August 21, 2013: Pepsi's Social Song Release, Gay Rights Petition Met Opera, Fashion and Film Converge at New Event

1. PEPSI PROMO GETS FANS TO VOTE FOR KATY PERRY'S NEXT HIT: Tied to this weekend's MTV Video Music Awards, Pepsi is inviting fans to vote for the next song to be released from Katy Perry's latest album. Adweek: "The soda, singer, and MTV will encourage people to use the hashtag #KatyNow to unlock clues about her forthcoming, full-length album, Prism, such as song titles and lyrics. Throughout the weekend, people can utilize the clues to listen to two songs from her album via a Pepsi microsite and then vote for one by tweeting the title along with #KatyNow. The winning song will be revealed on MTV moments before Perry's V.M.A. performance and then released through iTunes on September 17." http://bit.ly/12lu8rE

2. OPERA FANS WANT GAY RIGHTS CENTER STAGE AT MET GALA: An online petition is calling on the Metropolitan Opera's Russian-theme, opening-night gala performance to be dedicated in support of the L.G.B.T. community. The movement comes as a response to Russia's new legal restrictions on the discussion of homosexuality. "[American art director Bartlett Sher] said in an interview that he did not see the petition as anti-Met but rather as a chance to take a stand against Mr. Putin and the recent law. 'I saw it as a chance for everyone who loves opera, and all of us who work in it, to stand up to a pig and a dictator, against a terrible position and a terrible man,' he said." The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1cVfWN2

3. FASHION AND FILM COMBINE AT NEW EVENT: Next month, DailyCandy and Tribeca Enterprises will host the first "Fashion in Film" event, a free two-day program in New York featuring original films and live panel discussions. The venture from the women's Web site and the operator of the Tribeca Film Festival will be open to the public and take place at Tribeca Cinemas; two original films and panels will be available digitally, on DailyCandy’s online and mobile platforms. DailyCandy has also partnered with Instagram to invite consumers to use 15-second videos to illustrate how fashion influences their lives.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Island Creek Oyster Bar will host a "Late Night Pizza Throwdown" on Thursday, offering pizzas from chef Jeremy Sewall and Brooklyn-based food photographer Michael Harlan Turkell. The evening's proceeds will benefit Island Creek Oysters Foundation, and menu items include bacon-and-egg and smoked-salmon pizzas.

The first David Ortiz Children's Fund gala will take place at Four Seasons Hotel Boston on September 16. The island-theme event will include a Dominican-theme cocktail reception, live Latin music, auctions, and a seated dinner.

CHICAGO:  Highland Park Cos Bar, a luxury cosmetics boutique, is hosting its official grand opening party on September 19. The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, makeup demos, refreshments, and goodie bags. Five percent of the evening's proceeds will benefit the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

Chicagoist reports that a new cocktail bar from two Violet Hour veterans will open soon in Logan Square. Called Analogue, the venue at 2523 North Milwaukee Avenue will be inspired by discos and dive bars from the 1970s and 1980s Chicago. http://bit.ly/14Yibfo

HERSHEY, PA.:  The fourth annual Hotel Hershey Wine & Food Festival is September 13-15 and will include a wine reception hosted by New Zealand winemaker Murray Cook from Villa Maria Wines, a tour of Lancaster County's Waltz Vineyards, and a Grand Tasting featuring live music, more than 40 international and domestic wineries, and food samplings from Hershey Entertainment & Resorts’ chefs and restaurants.

LAS VEGAS:  The seventh annual Clif Bar CrossVegas cyclocross race will return on September 18 to the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex.

Las Vegas Informer: "Informer Media Group and Danny Vegas Live have announced their partnership in upcoming events." http://bit.ly/17IPZJo

CSPnet.com: "Retailers attending the Financial Mobility Summit on the viability and profitability of mobile payments encountered more than 60 exhibitors and a couple dozen panel sessions." http://bit.ly/171pA9R

Tom Colicchio’s 230-seat Heritage Steak, the newest restaurant from the James Beard Award-winning chef, is now open at the Mirage.

LOS ANGELES:  Jenn-Air will be the exclusive appliance sponsor of the third annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival. http://on.mktw.net/1cZQA0t

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Miami New Times reviewed Jeffrey Chodorow's Biscayne Tavern at the B2 hotel: http://bit.ly/19ykWFV

A Joy Wallace, Site Florida & Carribean, and the Florida/Caribbean chapter of the Green Meeting Industry Council will host a networking event at Comber Hall on September 19.

NEW YORK:  Billed as the world’s longest-running electronic music festival, Mysterland will makes its U.S. debut at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The nonprofit center is located on the site of the infamous Woodstock Festival. Organized by Dutch producer ID&T, Mysterland's Stateside launch will take place during Memorial Day weekend May 23-26, 2014.

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

TORONTO:  Martha Stewart will headline this year's Delicious Food Show, scheduled for October 25-27 at the Better Living Centre. That includes kicking off opening day with a ribbon cutting, participating in cooking demonstrations, and a book signing of her newly released book, Cakes. The show will also tag Stewart's "picks," products, and foods the lifestyle maven has chosen as her favorites.

The Diesel Food Truck for Change will hit Toronto streets September 5-8 during the Toronto International Film Festival. The branded truck will offer "croughnuts" in exchange for donations to OneXOne.

WASHINGTON:  The Men’s Event fund-raiser for the Hearts & Homes for Youth, a new event, is September 12 at Taste Gastro Pub in Olney, Maryland.

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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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