November 4, 2015: Farm Animals in Demand for Christmas Events, 'SNL' Faces Backlash With Trump as Host, Fox Announces Plans for Theme Park in Dubai

1. FARM ANIMALS IN DEMAND FOR CHRISTMAS EVENTS: Churches, businesses, and other organizations that want an authentic-looking nativity scene for holiday events face steep competition for farm animals this time of year, according to event planners. Associated Press: “Farm animals, reindeer and camels are in high demand between Thanksgiving and Christmas, said Megan Powell, event coordinator at Honey Hill Farm, a mobile petting zoo with locations in Berry, Kentucky, and Utica, Ohio. ‘We will do 25 to 30 events in one weekend,’ Powell said. ‘It's not uncommon for us to sell out.’ Renting animals for Christmas programs helps pay for their food and upkeep, she said, and has been a huge growth area for the business.” http://abcn.ws/1WvTDEi

2. 'SNL' FACES BACKLASH WITH TRUMP AS GUEST HOST: Hispanic groups are pressuring Saturday Night Live to drop Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as its guest host this week. The New York Times: “On Wednesday, more than a dozen of the nation’s leading Hispanic groups are planning to hold a 'Dump Trump' rally outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where 'Saturday Night Live' is taped. Latino and immigration groups also plan to deliver a petition, with 460,000 signatures, calling on NBC Studios and Mr. Michaels to drop Mr. Trump. The groups have cited comments by Mr. Trump dismissing some Mexican immigrants as criminals and ‘rapists.’” http://nyti.ms/1Mh4hIw

3. FOX ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR THEME PARK IN DUBAI: Yet another entertainment conglomerate is eyeing the theme park business, with the 20th Century Fox studio announcing plans to open one in Dubai in 2018. Los Angeles Times: “The park, to be dubbed 20th Century Fox World, would be the second of its kind for the U.S. media company, which is building a 20th Century Fox World in Malaysia. The project reflects U.S. media giants' growing interest in investing in Asia and the Middle East, where disposable income and demand for American-themed entertainment is on the rise. As many as 59 theme parks are under construction in China alone, according to Los Angeles-based engineering firm Aecom.” http://lat.ms/1SnY6Dl

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  A local group is raising $8 million to bring a Mexican restaurant and nightclub to the seaport district in 2017. The venue’s third floor would serve as an event space with room for 600 guests. The Boston Globe: http://bit.ly/1P85vYM

CHICAGO:  Bottled Blonde will open in River North on Friday. The Scottsdale-based bar serves pizza and beer and has room for a dance floor.

HOUSTON:  Bowlmor AMF's Bowlmor Houston will reopen off Katy Freeway this month. The renovated space will include an arcade and a 50-foot-long sports bar.

LAS VEGAS:  Fresco Italiano, which offers Italian dishes served family-style, is slated to open November 9 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival's "Extreme Bacon Bite Challenge" will take place November 14 at Rain in Palms Casino Resort. The competition, a qualifying event for the 2016 World Food Championship, will have 10 local chefs compete for $4,000.

LOS ANGELES:  Following the Country Music Association Awards tonight, Jimmy Kimmel Live will be simultaneously broadcast live in Los Angeles and by hologram at the Country Music Hall of Fame Theater in Nashville.

The Café Bustelo Pop-Up Café Experience will return to Los Angeles, taking over Graffiti Cafe from November 12-16.

Next year's Los Angeles Film Festival, slated for June 1-9, has partnered with Arclight Cinemas and will be headquartered at Arclight Culver City. The festival, which is moving from downtown, will also have screenings at other Arclight locations. The Hollywood Reporter: http://bit.ly/1Q9B83u

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

NEW YORK:  Chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon, and Carla Hall will participate in a lighting ceremony this morning at the Empire State Building, which will turn orange to recognize Food Bank's 10th annual Go Orange to End Hunger Campaign.

Mariah Carey, Jordin Sparks, and Daughtry will perform at the 89th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26. Yahoo: http://yhoo.it/1NbxLDV

The roving party Santacon NYC will take place December 12.

Demi Lovato will receive the inaugural "Rulebreaker" award at Billboard's Women in Music event, which will take place December 11 at Cipriani Midtown and air December 18 on Lifetime.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Artegon Marketplace has announced new tenants, expansion plans, and enhancements, including custom storefronts at its indoor artisan marketplace. Expansion plans include the 24,000-square-foot Sky Zone indoor trampoline park opening this fall, the 45,000-square-foot zombie NYZ Apocalypse survival experience opening in early 2016, and Eat Street, a 25,000-square-foot food hall slated to open at the end of 2016.

Miami-based cupcake shop LA Sweetz will open its first franchise location in January on Sand Lake Road.

SAN FRANCISCO:  Spaghetti Bros. is now open in the Marina. The menu focuses on pasta and also offers negronis, garlic bread, and meatballs.

TORONTO:  Toronto will host a short-track speed skating World Cup event for the first time Friday-Sunday at MasterCard Centre. National Post: http://bit.ly/1NmRCEH

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Purple Onion Catering Company has launched a redesigned website, purpleonioncatering.com. The company provides catering and event planning services for corporate and social functions.

After 17 years in business, the seafood restaurant DC Coast announced plans to close on December 31.

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

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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

Feed the Sheet: [email protected]

Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily

Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]