August 6, 2013: Kanye West to Perform at VMAs, L.A. Restaurant Has 'Water Sommelier,' Inside Danny Meyer's Head

1. KANYE WEST TO PERFORM AT VMAS: Continuing its use of social media to publicize this month's Video Music Awards, MTV announced on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Vine that Kanye West would be performing at the show for a record-tying seventh time. The Instagram image featured the Brooklyn Bridge, an example of how the network has incorporated the borough's iconic imagery in advance of the show at the new Barclays Center. http://on.mash.to/190sZYj

2. 'WATER SOMMELIER' ASSISTS DINERS AT L.A. RESTAURANT: The choice is no longer simply "sparkling or still?" when it comes to water at one Los Angeles restaurant. Ray's and Stark Bar has its own "water menu" with more than 20 options and dubs its general manager a "water sommelier." Huffington Post: "if you need help figuring out what all the fuss is about, the water menu comes complete with extensive tasting notes that break down each water's mineral content and flavor profile."  http://huff.to/170U23q

3. INSIDE DANNY MEYER'S HEAD: Adweek chats with the famed restaurateur—and increasingly popular conference speaker—about his start with Union Square Cafe, the ubiquity of Shake Shack, and how he uses his events division to market his other properties. http://bit.ly/16wMiZ4

4. HOTEL OWNERSHIP SHAKE-UP: John Pritzker's private equity firm bought out his partners in Commune Hotels and Resorts. As a result, the Thompson LES and Thompson Beverly Hills will change their names, and other hotels, including the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles and the Belgraves in London, will undergo management changes. Bloomberg: http://bloom.bg/1ensubr

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  On Wednesday, Revere Hotel's rooftop bar and lounge Rooftop at Revere will launch R&R: Resort on the Rooftops. The weekly series will showcase resort wear from local and emerging  designers; the bar will sling tropical drinks.

CHICAGO:  Catholic Charities' Gala of the Arts will take place at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom September 6. NBC 5 news anchor Allison Rosati will serve as M.C. and '60s pop band the Buckinghams will perform.

Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, which provides event catering, has new cupcake flavors for August including blackberry, raspberry-lemonade, and cotton candy.

Tavernita has a new sharing menu for groups of eight or more. Items include smoked-chicken panini, shrimp Cobb salad, and lamb sausage sliders.

LOS ANGELES:  The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles announced it will honor Kathryn Bigelow and Sir Ben Kingsley at the 2013 Bafta Los Angeles Britannia Awards presented by BBC America on November 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Shadow PR now represents the Hollywood Roosevelt and the Thompson Beverly Hills and the food and beverage properties within each.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Diamond Angels of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation will host the 10th annual Fairy Tale Ball November 16 at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa; the event will have a Wizard of Oz theme.

NEW ORLEANS:  CORT Event Furnishings has opened a distribution center in Saint Rose. The new facility is part of a larger initiative to expand CORT Trade Show & Event Furnishings’ presence in the local market.

NEW YORK:  Comedian Seth Meyers will host the Ad Council’s 60th annual Public Service Award dinner in honor of AOL chairman and C.E.O. Tim Armstrong November 20 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

The New York City Wine & Food Festival has added a brunch featuring Governor Andrew Cuomo October 19 at Pier 61. The Daily Meal: http://bit.ly/1ciDj1Q

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

NEW ORLEANS:  Storefront's Annual Membership Dinner for benefactor and visionary members is September 25.

ORLANDO:  I-Drive Indoor Kart Racing will open in January on the north end of International Drive. The attraction will include a half-mile-long go-kart track, a 10,500-square-foot second floor with bowling lanes, and food and beverage areas.

GBS Linens has opened a new Southeastern regional hub in Orlando; Mike Cruz will serve as the Florida account executive.

WASHINGTON:  Event Farm has updated its Web site along with its logo and branding effort in partnership with Arnold Worldwide. It also released a new version of its event management tools.

The first Veterans Venture Forum, an initiative of the National Defense University Foundation, takes place this fall with a Capstone Demo Day October 29 at Fort McNair. Through a partnership with the Angel Venture Forum, more than 80 investment groups representing $1 billion in investable wealth are expected to hear business pitches from 20 veterans selected for the event.

The sixth annual Wags N' Whiskers event is August 24 at the Village at Shirlington and will include 50 pet-centric exhibitors, on-site adoptions, pet portraits, and live performances by Dan Haas and the Morrison Brothers Band.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and 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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