October 14, 2014: Salesforce Takes Over San Francisco, Must-See Frankenstein Pumpkins, How Samsung Is Moving Beyond the Oscars Selfie

1. SALESFORCE TAKES OVER SAN FRANCISCO: With a lot of hype and big-name speakers and performers, the annual Salesforce conference kicked off Monday in San Francisco. San Francisco Chronicle: “This year’s edition of Dreamforce, which starts Monday, is expected to draw a record 135,000 people who will flood 18 different venues in and around Moscone Center. That compares with 1,300 people in one hotel for the inaugural conference in 2003. And for a business conference, Dreamforce offers more than its share of high-profile celebrities, including potential presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, online publisher Arianna Huffington, and singers Neil Young and Bruno Mars.” http://bit.ly/1rqqgxo

2. MUST-SEE PUMPKINS GROWN IN SHAPE OF FRANKENSTEIN: An organic farmer in California has come up with a pumpkin that looks anything but natural: It’s shaped in the form of Frankenstein. Grown in a custom mold, the creation has become the statement decor piece for this Halloween. The New York Times: “With a slight smile, a wide button nose, a slightly furrowed brow and ears sticking out just slightly, the pumpkins are easy to mistake for something carved from wax. … Decorations now account for nearly a third of Halloween spending, and the fast-growing category is one of the most competitive aspects of the industry. Cue pumpkinstein.” http://nyti.ms/1sawZzh

3. HOW SAMSUNG IS MOVING BEYOND THE OSCARS SELFIE: Samsung scored perhaps the biggest product placement of the year when Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres took a star-studded selfie at the ceremony. The moment was planned, and the company has since moved forward trying to top it. Adweek: “The goal hopefully should be that you’re looking for another fun, additive, organic and authentic moment for the brand you’re partnering with and yourself. So in that, there’s no time for sleep,” said Samsung’s director of media and partnerships, Amber Mayo. “It’s the ‘Who’s got next? What’s next?’ Once we took away the envelopes on the AMAs and put in a phone to do the award, that’s the most basic, fundamental integration that you can do. Where do you go from there?” http://bit.ly/1suI13P

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Royal Sonesta Boston has completed a renovation which included updates to its 200 guest rooms, a new coffee shop and cocktail lounge in the lobby, and a new meeting and event space along the waterfront. Meetings Focus: http://bit.ly/1w3uDVu

CHICAGO:  The fifth annual “Wish Upon a Wedding” gala is November 3 at the Chicago History Museum. This year’s event has an “All That Jazz” theme.

LAS VEGAS:  Kevin Harrington, known as inventor of the informercial and one of the original panelists on Shark Tank, will give the keynote address at the Global Crowdfunding Convention and Bootcamp on October 24.

LOS ANGELES:  Done & Dusted has announced the launch of its new branded entertainment company, Blue Revolver. This division will provide integrated content across platforms, including video content, experiential event production, activations, and sponsorship packages.

Nominations have been announced for the American Music Awards. Iggy Azalea leads the pack with five nods; the show will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 23.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  White Party Week, a series of events that benefit Care Resources and its work to fight H.I.V. and AIDS, is November 26-December 1. The signature event, the White Party, is November 29 at Pérez Art Museum Miami.

NEW YORK:  Le Bernardin has opened a new private dining space called Le Bernardin Privé. Located near the Midtown restaurant, the event space was designed by Bentel & Bentel and holds 210 people for receptions.

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

ORLANDO:  Westgate Resorts will break ground Wednesday on an $11 million mixed-used development on Turkey Lake Road that will include a steak house, a sports bar, a two-lane bowling alley, and 32,000 square feet of flexible event space. The development is expected to open in phases beginning in April.

SAN FRANCISCO:  Global Green USA’s Gorgeous & Green Gala—Emerald City was Friday at Bently Reserve and raised $400,000.

TORONTO:  Canadian Opera Company will host “OperaNation: Light Up the Night” at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 16. With a Spanish theme inspired by The Barber of Seville, the evening will include music, dancing, fashion, and visual arts.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  After plans to relocate the International Spy Museum to a larger home in Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square, where could the museum move? Washington Business Journal looks at four alternatives: http://bit.ly/1syAMYC

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, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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