1. DENVER MOTORCYCLE EXPO CANCELED AFTER FATAL BIKER GANG FIGHT: Fighting between rival biker gangs at the 38th annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo on Saturday left one person dead and with shootings and a stabbing resulting in one death. The venue, the National Western complex, initially continued with its activities Saturday but canceled the expo’s second day on Sunday. Denver Post: “In the immediate aftermath of the conflict between two rival biker clubs, the show continued Saturday in a scene that one vendor described as ‘surreal.’ Attendees went about their business in a venue where patches of blood and evidence markers hinted at the melee that had flared only minutes earlier. Later Saturday, however, officials shut down the expo, putting an abrupt end to the weekend event. The expo had advertised 800 booths, vintage motorcycles and a wide variety of activities.” http://dpo.st/1TwGXd0
2. CHICAGO BEEFS UP SECURITY AT CONVENTION CENTER: Reflecting new security concerns after terrorist attacks that have targeted large gatherings, Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center will ramp up security at the venue, including at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show this month. Chicago Tribune: “While security has been a priority for convention centers in the post-9/11 world, the November Paris attacks by Islamic State followers that killed 130 people prompted new concerns from trade show managers, and a re-evaluation of procedures and policies by McCormick Place, according to David Causton, general manager of McCormick Place. McCormick Place is working closely with local and federal agencies, including the Chicago Police Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security on an ongoing security review. … Heightened security measures may include more uniformed officers, more undercover officers, more electronic surveillance and tighter ID requirements for tradesmen, sources said.” http://trib.in/1KlkLR7
3. PEPSI PLANS RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK: Pepsi is entering the restaurant business with a still-under-construction concept called Kola House in New York’s trendy meatpacking district. An initiative of the brand’s marketing department, the restaurant is intended to last longer than a pop-up (although pop-up versions are planned for big events like Lollapalooza). The New York Times: “[PepsiCo chief marketing officer for beverages in North America Seth] Kaufman said he wanted Kola House to offer visitors ‘a premium experience,’ and to that end, it will not be plastered with the Pepsi logo or filled with Pepsi products. Everything at Kola House will be centered on the kola nut, a bitter fruit that contains caffeine and gives cola beverages their name. Essentially, Pepsi is trying to market its product without marketing its product. … Kola House is designed for the social media age. However grandiose, Pepsi’s goal is that visitors — particularly influential ones — will talk about Kola House on Facebook and Twitter and post pictures on Instagram.” http://nyti.ms/1KKhJAJ
* LOCAL NEWS *
ATLANTA: The inaugural Atlanta Taco Festival will take place May 1 at Candler Park. The event will feature taco and tequila tastings and salsa dancing.
BOSTON: The Hasty Pudding Theatricals has presented Kerry Washington with the 2016 Woman of the Year award.
CHICAGO: Level 251 will host a Mardi Gras Masquerade presented by C2E2 on February 6. The event will include dancing, games, and New Orleans-style cocktails and snacks.
HOUSTON: Visit Houston booked a record number of hotel room nights related to meetings and conventions in 2015, with 732,967.
LAS VEGAS: Commercial concrete trade show World of Concrete 2016 will take place Tuesday to Friday at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Convention Center.
LOS ANGELES: Olivia Munn and Jason Segel will host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards on February 13 at the Beverly Wilshire. The actors will present 11 awards to 33 recipients and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers during the event.
Community Inspiring Today's Youth's City Gala will take place February 15 at the Playboy Mansion.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Miami Children's Museum will host its Miami Vice & Spice benefit February 27 at Soho Studios.
NEW YORK: The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' 50th Anniversary Gala takes place tonight at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
The Central Park Ice Festival will take place February 13 at Naumburg Bandshell. The event will feature ice carving and a silent disco.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Orlando Eye will award 30 couples the opportunity to have their wedding, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony in one of the wheel's private capsules on February 13. Entrants must submit a 30-second video explaining why they deserve to win. Once the ceremonies are complete, the participants and their guests will attend a reception with champagne and cake in the I-Drive 360 Courtyard.
Topgolf Entertainment Group has announced plans to build a 65,000-square-foot venue across the street from the Orange County Convention Center. It's expected to open early in 2017. The three-level entertainment complex will have 3,000 square feet of private event space and 102 climate-controlled hitting bays.
PHILADELPHIA: The 2016 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America will take place May 3-6 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
TORONTO: Canadian celebrities including Andrew Haley, Anthony Lemke, and Leslie Roberts will walk the runway wearing GotStyle menswear during Toronto Men's Fashion Week's MensFashion4Hope show on February 25. The show raises funds for the Hospital for Sick Children through the Kol Hope Foundation for Children.
99 Sudbury, an event space in West Queen West, may become a mixed-use building. The refurbished building would hold a boutique hotel, an event space, and retail and residential units. Inside Toronto: bit.ly/20bjlzK
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Wisconsin defense lawyers featured in the Netflix docu-series Making a Murderer—Jerry Buting and Dean Strang— will appear at the Warner Theatre on April 2 to talk about the show. Washingtonian: http://bit.ly/1WShpXr
The 103rd annual Alfalfa Club banquet—a gathering of billionaires and politicians—took place Saturday at the Capital Hilton. Washington Post: http://wapo.st/1Q6N3eO
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
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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, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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