April 8, 2014: What Stars Earn to Attend Coachella, Chili’s Cancels Autism Benefit, an Unexpected Spin on the Traditional Home Tour

1. WHAT STARS EARN TO ATTEND COACHELLA: The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which starts Friday, is an easy place to spot celebrities—and for good reason: They’re getting paid to be there. New York Daily News: “Lea Michele will earn a cool $20,000 from Lacoste to wear its clothes while she rocks out to headliners OutKast, Muse and Arcade Fire, while Vanessa Hudgens is being paid $15,000 by McDonald’s to hit the festival.” http://nydn.us/1e4Ywif

2. CHILI’S CANCELS AUTISM BENEFIT: The restaurant chain Chili’s canceled a fund-raising campaign in support of National Autism Awareness Month after a public outcry when it was revealed that the beneficiary advocates the medically discredited link between vaccines and the condition. Associated Press: “The company said in its blog post Sunday that it would find another way to support families affected by autism.” http://abcn.ws/OwD0Xn

3. AN UNEXPECTED SPIN ON THE TRADITIONAL HOME TOUR: Looking to change up your annual home tour? Raleigh, North Carolina, has its own take. Architects and Artisans: “On May 17, its 10th annual Tour D’Coop will offer a look at some of the more innovative chicken coops in backyards across the city. Last year, more than 1,200 people bought tickets to the self-guided tour, raising $26,000 for the Urban Ministries of Wake County.” http://bit.ly/1ip0aa7

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Billed as Boston’s first restaurant/gallery hybrid, Liquid Art House is scheduled to open May 6 in Back Bay.

CHICAGO:  The Alzheimer's Association Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala is May 10 at the Hilton Chicago. Mike Ditka will act as guest M.C.

DALLAS:  Next year the Academy Of Country Music Awards will move to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will return as hosts of the event, set for April 19, 2015, and the ACM Party for a Cause outdoor music festival is set for April 17-18 at Globe Life Park.

LAS VEGAS:  In a stunt ahead of the scheduled opening of his Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar on April 17, the chef arrived to the Quad Resort & Casino in a classic Chevy Camaro while the U.N.L.V. cheerleaders and marching band playing the school's fight song and “Viva Las Vegas.”

LOS ANGELES:  Kristin Chenoweth will be inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame at this year’s Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl celebration, slated for June 21.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach is opening AQ by Acqualina, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. The seating options at the oceanfront eatery include a raised bar area, a  communal dining table, and a veranda. It replaces Piazzetta Restaurant.

NEW YORK:  The venue Party Loft on Fifth Avenue has closed after 30 years in business.

Open Market, a fund-raiser for the Meatpacking District Improvement Association, is May 12 at the Highline Stages. The event design intends to create a visual homage to the early days of the meatpacking district and will offer shopping, dining, and music.

The Girl Scouts of Greater New York will host its 101st gala April 29 at Cipriani 42nd Street.

Housing Works’s 10th annual interior design shopping benefit, Design on a Dime, will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion. More than 60 interior designers will create room vignettes using donated merchandise and unveil them at a ticketed V.I.P. opening-night reception April 24. The event will continue the following two days with no entry fee as a public sale.

The Wellness in the Schools annual benefit is May 13 at 360 Degrees at Tribeca Rooftop.

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

SAN FRANCISCO:  "A Night in New Orleans," a benefit for the Merola Opera Program, is April 12 at the Fairmont San Francisco. The black-tie evening includes cocktails, a silent auction, and a formal dinner.

TAMPA:  Karamu XXVI, the signature gala at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, is Saturday. The event will include dinner, two live bands, animal encounters, and a silent auction with bidding using Qtego Auction Technology's mobile bidding system.

TORONTO:  The Institute for New Economic Thinking will host its fifth annual conference Thursday-Saturday at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Creative Coalition’s annual benefit dinner is May 2 at STK DC.

The second Runway Moms for a Cause fund-raiser is May 9 at the Renaissance Washington, DC Dupont Circle Hotel. The evening will feature a "power mom" runway show, a children's runway presentation, and a performance from singer Tanya Dallas-Lewis. Maggy Francois is producing the event.

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

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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