June 24, 2016: Kennedy Center Honors Announce Honorees, Judge Strikes Down Cleveland's Convention Protest Restrictions, Hologram Karaoke Concert Experience to Debut This Summer

1. KENNEDY CENTER HONORS ANNOUNCES HONOREES: The Kennedy Center Honors has announced its five honorees selected to receive the nation's highest recognition of artistic achievement. The honorees are gospel singer Mavis Staples, singer-songwriter James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich, actor Al Pacino, and rock band the Eagles. The New York Times: "The recipients will gather later in the year for an official gala and ceremony, one of Washington’s rare red-carpet events. They will be toasted by Secretary of State John Kerry, who will award them their medallions, and will be received at the White House by President Obama and his wife, Michelle. In years past, critics have said that the Honors sorely lack racial and genre diversity, and this year’s selections are part of continued efforts by the John F. Kennedy Center to reach audiences and groups that are traditionally outside of its purview. The center has addressed the criticism by expanding the nominating committee, accepting recommendations from the public and giving artists like Ms. Staples her due. 'My vision has been that we broaden that out,' said Deborah F. Rutter, the president of the Kennedy Center. 'That’s why I was really delighted when we had such a surge of interest in honoring Mavis.' This will also be the second year of the Center’s social media component—a contest called #SendMeToTheHonors that gives away two tickets to attend the gala and ceremony. Details about that will be released in the coming months." http://nyti.ms/28Q3pP9

2. JUDGE STRIKES DOWN CLEVELAND’S CONVENTION PROTEST RESTRICTIONS: A federal judge has ruled that Cleveland’s limiting protest rules during the Republican National Convention were unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge James Gwin ruled that the strict security regulations, which stated that protests could only be held in a certain area surrounding the convention site, violated freedom of speech and assembly. The Wall Street Journal: “With the start of the Republican convention just weeks away, security officials and Republican organizers are bracing for large protests against and in favor of the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump. City officials estimate that the Republican National Convention could bring between 50,000 and 100,000 people into the city. At many of Mr. Trump’s rallies across the country, clashes between his supporters and opponents have occasionally turned violent and disruptive. In addition, political conventions of both parties often draw large and unruly demonstrations, notably the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, where protesters clashed with police. The ruling sends the city back to the drawing board to craft a new security plan. Lawyers for the city indicated during the hearing that they were considering an appeal of the judge’s decision. A spokesman for the mayor’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment. At the heart of the lawsuit is a 3.3-square-mile “event zone” officials had drawn around the Quicken Loans Arena, site of most convention activity. Another, much smaller, perimeter established by the Secret Service will only be accessible to those credentialed to enter the convention.” http://on.wsj.com/293zJex

3. HOLOGRAM KARAOKE CONCERT EXPERIENCE TO DEBUT THIS SUMMER: Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas has teamed up with tech startup Vntana to debut the first-ever hologram karaoke for his upcoming summer tour with the Counting Crows. The backstage, interactive experience will allow fans to virtually participate by texting their email address to a number that sends back an access code for the hologram booth. Billboard: "Within seconds fans can see their own hologram next to the singer's hologram and can select from three of Thomas' songs. VNTANA, an L.A. based hologram start-up, launched nearly four years ago and has worked with a number of artists, including Nicky Romero, Paul Oakenfold and Manufactured Superstars as well brands like Intel, Pepsi and Microsoft. The company's connection to the music business stems in part from one of its earliest investors: Paradigm Talent Agency led by Lawrence Antoine. When asked how their technology differs from the posthumous hologram phenomenon best known by the the-late Tupac Shakur's 2012's Coachella appearance with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, VNTANA CEO Ashley Crowder, 30, hones in on the active engagement. 'That was digital resurrection,' she says, 'we focus on the living. Putting it simply, we've created the first interactive software that you can see yourself live interacting with the hologram and that sets us apart. We built our hardware because there was nothing on the market that was affordable or scalable.' VNTANA envisions its interactive technology as a new revenue model for the music business and as a way for brands to get their message out to consumers." http://bit.ly/28Scbwz

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTIC CITY:  The fifth annual Electric Adventure will move to the Beach and Steel Pier in Atlantic City September 24-25. Organizers say the move was made to improve services and accommodations for the festival attendees. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday. The performers are to be announced.

AUSTIN:  RTX, a division of media/entertainment company Rooster Teeth, has announced the programming for its sixth annual gaming/Internet event, which will take place July 1-3 at the Austin Convention Center, JW Marriott, and Hilton Hotel. According to event organizers, this year's RTX is expected to have about 60,000 attendees. Programming highlights include 343 Industries hosting the Halo 5: Guardians Free-For-All Open tournament for share of more than $5,000 in prizes. Pizza Hut is RTX 2016's main sponsor, and Twitch is the event's official live stream partner.

BOSTON:  The Charles Hotel in Cambridge will bring back its Author's Breakfast Series with a joint author event hosted by Meghann Foye and Nora Zelevansky on July 11.

CLEVELAND:  Martina McBride will headline the Creative Coalition's July 20 benefit show for the Republican National Convention.

DENVER:  Aspen Ideas Festival and Spotlight Health, which launched Thursday and ends July 2, is presenting conversations with several leaders in politics and business. Among the 300 guest speakers are Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

LOS ANGELES:  Kanye West will debut the new visual for his single "Famous" at the Forum tonight. The premiere event will be live streamed on Tidal.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Garden of Humanity Stand Up Against Hate and Discrimination at Royal Palm Place in Boca Raton is hosting a public discussion Sunday in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass murder, as well as genocides and holocausts. The discussion will be followed by a reception at Gallery 22.

NEW YORK:  The National Football League, National Football League Players Association, and Cirque du Soleil have announced plans for an N.F.L.-theme interactive exhibit that will open in Times Square in fall 2017. The 40,000-square-foot, four-story venue will have a 350-seat theater, on-site retail, and stadium-style food and drink.

Broadway Barks will hold its 18th annual dog and cat adoption event July 30 at Shubert Alley. Produced by Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS, the event will be hosted by Bernadette Peters and Gloria Estefan.

The 35th annual Battery Dance Festival will take place August 14-20.

ReedPop's New York Comic Con has teamed up with Blammo Events' Firstlook Festival (a gaming convention in Europe) to connect the two fan events. Through the partnership, ReedPop will live stream unique content from Comic Con's panels to coincide with Firstlook Festival programming October 7-9. In addition, unique content will be streamed from Firstlook Festival to the New York convention. 

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

NEW ORLEANS:  The 16th annual Satchmo SummerFest, which will take place August 5-7, is moving to Jackson Square for the first time. The event, previously held at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint, made the location change to accommodate more people. The jazz fest attracts about 40,000 people a year, according to organizers. This year's event will have the addition of a new "Back o' Town" stage inside the Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal.

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Chroma Modern Bar & Kitchen will open in September at Lake Nona Town Center. The restaurant will have seating for 256 people and will have private and semiprivate dining areas.

TORONTO:  Toronto-based MetaVRse has launched Canada's first full-service virtual reality event agency. The agency will offer experiences and entertainment for company events including VR rentals for trade shows and 360-degree videography and live streaming for events.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The United States Bartender's Guild (U.S.B.G.) World Class Sponsored by Diageo has named Andrew Meltzer as the 2016 U.S. bartender of the year. The competition, which was held June 20-22, had 15 finalists narrowed down from thousands of applicants. Meltzer, who is based in San Francisco, will represent the United States in U.S.B.G.'s global finals that will take place in Miami in September.

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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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