1. GIFT LOUNGE DRAWS LAWSUIT: A planned swag suite for celebrities in Washington this weekend is attracting unwelcome attention. Washington Post: "A WHCA lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to GBK Productions, first noted by Politico, warning the L.A. outfit that what it had billed as a 'White House Correspondents’ Dinner Thank You Lounge' infringed on the press group’s trademark. Attorney George A. Lehner told us that while many other outside organizations host events geared around the annual dinner, most are more careful in their wording, whereas the GBK event 'made it appear as if it was the association’s gifting lounge.'" http://wapo.st/17gNOO6
2. UPFRONTS EXPANDING TO MOVIE COMMERCIALS: Taking a cue from television networks, Screenvision, a company that sells commercials at movie theaters, will hold its first upfront sales presentation this week at the Ziegfeld Theater in Midtown Manhattan, while competitor NCM Media Networks will hold its second upfront this year. New York Times: "We used to talk about three screens—TV, computer, mobile—but now we’re also looking at a fourth screen, place-based,” said Fernando Arriola, vice president for media and integration at ConAgra, a potential advertiser. http://nyti.ms/14OHq2Y
3. OBAMA TO SPEAK AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD GALA: President Obama will deliver a keynote speech at the Planned Parenthood "Time for Care" gala Thursday in Washington. The event also will honor Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and Girls star Lena Dunham. USA Today: "[Planned Parenthood President Cecile] Richards also served as a surrogate for Obama's reelection campaign, touting the president's record on women's issues during the heat of the race. … Last year, Obama taped a video message praising Planned Parenthood and telling members he would fight Republican efforts to cut their federal funding." http://usat.ly/11JJWAj
4. EVENTBRITE ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING: TechCrunch: "Event registration and ticketing service Eventbrite announced [Monday] that it has raised $60 million in new funding. … In the funding press release, C.E.O. Kevin Hartz argues that 'live experiences are the new luxury good' and describes the round is 'the most efficient way' to scale Eventbrite globally." http://tcrn.ch/14JQxlI
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Boston Center for Adult Education will host wedding dance workshops in May and June. Brides and grooms bring along CDs of their wedding songs, and instructors show them some moves.
After postponement due to the bombings at the Boston Marathon, the Barschland in Boston event is now May 11. The fund-raiser for the Institute of Contemporary Art will take place at the Revere Hotel Boston Common and will also benefit One Fund Boston.
CHICAGO: The Chicago Flower and Garden Show will take place March 15-23 next year. The show's theme, "Do Green. Do Good," will be carried out throughout this year by the show's producer, Flower Show Productions. One of the producer's first acts was to donate trees, bulbs, annuals, and more from the 2013 show to Chicago public schools and other organizations.
Goodman Theatre's Scenemakers Board will host its Scene Soiree June 15 at Ignite Glass Studios. The event will include glass-blowing demos, fashions inspired by the theater's production of The Jungle Book, music, DJs, and artisan cocktails.
LAS VEGAS: Examiner has a closer look inside UNLVino's first-ever four-day run: http://exm.nr/ZismHC
The fourth annual Las Vegas Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest returns to Fremont Street Experience May 10-11.
Caesars Entertainment announced that Shelley Williams has been promoted to director of sales for the company’s properties in the eastern half of the U.S.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino celebrated the grand-opening weekend of Rehab's 10th anniversary season and kicked off Robbie Rivera’s Juicy Beach residency on April 20.
LOS ANGELES: The Backstreet Boys will perform Thursday at the second annual Hilarity for Charity event benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association.
Comedy Central’s Jack Herrguth will be the recipient of the second annual Gilda award at the Fresh Canvas Party, the yearly benefit evening for the Cancer Support Community, on May 18 in Santa Monica.
PBS Socal's “A Lifetime of Learning” gala will take place April 27 at the Atlantic Aviation hangar at John Wayne Airport.
Angel City Brewery is about to fully open to the public, and will celebrate with the first Angel City Heritage Music & Arts Festival on May 4.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Polo Life presents the ninth annual La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup Thursday through Sunday between 20th and 22nd Streets on the sands of South Beach. In addition to the polo matches, several events are planned at hotels including the James Royal Palm, the Raleigh, the Mondrian South Beach, W South Beach, and SLS South Beach.
NEW YORK: The Hilton New York, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in June, has changed its name to New York Hilton-Midtown to help business and leisure travelers more easily identify its Manhattan neighborhood.
MKG has hired Tracy Bussan as director of client services—leading the marketing agency's work with Delta Air Lines, Evian, Chase, and NBCUniversal—and Chris Dowling as creative director.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The 11th annual Orlando Cabaret Festival is April 25-May 12 at Mad Cow Theatre. The two-week-long event will feature cabaret and jazz performances by Emily Skinner, Shoshana Bean, and more; lunchtime performances with food provided by the Virgin Olive Market; and a Mother's Day brunch.
TORONTO: Arts & Fashion Week starts today and runs through Saturday at a 15,000-square-foot industrial warehouse on Sterling Road. Hosted by Fashion Art Toronto, the event includes more than 50 runway shows and 200 Canadian and international designers and artists, fashion films, and photography exhibits and installations.
WASHINGTON: Restauranteur Ashok Bajaj announced Nopa Kitchen & Bar will open in early May. The 160-seat American brasserie in Penn Quarter will have three private dining spaces: a 40-seat dining room with a working fireplace and audiovisual capabilities, a 24-seat dining room next to the bar, and a 14-seat dining room for smaller parties.
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.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily
Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]
April 24, 2013: Gift Lounge Draws Lawsuit, Upfront Concept Expanding, Obama to Speak at Planned Parenthood Gala
Latest in Miami / South Florida