1. CANNES DENIES ENTRY TO WOMEN WEARING FLATS: The Cannes Film Festival revels in its glamorous reputation, but an effort to enforce a dress code has led to a lot of bad publicity. Women who showed up for a Sunday screening of the lesbian-theme drama Carol wearing flat shoes were turned away and told to return with high heels. Screen Daily: “Multiple guests, some older with medical conditions, were denied access to the anticipated world-premiere screening for wearing rhinestone flats. The festival declined to comment on the matter, but did confirm that it is obligatory for all women to wear high-heels to red-carpet screenings.” http://bit.ly/1JXKB8W
2. NBC BENEFITING FROM TRIPLE CROWN EXCITEMENT: NBC is banking on increased viewership and higher ad rates because of the potential of a rare Triple Crown winner at the Belmont Stakes next month. The New York Times: “The possibility that American Pharoah — the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes — can change history will be played out June 6. And it is a virtual guarantee that the sudden, temporary burst of interest that accompanies a Triple Crown possibility will push the Belmont Stakes’s viewership substantially higher. Since 1992, a Belmont Stakes with a horse seeking the Triple Crown has drawn an average of 13.5 million viewers. When it is an ordinary race, that figure plummets to 5.9 million.” http://nyti.ms/1AlkcBO
3. BIG RATINGS FOR BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS: Thanks to big winners like Taylor Swift and buzzed-about performances from Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea, the Billboard Music Awards on ABC saw their best ratings in 14 years. New York Post: “The awards show, which aired live from 8 to 11 p.m., snared 11.1 million viewers — up from 10.7 million viewers last year — and snared the telecast’s best showing since 2001. It also scored its best numbers in the advertiser-coveted demo of adults 18-49 since 2003.” http://bit.ly/1R2YuXn
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: An Island Creek Oyster pop-up will take place at Battery Park on Thursday. The evening will feature oysters and cocktails.
CHICAGO: Diffa Chicago will host its Imagine Ball on June 13 at Navy Pier’s grand ballroom. New this year, trolley pickup will be available to guests.
DENVER: PG Exhibits announced that Patrick Zoller has joined the company as a senior account executive.
LAS VEGAS: Square Ring Promotions & Championship Title Boxing will host Knockout Night at the D on May 22 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.
Insomniac’s first EDC Week Charity Auction ended on May 15, raising about $70,000 for Culture Shock Las Vegas.
LOS ANGELES: W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has announced the completion of the $25 million renovation of W Los Angeles—West Beverly Hills, formerly known as W Los Angeles—Westwood.
The market, restaurant, and retail space Dudley Market is slated to open in Venice on May 30.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Marlins Foundation will host its annual Fish ’N Chips Casino Party Thursday at the ballpark, with proceeds benefiting the Marlins Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program.
NEW YORK: Manhattan Youth Ballet will host A Gala Benefit honoring Marina Stavitskaya on May 31 at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center. The event will include a cocktail hour, performance, reception, and silent auction.
The Brooklyn Museum has named Anne Pasternak as its new director. Pasternak has served as president and artistic director of Creative Time for the past 20 years.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The Crayola Store is now open at the Florida Mall and the adjacent Crayola Experience will open July 1. The Crayola Experience will be a 70,000-square-foot, two-story attraction that will have a 200-seat café and will be available for meetings and teambuilding events.
TORONTO: Shaw Centre convention center in Ottawa has appointed Nina Kressler as its president and C.E.O.
The shared office space iQ Office Suites will have a grand opening for its new location in the former Bank of Canada building this afternoon. The venue also includes space for meetings and events.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Ford’s Theatre Gala is May 31 at the theater followed by a seated dinner at the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum. The program will feature performances by Boyz II Men, Martina McBride, Joss Stone, Tommy Tune, 2Cellos, and others. Civil rights advocate Diane Nash will receive the Lincoln Medal.
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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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