April 17, 2017: Tax Day Protests Happen Around the World, What's Next for Coachella?, Business Groups Continue to Cancel Due to Trump's Travel Ban

1. TAX DAY PROTESTS HAPPEN AROUND THE WORLD: On Saturday, protestors gathered in more than 150 cities around the world, including New York and Washington, to demand that President Donald Trump produce his tax returns and to call on lawmakers to fight against corporate greed. In Berkeley, California, 21 people were arrested after protesters clashed with participants at a "Patriot's Day" rally. Protests also took place in West Palm Beach, Florida, across from the Mar-a-Lago estate, where the President spent the weekend. NBC News: "The president's frequent trips to the golf club—seven out of 14 weekends of his presidency—have hit local Palm Beach taxpayers hard. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw estimated that each day the president spends in Mar-a-Lago costs his department $60,000. Local officials hope the federal government will help offset the bill, he told NBC News." http://nbcnews.to/2oyWOx5

2. WHAT'S NEXT FOR COACHELLA?: Some feel that the California music festival, which began this past weekend and continues through April 23, has veered too far afield of its down-and-dirty roots thanks to celeb proliferation, private jets, branded festival attire, and air-conditioned tents, which are all sponsored by corporations. Quartz: "With music festival lineups getting more homogenous—thanks to the ever multiplying number of them, as production companies rush to capitalize on modern fans’ eagerness for 'experiences' over products—the 18-year-old fest has gone from a humble single-day event in the rustic California desert to a two-week extravaganza complete with holograms, fingerprint scanners, and a giant roving caterpillar. Opulent amenities are now Coachella’s next attempt to remain unique." http://bit.ly/2otWznc

3. BUSINESS GROUPS CONTINUE TO CANCEL DUE TO TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN: President Donald Trump’s executive order that restricts travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries had a direct impact on the tourism industry back in January, with numerous cancellations occurring immediately following the news. Months later, more business groups continue to drop their plans of traveling to the U.S., which is harming the events and meetings industries in addition to tourism. The Washington Post: "Mike McCormick, executive director of the Global Business Travel Association, said that following Trump’s first travel order, there was a 'pronounced drop in bookings,' resulting in estimated losses of $185 million. 'It hurts the industry,' he said. 'You have discretion in moving meetings and events to other places. They don’t have to be in New York or Chicago or here in the U.S.'" http://wapo.st/2okw3ef

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Party in the Park luncheon will take place on May 17 at Pinebank Promontory. The event benefits the Justine Mee Liff Fund for the Emerald Necklace, which supports restoration projects in the Emerald Necklace park system.

LOS ANGELES:  Judy Collins, Paul Dalio, and Anna Akana will be honored at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services' 2017 Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards April 27 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

SCI-Arc's "Main Event" annual gala will be held at its downtown Los Angeles Art District campus on April 28.

Sharon Stone will receive the Icon Award at the Women's Choice Award Show May 17 at Avalon Hollywood. Meredith Vieira will serve as the host of the event.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  1 Hotel South Beach will be hosting a variety of eco-conscious events to celebrate Earth Day from April 20 to 23, including a dune restoration project and butterfly release.

Nancy, a new craft cocktail den, opened April 15 and is located at 2007 SW 8th Street in Little Havana.

NEW YORK:  BTIG’s Charity Day will take place May 2 at its offices in Midtown. Celebrities, athletes, and BTIG executives will be in attendance and act as guest stock traders, taking calls from clients on BTIG’s trading floor to raise money for charities.

NYC Taste of the Nation will take place April 24 at 180 Maiden Lane on the East River Waterfront, and will be led by honorary chair Danny Meyer of Union Square Hospitality Group along with culinary co-chairs Anita Lo of Annisa and Bryce Schuman of Betony.

Urbanspace announced the start of the spring pop-up market season: Mad. Sq. Eats returns to Worth Square (located on 5th Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets, adjacent to Madison Square Park) on May 13 and runs until June 9; Broadway Bites runs from June 1 to July 14 at Greeley Square (located on Broadway between 32nd and 33rd Streets); and Urbanspace Garment District occurs from June 6 to July 19 and is located on Broadway, from 37th to 38th Street.

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Universal Orlando Resort is creating a new Christmas experience in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter beginning November 18 that will involve projection mapping and special effects. There will also be a new holiday parade at Universal Studios Florida in partnership with Macy's.

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

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With contributions from Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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