November 7, 2017: I.O.C. May Ban Russian National Anthem at Upcoming Olympics, Ad Agency Debuts Pop-Up Restaurant in Toronto to Combat H.I.V. Stigma, Latin Grammys Charity Event to Honor Mexico and Puerto Rico

1. I.O.C. MAY BAN RUSSIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM AT UPCOMING OLYMPICS: The International Olympic Committee is weighing a number of penalties against Russia for doping violations, one of which would ban the country’s national anthem at next year’s Winter Olympics. The New York Times: “With less than 100 days to go before the Pyeongchang Games begin, Olympic officials are under intense pressure to announce their decision on how Russia will be punished for corrupting several Olympics — most notably the 2014 Sochi Games — with an elaborate, state-supported doping scheme. It is unclear which, if any, option the I.O.C. leadership favors at this point. It is possible that any punishment will be far less severe. Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov — Russia’s former antidoping lab chief now living in the United States — described widespread, systematic doping in a tell-all account that prompted the World Anti-Doping Agency to commission an investigation. The investigation, led by the Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, determined that Russia’s cheating schemes implicated about 1,000 athletes across 30 sports who had competed in global competitions from 2011 to 2015. … Now the I.O.C. and Russian officials are engaged in a doping stare-down. Many athletes, antidoping officials and Olympics officials from some countries are urging Thomas Bach, president of the I.O.C., to issue severe penalties. The top Olympic officials are also considering the option of having Russian athletes compete under a neutral flag at the Pyeongchang Games or wear neutral uniforms, according to the people familiar with the case. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.” http://nyti.ms/2j52fFF

2. AD AGENCY DEBUTS POP-UP RESTAURANT IN TORONTO TO COMBAT H.I.V. STIGMA: In an effort to combat food-preparation stigma that nearly half of Canadians have against people who are H.I.V. positive, hospital Casey House has partnered with agency Bensimon Byrne to launch a Toronto pop-up restaurant, where meals will be cooked by H.I.V.-positive chefs. Adweek: “That bistro, June’s Eatery, named for Casey House founder June Callwood, will serve four-course dinners on Tuesday and Wednesday. Priced at $125 per person, the event quickly sold out. ‘This idea is all about the PR value and conversation that it creates,’ Joseph Bonnici, executive creative director and partner at Bensimon Byrne, tells Adweek. ‘The social campaign was designed to generate as much conversation as possible leading up to the pop-up. We found that when ignorance and blame showed up online, there was a community quick to explain, educate and drown out the negative voices. It really has shown the best of human nature.’ According to Bonnici, the most important players responsible for bringing the campaign to life are the 14 HIV-positive chefs who will be preparing the dishes. For Casey House, which has provided care and support in the community since 1988, ‘it wasn’t difficult to find 14 people who wanted to be a part of something that would help smash the stigma around the disease,’ Bonnici says. They even cooked up a provocative press invitation, literally, by preparing jars of fancy soup sent to newsrooms across Canada. That ploy was designed to challenge members of the media to examine their own beliefs and, hopefully, spark more coverage.” http://bit.ly/2lXEIYg

3. LATIN GRAMMYS CHARITY EVENT TO HONOR MEXICO AND PUERTO RICO: While the Latin Grammys is slated to honor the best in Latin music on November 16, the seventh annual Los Producers live music event will bring the industry together to raise funds charities helping those affected by the natural disasters in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Billboard: “Amid all the limelight, however, the 7th annual Los Producers live music event will gather the Latin music industry at large to raise funds for three very important charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Luis Fonsi-backed Help Me Rebuild La Perla Foundation to help rebuild the historic town in the heart of Puerto Rico, and the Kate del Castillo-supported Los Angeles En Mexico Foundation to aid those affected by the recent earthquake in Mexico. A longtime passion project of multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning producer Sebastian Krys, Los Producers charity affair is again in collaboration with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and Rebeleon Entertainment … ‘A lot of the people think, 'Well your job is just to make music, be quiet.' But I really believe that with everything that’s going on in the world, athletes and entertainers have a real, unique platform to shine light,’ Krys tells Billboard. ‘It can’t just be about going to the club and having a good time. That can’t be the only function of art, and it can’t be the only function of sport.’ For BMI Vice President, Creative, Latin Music, Delia Orjuela, music serves as a healing mechanism during difficult times: ‘Music is a powerful tool that can be used to impact people's lives in a positive way, this event grants us the platform to do so.’” http://bit.ly/2iATrU1

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  Sports, entertainment, and culinary marketing firm MELT has appointed Brittany Moss finance manager. 

LAS VEGAS:  Savor, the Buffet, an all-you-can-eat eatery at Tropicana Las Vegas, will open on November 22. 

LOS ANGELES:  Kelly Clarkson and Demi Lovato will perform at the 2017 American Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater on November 19.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Parkinson’s Foundation South Palm Beach County Chapter will host its "Rock the Runway" Fashion Show at the Boca Rio Golf Club January 19, 2018. The event, chaired by Gail Milhous, will raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease. 

NEW YORK:  Citymeals on Wheels will host its 31st annual Power Lunch for Women November 16 at the Rainbow Room. The organization expects 400 guests at the event, which will be hosted by Good Day New York’s Rosanna Scotto. Among the honorees this year is Patina Restaurant Group.

Bravo will celebrate the season 15 premiere of Top Chef with a “92Y Talks” on November 28 at the 92nd Street Y. The event will feature show host Padma Lakshmi and judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Graham Ellio, and will be moderated by New York magazine’s chief restaurant critic Adam Platt. 

Greenwich Village craft cocktail bar Analogue will host the third edition of its Whiskey Festival on December 9. The event will have tastings and demos from more than 20 national and international distilleries. 

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Universal Orlando has shared details about two hotels that will be built on the former Wet ‘n Wild water park site. Orlando Sentinel: http://bit.ly/2j3SsPU

TORONTO:  Business for the Arts, a national charitable organization of business members that supports the arts, will host its Abx (arts and business exchange) ArtPower conference on Wednesday at the Globe and Mail Centre. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery will host its second biennial American Portrait Gala on November 19. The event will honor actress Rita Moreno, film director Spike Lee, former Secretary of State Dr. Madeleine K. Albright, medical doctor and H.I.V./AIDS researcher David D. Ho, M.D., and artistic director and choreographer Bill T. Jones. 

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 Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, 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]