April 18, 2013: Oscar Producers Returning, Cupcakes Losing Popularity, Why Executives Should Master Social Media

1. OSCAR PRODUCERS RETURNING: Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will return for next year's Oscars. Los Angeles Times: "Zadan and Meron’s show drew the biggest Oscar audience in several years but sparked some controversy, with a number of pundits and academy insiders criticizing host Seth MacFarlane’s repartee as juvenile, including the now-infamous 'We Saw Your Boobs' opening number. It’s not clear whether the producers will ask MacFarlane to return as host." http://lat.ms/ZvRWV3

2. WHY CHEF ERIC RIPERT SHOULD BE AT YOUR FUND-RAISING AUCTION: One of the auction lots at City Harvest's gala Tuesday night in New York was a meal for 20 cooked by chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernadin. New York Times: "Mr. Ripert had planned to cook only one dinner. But when bidding seemed to stall, Mr. Ripert called on a friend, the actor Richard Gere, who was also at the gala, and volunteered him to be his sous-chef at the dinner. When the dinner went for $220,000, Mr. Ripert offered to cook another dinner if someone else would match the first price, and another bidder came through, helping to raise $440,000 for City Harvest." http://nyti.ms/11hMYLG

3. CUPCAKES LOSING POPULARITY: Is the popular event dessert-table staple losing steam? New York City-based Crumbs Bake Shop's stock fell 34 percent after announcing that this year's sales will be 22 percent lower than predicted. But companies like Magnolia and New Jersey-based Cupcake Salon claim they have seen no decline in sales. Wall Street Journal: "Crumbs perhaps grew too fast into suburban markets that couldn't support the brand, suggests John Gordon, principal at Pacific Management Consulting Group, a restaurant-industry analysis firm." http://on.wsj.com/ZvULFm†

4. WHY EXECUTIVES SHOULD MASTER SOCIAL MEDIA: Consumers expect company executives to engage with them on social media, according to EC3 C.E.O. Daniel Newman. The Huffington Post: "Obviously if you are busy running a company you can't be on Facebook all day. [But] the executives of a company should use social to build the credibility of their company by showing that they are credible in the business and industry that they represent." http://huff.to/11fHXGq

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: ISES New England and Boston Wedding Group will host "Find Your Passion. Create Your Story. Live Your Dreams!" at the Boston Marriott Cambridge on Tuesday. Event filmmaker Brett Culp will speak.

CHICAGO: The AIDS Foundation of Chicago will host its Spring Dinner at Hilton Chicago tonight. Comedian Paula Poundstone will headline, and Robert Neubert, director of catering and sales at the hotel, will be honored for his commitment to fighting H.I.V./AIDS.

Tonight, the Chicago Botanic Garden will host a preview of the Antiques & Garden Fair. Lectures will table place throughout the weekend, including a Style Blogger panel on Saturday.

Rookie magazine founder and editor in chief Tavi Gevinson will curate a DJ set at the official Cadaver screening after-party at Debonair Tuesday. The event will also feature performances from local Internet sensations Teen Witch, Shantasy Island, and Molly Soda.

The Chicago 2013 NICE award winners have been announced. Vendors took home honors including Best Responsible Event and Best Use of Event Photography. The award ceremony took place earlier this month, and a complete list of winners is available here: http://www.theniceawards.com/

LAS VEGAS: The Insomniac Electric Daisy Carnival is June 21-23 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Motorsports Complex. The music festival, now in its 17th year, will feature three days of live music, carnival rides, and interactive art. http://bit.ly/e6D4uW

LOS ANGELES: Chelsea Handler will host the Entertainment Industry Foundation's "An Unforgettable Evening" May 2 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The event, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue, will honor Kylie Minogue, Carolina Herrera, and others, and will feature a performance by Bruno Mars. Proceeds will go to the foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund.

The solar-powered Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which has 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights, will display a variety of green patterns and colors in support of Earth Day Monday.

An Catering is hosting a family Earth Day "tree party" Sunday to show off the Tiato venue as well as the company's sustainable menu brunch items. Town and Country will provide rentals.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The band Chicago recently performed a private concert for 100 Naples Winter Wine Festival auction winners in the Grand Lawn Pavilion at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. Tickets to the concert and five-course dinner raised more than $410,000 during the festival's live auction in January, with proceeds benefiting the Naples Children & Education Foundation.

NEW YORK: Asian Women in Business will host its annual Procurement Conference for Minority and Women Business Enterprises June 6 at BNY Mellon. The exhibition will include corporate matchmaking sessions, discussions led by industry experts, and lessons on social media marketing.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO: Maine-based Sea Dog Brewing Company opened its second Florida location near Disney. The casual spot serves handcrafted English-style beers and creative pub fare.

TORONTO: The Art Gallery of Ontario's Massive Party is Saturday and has a gold theme. The sold-out event expects some 1,800 guests, and it will include artist performances, live music, food, drinks, DJs, and art installations inspired by the event's glitzy theme. To follow the event in real time online, use the hash tag #AGOMASSIVE.

WASHINGTON: The Washington Humane Society's Bark Ball is June 8 at the Washington Hilton and will feature silent and live auctions, dinner, and dancing. More than 600 guests, along with 400 dogs, are expected to attend.

The Washington International Horse Show reached an agreement with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to extend its run at Verizon Center through 2016. The event, now in its 55th year, attracts more than 20,000 spectators to the six-day show.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Jenna Berris, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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