1. SOTHEBY’S TO STREAM AUCTIONS ON EBAY: Looking to expand its audience of potential customers and update its business practices, the auction house Sotheby’s is planning a partnership with EBay to stream sales online. The New York Times: “Eventually the auction house expects to extend the partnership, adding online-only sales and streamed auctions taking place anywhere from Hong Kong to Paris to London. The pairing would upend the rarefied world of art and antiques, giving eBay’s 145 million customers instant bidding access to a vast array of what Sotheby’s sells, from fine wines to watercolors by Cézanne.” http://nyti.ms/1rkRw3n
2. ACADEMY PRESSURED TO FIX FLAWED EMMYS NOMINATIONS: The Television Academy will consider making changes to the much-maligned Emmy nomination process, which critics say allows shows too much leeway to enter into categories that are not appropriate—yet offers a better chance for a win. Speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour, Bruce Rosenblum, chairman and C.E.O. of the academy, did not commit to big changes but did say there were no plans to add more categories. Los Angeles Times: “More categories is always challenging because the show will run five hours long, and that's not what anybody wants," he said. "We want to maintain the sheen of what this award show is, and when you expand, you run the risk of diffusing it." http://lat.ms/1oz8EP9
3. TRUMP PLAZA CASINO TO CLOSE THIS FALL: Owners of the Trump Plaza casino in Atlantic City said the property likely would shut down in September, although a search for buyers is still underway. Associated Press: “If Trump Plaza closes, Atlantic City could lose a third of its casinos and a quarter of its casino workforce in less than nine months. The Atlantic Club closed in January, the Showboat is closing next month and Revel might do likewise if a buyer can't be found in bankruptcy court. … Analysts have long said that the casino market here, and in the Northeastern U.S., has been oversaturated, and that some casinos need to close to ensure the survival of others.” http://on.wsj.com/1oWjNeb
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Veuve Clicquot’s Cross-Country Mail Truck, which features a branded mail truck traversing the country, will stop in Cape Cod and Nantucket this month. On July 17, Torino will host an afternoon patio party with oysters and champagne; there will also be events at Wequassett Resort and Galley Beach.
CHICAGO: Cooking Up a Cure, which benefits the Greater Chicago chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation, is September 18 at Greenhouse Loft.
LAS VEGAS: Rock in Rio, the world’s biggest music festival, has named Randy Phillips as its new business adviser. The festival makes its United States debut next May.
LOS ANGELES: First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the keynote address at the Grammy Museum's Jane Ortner Education Award Luncheon Wednesday at Club Nokia at L.A. Live.
Image Quest Plus has been selected to operate the business services center for the Los Angeles Convention Center, providing events, vendors, and guests services including copying, digital printing, scanning, visual graphics, communication tools, document finishing services, computer usage, fax services, inbound/outbound shipping, and consulting services.
Sugar Mammas, a 500-square-foot cupcake store, is slated to open early this fall. Spacecraft is designing the store.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Over the Top Rental Linens has named Robert H. Hughes as the director of marketing and sales development.
NEW YORK: Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel will host a Children’s Potions & Planting Tea Party on August 2 and August 9. Dolls and teddy bears may enter free of charge.
Seeger Fest, a free five-day festival honoring the late singer and activist Pete Seeger, runs Thursday-July 21 at locations in the city and the Hudson Valley.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
SAN DIEGO: The seventh annual Wired Café at Comic-Con will be open daily July 24-26 at the Omni Hotel terrace.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Dana Perino, former press secretary to President George W. Bush, will emcee the Truckload Carriers Association gala September 9 at the Grand Hyatt Washington.
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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, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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