July 20, 2017: Major Comics Seller’s Comic-Con Dropout Highlights Event’s Massive Growth, Toronto International Film Festival to Weigh Impact of Trump’s Muslim Ban, New L.P.G.A. Dress Code Leads to Debate Among Players

1. MAJOR COMICS SELLER'S COMIC-CON DROPOUT HIGHLIGHTS EVENT'S MASSIVE GROWTH: Comic-Con International, which heads to San Diego this weekend, seems to grow larger in scale and attendance every year. But its massive popularity—largely due to the profitable but strained alliance between the comic book industry and Hollywood—has caused major comic book retailer Mile High Comics to skip this year’s event. Los Angeles Times: “For the first time in 44 years, retailer Mile High Comics will be skipping the convention. Considered the country’s largest comic-book dealer, Mile High regularly brought 100,000 comics to sell on the convention hall floor. ‘San Diego has grown far beyond its original premise,’ wrote Chuck Rozanski, founder and president of the Colorado-based Mile High Comics, on the retailer’s website, ‘morphing from what was originally a wonderful annual gathering of the comics world, into a world-renowned pop culture and media festival.’ It’s no secret that Comic-Con went Hollywood years ago, but with each new convention it’s harder for independent comics retailers to make an impression, especially when they not only have to compete with major studio presentations in the famed Hall H and displays from DC and Marvel that dominate the convention floor, but with a growing number of attractions outside Comic-Con, available to anyone who happens to be in the area. Offering tributes of buttons, T-shirts and manicures, the entire Gaslamp Quarter will transform into a geek metropolis. NBC’s new series ‘Midnight, Texas’ will offer free food and tarot card readings at a local restaurant, coffee drinks will be renamed ‘White Walker Mochas’ and the Syfy channel will legally marry superfans in a makeshift chapel with the help of officiant Orlando Jones from ‘American Gods.’ The hard truth is that many of those potential customers would rather see their favorite stars than shop for comic books. As the masses sweep in, so do the winds of change for the annual convention.” http://lat.ms/2tf5xGr

2. TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO WEIGH IMPACT OF TRUMP€'S MUSLIM BAN: The Toronto International Film Festival’s official industry conference in September is slated to tackle the impact of Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban on U.S. festival premieres and awards shows, as well as Hollywood’s gender gap. The Hollywood Reporter: “The Trump administration's Muslim travel ban and upcoming NAFTA talks with Canada and Mexico are set to dominate the Toronto Film Festival. Fest organizers on Wednesday said their official mid-September industry conference will feature a panel of film producers and lawyers debating the impact of President Donald Trump's scaled-back travel ban on global filmmaking. The ban's visa policies mostly impact citizens from six Muslim-majority countries. But Iranian director Asghar Farhadi earning an Oscar for The Salesman in the best foreign-language film competition, while boycotting the Academy Awards, has raised concerns about global filmmakers being blocked from attending U.S. award shows or festival premieres. … ‘We are using the conference's international platform to focus on topics that are top-of-mind for attendees,’ Kathleen Drumm, director of TIFF Industry, said in a statement. The Sept. 8 to 13 conference, part of the wider Sept. 7 to 17 festival, also will include keynotes by Dallas Buyers Club producer Cassian Elwes and Swedish Film Institute CEO Anne Serner discussing possible solutions to close Hollywood's gender gap.” http://bit.ly/2trxbUY

3. NEW L.P.G.A. DRESS CODE LEADS TO DEBATE AMONG PLAYERS: A new, conservative dress code for the Ladies Professional Golf Association has caused a debate about whether or not it's necessary among players. CBS News: "The new rules have sparked a debate among current and former players and commentators, with critics saying the dress code is unnecessary and condescending, while supporters contend the changes were needed to clarify the existing dress code. The rules went into effect on Monday at the organization's Marathon Classic in Toledo, Ohio.  Heather Daly-Donofrio, a spokeswoman for the LPGA, told CBS News the dress code was updated at the request of players who wanted clarification on existing policies, calling the changes 'minor.' 'Players asked us to update the existing dress code to include references relevant to today's fashion trends and golf wear,' Daly-Donofrio said. 'If you're a fan watching the telecast this weekend, you're not going to notice a difference.' Women in Sport, a British group that advocates for gender equality in sports, criticized the new policies, saying in a statement that 'women and girls should wear what makes them feel comfortable when taking part in sport.' Some players said they were surprised by the reaction to the updated guidelines and brushed off the new rules." http://cbsn.ws/2tH6CGp


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Corporate team building company TrivWorks, which specializes in customized trivia, has partnered with teambuilding app Know Your Crew. The partnership will give clients the option of engaging event participants with Know Your Crew before and after trivia teambuilding events. 

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  This year’s Chicago Fringe Festival will take place August 30-September 10 at Jefferson Park. 

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  TheFitExpo, a West Coast-based fitness expo, will make its East Coast debut October 21-22 at the Broward Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. The expo will feature 200 vendors, one-third of which will be from South Florida. 

LOS ANGELES:  Los Angeles Travel Magazine’s Sweet Summer Bash will take place July 28 at Boulevard3. The event, which will celebrate the magazine’s Endless Summer Issue, will have dessert-theme cocktails and live performances from Cirque Mirage. 

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MILWAUKEE:  More than 831,000 people attended the 50th edition of Summerfest, which took place June 28-July 2 and July 4-9. 

NEW YORK:  The owner of the company that caters weddings and events at Prospect Park Boathouse has disappeared. Gothamist: http://bit.ly/2tIW4qi

The Museum of Chinese in America’s Legacy Awards Gala will take place November 14 at Cipriani 25 Broadway. 

London-based chain Burger & Lobster has opened its second New York location in Times Square. The venue seats 140. Eater: http://bit.ly/2tfK6VP

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

SAN FRANCISCO:  The American Craft Council San Francisco Show will take place August 4-6 at Fort Mason Center. The juried craft event will showcase work more than 225 contemporary clothing, furniture, jewelry, and home decor artists. 

TORONTO:  Wild Blueberry Weekend will take place August 19-20 at Evergreen Brick Works. The event will offer presentations, tastings, and more from more than 20 food producers, preservers, chefs, and bakers. Wild blueberries will be used in all food served at the event, including waffles, tamales, pork and venison sausages, wine, and ice pops. 

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT:  Mohegan Sun has appointed John Washko vice president of exhibitions and convention sales. Washko will head the sales and direction for the new 132,000-square-foot Mohegan Sun Expo Center, which is slated to open in summer 2018. 

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 Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Rayna Katz, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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