BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #129 — Tuesday, 10.25.11
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. CELEBRITY-BRAND SPEED DATING: The L.A. Times looks at a luncheon coordinated by Fred Segal Beauty cofounder Michael Baruch and event producer Jeffrey Best during the biannual Magic apparel trade show in Las Vegas in August, meant to introduce celebrities to brands looking for spokespeople. Joe Loggia, C.E.O. of Advanstar, which owns Magic: "We knew Jennifer Love Hewitt was very interested in a beauty [products] deals, so we made sure to sit her next to a guy in that industry.”
http://lat.ms/pNh1gj
2. OBAMA'S WEST COAST EVENTS: President Barack Obama made stops in L.A. and Las Vegas Monday for a series of fund-raising events for the second time in four weeks. He attended a dinner at the L.A. home of "Hitch" producer James Lassiter in Hancock Park where guests sat at four tables with up to 10 seats at each. Ktla.com:
http://bit.ly/nmX2nQ
Obama then courted Latino voters at a gala at the nearby home of Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, with tickets starting at $5,000. Guests, including Eva Longoria, were served post-meal canapes. The Washington Post: "At Banderas’ and Griffith’s house, its entrance path lined with rose petals and votive candles, Obama told about 120 mostly Latino contributors that he has kept a list of his campaign promises and that, by his count, he has accomplished about 60 percent of them."
http://wapo.st/sksNjn
3. AMEX'S LIVE EVENT: The "American Express Unstaged" music series, which has film directors shoot live concerts to stream online, is going worldwide, with a global chat, an at-home viewing experience, and an online art installation during a show with Coldplay directed by filmmaker and photographer Anton Corbijn in Madrid. Wednesday's event includes a butterfly installation created by fans that will be shown on screens during a viewing party in Times Square. Pre-show activities include the "press pass challenge," where fans can submit a question via American Express's Facebook page to a Billboard.com editor, see a pre-concert trailer on YouTube, and explore graffiti artwork created by street artists.
http://bit.ly/szZPCG
4. BUSINESS TRIP EATS: A recent Zagat Survey names the country's top restaurants for business travelers. Findings include eateries in Sacramento and surrounding areas like Mulvaney's Taste and Ambience, and New York's Le Bernardin and Daniel. USA Today:
http://usat.ly/tWVnhH
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The New England Chapter of National Association of Catering Executives will host its monthly meeting at Hampshire House November 1. The sit-down wine dinner will raise funds for Baby Stepz.
CHICAGO: Compassionismypassion, a new charitable collective, is hosting its Compassion Day event November 5 at the Flat Iron Arts Building. Myles Crew, Underwater People, and the Q Brothers will perform.
Blackstone Hotel will host its first Halloween luncheon Monday. The menu includes butternut squash soup with sage marshmallows, wild salmon nicoise, and candy for dessert. A silent auction benefits Keith Relief.
Saranello's Ristorane Italiano opens today at the Westin North Shore. Serving pastas and pizza, the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant has three private dining rooms that can hold 25 and 50 guests.
Sugar Bliss cake boutique's new corporate gifts include boxes with cupcakes and scented soy candles.
http://bit.ly/aO2c0
LAS VEGAS: Los Angeles Times takes a look inside how celebrity branding deals are made, using as an example a lunch organized by Michael Baruch and Jeffrey Best at the Magic trade show:
http://lat.ms/pNh1gj
LeAnn Rimes is teaming up with Green Valley Ranch and Vegas Country 95.5 KWNR for an acoustic performance to benefit StandUp For Kids. The concert will take place inside Ovation at Green Valley Ranch November 3.
LOS ANGELES: The 14th annual Los Angeles Times Travel Show will return to the L.A. Convention Center January 27-29, with a new all-day industry conference for travel professionals.
Michael C. Hall and cast celebrated the end of season six taping for "Dexter" at the new lounge-nightclub Confidential Beverly Hills. Guests sipped champagne and noshed on mini Kobe sliders, lobster chipotle tacos, and goat cheese wontons.
Kimberly Seeherman and the Events by Fabulous team are opening their new Fab-U-Tique event design showroom with a party tonight in the space at 8010 Melrose, from 4 to 9 p.m. Now located at the storefront, Events By Fabulous will continue to provide event planning and coordination services.
The Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau announced that Deborah Josue is the new western sales director for the bureau's meetings and conventions sales division.
Public schools, hit by budget cuts, drops in donations, and new fund-raising guidelines, are capitalizing on the food truck craze for fund-raisers. Los Angeles Times:
http://lat.ms/qipSwD
Louis XIII de Remy Martin hosted an event Saturday at Frank Mancuso's Beverly Hills estate in partnership with the Geffen Playhouse. "Top Chef" contestant Stefan Richter catered the intimate dinner party for 50, which was followed by a Louis XIII tasting before classical singer Nathan Pacheco performed. The dinner honored members of the Chairman's Circle at the Geffen.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Coral Gables Museum opens Saturday. The museum underwent a $6 million renovation, which included some new construction. The Miami Herald:
http://bit.ly/npZ4e9
NEW YORK: Bloomberg: "Increased competition for purchases has led developers to plan the opening of about 50 new hotels this year through 2013 in New York, more than triple the number in Washington, the next-busiest U.S. city for construction, according to hotel-consulting firm Lodging Econometrics. Sixty-eight more are set for completion in 2014 and after."
http://bloom.bg/nCp07R
Apple's Grand Central Terminal flagship store is expected to open for Black Friday, if not sooner. Employee training began Saturday and will end just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend opening. 9to5mac.com:
http://bit.ly/otP4kE
The Citi Pond at Bryant Park opens for its seventh season Friday, featuring ice skating, shopping at the Holiday Shops, entertainment, and dining at Celsius restaurant, lounge, and event space.
Magnolia Bakery has hired Arielle Cohen as the director of event sales. She will work with corporations, organizations, and venues in the tri-state area, as well as L.A. and Chicago, to provide Magnolia's catering services, including customized baked goods, on-site icing, and cupcake decorating tables. She previously worked with SPS Worldwide.
Great Performances C.E.O. Liz Neumark wrote about her support for Community Supported Agriculture organizations and her upstate New York farms for the Huffington Post:
http://huff.to/sVVspS
ORLANDO: Tampa Bay & Company hosts its annual meeting and dinner tonight at A La Carte Event Pavilion. Sponsors include Bay Stage Lighting, AVSS, Pepin Distributing, and Legoland Florida.
WASHINGTON: The Audi Best Buddies Challenge, a run, walk, and cycle fund-raiser raised $1.7 million for Best Buddies International Saturday.
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, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Jana Schiowitz, Anna Sekula, and Courtney Thompson in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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