New York are among the cities on a proposed tour in which vendor Slide the City wants to set up an outdoor 1,000-foot waterslide along a city street. Curbed: “The madcap scheme involves plunking down three football fields worth of plastic over a gently sloping street somewhere in the USA and then allowing young (or young-at-heart) people to shell out $15-$60 for anywhere from a single ride to unlimited soakings.” http://bit.ly/1bCRe4y
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Chefs in Shorts, a benefit for Future Chefs, will take place on June 19 at the Seaport World Trade Center. The event will feature nearly 50 guest chefs creating grilled, summery dishes; there will also be desserts, beer, and wine.
CHICAGO: Pavel Juricek is the new artistic director of Platinum Events. Juricek was formerly lead designer at Kehoe Designs, and has worked for clients including Oprah Winfrey and Hermès.
Goddess and Grocer opens a new Gold Coast location on Monday. The venue will offer catering and gift baskets; menu items include pastries, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and “Goddess Bowls,” which comprise specials served over rice or noodles.
LAS VEGAS: Mariah Carey debuted her show, “Mariah #1 to Infinity” on May 6, marking the beginning of her headlining residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Wynn Las Vegas and Encore announced the promotion of Steve Blanner to vice president of aales and Pedram Pakneshan to executive director of convention sales.
LOS ANGELES: A&D Architecture and Design Museum is returning to its downtown Los Angeles roots with its fifth annual fund-raiser and grand reopening, known as “Celebrate: Shelter,” on June 27.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Maison & Objet Americas comes to the Design District for exhibits, lectures, and events Tuesday through May 15.
NEW YORK: The inaugural Art Miami New York, an extension of the Miami fair, runs May 14-17 at Pier 94.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is celebrating its expanded family programming with a Spring Fling event Saturday that includes a sing-along with children’s performer Dan Zanes at the Revson Fountain, a scavenger hunt so children can explore the campus, crafts, and more.
The Westin New York Grand Central has appointed Kerstin Pace as director of sales and marketing. She comes to the 774-room hotel from the Westin Dublin, where she held the same position.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The DC Volunteer Lawyers Project will honor Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, with the Champion of Justice Award at its annual “Voices Against Violence” event Thursday at the residence of the Japanese ambassador.
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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, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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