November 13, 2013: Survey Shows Trends in Same-Sex Weddings, How the Internet Ruined the R.S.V.P., Lionsgate Considers ‘Hunger Games’ Theme Park

1. SURVEY SHOWS TRENDS IN SAME-SEX WEDDINGS: Community Marketing & Insights, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender consumer research company, looked at trends among more than 900 same-sex couples as they plan weddings. The survey, produced with the Gay Wedding Institute, found that female same-sex couples spend more on their weddings than male same-sex couples; 76 percent of same-sex couples feel it is important to work with L.G.B.T.-friendly businesses when planning their wedding; and the economic impact for states offering civil unions or domestic partnerships is considerably less than those offering marriage since most couples in a civil union or domestic partnership did not have a traditional wedding with a ceremony and reception.

2. HAS THE INTERNET RUINED THE R.S.V.P.?: With paperless invitations delivered via email, event hosts are reporting a change in how serious their guests take their replies, with some responding yes and failing to show up, or others giving the squishy answer of “maybe.” New York Times: “But hasn’t all of this ease and streamlining also helped erode the social contract that is at the heart of an R.S.V.P.? Hunt Slonem, a painter and frequent dinner party host, said: ‘I don’t know if people take an online invitation as seriously as a printed one anymore. A lot more people R.S.V.P. than show up because it’s so easy to R.S.V.P.’” http://nyti.ms/1e3cvBj

3. LIONSGATE CONSIDERS ‘HUNGER GAMES’ THEME PARK: Lionsgate Entertainment, the studio behind the Hunger Games franchise, told financial analysts it is considering opening a theme bark based on the blockbuster. New York Post: “The dark future envisioned by the book doesn’t sound very family friendly, but a high-speed ride based on the movie’s bullet train might work. On the other hand, encouraging teenage admirers of heroine Katniss Everdeen to try their hand at archery could be disastrous. And what food concessions could exist in a world where teens compete—and kill—for meals?” http://bit.ly/1dpbQZP

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The second annual Christmas in the City Kick-Off & Celebrity Holiday Tree Auction is December 3 at the Seaport Hotel. The event will feature an auction of Christmas trees that have been decorated by Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Black and Gold's left wing Milan Lucic.

CHICAGO:  Members of the national touring company of Wicked will host a holiday benefit performance, the Wicked Night Before Christmas,  at the Laugh Factory on December 8.

LAS VEGAS:  Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Growing up watching people such as Martha Stewart, Brittney Melnick knew she wanted to become a caterer. Years later, not only is she seeing her dreams come true with her company, B With A Twist, she is using her business to cater to the needs of various nonprofits.” http://bit.ly/1bzodS1

LOS ANGELES:  Women's Wear Daily: "After three weeks chock full of women’s fashion events in Los Angeles—one event organizer estimated there were as many as 37, an awards-season-worthy amount—the guys finally got their due Thursday night at a cocktail reception to fete the opening of Ermenegildo Zegna’s store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and an after-party at the JF Chen Gallery in L.A.” http://bit.ly/1akGTFN

The Autry National Center of the American West has launched Crossroads West Cafe, a restaurant with an upscale, moderately priced dining option for visitors to the Autry and Griffith Park.

Bixel & Company, a destination management company, announced the hiring of a sales team member, Autumn Woods Johnson.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Fashion for Charity's “A Night In Havana” contemporary art and fashion exhibition is Thursday at the Coral Gables Museum. The Latin-theme event will evoke Cuba in the 1950s through music, cocktails, cuisine, cigar rolling, and other entertainment. A highlight will be the unveiling of a painting by Humberto Benitez that incorporates work from the fashion designer Ella Bella RoZio.

Benefiting education programs at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the Palm Beach Wine Auction will be held January 30 at the Mar-a-Lago Club.

NEW YORK:  The New York Botanical Garden's Winter Wonderland Ball is December 13 in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Management and partners of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center celebrated its $465 million renovation Tuesday. The project included an extensive upgrade to the main building, including the installation of energy-efficient lighting and the construction of a 110,000-square-foot expansion adjacent to the existing facility now known as Javits North, and the construction of the largest green roof in the Northeast.

The High Line released images of the signature element of its third and final section, a leafy “bowl” dubbed the Spur. See renderings from James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio & Renfro in Gothamist: http://bit.ly/1dmzJRQ

The fifth annual African Children’s Choir Gala is November 21 at City Winery. The evening's honored guest is actress Connie Britton, and performances from Broadway actors as well as the choir itself are planned.

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

ORLANDO:  In 2015, Disney Cruise Line will sail from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean and Bahamas on a variety of itineraries, with offerings for meeting attendees and incentive winners. See itineraries here: http://bit.ly/1fzAZ5J

PHILADELPHIA:  The U.S. Green Building Council has selected CompuSystems to provide registration and lead retrieval services for its international conference and expo for the next two years. The 2013 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, is November 20-22 in Philadelphia.

SAN FRANCISCO:  InVision Communications launched Collective-Experience Group (CXG), a brand engagement agency headquartered in the East Bay.

Hopscotch restaurant in Uptown Oakland has created a new private dining space, which accommodates groups of as many as 30 seated guests for lunch and dinner or 45 for receptions. The space includes a full bar for cocktails, wine, and Japanese and local beers.

TORONTO:  The Crystal Ball, which supports Reach for the Rainbow, will take place this Saturday at Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

WASHINGTON:  Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. will open Muze Restaurant on December 2. The all-day dining restaurant, formally Sou’Wester, will highlight the hotel’s oriental heritage with flavors from Southeast Asia using local produce.

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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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