1. N.C.A.A. TO BROADCAST FINAL FOUR IN VIRTUAL REALITY: The N.C.A.A.’s Final Four basketball tournament this weekend will be broadcast in virtual reality for this first time. Mashable: “Users will be able to use the Samsung Gear VR along with the NCAA March Madness Live VR app (available in the Oculus store). In addition to the game action, users will also be treated to a virtual scoreboard (a shortcoming in past VR sports broadcasts) and live game stats.” http://on.mash.to/1V4obKu
2. SECRET SERVICE SHUTS DOWN EFFORT TO ALLOW GUNS AT G.O.P. CONVENTION: A petition seeking to let attendees bring guns to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer was shut down by the Secret Service. Federal law allows the agency to ban firearms at sites where it is responsible for protecting people. The Wall Street Journal: “In the state of Ohio, residents are for the most part permitted to carry firearms openly, but the Quicken Loans Arena, where many convention events will be held, bars firearms and other weapons. The petition, which has drawn more than 45,000 signatures, calls the convention gun ban ‘a direct affront to the Second Amendment' that 'puts all attendees at risk.’” http://on.wsj.com/1SiTGvF
3. WANT TO BUY A POPEMOBILE?: A Fiat 500 Lounge used to transport Pope Francis around New York during his historic trip to the city is now up for auction on CharityBuzz after the Archdiocese of New York decided to sell it to raise money. Bidding for the Popemobile has reached $130,000 and ends Thursday. The New York Times: “The winner of the auction will receive a letter from the archdiocese confirming that the car was one that carried Pope Francis. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of the New York archdiocese, will greet the winner at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and bless the car before sending it off.” http://nyti.ms/1UUffZq
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
John H. Graham IV, president and C.E.O. of the American Society of Association Executives, is among those who signed a letter drafted by the Human Rights Campaign and Equality NC calling on North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly to repeal a bill that overturns municipal nondiscrimination protections and requirers transgender people to use bathrooms that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificate. Also among the business leaders who signed the letter are Marriott International president and C.E.O. Arne Sorenson, several executives at Airbnb, and several major tech C.E.O.s.
* LOCAL NEWS *
ATLANTA: The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta has named Diego Gentili assistant director of food and beverage. He comes to the property from the Ritz-Carlton, Kazakhstan, where he served as senior food and beverage manager overseeing banquets and in-room dining operations.
BOSTON: Roxy’s/A4cade, a restaurant and arcade, will open in Cambridge this summer. The venue will serve burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches; its games will include pinball, Skee-Ball, and pool.
CHICAGO: The first Chicago Cocktail Summit will take place at Logan Theatre May 22-23. Intended for consumers as well as industry professionals, the event will feature demos, tastings, panels, seminars, and off-site events.
LOS ANGELES: The Recording Academy will honor its 2016 Special Merit Awards recipients with an award ceremony and live tribute concert on April 23 at the Dolby Theatre.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has announced the election of three new members to its board of trustees: Thelma Golden, Caroline Grainge, and Soumaya Slim.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
NEW YORK: The Riu Plaza New York Times Square, the first New York property from Riu Hotels & Resorts, has opened. The newly constructed hotel has 647 rooms, including a presidential suite, and four meeting rooms. The largest space seats 75 theater-style.
The ninth annual New Taste of the Upper West Side, a food event created by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District, will take place June 3-4.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco’s Union Street Festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary June 4-5. The free fest will offer food, live entertainment, artwork, and activities for kids. There will also be a fashion show displaying merchandise from Union Street stores.
TORONTO: Charmaine Sweets is now open in Leaside. The bakery makes European-style pastries, cookies, specialty cakes, and favors.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: New this baseball season at Nationals Park will be two concepts from chef and restaurateur Mike Isabella. Kapnos at the Park will be a spin-off of his popular Greek restaurant concept, and Catchfly Kitchen, which will serve Southern-style fried chicken and St. Louis-style ribs.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
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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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