Call Sheet #320: Jimmy Fallon Could Host Oscars, New G.S.A. Conference Investigated, Are Bathroom Attendants Necessary?

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #320 — Friday, 08.03.12

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Compiled today by Beth Kormanik in New York
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* INCOMING * 

1. G.S.A. PROBE WIDENS: Nearly 80 conferences and award ceremonies by the General Services Administration are facing investigations. A $250,000 conference in the Washington suburb of Crystal City, Virginia, is the latest event to draw criticism. Washington Times: "The one-day Crystal City conference also included a private commissioner’s party, a drumming troupe, more than $20,000 in catering charges, hors d’oeuvres, mini-pastries, a guitarist and violinist, and giveaways to government employees who took home free time-and-temperature picture frames and drumsticks." http://bit.ly/NlW57a

2. FALLON FOR OSCARS? The late-night comedian is in talks to host the Academy Awards, but cable network ABC isn't completely on board with the idea. L.A. Times: "ABC has raised objections to having the late-night star from rival NBC play emcee on its Oscar broadcast, but the network has no authority to veto the choice of host." http://lat.ms/OEQoTW

3. BATHROOM BUSINESS: Preston Bailey's top pet peeve at events? Bathroom attendants. "I have never understood the concept behind having someone harboring over you, handing you a towel and then asking for a tip. … I think this is an unnecessary expense at events and one that makes many guests feel uncomfortable and therefore should be eliminated." http://bit.ly/PCOphO

4. ARCHERY BOOST: The throwback bow-and-arrow sport is the most popular part of NBC's cable coverage of the Olympics. Network executives think The Hunger Games might be behind the surge. New York Times: "It’s as good a guess as any, one seemingly supported by how well NBC’s archery coverage has been doing with younger female viewers, presumably the fans of the young-adult novels (and movie), whose main character, Katniss Everdeen, is an expert archer." http://nyti.ms/OJL19z


++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: Event Leadership Institute ++

Check out our editor's collection of top-rated video chapters from our class library, and sharpen your event insight. Our Suggested Summer Learning compilation includes content from David Merrell, Jes Gordon, Mindy Weiss, Preston Bailey, Mary Wittenberg, Colja Dams and others.  41 minutes | 10 clips | lots of ideas


* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST: GenArt's 17th annual "Fresh Faces in Fashion" events are slated for September 9 at Pier 57 in New York, and October 17 at the Vibiana in Los Angeles. 

BOSTON: The state has approved a new caterers liquor license. It will allow caterers to purchase alcohol from wholesalers, store, transport and sell it at private events, require that servers receive responsible alcohol training, among other things. Massachusetts Restaurant Association: http://conta.cc/T6425x

Forbes Travel Guide named the Four Seasons Hotel Boston its "hotel of the day," applauding the property for its "unexpected details" like jogging maps for runners or cookie-making classes for kids. http://onforb.es/NpAQ4u

CHICAGO: Today, reps from the new Broadway in Chicago musical Kinky Boots will give out ice cream from Chicago's new ice cream Chi-Scream. The cyclist will make stops throughout the city starting at 10 a.m., and whereabouts will be posted at @BroadwayChicago. 

LAS VEGAS: Press release: "Digital World Expo, a business, tech and media conference at the Mirage Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada Sept. 27-29, has just announced a major addition to its curriculum. The conference now has a class exclusively devoted to Pinterest." http://on.mktw.net/OsUYV9

Fiji Water presents its second national pool series this summer with an August 11 event hosted by Emily VanCamp at Wet Republic at MGM Grand. Guests can scoop up treats from the Fiji Water snow cone bar and add their shots to a live Instagram stream at #discoversummer.

LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Times' Labor Day food festival, the Taste, has announced programming details. Press release: http://lat.ms/NdkPiK

The Association for Computing Machinery hosts its 39th Siggraph conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center August 5-9. Drawing more than 20,000 attendees each year, the five-day gathering is expected to generate an estimated $34 million city-wide economic impact. 

Redcat has announced its fall events. BroadwayWorld.com : http://bit.ly/Ri82Np

Shae Savin left her post at EMC Bowery for a new position as junior account executive at Pivotal PR.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The 11th annual Miami Spice Restaurant Program runs through September 30. As part of the program, chefs from Whole Foods Market in Coral Gables; Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall and the Macy’s Cooking School at Aventura Mall are hosting cooking demonstrations. In addition, The Cellar Club at the Biltmore Hotel will host Miami Spice-themed culinary demonstration luncheons August 18 and September 15. The first of two cooking demos will feature chef Gaston Sanchez of Bongo’s Cuban Café/Larios on the Beach and the second will be hosted by executive chef Marcia Orozco of the Dome Restaurant and Caviar Bar.

NEW YORK: Rockefeller Center celebrates its fourth annual Fashion's Night Out September 6, with fashion shows and live music by indie rock bands We Were Promised Jet Packs and The Lonely Forest. 

More than 11,750 people attended the inaugural Art Southampton last month, and director and partner Nick Korniloff announced plans to make it an annual event.

Brooklyn floral design shop Poppies & Posies has launched the Trove, an online tabletop and prop boutique for events.

Canard, Inc. catered the opening of the Murder of Crows at the Park Avenue Armory Thursday. The menu included items such as red snapper tacos and watermelon and goat cheese bites with aged balsamic.

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

ORLANDO: Overchuck Law Firm hosts its fifth annual "City Skip Day" August 17 at the Wall Street plaza in downtown Orlando. 

WASHINGTON: The Studio Theatre's annual gala is scheduled for February 9 at the theater. About 400 guests are expected.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 



With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Rose Chevalier, Beth Kormanik, and Anna Sekula in New York.

BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com. 

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