September 4, 2014: St. Patrick's Day Parade Finally Accepts Gay Groups, Why Fashion’s Night Out Failed, U2 Rumored to Play Apple Event


1. ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE FINALLY ACCEPTS GAY PARTICIPANTS: New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will allow the first L.G.B.T.-affiliated group, Out@NBCUniversal, to march in the parade with its own banner next year. Organizers were under pressure after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio boycotted the event and major sponsors pulled out. Boston’s parade still has its ban on gay an lesbian groups in place. CNN: "This is progress," de Blasio told reporters, adding that he needed more information before deciding whether to march next year. "What I've called for for a long time is an inclusive parade. This is a city of inclusion." http://cnn.it/1qqE7YS

2. WHY FASHION’S NIGHT OUT FAILED: The Vogue-approved national shopping event Fashion’s Night Out went on for four years after its debut in 2009, and its planners have no desire to bring back the unruly event. The New York Times: “The C.F.D.A., Vogue and NYC & Company would not elaborate on why Fashion’s Night Out has been canceled in the city (it continues in cities like London and Milan), but Margaret Chin, the New York City Council member who represents an area that includes SoHo, suggested that it may have become too big to properly organize. … ‘It could have worked out better if there had been better planning and working together with the community,’ Ms. Chin said. ‘That part didn’t happen.’” http://nyti.ms/1xeOxj7

3. U2 RUMORED TO PLAY APPLE EVENT: Rumors about Apple’s event Tuesday in Cupertino speculate about everything from the products to be announced to the live musical offerings, which could be the band U2. SFGate: “According to journalists in Ireland, the band has been rumored to have shot a music video in Dublin starring the next generation iPhone, 9to5Mac.com reported. Adding to the gossip, U2 is widely believed to be releasing a new album this year, with the first single set to drop Tuesday—convenient timing, many have noted. Reports out of Cupertino indicate some sort of elaborate sound stage is being constructed at the event’s site, according to Cult of Mac, another Apple blog, lending more credibility to the U2 rumors.” http://bit.ly/1t2bcZF


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

The International Special Events Society has elected Kevin White as its new international president for 2014-2015. White is the founder and chief strategist of XPL, a Boston-based live experience agency.

Reed Exhibitions is splitting the roles of chairman and C.E.O. Mike Rusbridge will continue as executive chairman, and Chet Burchett, currently regional president for the Americas, begins as C.E.O. in January. Hervé Sedky will take over as regional president.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  On September 28, West Bridge restaurant will team up with Stacked Donuts for a fund-raising carnival. Benefiting Furnishing Hope of Massachusetts Inc., the event will include carnival-inspired snacks, balloon animals, and face painting.

CHICAGO:  The Social Table opened on Tuesday in Lincoln Park. The three-story venue hosts interactive dinner parties where guests help prepare the meals they consume. Each level has a dining room and an industrial kitchen.

To launch its new La Collection 34 collection, French brand Diptyque will host an in-store event at its Bucktown outpost on September 18.

LAS VEGAS:  Chef Mark Andelbradt will serve as executive chef and Cheryl Mahar as general manager at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, which is slated to open in October. Located in downtown Summerlin, it will be the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group's first off-Strip location.

LOS ANGELES:  The Hollywood Film Awards are scheduled for November 14 at  the Hollywood Palladium. CBS will air the event live.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort announced it's on track to open next summer. The 349-room hotel will have 11 meeting rooms, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom, as well as seven food and beverage outlets and a 15,000-square-foot spa.

The eighth annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival is scheduled for December 11-14 with headquarters at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and events at other hotels throughout the city.

NEW YORK:  Milk Studios has founded a series of tech workshops with Intel Corp. called Muzse. The program will invite between 30 to 40 people to explore topics such as wearable fashion and 3-D printing. Women's Wear Daily: http://bit.ly/1poY5ho

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

SAN DIEGO:  The 11th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, expected to draw 10,000 people, is November 16-23.

TORONTO:  The White Cashmere Collection 2014, a fashion show featuring couture made out of bathroom tissue, is September 30 at the Carlu.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The destination management firm AlliedPRA has opened an office in Washington, D.C. Staffing the new location are Christopher McAnany, director of sales; Meg Usher, account manager; and Pia Kirwan, program manager.

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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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