March 4, 2015: Oscars Consider Big Change in Best Picture Category, How the Armory Show Reinvented Itself, a Guide to the U.K. Summer Festival Season

1. OSCARS CONSIDER BIG CHANGE IN BEST PICTURE CATEGORY: After experimenting with the number of films allowed in the Best Picture category, potentially including as many as 10 contenders, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may return to its old format of just five nominees. Hollywood Reporter: “A large portion of the board has been pushing for the change behind the scenes, arguing that having too many best picture nominees has watered down the prestige of a nomination—without boosting the TV audience for the annual Oscars telecast. This year's Academy Awards broadcast on ABC was down more than 15 percent from last year's, and sources say there is fury among the governors about the quality and length of the show. Separately, the Academy's awards committee is conducting its own review of the most recent broadcast, and it is expected to present a post-mortem at the March 24 meeting.” http://bit.ly/18iZ55L

2. HOW THE ARMORY SHOW REINVENTED ITSELF: Some 65,000 people are expected to attend the Armory Show, which opens Thursday in New York. The show, now in its 17th edition, has seen a resurgence in popularity credited to its young director, Noah Horowitz, “who swooped in four years ago to save the fair from what was widely regarded as its hemorrhaging status.” The New York Times: “But with some 200-plus art fairs available around the globe each year, who really needs another? ‘The Armory really is a gateway fair to the American market,' Horowitz says. ‘New York is still the center of the commercial marketplace for modern and contemporary art, internationally, and that’s borne out year and year again in terms of sales.’” http://nyti.ms/18OgyUR

3. A GUIDE TO THE U.K. SUMMER FESTIVAL SEASON: The U.K. festival landscape offers more than heavyweights like Glastonbury and Isle of Wight, with events starting in May and running through September. Mashable surveys the scene: “Some are huge, three day affairs with hundreds of bands on dozens of stages while others offer a more intimate experience.” http://on.mash.to/1CvjrpT

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  The Sustainable Meetings Conference, hosted by the Green Meeting Industry Council, announced that eco-living expert Laura Turner Seydel will serve as the keynote speaker. The conference takes place June 17-19 at the Westin Peachtree Plaza.

AUSTIN:  Starwood Hotels & Resorts will debut its mobile keyless room entry feature, called SPG Keyless, March 9 at W Austin. The hotel company will roll out the feature at Aloft, Element, and W Hotels worldwide but chose the Austin property to highlight the new technology in advance of South by Southwest.

BOSTON:  The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled to take place on March 15.

CHICAGO:  Trump Chicago has added three new event spaces. Totaling about 6,500 square feet, the spaces offer views of the Chicago River and include the 1,800-square-foot Riverside Room, the 2,800-square-foot Bridgeview Room, and the 2,000-square-foot Riverside Gallery.

LAS VEGAS:  Hash House a Go Go is opening a location next week in Henderson, its fifth branch in the valley.

LOS ANGELES:  Emerald Expositions has acquired the International Pizza Expo as well as Healthcare Design Conference and Expo, Healthcare Design magazine, Environments for Aging, and Construction SuperConference.

Glaad, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender media advocacy organization, announced it will honor actress Kerry Washington at its 26th annual Media Awards at the Beverly Hilton on March 21.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Setai Miami Beach has been sold to the private investment company Nakash Holdings and the von Furstenberg family. The 120-room luxury hotel opened in 2004 and had been owned by a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings.

NEW YORK:  The seventh annual New York Culinary Experience returns to the International Culinary Center April 11-12. Chef David Bouley will be honored at the event.

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

ORLANDO:  Visit Orlando has promoted Misty Goff to director of convention marketing.

TORONTO:  The 10th edition of the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is scheduled for March 5-15.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  A staple on Washington’s social scene, the 60th annual Corcoran Ball is scheduled for April 17 at the George Washington University Museum and the new Textile Museum. The event's future had been uncertain following a controversial merger last year with the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University.

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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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