April 10, 2015: Academy Sets Dates for Next Three Oscars, Mexico Tourism Ad Creates Billboards From Snow, What Anthony Bourdain’s Street Food Market Will Look Like

1. ACADEMY SETS DATES FOR NEXT THREE OSCARS: For anyone planning events—or Oscar parties—through 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has announced the date of the Oscar ceremonies for the next three years. Variety: “This answers questions such as whether Oscars will return to Monday nights or shift its calendar dates to earlier in the year. The announcement also signals to the other awards events to set their own dates and venues. All the Oscar ceremonies, as usual, will air live on ABC and in multiple countries around the world.” http://bit.ly/1Oex0wA

2. MEXICO TOURISM AD CREATES BILLBOARDS FROM SNOW: In a stunt that merged advertising with performance art, the Mexico Tourism Board hired a street artist to create outdoor ads from the copious amount of snow in Chicago. The results—which were recorded and used in a commercial—urge bundled-up passers-by to “take your clothes off” and “come melt under the sun.” Adweek has a time-lapse video of the “snow graffiti” stunt: http://bit.ly/1a9AbX1

3. WHAT ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S STREET FOOD MARKET WILL LOOK LIKE: Without announcing a date or location, Anthony Bourdain’s business partner described the philosophy and a floor plan for the chef and TV host’s planned international food market in New York. Stephen Werther shared details about Bourdain Market at the World Street Food Congress in Singapore on Thursday. Today: “Werther presented rough renderings of what the market would look like, highlighting inspirations such as the set decor of Blade Runner and the vibrant back alleys of Tokyo. ‘It’s a bit more chaotic than how the hawkers markets are organised here. Hopefully, it will be as crowded and popular. But it is supposed to be a mash-up of foods, styles, smells, tastes and visuals,’ he continued. ‘New York needs this. New York’s idea of street food, with a few rare exceptions, are sort of new versions of what we call fast casual. And that’s not what this is. It might be casual, but it’s not fast.’” http://bit.ly/1Js9LfI


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Informa Exhibitions has purchased MegaCon Orlando, the three-day comic book, anime, gaming, and multimedia event that opens today at the Orange County Convention Center. MegaCon will be part of Informa's Fan Expo HQ portfolio, which also includes Fan Expo Canada, Fan Expo Dallas, Toronto ComiCon, and more.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  ArtWeek Boston, a biannual celebration, will take place May 1-10. It will offer some 125 events in 45 neighborhoods.

LAS VEGAS:  Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Ninkasi Brewing Company will host the "Ninkasi Space Oddity Ball: Ground Control Imperial Stout Release Party” at Eyecandy Sound Lounge in honor of International Space Day on May 1.

LOS ANGELES:  World of Children Award, a global recognition and funding organization for people serving the needs of children, announced its inaugural 2015 Alumni Honors event, which will take place on April 30 at Il Cielo in Beverly Hills. Brooke Burke-Charvet will be the M.C.

The Global STEM States announced that Los Angeles has secured the rights to host the fourth International Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in 2017.

Cancer Support Community Benjamin Center will hold its annual Gilda Award Gala at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City on May 14.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The inaugural Diversity Honors, co-presented by the Harvey Milk Foundation and the Pride Center at Equality Park, will take place May 9 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The event will honor Judy Shepard, founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, as well as South Florida leaders who have made a significant impact on improving the quality of life for the L.G.B.T. community.

NEW YORK:  Women's eNews, a a nonprofit daily news organization, will hold its fund-raising gala, 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, May 5 at JW Marriott Essex House.

The Village Voice’s fourth annual “Choice Streets” food truck event will take place May 5 at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. The ticketed event has a rain date of May 8.

Julie Merin has joined ID as senior account executive of brands and will work with organizations such as Tiffany & Company, Nintendo, and Unicef.

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

ORLANDO:  Seminole County has broken ground on a $27 million sports complex that will have 15 athletic fields when it opens next spring.

More than 62 million people visited Orlando in 2014, including 10 million who came for business and conventions, according to Visit Orlando. That's a 5 percent increase compared to 2013.

TORONTO:  Formerly known as the Panorama Lounge, the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre was renovated and rebranded as the One Eighty in March. The 3,000-square-foot venue features a showcase bar, a built-in DJ booth, and high ceilings. A patio set to open soon will offer downtown views.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Chef Brad Race will run the kitchen at Claudia’s Steakhouse, a new American-Latin fusion restaurant and lounge set to open at the Investment Building in late spring. The 7,500-square-foot steak house will seat 300.

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 Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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