1. KEVIN HART STEPS DOWN AS OSCARS HOST AFTER REFUSING TO APOLOGIZE FOR PAST ANTI-GAY TWEETS: Kevin Hart will no longer be hosting the Oscars. The comedian, who was tapped by the Academy earlier this week to host the 91st ceremony, stepped down from the gig after refusing to apologize for past anti-gay tweets. The Hollywood Reporter: "In a tweet late Thursday, Hart officially withdrew from hosting the Oscars, a role he had long wanted to step into. 'I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's....this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the L.G.B.T.Q. community for my insensitive words from my past,' Hart wrote. He added seconds later, 'I'm sorry that I hurt people. I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.' Earlier in the evening, Hart had posted an Instagram video from Sydney, Australia, where he is touring, saying that he had refused a demand from the Academy to apologize. He said the Academy gave him an ultimatum: Apologize for his old tweets or step down as Oscars host. Ironically, in giving up the hosting spot, Hart actually offered the apology that earlier he had refused to provide. The Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ... Losing Hart as host will put even more pressure on Donna Gigliotti, who is producing the 91st Oscars, set to be broadcast by ABC on February 24. This week's announcement that Hart would host came relatively late in the process. Now, finding a new host to take on emcee duties could be even more difficult." https://bit.ly/2B2zfTZ
2. PANTONE'S 2019 COLOR OF THE YEAR IS LIVING CORAL: Pantone announced Thursday that its 2019 Color of the Year is Living Coral, a vibrant coral shade. Adweek: "Although it may seem more pink in nature, Pantone describes Living Coral as 'an animated, life-affirming shade of orange, with golden undertones.' This year’s color was Ultra Violet, a deep purple hue. (Despite its ubiquitous nature, millennial pink has never actually been a Pantone color of the year—Pantone doesn’t actually have a hue named millennial pink!) The decision of what will be the next year’s Color of the Year is up to the Pantone Color Institute, Pantone’s consulting division that analyzes each year’s color trends. In particular, they pay attention to those that have appeared in branding efforts. Pantone pointed to Airbnb and Apple’s use of coral over the past few months as a sign of the color’s domination. ... To celebrate this year’s announcement, Pantone teamed up with Tribute Portfolio, a new brand of independent hotels from Marriott, to create a pop-up activation this week: Pantone Pantry by Tribute Portfolio at Art Basel Miami. The installation will reportedly reimagine the 'traditional hotel experience,' featuring pops of Living Coral at a replica of the concierge desk and a hotel room. It will also feature custom animations created by artistic partners like Sia and Diplo. After the conclusion of Art Basel Miami, the installation will travel to Savannah, Georgia, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Pantone also partnered with global materials and innovation consultancy Material ConneXion, as well as Adobe Stock, to bring Living Coral to creatives and designers. With Adobe Stock, they curated a group of Living Coral-colored images available for creative use for Adobe Stock customers; with Material ConneXion, they’ve worked to make it easier for suppliers and designers to source Living Coral in product design." https://bit.ly/2Ejx82d
3. BUSHES HAVE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL TRAIN IN NEARLY 50 YEARS: To honor George H.W. Bush, whose funeral took place Wednesday, the Bushes departed on the first presidential train since 1969 on Thursday. Associated Press: "On Thursday, that same 4,300-horsepower machine left a suburban Houston railyard loaded with Bush’s casket for his final journey after almost a week of ceremonies in Washington and Texas. The train then embarked on a slow roll to his presidential library in College Station, passing thousands of people who stood along the tracks. Many of them held up their phones for pictures and watched from highway overpasses. ... More than two hours after departing, the train rolled to a stop in College Station, where Bush was to be laid to rest at a private ceremony next to his wife, Barbara, who died in April, and his daughter Robin, who died at age 3 in 1953. Family members, including former President George W. Bush, were also aboard the 12-car train that was greeted by student cadets and mourners upon arriving at Texas A&M University. The train’s sixth car, a converted baggage hauler called 'Council Bluffs,' was fitted with transparent sides to allow the mourners lining the tracks views of Bush’s flag-draped coffin. The train rolled past the flashing lights of firetrucks, some hoisting American flags from their ladders, and past state troopers who saluted from the side of the tracks. It is the eighth presidential funeral train in U.S. history and the first since Dwight D. Eisenhower’s body traveled from the National Cathedral in Washington through seven states to his Kansas hometown of Abilene 49 years ago. Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train was the first, in 1865. Union Pacific originally commissioned the Bush locomotive for the opening of an exhibit at his library titled 'Trains: Tracks of the Iron Horse.' It was one of the few times the company has painted a locomotive any color other than its traditional yellow. After a brief training session during 4141′s unveiling 13 years ago, Bush took the engineer’s seat and helped take the locomotive for a 2-mile excursion." https://bit.ly/2Ejnvko
* LOCAL NEWS *
ATLANTA: Jezebel Magazine will have its New Year’s Eve party at Ravine in Midtown.
LAS VEGAS: The Venetian Resort will host a menorah lighting to celebrate Hanukkah on December 8.
LOS ANGELES: The 56th annual Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade will take place December 8.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
JACKSON, WYOMING: The Jackson Hole Food & Wine Winter Fest will take place February 28-March 2, 2019.
NEW YORK: The 71st Parsons Benefit will take place May 20, 2019, at Pier Sixty.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort has named Dan Herman executive chef.
SEATTLE: Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority has appointed Donna Bennett marketing and communications coordinator.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The 10th season of the Architecture & Design Film Festival will take place February 21-24 at the National Building Museum.
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 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.
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