July 10, 2013: Music Festivals Turn Away Big Sponsors, Why We Love Frozen Drinks, Allen & Company Retreat Details Leak

1. CATERING TREND: WHY WE LOVE FROZEN DRINKS: Especially in the summer, people love a boozy dessert. Slushy alcoholic beverages have become a hot trend. New York Times: "Today’s mixologists have become deft at rehabilitating the more embarrassing chapters of drinking history. In the last few years, the once musty, corny tiki drink has been restored to its vibrant 1930s self. Now, it seems, redemption has arrived for the louche frozen drink, which in the late 20th century all but ruined the reputation of the daiquiri and margarita as serious cocktails." http://nyti.ms/1dhTwQM

2. MUSIC FESTIVALS SHUN BIG-NAME SPONSORS: Music festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo are turning away big-name sponsors due to distractions from the music experience. Regardless of the large revenue, the festivals would rather have the brands give fans an interactive experience rather than market themselves on the stage. Ad Age: "Stage sponsorships are a big moneymaker, but our position has been that when you get 20,000 people in a field and they're looking at brand marketing, they're not focused on the editorial experience of the festival—the music, " said Matt Frampton, vice president of advertising for Pitchfork Media. http://bit.ly/15uyaPt

3. HIGH-PROFILE SPEAKER LIST FOR ALLEN & COMPANY RETREAT LEAKS: The biggest names in tech and media have started arriving for the 31st annual Allen & Company retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho. Details about the goings-on are usually scarce, but parts of the scheduled have leaked. Hollywood Reporter: "Wednesday's agenda includes a sports panel with N.F.L. commissioner Roger Goodell as well as a presentation by Google co-founder Larry Page. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will lead a discussion on economic growth. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto also will be featured in a session, while CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin will moderate a discussion about the future of universities. Also on Thursday's schedule is a panel titled 'Cyber Insecurity.'" The event continues through the weekend. http://bit.ly/12ha7iX

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  The Luckyrice Festival, an Asian cuisine event, travels to five cities this year, including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, and, for the first time, San Francisco.

AUSTIN:  Fun Fun Fun Fest announced the music lineup of the eighth annual festival, November 8-10 at Auditorium Shores. Performers will include headliners M.I.A., Slayer, MGMT, Jurassic 5, Snoop Dogg, Descendents, Ice-T, Television, and FLAG.

BOSTON:  Towne Stove & Spirits, which offers private dining, has revamped its weekday lunch menu for the summer season. Items include Maine lobster rolls, Boston clam chowder, and the Little Gem salad with watermelon, feta, and lemon-poppy-seed dressing.

CHICAGO:  America's Dog is available for catering. New dishes include the Bacon Bourbon Dog, created by chef Heather Terhune and comprising a deep-fried beef dog with maple-bourbon-glazed pork belly, smoked fondue, and crispy onion straws on a fondue bun. 

Chef's Table Presented by Jenn-Air is Thursday at the Reid Murdoch Building. Auction packages will include a Cayman Island vacation, a Gladiator refrigerator stocked with Stella Artois, and a chef's tasting at the Florentine.

Platinum Events has launched a new event design division headed by Erin McDonald.

LAS VEGAS:  Aria Resort & Casino recently opened its new wedding chapel.

Bally’s Las Vegas has announced plans to renovate and rename its South tower to the Jubilee Tower, named after the resort’s Jubilee, which at 32 years is the longest-running show in Vegas. Renovations will include 756 remodeled hotel rooms and suites.

LOS ANGELES:  The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles will honor George Clooney with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film at the 2013 Bafta Los Angeles Britannia Awards presented by BBC America November 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The Los Angeles Times announced Tuesday the co-hosts for the Taste, its annual festival celebrating the Southern California culinary scene. Michael Cimarusti, Sang Yoon, Nancy Silverton, and Matthew Biancaniello will each join a member of The Times's food staff to present one of the five distinctive events that make up the Labor Day weekend festivities, held again at Paramount Pictures Studios.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  PGA National Resort & Spa will host an Ice Cream Festival Weekend August 16-18. The event will attempt to set the Guinness Book of World Records title for “World’s Longest Ice Cream Sundae.”

NEW YORK:  Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp will host a free showcase of its corporate camps for meeting and event planners August 6 at the Gibson Showroom. Attendees will be placed into bands, rewrite the words to a classic rock song, choreograph dance moves, and perform their song. Afterward, the rock star counselors will perform live. For more information, email [email protected].

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

ORLANDO:  The 15th annual Indialantic Craft Festival is Saturday and Sunday at Nance Park in Indialantic.

TORONTO:  Toronto is celebrating the two-year countdown to the Pan Am Games today with activities, food, and demonstrations. The event will take place in Commerce Court and feature a ceremony with the Pan Am flag raising.

WASHINGTON:  The Industree Speaker Series, a partnership with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, continues July 23 with a lunchtime talk at the Howard Theatre. Notable chefs Kyle Bailey, Bertrand Chemel, Todd Gray, Brian McBride, Geoff Tracy, and Andrew Markert will participate in a Q&A session moderated by food writer Nevin Martell.

The Washington International Horse Show, now in its 55th year, is October 22-27 at the Verizon Center.

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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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