October 3, 2016: Organization Apologizes to Event Guests After Giuliani’s Remarks, Oscar Board Welcomes New Asian Members After Controversy, Kanye West Cuts Music Fest Set Short After Kim Kardashian Robbed at Gunpoint in Paris

1. ORGANIZATION APOLOGIZES TO EVENT GUESTS AFTER GIULIANI’S REMARKS: At the Commercial Finance Association’s 40 Under 40 dinner, which was held at the Waldorf Astoria last month, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani gave an unscripted political speech that strayed so far from the topic of leadership that the group issued an apology to attendees. Observer: “‘At CFA’s 40 Under 40 Awards last Thursday night, keynote speaker Rudolph Giuliani veered sharply off course from the leadership message he agreed to deliver and presented unscripted personal opinions which were independent of CFA’s political position or core values,’ Bob Trojan, the group’s CEO, wrote in an email sent to attendees and forwarded to the Observer. ‘While we, the event organizers, made every attempt to direct Mr. Giuliani’s remarks ahead of time to focus on leadership, for which he is renowned and has authored a book, there is always the possibility of such a surprise at a live event.’ The apology for Giuliani’s speech was sent Monday, just a day before the Commercial Observer reported that Giuliani had been axed as the keynote speaker for a conference held by the International Council of Shopping Centers—following letters from real estate professionals who deemed him divisive for his outspoken support of Trump. The remarks Giuliani made to the Commercial Finance Association Thursday have not been publicly reported. But an attendee told the Observer the crowd was ‘shocked’ by Giuliani’s comments and that some people began complaining about his speech almost immediately after it was over. In his apology email, Trojan does not make any specific references to what Giuliani said—but he included an entire paragraph decrying discrimination in an effort to ‘underscore and clarify CFA’s beliefs and political approach.’” http://bit.ly/2dtlUKW

2. OSCAR BOARD WELCOMES NEW ASIAN MEMBERS AFTER CONTROVERSY: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently welcomed 80 new members of Asian descent at a gathering last month, in an effort to mend the relationship between the organization’s leaders and Asian members. The Hollywood Reporter: “Relations became strained earlier this year when February's Oscars featured tasteless jokes about Asians, prompting 25 Asian members, including Ang Lee and George Takei, to send a letter of condemnation to the Academy, which then issued an apology and met with 15 members of Asian descent to hear their concerns. The unprecedented September gathering, which took place at The London West Hollywood, was organized by a ‘host committee’ comprised of incumbent Asian members: actors Peter Kwong and Jodi Long, director Chris Tashima, documentarians Arthur Dong and Freida Lee Mock (both former members of the board of governors), producers Janet Yang and Teddy Zee and publicists Laura Kim and David Magdael. There are an estimated 250 Asians in the Academy (since the Academy does not publish a membership list, the exact number is difficult to assess), and all those known to the host committee were invited. … In response to widespread outrage over the absence of any acting nominees of color over the past two years, as well as the offensive jokes about Asians, the Academy created three new seats on its board for ‘diversity governors’ who, unlike the others, would be appointed, not elected, and represent the interests of diversity in all meetings.” http://bit.ly/2dTJ1yC

3. KANYE WEST CUTS MUSIC FEST SET SHORT AFTER KIM KARDASHIAN ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN PARIS: Rapper Kanye West abruptly ended his performance at the inaugural Meadows Festival in New York on Sunday after he received news that his wife, Kim Kardashian, was robbed at gunpoint while attending Paris Fashion Week. Billboard: “‘Kim Kardashian West was held up at gunpoint inside her Paris hotel room this evening, by two armed masked men dressed as police officers. She is badly shaken but physically unharmed,’ her spokesperson Ina Treciokas said in a statement to Billboard. … Kim Kardashian and her sisters Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian are in Paris for fashion week. Prior to the incident, Kim shared footage from a Givenchy fashion show on her Snapchat. Kanye, who was headlining the festival, went onstage at 8:45 p.m. He was scheduled to perform until 10 p.m., but ended his set at 9:40, halfway through the song ‘Heartless,’ announcing: ‘I’m sorry, family emergency, I have to stop the show.’ The set was a makeup of sorts for his scheduled Governors Ball performance, which was canceled in anticipation of a lightning storm that never arrived. The promoters of Governors Ball, Founders Entertainment, also are behind this inaugural Meadows Festival.” http://bit.ly/2cMjFOt

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Joel McHale will host the 32nd annual Artios Awards Los Angeles ceremony on January 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards, which are also held in New York on the same day at Stage 48, honor outstanding achievement in television, short film, theater, and Web series casting.

AUSTIN:  Texas Monthly's seventh annual TMBBQ Festival will take place October 30 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. The event will feature dishes from 27 barbecue joints, Shiner Beer and Legacy Whisky cocktails, and interactive games from sponsors including Nationwide Insurance and Texas A&M University.

BOSTON:  Chef Brendan Pelley of Hell's Kitchen has joined the chef lineup at the Martha's Vineyard Food and Wine Festival, taking place October 13-16. Pelley's addition also includes two new events: a Ken Forrester Wine Dinner and the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Dinner.

CHICAGO:  This year's Randolph Street Market Festival will take place October 29-30 at Plumbers Hall.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH:  Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen has opened its second Texas location at Lakewood Shopping Center, in the space formerly occupied by Dixie House. The 5,400-square-foot restaurant has an American menu overseen by executive chef Andrea Maricich. Jason Ferraro is the eatery's corporate chef/partner. The restaurant can seat 165 in the main dining area and 30 on patio, while the venue's standing capacity is 250.

LAS VEGAS:  The Venetian, the Palazzo, and the Sands Expo will turn its building signs pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month through October 8 and purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month October 9-16.

LOS ANGELES:  Summer camp-inspired music and arts festival Dirtybird Campout, which is produced by Do Lab, will take place Friday through Sunday at Oak Canyon Park.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Madonna is headlining a concert at Art Basel to benefit Raising Malawi, her charity organization dedicated to ending poverty in Malawi. The show, which will take place December 2 at Faena Forum, is produced by AAB Productions and Josh Wood Productions.

Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, has opened at 180 Aragon Avenue after an $18 million renovation. The 157-room property has around 23,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space.

NEW YORK:  The inaugural Future of Storytelling Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday at the 75,000-square-foot FoST Playground located at 1280 Fifth Avenue. The event will feature more than 70 immersive storytelling exhibitions, a multi-person virtual-reality theater, and 16 conversation panels.

“Stronger Together,” an evening benefitting the Hillary Victory Fund, will take place October 17 at St. James Theatre. The event, which brings together Broadway and Hollywood stars for duets and collaborations, will be hosted by Billy Crystal and feature performances and appearances by Chelsea Clinton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julia Roberts, Hugh Jackman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, and more. The event will be produced by Jordan Roth, Richie Jackson, Stephen Schwartz, and Harvey Weinstein. 

The Doe Fund’s annual fund-raising gala will take place October 27 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The event will honor American Enterprise Institute president Arthur Brooks. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

OAHU, HAWAII:  Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Oahu Kapolei has opened. It is the first Hampton by Hilton in Hawaii. The six-story, 175-room hotel is owned by DeBartolo Development and managed by Aqua-Aston Hospitality. The venue has a 1,100-square-foot meeting space that can accommodate 80 people.

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Microsoft will host its 2017 Ignite conference at the Orange County Convention Center September 25-29, 2017.

The TEAMS '17 Conference & Expo, the world's leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry, will be held at the Orange County Convention Center October 30-November 2, 2017.

TORONTO:  The Toronto Public Library Foundation will host its fourth annual Hush Hush Party-in-the-Stacks on October 15 at the Bloor/Gladstone branch. The event's theme is heroes and villains.

Shahid Khan—the founder of Flex-N-Gate Group and C.E.O. of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the the Fulham Football Club—has purchased the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto from an affiliate of Kingdom Holding Company for $225 million. The 259-room hotel in the Yorkville district will continue to be managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The National Gallery of Art, Washington, has signed Starr Catering Group to provide food service for the four visitor dining areas in the gallery's East and West Buildings. Starr Catering Group will redesign and refresh the offerings for the Terrace Cafe, the Garden Cafe, the Cascade Cafe, and the Espresso and Gelato Bar.

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

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