December 2, 2013: Brands Ramp Up Art Basel Events, Smart Tips for Corporate Holiday Parties, Broadway Cast Responds to Parade Criticism

1. EVENT FATIGUE AT ART BASEL: Art Basel Miami Beach, which starts this week, has become such a scene that the purists are complaining about the number of events that happen around the mammoth art fair. New York Times: “The sheer volume of events (dinners, cocktails and blowout parties) not related to art this year is deafening. Sure, the art fairs still display paintings at gobsmacking prices during the day, but the serious art folk are getting sick of the nighttime excess. ‘You basically have to treat Art Basel Miami Beach like Vegas,’ said Bill Powers, a gallerist and constant fixture at cocktail functions and openings. ‘You get in, then you get out. Nobody I know is staying the whole weekend.’” http://nyti.ms/1iqgj4P

2. SMART TIPS FOR CORPORATE HOLIDAY PARTIES: Event planner Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions in Long Beach, California, offers four tips for corporate holiday entertaining this season. Reuters: “If your company just laid off a few people or cut year-end bonuses, a lavish end-of-year party is a big ‘don’t,’ Jenkins says. Instead, he advises treating your holiday party as you would any campaign launch. Keep the tone and theme in alignment with overall company conditions.” http://reut.rs/18rx2AE

3. BROADWAY CAST RESPONDS TO PARADE CRITICISM: After the cast members of Broadway’s Kinky Boots—a show that features a drag queen—received social media blowback from conservative viewers of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, they came up with a seasonal response. New York Post: “[Tony winner Billy] Porter brazenly marched over to Macy’s on Black Friday in full drag to do some shopping, along with castmate Stark Sands, in heels, and the musical’s co-creator Harvey Fierstein. ‘You have to start a dialogue,’ Fierstein told Page Six of the parade backlash as he headed to Macy’s men’s department with the outrageously dressed actors.” http://pge.sx/ItCWVI

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  Here's a clever way to sell event tickets: Chicago Gourmet is putting tickets for its September 2014 event on sale on Black Friday. The tickets will be available for a discounted rate on the event's Web site for a limited time.

LAS VEGAS:  The ninth annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run is Saturday. This year's grand marshal is Shania Twain, who will lead thousands of red-suited racers in the charity 5K run.

LOS ANGELES:  Chef Jimmy Shaw of Lotería Grill is getting ready to debut two new Mexican concepts in downtown Los Angeles: On December 13, Loteria Grill and Cantina and the new Torta Company are slated to open at the shopping location Figat7th.

Philippe by Philippe Chow opened a Beverly Hills location in late October.

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

NEW YORK:  Shake Shack’s Brooklyn location is drawing ire for having teambuilding activities in a public plaza. DNA Info: “Now look, if you’re a small, local mom-and-pop shop and you once and a while use this, you know, I’m not gonna say anything. But they’re a huge corporation. You need team building? Then why don’t you get an office space or rent some space? Seriously, this is a public plaza and they appropriated it,” said one community board member. http://dnain.fo/194wHhJ

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

TORONTO:  Circus Orange Inc. created and implemented the Cavalcade of Lights pyrotechnic show at Toronto City Hall November 30.

WASHINGTON:  The BB&T Classic, a double-header college basketball tournament to benefit the Children's Charities Foundation, is December 8 at Verizon Center. The black-tie Basketball Gala precedes it December 7 at the Washington Hilton.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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