BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #78 — Friday, 08.12.11
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
* INCOMING *
1. UPDATING THE MACY'S PARADE: In her first year overseeing the iconic Thanksgiving event, executive producer Amy Kule has devised a new concept to drum up excitement and add a more interactive component. Dubbed the "Macy's Great American Elf Adventure" and launched Tuesday, the promotion consists of the scavenger hunt and design competition, inviting consumers across the country to create a look for an elf balloon that will be featured in the 85th anniversary parade on November 24.
http://bit.ly/nWWYgX
2. SCHEDULE QUESTIONS FOR JACKSON TRIBUTE: Promoter Global Live Events announced announced acts for the Michael Jackson tribute concert yesterday. Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Smokey Robinson, and Leona Lewis will perform at the Wales Millennium Stadium in October, coinciding with the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson's physician. The timing issues have two Jackson brothers concerned, as well as the Michael Jackson Fan Club: "We share their concerns that this concert is taking place at a most inappropriate time when everyone's care and attention should be focused on the matter of justice." CNN:
http://bit.ly/orDO9A
3. AIRLINE AWARDS FINALISTS: The Airline Passenger Experience Association announced the finalists in the Passenger Choice Awards and awards for achievement in technology. Best Inflight Connectivity & Communications nominees include Emirates and Virgin America. Winners will be honored at the APEX Expo September 12-15 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.
http://bit.ly/phi9RQ
You can vote here:
http://bit.ly/9VGbAr
4. L.A. CEMETERY SLEEPOVER: To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Cinespia, a communal film event in Hollywood Forever Cemetery held every May through September, will celebrate this weekend with "Movies til Dawn," an all-night psychedelic-themed movie screening. The concert film "Monterey Pop" will show first, followed by a Jimi Hendrix documentary, concert performance footage, animation, and short films. L.A. Times: "Taking advantage of the new online ticketing system is highly recommended. Last Saturday's screening of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' had guests without tickets waiting anxiously hoping to make it into the screening. But despite the wait and uncertainty, they all seemed to agree it was a cool event."
http://lat.ms/nTsbgl
5. OBAMA SEES STARS: Harvey Weinstein hosted a star-studded fund-raiser fro the president last night at his New York home. Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jimmy Fallon, Vera Wang, and Alicia Keys joined co-hosts Anna Wintour and Governor Andrew Cuomo. The New York Post: "Weinstein said he had been trying to persuade his wife for three years to have a housewarming party and it had taken Obama to make it happen."
http://nyp.st/p3X9Ab
* PRESS RELEASE OF THE WEEK *
Winning for "Strangest Pairing": The Eventi Hotel announced an event August 17 with four astronauts from the final space shuttle mission appearing with NASA spacecrafts, scale models of Mars rovers, interactive exhibits, and…Elmo. The Muppet.
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Provincetown's Gay Pride Parade will take place August 18 with a "Can't Stop the Music" theme. The Commercial Street affair includes floats, art exhibits, boat cruises, love DJs, karaoke, and drag king and queen competitions.
http://bit.ly/5KiVTS
CHICAGO: Street Food Artistry, an inaugural festival that celebrates, well, street food, will take place at Galleria Marchetti Sunday. The event will offer cooking demos, pop-up restaurants, food trucks, and food carts, as well as live entertainment.
http://bit.ly/nMaJAP
Dance for Life—a gala that raises funds for AIDS/HIV prevention and services—is August 20 at the Auditorium Theatre. The evening kicks off with a gala reception and includes performances from five local dance companies.
http://bit.ly/1Oaurr
LAS VEGAS: June marked 16 straight months of increases in visitors and average hotel room rates in the city.
http://wapo.st/pJD5zx
The inaugural "Ignite Vegas" event drew about 150 people, many of whom are employees of locally based business and event sponsor Zappos. The multicity event series offers guests a chance to give and listen to five-minute talks on subjects that interest them.
http://bit.ly/o8b9rC
Vegas Inc: "Infighting among investors in the Pure nightclub empire in Las Vegas is escalating, with a new lawsuit demanding that the company’s C.E.O. be removed and the firm be placed under control of a receiver."
http://bit.ly/olGPty
LOS ANGELES: San Bernardino County's board of supervisors unanimously agreed to ease restrictions on hot food trucks, which the county had historically banned outright. Trucks will now be allowed at certain community events.
http://bit.ly/qACEox
A study on the proposed new stadium may overstate its tax benefits. NPR: "It anticipates a highly optimistic number of events, some of which would not be new to the region. And a chunk of the tax revenue included in the tally is apparently already spoken for by other projects."
http://n.pr/oMqqEn
MMPI and California Gift Show have announced the five winners of World Style Stories from exhibitors in Kentia Global Marketplace. They're listed here:
http://bit.ly/pkiNbw
LA Inc. the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the return of DineLA Restaurant Week October 2-7 and 9-14, under new director Stacey Sun.
MIAMI: The Florida International Wine Challenge will be held in partnership with the Miami International Wine Fair September 23-25 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
NEW YORK: The Statue of Liberty will close October 29 for a year to undergo a $27.25 million renovation, a day after the monument's 125th anniversary event. The surrounding 14-acre greenery on Liberty Island will remain open. The New York Times:
http://nyti.ms/oIo0wB
ORLANDO: Nearly 500 professional truck drivers from around the U.S. are in town for the National Truck Driving Championships and the National Step Van Driving Championships through Saturday. The competitions are taking place inside the Orange County Convention Center, where organizers created two courses that test drivers' skills at parking, stopping, turning, and docking.
http://bit.ly/qiovFP
Tampa Tribune: The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino could become one of the largest casinos in the country with the addition of 32,000 square feet of gaming space. The Seminole Tribe of Florida has filed documents with the state to move ahead with that expansion, which would make the total size of the casino more than 220,000 square feet.
http://bit.ly/p9vVXC
TORONTO: The Metro Toronto Convention Centre announced its new local food and beverage procurement policy Wednesday. The sustainable strategy will go beyond its current locally sourced menu and will reduce the M.T.C.C.'s environmental footprint.
http://bit.ly/rdvxOS
Guillermo Tosso, former chef at Black Hoof and Lucien, began as head chef Wednesday at Gordon Ramsay's newest restaurant in Montreal, Laurier Gordon Ramsay.
http://bit.ly/ojpqrn
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Jana Schiowitz, Anna Sekula, and Courtney Thompson in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
