June 4, 2013: Vine Comes to Android, Conferences for Entrepreneurs, Brands Drawn to 'Star Wars'-Themed Race

1. VINE COMES TO ANDROID: Vine, the mobile app that creates sharable six-second videos, is now available for Android smartphones after only being available for iPhone users. Pioneering brands and event planners have used the service to build buzz—BizBash also has its own Vine stream—but usage now is poised to take off. CNET: "Though Twitter users already had options for other video looping apps, Vine kept its controls simple and seamless, making it easy to create short videos you can share with friends and on social networks." http://cnet.co/130zu9f

2. BRANDS DRAWN TO 'STAR WARS'-THEMED RACE: The Course of the Force, a Star Wars-themed relay race, will lead fans from San Francisco to Comic-Con San Diego this July, and it has picked up some major-brand sponsors. Ad Week: "There are lots of brands that talk about how to rise above the noise at Comic-Con," said Nerdist Industries C.E.O. Peter Levin. "Each year, it's like there are three winners, and everybody else is a loser. And part of the problem with Comic-Con is that this fan base is the biggest consuming community out there, but at the end of the day, only 150,000 people get to go to the show. This gives fans all these other touch points." http://bit.ly/18IiKHE

3. CONFERENCES FOR ENTREPRENEURS: Forbes has compiled a sequel to its list of "must-attend conferences for entrepreneurs" that includes TechCrunch Disrupt, Small Business Summit, and Pubcon. http://onforb.es/14aURra

4. RACING EVENT GETS LOUIS VUITTON TROPHY CASE: The trophy case for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans race—this year celebrating its 90th anniversary—comes from luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton. Women's Wear Daily: "The trunk, in Vuitton’s signature monogram, was created in its workshops in Asnières, and was overseen by Patrick-Louis Vuitton, who heads up its special orders division. Vuitton has also created trophy cases for the America’s Cup and the FIFA World Cup." http://wwd.us/10VCLW6

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  The International Association of Exhibitions and Events will host its Midyear Meeting August 5-7 at the Omni CNN Center.

BOSTON:  Skincare company Skoah will celebrate the opening of its Newbury Street location with a party June 13. The event will offer an appearance from a Canadian Royal Mountie, cocktails, treats from Pinkberry, and giveaways.

CHICAGO:  The Chefs in the City kickoff event at Japonais tonight will benefit Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care. Held on the riverside terrace, the event will offer Japanese bites and Grey Goose vodka cocktails.

LAS VEGAS:  The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 launched VegasTravelAlerts.org, a Web site intended as a service for meeting and convention planners who need to know whether labor disputes could affect their plans in the city.

LOS ANGELES:  Los Angeles Times: "Walt Disney Company raised entry prices to its theme parks in California and Florida, effective Sunday. A single-day ticket to either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim for visitors 10 or older now costs $92, up from $87—a jump of nearly 6%." http://lat.ms/15uG5LC

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Wolfsonian is offering a trip to Paradise Farms Organic in Homestead June 15. It will include a tour of the farm along with a vegetarian lunch made with farm-grown produce. The tour is held in conjunction with the exhibition "Modern Meals: Remaking American Foods From Farm to Kitchen."

NEW YORK:  Virgin Hotels plans to open a 300-room New York property at 29th Street and Broadway in 2016. Meeting space and food and beverage outlets are planned. USA Today: http://usat.ly/15zs1R8

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO:  The Jonas Brothers, Hot Chelle Rae, MKTO, and Melissa Gorga will perform at Red, Hot, and Boom July 3 at Cranes Roost Park.

SAN DIEGO:  San Diego Business Journal: "The San Diego Tourism Authority, which had threatened to shut its doors June 3 because it hadn’t received any of the promised funding from the City of San Diego, is open for business after the agency came to an agreement with Mayor Bob Filner." http://bit.ly/17jCwv6

TORONTO:  Chef Matt Kantor plans to open a Spanish restaurant called Bero at in July, replacing the Commissary at 889 Queen East. Before this venture, Kantor had created a series of pop-up dinners and one-time food events. Toronto Life: http://bit.ly/11A1JsV

WASHINGTON:  Washington-based Global Events Partners has expanded its destination management services to Las Vegas and Orlando.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job:http://jobs.bizbash.com

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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