BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #201 — Thursday, 02.16.12
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
* INCOMING *
1. HOUSTON FUNERAL PLANS: On Saturday, the family of Whitney Houston will hold a funeral for the late singer at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, with a eulogy from family friend Marvin Winans. The Star-Ledger: “Houston’s family rejected a public spectacle for a final farewell to the pop icon, choosing instead to hold a private, invitation-only funeral at New Hope, the singer’s childhood church, which seats about 1,500.” Local police have already begun preparations for the private affair, which is expected to draw thousands of fans.
http://bit.ly/xaE2de
2. KODAK THEATRE NO MORE: The sign on the front still reads "Kodak Theatre," but that's no longer the venue's name. A bankruptcy judge approved the company's request to pull out of its estimated $72-million, 20-year contract for the naming rights. The theater's landlords, CIM/H&H Media, said it wouldn't be feasible to take down the sign before the Academy Awards on February 26. L.A. Times:
http://lat.ms/znY14X
3. PREPPING FOR G-8: The Associated Press: "Protesters will be flocking to Chicago for May's G-8 and NATO summits armed with smartphones, video cameras and links to social media sites they'll use for strategizing and sharing images of what's happening—right in front of a police force known for responding with tough tactics...Now a city councilman wants to forbid the police department from pulling the plug on the electronic communication during the events, taking away a tactic employed by authorities during a crackdown on democratic protests in Egypt and during protests in the San Francisco Bay Area last year."
http://bit.ly/AwTNJz
4. OBAMA FUND-RAISERS: Supporters for the president came out to support fund-raising efforts Wednesday night in Hollywood. More than 1,000 people including Jack Black and Rashida Jones gathered at the home of "The Bold and the Beautiful" producer Bradley Bell. The Foo Fighters performed, but co-host Will Ferrell was a no-show because of a filming engagement. Later on in the evening, 80 guests, including George Clooney, joined Obama at the home for a $35,800-a-plate dinner. The Boston Globe:
http://bo.st/wbYOdL
5. FASHION WEEK WOES: Residents living near the New York Fashion Week tents on the Lincoln Center campus are asking that Damrosch Park be returned to its regular state, a city park. The New York Times: "City officials brushed aside the criticism, saying that Damrosch Park was a hard-surface plaza with few visitors in winter. They argued that residents had ample access to nearby parkland, including Central Park, and said that many thousands of New Yorkers were able to enjoy the circus [which also uses the site] and the fashion shows."
http://nyti.ms/zpHPSI
6. GRAMMY BACKLASH: The Catholic League denounced Nicki Minaj's performance at the Grammy awards as "vulgar": "None of this was by accident, and all of it was approved by the Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammys. Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of the Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam."
http://bit.ly/ycqZiE
The Retreat, an organization that offers domestic violence services to women, also reacted to Chris Brown's performance,pointing to a sampling of upsetting pro-Brown comments on BuzzFeed (“I’d let Chris Brown beat me up”):
http://bit.ly/xKsNLf
* INTERNAL NEWS: FLORIDA READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS *
The call for nominations for the Readers' Choice Awards for the BizBash Florida Expo opened yesterday. There are 12 categories, including the newly added Hotel Food & Beverage Director of the Year and Fund-raising Event Planner of the Year. Nominations will be accepted through February 29. Voting opens March 28 and ends April 15. Winners will be revealed at the BizBash Florida Expo & Awards at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center on April 18 during the afternoon general session. All information for the nominations and voting portions of these awards, as well as category descriptions and nominations criteria, is here:
http://bit.ly/x06u1d
* LOCAL NEWS *
ATLANTIC CITY: Chef Michel Richard will head three restaurants at Revel Casino, which is set to open April 2. Central, will have seating for 174 and an open kitchen; O Bistro and Wine Bar will be a 25-seat circular bar overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; and the Breakfast Room will be a casual spot with seating for 120. Pressofatlanticcity.com:
http://bit.ly/zNDAyZ
BOSTON: KO Catering and Pies plans to open KO Pub and Pies, a full-service restaurant in East Boston, this spring. With a shipyard-inspired interior, the restaurant will seat 30 inside and 40 on a patio. Eater:
http://bit.ly/AaxiQ9
The Radisson Hotel on Stuart Street is undergoing a $27 million renovation, and will reopen this spring as an independent luxury hotel called the Revere. Boston Globe:
http://b.globe.com/wmtdyh
Chita Rivera will perform at Boston Youth Moves' Swellegance gala at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre May 4. TheatreMania.com:
http://bit.ly/w0n9u5
CHICAGO: Chicago Shakespeare Theater will host a delegation of leaders from Shakespeare festivals across Europe February 21-25. The theater will host a welcome luncheon February 22 with speaker Tom Bird, director of the Globe to Globe Festival.
LAS VEGAS: USA Sevens rugby broke attendance records with 64,551 fans during the 2012 event at Sam Boyd Stadium. It was the largest American crowd ever for a live rugby event. MarketWatch:
http://bit.ly/z3UHD9
The Riviera Hotel & Casino is hosting a series of events as part of Nascar March Race Weekend, March 8-11. The weekend will officially begin with a slot tournament benefiting the Kyle Busch Foundation.
LOS ANGELES: MOCA will present a tribute exhibit to the late artist Mike Kelley, February 18 to April 2.
Variety: "The Association of Film Commissioners International will hold its Locations Show on June 15-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event will run concurrently with the opening weekend of the Los Angeles Film Festival, held June 14-24 at venues centered around the adjacent L.A. Live complex."
http://bit.ly/z4Vk1S
The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center has appointed Charles Beirne as general manager in a permanent position from what began as a temporary one.
Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa is opening in July with 8,500 square feet of indoor space, 11,800 square feet of outdoor space, and 5,000 square feet of pre-function space.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The 38th annual Love and Hope Ball is Saturday at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation fund-raiser will begin with cocktails followed by dinner and a concert by Barry Gibb. The venue is catering the event with decor by Xquisite Events, Panache, Nuage Designs, and Over the Top, and invitations by Rex Three.
Chef Juan Chipoco is launching his newest restaurant, Pollos y Jarras, February 24. The 6,000-square-foot bi-level restaurant will have an outdoor lounge for entertaining.
NEW YORK: Registration is now open for the N.Y.U. Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, June 3-5 at the Marriott Marquis.
http://bit.ly/z8RMM4
Bloomberg's Ryan Sutton praises the decor at Saxon & Parole, but dislikes the service and some of the dishes: "The new spot is a looker. Barnyard browns glow; there’s a candle-lit fireplace room for families; black banquettes downstairs are for first dates, birthday parties...Do not order the ghastly, $32 branzino, which is light on meat and heavy on soggy panko stuffing. A $29 pork chop chewed like cardboard and tasted chemical."
http://bloom.bg/AmyHSm
ORLANDO: The Pub at Pointe Orlando opens today. The British-inspired restaurant and bar has two "pour your own beer" walls where guests can fill their own glass and pay by the ounce. The Pub has seating for 175 and several semiprivate areas.
The Orlando World Center Marriott has hired Thomas Egan as director of sales.
Gym Class Heroes will headline the Sprint Pregame Concert before the N.B.A. All-Star Game at Amway Center February 26. Additional performers include J. Cole, Pentatonix, and Kayla Brianna.
TORONTO: Toronto Star columnist Corey Mintz pokes fun at wedding catering mistakes:
http://bit.ly/yD5A4e
The Toronto Centre for the Arts is hosting an industry night February 22. Local event professionals will be in attendance to see the venue and meet its preferred suppliers.
http://bit.ly/zb9hhG
More than 50 events will celebrate the Grey Cup game and its festivities, which will be held November 25. Lou Ragagnin, the newly appointed president and C.O.O. of the 100th Grey Cup Festival: "We knew that we had to create that Olympic feeling in this city, so we extended the week to bring this city to life over two weekends.” Attractions include galas, concerts, zip lines, commemoration ceremonies, and a street festival. The Toronto Star:
http://bit.ly/wOCoZT
WASHINGTON: Chef Michael White of New York's Marea and Ai Fiori, announced Tuesday that he's opening his first Washington restaurant in summer 2013. The 4,250-square-foot space will be in the developing retail pavilion at Yards Park. The Washingtonian:
http://bit.ly/xG3Xn7
Trump hotels will turn the Old Post Office building into a 250-room hotel. Forbes:
http://onforb.es/yR4JQO
Not Alone, an organization that helps to reduce suicide rates among veterans and their families, is hosting a fund-raising reception at the Watershed after members and supporters take part in the Rock N' Roll U.S.A. Marathon March 17.
http://bit.ly/zJauo7
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 Jana Schiowitz and Anna Sekula 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
