1. GUANTANAMO-THEMED COACHELLA EVENT: Pushing the limits of taste, Flaunt magazine and Le Baron advertised a pop-up bar with a Guantanamo theme at Coachella this weekend, promising "pleasurable torture." Soon after the racy invite became public, sponsor Smashbox Studios pulled out of the event and the magazine issued a statement saying "we value and respect the public's concern and are taking action." New York magazine: http://nym.ag/Y8RSKx
2. HAS THE FINAL FOUR GROWN TOO LARGE?: Trying to create the biggest spectacle for its men's basketball championship, which crowned Louisville the winner last night in Atlanta, the N.C.A.A. has moved to bigger venues. But bigger isn't better, according to one columnist. Grantland: "It's all too far away. The baskets look like they're drifting in space. The seats are so distant that, when you shoot at them, the closest fans look like they're sitting behind the walls of an aquarium—which sort of makes you, the player, like, the fish. … The size of the event of the Final Four—and the corresponding unbridled greed that goes with it—forced the event to move into the domes, and playing the games in domes has completely destroyed the act most basic to the game itself." http://es.pn/14RsJLw
3. VINE CATCHING ON FOR MARKETING: Brands such as Vokswagen and Peanut Butter & Company are finding that Twitter's Vine is effective for marketing events. During this past weekend's New York International Auto Show, Volkswagon's agency, SS+K, created a "VineViewer" where people could upload short videos of the cars on display. Similarly, Peanut Butter & Company used the app to promote National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. Ad Week: "It utilized a Vine that shows how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the brand's products. During the course of the day, according to the company, it garnered 300,000 impressions and, more importantly, 6,000-plus coupon downloads." http://bit.ly/10IeMKg
4. ACM AWARDS SET RECORDS FOR VIEWERS, VOTING: It was a record-breaking year for the 48th annual Academy of Country Music awards Sunday, with a combined 1.1 million fans casting their votes for both the entertainer of the year and new artist of the year categories. The event, held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast live on CBS, led the night in viewers and demographics with the event’s highest measures in viewers since 1998, in households and adults 18-49 since 2001, and in adults 25-54 since 2000, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same-day ratings. acmcountry.com
* LOCAL NEWS *
ASPEN: Several events have been added to the 31st annual Food & Wine Classic this year. The June 14-16 festival, which just announced the fastest sellout in five years, brings the brand to life with more than 80 cooking demonstrations and wine seminars, panel discussions, tasting events, and the famed Grand Tasting Pavilion.
BOSTON: The Huntington Theatre Company's Spotlight Spectacular gala is April 22 at the Park Plaza Castle. Rafanelli Events will handle design.
Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer takes place May 6-12. Area bakeries and restaurants will offer a special dessert to benefit breast cancer research, and options include strawberry-tarragon shortcake at Bokx American Prime and blackberry-and-white-chocolate bread pudding at the Tip Tap Room.
Three coffee competitions will take place in Boston this weekend: the United States Barista Championship, Brewers Cup, and Cup Tasters Championship.
CHICAGO: Downtown 88 Presented by Hennessy Black, a private collectors' preview of the artwork of Hebru Brantley, is Friday at the Lacuna Artist Lofts.
MileNorth, a Chicago Hotel, will debut Ferris & Jack on May 1. In the former C-House space, the venue has a restaurant, marketplace, and a lobby bar. A private dining area with a Ferris wheel-inspired sliding door can seat 32, and the venue serves Midwestern fare including sausages and local beers.
Martin Short will be the guest entertainer at Make-A-Wish Illinois' Wish Ball on May 18 at the UIC Forum.
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the lineup for its 2013 Cultivate food, music, and ideas festival series with events planned in San Francisco June 8 in Golden Gate Park’s Hellman Hollow, Denver August 17 in City Park, and Chicago September 7 in Lincoln Park. The festivals include cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, live music, local food artisans, regional beer and wines, and a special Chipotle festival menu. Admission for all events is free.
LAS VEGAS: The Art Festival of Henderson is May 11-12 at the Henderson Events Plaza. The two-day event is family-friendly and will feature art for purchase, live entertainment, food, and a kids' area. http://bit.ly/10NkM4S
LOS ANGELES: Dwell on Design is June 21-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event, held during Dwell Design Week, will feature Dwell Home Tours, 400 exhibitors, and 200 presentations from design leaders like keynote speaker Michael Graves. The event partnered with the American Society of Interior Designers for this year's show. http://bit.ly/10CojE0
Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Vintage Bouquet celebrates its 25th anniversary with an alfresco food and wine tasting event on April 28 at the Greystone Mansion.
GBK will host its annual gift lounge for the MTV Movie Awards this Friday and Saturday.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Hispanicize 2013, a conference for Hispanic trends, runs today through Saturday at Miami Beach’s Eden Roc hotel. This year's theme is Hispanic content marketing, and participating brands include Disney, General Motors, Sherwin-Williams, Xbox, and Radio Shack.
The iHeartRadio Ultimate Pool Party is June 28-29 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The weekend will kick off with a welcome party at the pool and will feature performances by Pitbull, Ke$ha, Afrojack, Icona Pop, and Krewella.
NEW YORK: The Food Bank for New York City's Can Do Awards dinner is April 30 at Cipriani Wall Street. Highlights of the evening will include a cocktail reception followed by dinner, a live auction, an awards presentation, and a musical performance by Bon Jovi.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Mary Jobb is the new director of sales for the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Jobb will oversee the sales team and business development for the two resorts.
TAMPA: Tampa Bay & Company has hired Santiago Corrada as its new president and chief executive officer.
TORONTO: Harper's Bazaar executive fashion and beauty editor Avril Graham hosted a spring/summer 2013 trend presentation at the Max Mara flagship store on Bloor Street on Monday.
Tiger of Sweden will host a media and V.I.P. opening party Wednesday to celebrate its new flagship store on Ossington Avenue.
WASHINGTON: The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Will on the Hill is May 6 in Sidney Harman Hall. The evening includes a V.I.P. cocktail reception, a performance of Toil and Trouble, and a buffet dinner. In addition to members of Congress and other Washington insiders, this year's event features actors John Leguizamo and Anna Chlumsky.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Jenna Berris, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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