May 11, 2017: Google Launches Feature to Help Users Find Nearby Events, Seventh Fyre Festival Lawsuit Claims V.I.P. Tickets Were Sold After Cancelation, Manhattan Cocktail Classic Canceled Day Before Event

1. GOOGLE LAUNCHES FEATURE TO HELP USERS FIND NEARBY EVENTS: Google has launched a new Web and app update that will allow users to easily search for nearby events. TechCrunch: "The company says it’s rolling out this new feature now because it sees millions of daily search queries related to finding local events and activities. However, what’s left unsaid is that the public events space is something Facebook has grown to dominate—100 million people use the feature daily, as of last fall, and 650 million use it across Facebook. Facebook Page owners often keep a running list of their upcoming events, which Facebook users can subscribe to, mark as interested in attending, or click to indicate they’re going. Event activity then populates back to the News Feed, giving the events the potential to virally spread among users’ friends. Facebook even offers its own standalone Events app. In addition, users also often turn to ticket sellers’ apps over web searches when looking to buy tickets to concerts or other sporting events—again, cutting Google out of the equation. Google’s answer to these ongoing threats is to do what it does best: organize information and make it more easily accessible. The company has worked with a number of event-related sites to make their content eligible to display in Google Search. The events will appear when users type in a related query, like 'jazz concerts in Austin' or 'art events this weekend.'" http://tcrn.ch/2qt4N2R

2. SEVENTH FYRE FESTIVAL LAWSUIT CLAIMS V.I.P. TICKETS WERE SOLD AFTER CANCELATION: Billy McFarland and Ja Rule, the co-founders of the disastrous Fyre Festival, have been hit with a seventh lawsuit, which claims they sold V.I.P. tickets after they told performers not to show up. Pitchfork: "The latest, obtained by Pitchfork, is a class-action lawsuit filed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court on behalf of two dissatisfied attendees, Sean Daly and Edward Ivey. Along with the familiar breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation claims, the complaint also alleges unjust enrichment and violation of New York state business law. Meanwhile, the lawsuit claims Fyre Festival organizers kept asking for attendees for money even after it became clear the festival wouldn’t happen, offering VIP upgrades and encouraging attendees to put money into their cashless 'Fyre Band' payment systems. They also allegedly told the performers (including Migos, Major Lazer, Blink-182, and more) that the festival was canceled long before attendees were informed. This latest legal action follows at least six other lawsuits against the Fyre Festival team. The first was a $100 million fraud suit filed in California federal court by celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos. Ben Meiselas, an attorney at Geragos’ law firm, told Pitchfork that while about 300 ticket buyers have signed up for the suit, that probably represents more than 1,000 people, because of the way tickets were sold. He said it remained unclear how many people bought tickets overall or how many attendees arrived on the island." http://bit.ly/2plrKVf

3. MANHATTAN COCKTAIL CLASSIC CANCELED DAY BEFORE EVENT: The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, which was slated to make its return to New York on Friday after a two-year hiatus, has been canceled. People who purchased tickets were informed just a day before the event was supposed to take place. Gothamist: "Ticket holders to the Gala, a cornerstone of the event since its inception that was advertised as a black-tie event hosted by Bill Murray, were informed by MCC management just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday that the event had been canceled 'due to circumstances beyond our control.' It's not clear from the email whether tickets, which were priced at $275 per person for GA and $350 for VIP, were immediately refunded. People who had purchased tickets through Pulsd—a Groupon-like service—were also informed of the Gala cancelation but were directed to buy tickets to an MCC-related event at the Highline Ballroom, which Pulsd representatives were '[assured]...will be taking place.' This contradicts the email from MCC management, which indicated that 'all events associated' with the Classic had been canceled. There's some confusion as to whether the Highline event is directly related to the MCC, but it's listed through the MCC website. A publicist for the MCC was posting to social media as recently as yesterday flaunting the Murray appearance and urging followers to purchase tickets. So far, there's been no public comment about the cancellation on social media or the MCC website by anyone directly related to the festival's planning and organization." http://bit.ly/2qXnU4G

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  Windy City RibFest will take place June 30-July 2 uptown at Lawrence and Broadway. 

LOS ANGELES:  Cedars-Sinai Teen Line's annual luncheon, "Food For Thought," will take place May 25 at the Beverly Hilton. The luncheon will be hosted by Scandal actress Katie Lowes. 

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce's annual gala will take place June 3 at Loews Miami Beach hotel. The event will honor Tara Solomon of Tara Ink with the Excellence in Tourism Award. 

Al and Nancy Malnik, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida's "Lifetime Benefactors," hosted their annual Garden Party on April 30 at their private estate in Ocean Ridge. The private event, which welcomed more than 200 supporters, was a kickoff to the upcoming 23rd annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, which will take place November 4. 

MINNEAPOLIS:  Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has promoted Eric de Neef to executive vice president of global chief branding and commercial officer. 

NEW YORK:  This year's Apollo Theater Spring Gala will take place June 12. Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, the event will include performances by Sheila E., Charlie Wilson, and CeeLo Green. 

The Trevor Project's annual fund-raising gala TrevorLive New York will take place June 19 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Imagine Dragons and Broadway star Shoshana Bean are slated to perform. 

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

TORONTO:  Harbourfront Centre will unveil its summer program with an event on May 23 at 235 Queens Quay West. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Global D.M.C. Partners has promoted Riley Sharp to vice president of sales and Erin Dugan to director of marketing and database management. 

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

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