August 13, 2015: Why the N.F.L. Draft Is Returning to Chicago, Podcasts Will Get Their Own Upfront, Event Blogger Starts Black-Owned Restaurant Month

1. WHY THE N.F.L. DRAFT IS RETURNING TO CHICAGO: After a 50-year lock as host city for the N.F.L Draft, New York lost the event to Chicago this year. But the draft isn’t returning to the East Coast anytime soon. N.F.L. commissioner Roger Goodell and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that Chicago will host the event in 2016, and it will be up for competitive bidding starting in 2017. Chicago Tribune: “Goodell said Chicago, which played host for the first time in more than 50 years, did an extraordinary job, but the league expects the city to promote the event's continued growth in 2016. That may include a larger footprint and similar accommodations by the city, which provided several venues this year at no cost. … Previously a televised theatrical presentation attended mostly by hard-core jersey-clad fans, Chicago's expanded event covered 900,000 square feet of the park with concessions, activities and 'fan caves' for all 32 NFL teams.” http://trib.in/1h03BeJ

2. PODCASTS WILL GET THEIR OWN UPFRONT: Building off of the popularity of podcasts, the Interactive Advertising Bureau will hold its first IAB Podcast Upfront Showcase for September 10 in New York. Wall Street Journal: “The one-day event will consist of a slew of presentations from podcast sellers, as well as a yet-to-be-named celebrity keynote speaker, according to an IAB spokesperson. … One of the challenges podcasting faces is that it doesn’t always have a home in the ad agency buying landscape. Sometimes podcast ad campaigns are executed by traditional radio buyers, and sometimes by digital buyers. The IAB is hoping to draw a mix of both groups to the event, along with senior marketing executives.” http://on.wsj.com/1JTK8Y4

3. EVENT BLOGGER STARTS BLACK-OWNED RESTAURANT MONTH: In a riff on the popular “restaurant week” dining promotions, an event blogger and Ebony staffer is starting Black-Owned Restaurant Month in New York next month to promote eateries and support black communities in New York. Genese Jamilah worked out the idea on her blog, I Don’t Do Clubs. Eater: “She says her lists [of black-owned businesses nationwide] went viral and that's when she decided to launch Black-Owned Restaurant Month, starting in NYC, as a way to introduce ‘foodies to new and exciting eateries’ in the black community.” http://bit.ly/1h31CpS


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Event technology company DoubleDutch has announced a $45 million round of funding. It will use the money to support global expansion, sales and marketing, and targeted acquisitions.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  A Florida-based investment group will buy the Hotel Commonwealth once its major expansion is complete next year. Boston Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1DNKVZp

CHICAGO:  Diffa Chicago’s Dining by Design will take place November 4-5. The theme this year is “Communal Tables.”

COLUMBUS, OHIO:  The first 10TV Commit to Be Fit Expo will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. Open to the public, the event will include exercise demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, and a family fitness challenge.

LAS VEGAS:  The third and final transformation of the Palazzo Las Vegas Waterfall Atrium and Gardens summer floral installation is complete. Inspired by imagery of the Carnival of Venice, the display presents nine-foot-tall Venetian topiary women modeling dresses inspired by fall fashion.

LOS ANGELES:  The fifth annual Streamy Awards, honoring the best in YouTube and online video, will air live on VH1 and its digital platforms from the Hollywood Palladium on September 17.

The restaurant Patina is bringing back its "Patina Next Course" series to its Walt Disney Concert Hall location with two sessions. "Water 101" will take place on September 23, October 21, and November 4, while "Inside the Kitchen at Patina" will take place October 3 and December 5.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The American Black Film Festival will take place June 15-19, and organizers have made a three-year commitment to holding the event in Miami. Next year will mark the event's 20th anniversary.

NEW YORK:  Hamptons magazine will celebrate its new issue with cover star Colin Jost of Saturday Night Live at an event Saturday at Surf Lodge in Montauk.

The inaugural Waku Waku NYC, a Japanese pop culture festival, will take place August 29-30 at various venues in Brooklyn's Greenpoint area, including the Brooklyn Expo Center, Brooklyn Bowl, and Verboten.

Broken Spoke Rotisserie, helmed by chef Ed Carew, is now open in the former Terroir space in Murray Hill.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Shake Shack will open at I-Drive 360 on Wednesday. In addition to indoor seating, the restaurant will have a 50-seat raised patio and recreational space with shuffleboard and boccie ball courts.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The seventh annual San Francisco Street Food Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday at Pier 70. SFGate: http://bit.ly/1NaCZ6A

The Digital Kids Summit will take place on September 9-10 at the Children's Creativity Museum. Keynote speakers include Julia Pistor, vice president of entertainment for Mattel, and Oren Jacob, C.E.O. of ToyTalk.

TORONTO:  Although organizers canceled the official Toronto Zombie Walk, they will now host the Toronto Zombie Walk Funeral and Wake on August 29 at Trinity Bellwoods Park. blogTO: http://bit.ly/1J3OyuJ

The 2015 Score Awards will take place September 17 at the Hall of Flags of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The awards honor small businesses that have succeeded by working with the group’s volunteer mentors as well as members of Congress regarded as champions of small business.

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

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

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

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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