January 21, 2016: Stars Call on Chris Rock to Quit as Oscar Host, Famed Ziegfeld Movie Theater to Become Event Venue, Resort Town Builds World’s Largest Ice Maze

1. STARS CALL ON CHRIS ROCK TO QUIT AS OSCAR HOST: As the backlash to the lack of diversity among this year’s nominees for the Academy Awards continues, the pressure is now reaching Oscar host Chris Rock. Hip-hop star 50 Cent and actor Tyrese Gibson are adding their voices to those calling on Rock to quit the gig. In an Instagram post, Gibson wrote: “There is NO JOKE YOU CAN CRACK TO EVER CHANGE THE WAY WE ALL FEEL!" The Hollywood Reporter: http://bit.ly/1ZOtYse

2. FAMED ZIEGFELD MOVIE THEATER TO BECOME EVENT VENUE: The famed Ziegfeld movie theater will soon close and reopen in the fall of 2017 as an event space. New York Post: “The Ziegfeld, opened in 1969, is Manhattan’s last remaining large single-screen showplace used exclusively for movies with 1,300 seats. … the Ziegfeld was for decades one of the country’s best-known movie venues. That’s largely because the Ziegfeld hosted countless glitzy movie premieres. Amid changes in moviegoing habits and studios cutting back on lavish premieres since the 2008 stock-market crash, losses mounted and the Ziegfeld’s fate was sealed.” http://nyp.st/1S59Vzv

3. RESORT TOWN BUILDS WORLD’S LARGEST ICE MAZE: A massive ice maze consisting of 60,000 cubes of snow will open to the public later this month in the resort town of Zakopane, Poland. Mashable: “When finished, the structure will cover 2,500 square meters and double the previous Guinness World Record for an icy cold labyrinth achieved by the Arctic Glacier Ice Maze at the Buffalo Powder Keg Festival in Buffalo, New York, on Feb. 26, 2010. … If you get stuck, don't get upset — the maze can actually help you. ‘In the maze you get a little lost, but there are a lot of attractions. You can find great blocks of ice with various items inside,’” one of its designers said.

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Walt Disney Studios has debuted The Finest Hours Heroes for Heroes screening series, which will invite military and first responders and their families to a screening of the action film. Sponsored by Visa Signature and Homewood Suites by Hilton, the series kicked off in Chicago on Tuesday and will travel to Dallas, Philadelphia, Miami, Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, and Kansas City before ending in Los Angeles on Monday.

ATLANTA:  Audiovisual equipment and production service company On Event Services has appointed Garrett Brown as its director of new business development.

AUSTIN:  The fifth annual Austin Food & Wine Festival, which is slated for April 22-24 at Auditorium Shores and Republic Square Park, has announced a ticketing change and a lineup that includes two new events: a separately ticketed Social Hour cocktail event and a Sunday gospel brunch. Austin360: http://atxne.ws/1T69Hcj

CHICAGO:  The eighth annual Food Fight for Scleroderma will be held at the James Hotel on April 10.

LAS VEGAS:  The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Convention Center's $70 million expansion is now complete with the opening of the 70,000-square-foot Oceanside Ballroom.

Crescent Hotels & Resorts will manage the Westin Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa.

LOS ANGELES:  American Airlines has signed a multiyear deal as an exclusive sponsor of the Hollywood Bowl.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Hakkasan at Fontainebleau Miami Beach will present a Chinese lion dance February 6 as part of its celebration of Chinese New Year. The restaurant will serve a limited-edition menu developed by its international executive chef, Ho Chee Boon, for the holiday from February 5-14.

NEW ORLEANS:  Headliners for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will include Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janelle Monáe, and Neil Young. The festival will take place April 22-24 and April 28-May 1 at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

NEW YORK:  The 10th annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience will take place February 29 at Pier 60.

The Dancing Classrooms benefit gala Mad Hot Ball will take place March 9 at the Pierre Hotel.

BCAGlobal's 12th annual Global Food and Wine Experience will take place April 8 at Espace in Midtown.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  The Downtown Food & Wine Fest is February 27-28 at Lake Eola. The event includes food from 30 restaurants, 50 domestic and international wines, and live entertainment.

DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld will soon begin a multimillion-dollar renovation that will add 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including a new 20,000-square-foot ballroom and new pool decks.

PHILADELPHIA:  The Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show will take place April 8-10 at the 23rd Street Armory.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The Academy of Friends Academy Awards Gala will take place February 28 at San Francisco Design Center Galleria. The Oscar-viewing charity gala benefits numerous San Francisco Bay Area H.I.V./AIDS organizations.

TORONTO:  The Interior Design Show will be held January 21-24. Designers including Tom Dixon, Lee Broom, and Ora-ito will appear.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Métier, chef Eric Ziebold's 36-seat tasting-menu-only restaurant, will have a dress code for men when it opens in Shaw next month. Washington City Paper: http://bit.ly/1RTwCIN

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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, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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

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