BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #72 — Thursday, 08.04.11
Compiled today by Jana Schiowitz & Courtney Thompson in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
* INCOMING *
1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA: In addition to hitting his hometown of Chicago last night to raise funds for his 2012 re-election campaign, President Barack Obama's plans for his 50th birthday today include a small reception and party at the White House, that an official confirmed the Obamas will be paying for. ABC News: "Senior members of Obama's staff will toast the president in the Blue Room of the White House Thursday afternoon. At night, he'll celebrate with family and friends, including some coming in from his hometown of Chicago, then cap the festivities with a weekend trip to Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.”
http://abcn.ws/oLdMWM
The Chicago Tribune on Obama’s Wednesday night birthday bash: "Obama arrived at a dimly lit and sticky warm concert hall as Herbie Hancock performed. Some of the estimated 2,400 people in attendance, who paid at least $50, wore cone-shaped birthday hats with the number “50” and the campaign’s logo. Obama capped the evening with a dinner of 100 donors who paid $35,800 apiece and got a slice of a two-layer birthday cake from Eli's, one layer chocolate, the other carrot cake."
http://trib.in/pzkb4V
Here is a video of Jennifer Hudson serenading the president at his 50th birthday fund-raiser at the Aragon Ballroom last night. The Chicago Tribune:
http://trib.in/or5vvK
Highlights and a video from Huffington Post: "On the eve of his 50th birthday, Obama spoke to donors at two fundraisers at the historic Aragon Ballroom, and via video conference to supporters at more than 1,000 house parties from coast to coast."
http://huff.to/pVuV5B
In related news, the President is slated to commemorate the 10th anniversary 9/11 attacks next month with visits to three separate events in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pensnsylvania. CNN:
http://bit.ly/oUKlZe
2. MAKING THE MEETING A SACRED TOOL: Dan Schawbel interviewed Al Pitampalli, author of "Read This Before Our Next Meeting" and founder of the Modern Meeting Company, discussing the current issues with meetings, the role of technology, and what a meeting should look like. Forbes: “The future of the meeting is called the Modern Meeting. It only exists to support decisions. It’ll refuse to be about simply disseminating information. It’ll be a sacred tool, that feels like a special event every time it happens.”
http://onforb.es/nPdLKT
3. 1OAK HEADING TO VEGAS: New York Post: "1Oak's Richie Akiva, Scott Sartiano, and Ronnie Madra are close to signing a deal to take over the Light Group's 16,000-square-foot JET nightclub at the Mirage and bring their Chelsea hot spot to Vegas."
http://nyp.st/qXUCvf
4. AVOID FLYING OUT OF NEWARK: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that of the 100 most-delayed flights last year, 40 came and went from Newark, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
http://on.wsj.com/pD1hFT
5. OUTDOOR RETAILER’S SUMMER MARKET EXPECTS RECORD CROWD: The Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City at Salt Palace opens today. The show is expecting a record number of 25,000 attendees. The Salt Lake Tribune: "The largest convention held in Utah each year packs area restaurants and hotels, generating $23 million for the local economy. It has become so large that it has outgrown the convention center, requiring a tent to be constructed in a nearby parking lot that will play host to an additional 200 exhibitors."
http://bit.ly/pdQMvF
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: New Leaf Flores have been awarded "Best Florist” by Boston magazine for the 2011 Best of Boston Awards.
http://bit.ly/gQOIEh
The Catered Affair debuted a new website featuring a list of venues, sample menus, staff information, and more photos from highlighted events.
http://bit.ly/le0ViA
CHICAGO: The Arlington Million horse race will take place at Arlington Park August 13. The "Party in the Park" will take place the day before the race, and offer $1 mini hot dogs and tacos and entertainment from local band How Far is Austin.
http://bit.ly/1T9M
LAS VEGAS: The 10th annual Vegas Valley Book Festival, the largest literary event in town, will take place November 3-6 at the downtown Historic Fifth Street School.
http://bit.ly/qBgY9k
Former President Bill Clinton spoke this week at a home furnishings trade show at the World Market Center.
http://bit.ly/q2UEXi
LOS ANGELES: Joie De Vivre's Custom Hotel, a boutique property near L.A.X., is slated to relaunch in September with new amenities, a revamped restaurant and bar, and an aesthetic that pays homage to '60s air travel.
MIAMI: Taverna Opa Greek in South Beach will relocate to a retail and entertainment complex at Mary Brickell Village in Fort Lauderdale in early 2012. The new space will have an expanded bar area and both an indoor and outdoor options for entertaining.
Broward Motorsports will host the Radio Lollipop Motorcycle Charity Run August 13. Proceeds from the 3rd annual run will benefit Radio Lollipop at Miami Children's Hospital.
Wynwood gallery Area 23 Galeria has a new name, reflecting that of the space's owner and principal, the Alberto Linero Gallery.
NEW YORK: In the rapidly growing Midtown West neighborhood surrounding the Javits Center, former N.B.A. player Walt "Clyde" Frazier plans to open a 10,000-square-foot restaurant and sports bar in partnership with the Ark Restaurant Group. On the ground floor of the residential development 505w37—the high-rise condo building that hosted last year's Carrera Summer Escape—the spot from the current TV sports commentator will serve American fare. The as-yet-unnamed eatery is slated to open December 1.
http://bit.ly/qgjpaZ
From contributor Jim Shi: "This September, J.Crew will stage its first-ever show at the Lincoln Center tents during New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The American brand, which has long hosted its own off-site presentations outside of the Fashion Week calendar, has taken a 9:30 a.m. time slot in the Studio venue September 13. Other new names planning to show in the tents include Honor, Pink Tartan, and Emerson, among others."
Delta Airlines, already a signature partner of local organizations including the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, Madison Square Garden and its various properties, and the James Beard Foundation, yesterday announced a new sponsorship. The Atlanta-based company is now the official airline of the Whitney Museum of American Art and, as part of the agreement, will provide travel for the architecture, design, and building teams working on the arts institution's new downtown space.
ORLANDO: Two Orlando water parks are among the top ten in the country according to TripAdvisor travelers. Disney's Typhoon Lagoon came in at number 2, and Sea World Orlando's Aquatic came in at number 9.
http://prn.to/ovIpUX
SCOTTSDALE: Chef Jose Garces was named executive chef in charge of food and beverage of new hotel property, the Drinkwater. Garces owns his own restaurant group and won Food Network's "The Next Iron Chef" last year.
TORONTO: The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Toronto December 10. UFC's debut in the city last April was the largest Mixed Martial Arts event in North America, bringing in over 55,000 fans to the Rogers Centre. The December event will be held at the Air Canada Centre, which seats just under 20,000.
http://yhoo.it/pQfhIR
Seneca College will host its annual student tabletop design competition August 10. Fifteen students from the Event Management program will show off their designs at the Markham campus.
http://bit.ly/psiIMN
WASHINGTON: The Twelve Days of Christmas’ annual summer fund-raiser, “La Fiesta del Sol,” is tonight at Mio Restaurant on Vermont Avenue. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase back-to-school supplies and clothes for families in need in the DC Metropolitan area. The minimum donation is $25 and DJ Marc Mckayle is spinning.
http://bit.ly/o9jq4e
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Erica Petri, Jana Schiowitz, Anna Sekula, and Courtney Thompson in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
