BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #132 — Friday, 10.28.11
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. LADY LIBERTY TURNS 125: Today marks the Statue of Liberty's birthday, and to celebrate, five webcams, donated by EarthCam, have been placed on her torch showing the New York City skyline, New York Harbor, and a view of the torch itself. Activities for the day include a swearing in ceremony for 125 immigrants, readings by actress Sigourney Weave, and fireworks. Liberty Island rangers will be covering today's festivities using Facebook, Twitter, and Flicker. USA Today:
http://usat.ly/rvUtOb
2. QR CODE SUCCESS: Ad Age looks at good and bad QR code campaigns. The best: Hennessy's limited edition bottles featuring a QR code, leading users to a mobile sitewith cocktail recipes, and Starbucks' collaboration with Lady Gaga for an online and offline six-round scavenger hunt where customers scanned codes on in-store banners to get clues to win prizes. The worst: "Unreadable codes on billboards, too high up for people to get a clear scan; on ads in subways, where there is no cellphone reception for scans."
http://bit.ly/vBIu7b
3. WEDDING COUPONS: Diane Paul of Rockville, Maryland, used coupon sites like Groupon and Living Social to pay only $1,761 for $5,195 worth of services for her son’s rehearsal dinner . Washingtonian:
http://bit.ly/sKfHzQ
4. GETTING SCARY: Earlier this week (sorry, we missed it) The New York Times looked at the yearlong preparations for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, which this year includes eight haunted houses and multiple street parties for 25 nights. A show director: “These people are paying to get the bejesus scared out of them, and every year it gets harder…We look at each other and say, ‘What’s left to do?’”
http://nyti.ms/ufhIPG
5. AUDI'S HALLOWEEN VIDEO: To showcase its new A6 model with night vision assistant and thermal imaging camera, Audi created a video of its latest technology while promoting Halloween safety. Audi's YouTube page:
http://bit.ly/tEHGgI
* MOMENT OF TED *
From editor at large Ted Kruckel's column on Food Day and the Occupy Wall Street kitchen: "If Monday, October 24, went by and you didn't know it was Food Day, it is not your fault. The massive grassroots program, designed to inform, inspire, and elevate the national discussion on food—with 1,200 events across the nation and a showcase kickoff called an Eat In that took place in Times Square—was mostly a dud." He had more fun in Zuccotti Park:
http://bit.ly/rAPBfr
* FROM THE EVENT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE *
Andrea Michaels, founder and president of Extraordinary Events, recently spoke to E.L.I. about what it takes to make events award-worthy, how she gets potential hires, and other what she's learned about the event business. Here are some highlights:
http://bit.ly/sTvFKf
* INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT *
The "Patient Gardener" is a building project by Swedish design firm Visiondivision that will take 80 years to grow. Built on a campus in Milan, the project is made up of 10 Japanese cherry trees, which will bend and twist over time. A wooden structure with ropes attached to the plants stands in the center and will act as a "guidance tower." As the tree "building" grows, furniture made from grass, trees, and plants will be introduced. The project began as a way for students to explore the effect of today's fast-paced lifestyle on the environment. Wired:
http://bit.ly/sp5Zf9
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Megan Levy of Mpire Events will host a showcase of her favorite things at Bijou November 5. The cocktail party will include cocktails, a candy bar, and a DJ. Winston Flowers will handle decor.
http://bit.ly/s6XP8K
Miss U.S.A. Alyssa Campanella was in town this week to promote Sunday's Susan G. Komen's Massachusetts Race for the Cure. Boston.com:
http://bo.st/sGj9ic
Marc Jacobs is hosting a Beaux Arts Ball in honor of Halloween in Provincetown at the Town Hall tomorrow. More than 900 guests are expected to attend the Bryan Rafanelli-designed event. Page Six:
http://nyp.st/sJtFlO
CHICAGO: Food & Wine's Entertaining Showcase will take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art November 14. Featured chefs include Grant Achatz, Stephanie Izard, and Bill Kim.
Heffernan Morgan Ronsley will handle design for the cocktail party and Table Hop and Taste event during next week's Diffa Dining by Design at the Merchandise Mart. The firm will also design a table.
LAS VEGAS: The International Council of Shopping Centers is creating a new show in a new location that will be part of its global retail real estate convention. In 2012, as part of its RECon Conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, ICSC will be launching the Marketplace Mall @ RECon, which will house shopping center product and service providers, the "Green Zone," a product demo theater, the social media and technology pavilion, the specialty leasing showcase, a café, a free Wi-Fi station and RECon registration.
Houston-based Autolyst announced the launch of a social network aimed at the automotive world, which will have features like unique QR codes as a means of social communication. The network will officially debut at the SEMA show November 1.
http://bit.ly/umrUI9
LOS ANGELES: The L.A. Times has a roundup of Halloween activities in the area:
http://lat.ms/umP5Z1
Lacma announced Thursday that Stevie Wonder will perform at its inaugural Art & Film Gala, honoring Clint Eastwood and artist John Baldessari November 5 at the museum.
The Queen Mary announced that Steve Sheldon is the venue's new director of entertainment events.
Kaley Cuoco of "The Big Bang Theory" will host the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre January 11.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: City Unlisted's roundup of Halloween events:
http://gi.lt/tcxbdu
The Coral Gables Art Cinema celebrates its one-year anniversary Sunday with a screening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's." An after-party at the Tiffany store in Merrick Park will include mimosas, pastries, and a fashion show by Mayda Cisneros Couture.
Mario Tolentino has been named chef de cuisine at BLT Steak at the Betsey-South Beach. Tolentino previously was executive chef at Juliet Supperclub in New York.
The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival continues through November 6 with movies like "Refractaire," "Marathon Boy," and "The Pill."
http://bit.ly/v0KIgP
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opened Thursday and runs through October 31, Show exhibits include yacht builders and designers, sea vessels, and brokerage yachts.
http://bit.ly/pInxIr
NASHVILLE: Artist arrivals for the 45th Annual County Music Awards will be presented by Macy's Walk of Stars, November 9 at the Bridgestone Arena.
NEW YORK: DealEvents.com and the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce are teaming up, organizing “Pillage the Village: World's Largest Scavenger Hunt” November 19. The hunt will benefit four nonprofits.
http://bit.ly/uo9Vs4
Calvin Klein will be the keynote speaker at the C.F.D.A./Vogue Fashion Fund dinner awards gala November 14.
The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation's ninth annual gala is November 10 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. Torre will be joined by celebrities and athletes to honor World Series champion Paul O'Neill.
http://bit.ly/didqAe
Nonprofit Stocked is hosting its awards event November 9 at Union Square Ballroom. Professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez will be honored with an achievement award.
http://bit.ly/6Lbcw
Sentry Centers hosted an event Thursday night with BizBash at its Seventh Avenue location featuring wine speaker Michael Green and tips on how to use food and drink to enhance guests' experiences at events.
ORLANDO: With the N.B.A. season still on hold, the Orlando Magic will host a free Halloween party for the public Sunday at the Amway Center. The "Flick-or-Treat" event will include appearances from Magic coaches and Stuff the Magic Mascot, along with trick-or-treating around the arena and an animated film that will be shown on the center court screen.
TORONTO: The Food Dudes has expanded its company to include photography, videography, custom rentals, and staffing services. In December, the company will open its first restaurant and lounge in King West.
http://bit.ly/aCkeyh
The Women's College Hospital Foundation will host the inaugural Women for Women's lunch on Friday at the Sheraton Centre. Funds raised from the event will go toward building a new facility.
WASHINGTON: The National Italian American Foundation announced on Wednesday evening that President Obama will deliver the keynote address at the organization's 36th anniversary awards gala tomorrow. Some 2,000 guests are attending the event at the Washington Hilton, where Nancy Pelosi will introduce the president.
Chef Michel Richard's 36-seat restaurant Meatballs is set to open today.
Washingtonian:
http://bit.ly/vSDkyb
The 36th Marine Corps Marathon is taking place Sunday with 43,000 participants and an expected 100,000 spectators. A bevy of surrounding events include the Health & Fitness Expo today and tomorrow at the convention center, and the First Timers Opening Night party at the Hyatt Regency Washington tonight, which celebrates the 11,000 first-time Marine Corps Marathon participants.
http://bit.ly/WvXa3
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 Matthew Mogavero, Jana Schiowitz, Anna Sekula, Courtney Thompson, and Katherine Zoeller in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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