1. MET BALL GETS MORE EXPENSIVEβAND MORE EXCLUSIVE: Apparently Anna Wintour wants this yearβs Costume Institute gala to be even more exclusive than before. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that CondΓ© Nastβs artistic director raised ticket prices for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's big event on May 5 to $25,000 per person and Vogue instructed male attendees to be dressed in white tie. The magazine even controls the celebrity-designer pairings as part of a grander plan. "According to the source, one of the reasons this is done is so that Vogue's expansive coverage of New York's βParty of the Year,β as it has been called in the past, will be able to feature a wide array of designers. βThey're developing content for the magazine,β says the source." http://bit.ly/1jKyXCf
2. ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC'S 2015 EVENTS SELL OUT: Tickets to next year's Academy of Country Music Awards events have already been snapped up. Organizers said the 70,000 tickets for the show at AT&T Stadium and the ACM Party for a Cause at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, sold out within 18 minutes of being made available. Billboard: "In a statement, Academy of Country Music C.E.O. Bob Romeo thanked fans and expressed grateful surprise at fans' reaction. 'This sale was unprecedented and far exceeded our expectations. Weβre working hard to plan more events to accommodate as many fans as we can.'" http://bit.ly/1jQ87sx
3. CHICAGO MEETINGS ADD MORE COMMUNITY SERVICE: Charitable components and activities that contribute to local neighborhoods and organizations are becoming more commonplace at convention and trade shows that take place in the Windy City. The socially conscious approach includes raising money to support a nonprofit, donating food, and creating opportunities for students to be involved. The Chicago Tribune: http://bit.ly/1nfmkTy
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Boston Globe rounds up 11 great places to watch the Boston Marathon, including Wellesley College and Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks. http://bit.ly/Rtfyg0
CHICAGO: SOFA Chicago, a fair devoted to sculptural objects and functional art, will return to Navy Pier November 7-9. This year, 70 international dealers will exhibit ceramics, glass, wood, fiber, jewelry, metal, and more; some 3,400 attendees are expected.
LAS VEGAS: The Two Shoes Foundationβs sixth annual "Evening of Heart nβ Soleβ will take place at the M Resort on May 17.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a roundup of Easter events in the region: http://bit.ly/Qh2hGt
The Las Vegas Epicurean Affair returns to the Palazzo Las Vegas May 22 and will be sponsored by the Nevada Restaurant Association.
LOS ANGELES: The BH100 Centennial Block Party will take place on Rodeo Drive April 27 and will include a 15,000-slice birthday cake in the shape of city hall and Rodeo Drive, two four-story Ferris wheels, carnival games with prizes like Giorgio Beverly Hills-inspired yellow and white striped beach towels, 100 dancers, and fireworks.
The second annual "Dancing for NED (No Evidence of Disease)" is May 3 at Unici Casa in Culver City. The event, which raises funds for the Cedars-Sinai Womenβs Cancer Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, will include a performance by past So You Think You Can Dance contestants and professional dancers.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Feeding South Floridaβs first Ultimate Hunger Champion Awards Gala is April 26 at Conrad Miami. The after-party will be held at Blue Martini Brickell.
NEW YORK: The Gabby Wild Foundation will host Elephantasia, a safari-theme evening May 30 at the Central Park Zoo that will include what the organization says is the first fashion show at the zoo. The event will include many sustainable elements such as the run of shows printed on replantable wildflower seed paper, a repurposed runway, and organic cotton gift bags.
The Live SunSmart Foundation will celebrate its Places in the Sun gala May 15 at Maritime Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. The affair will include a strolling magician, a Brooklyn Brewery beer garden, and a Sephora Bronzing Bar.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The Orlando Eye, the 400-foot-tall observation wheel being built on International Drive, is now slated to open in spring 2015, a few months later than the original date of December 31, 2014. The wheel will be the centerpiece of what is now named I-Drive 360, a complex of entertainment, retail, and dining venues. http://bit.ly/1teRprO
TORONTO: Get Lit, an event in which notable Canadians read passages from books that have inspired them, is Thursday at Neubacher Shor Contemporary Gallery.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Reading Is Fundamental is hosting a benefit gala April 24 at the Four Seasons Hotel with a theme of the Cat in the Hat. The event will offer a reading from Alma Powell, an auction including original artworks by noted children's book illustrators, sports memorabilia and event tickets, vacation trips, and collectible Dr. Seuss artwork. Guests will also be able to take photos with characters dressed as the Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.
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