December 5, 2013: Fans Persuade Barenaked Ladies to Cancel SeaWorld Concert, Miami’s New Art Museum Preps for Art Basel Opening, Why a White House Holiday Video Went Viral

1. FANS PERSUADE BARENAKED LADIES TO CANCEL SEAWORLD CONCERT: The band Barenaked Ladies has cancelled a concert at Orlando’s SeaWorld following a fan petition and Facebook comments critical of the park’s treatment of killer whales in the new documentary Blackfish. Pollstar: “This is a complicated issue, and we don’t claim to understand all of it, but we don't feel comfortable proceeding with the gig at this time,” the band wrote on its Facebook page. “We’ll see you all at a mutually agreeable concert venue in the near future!” http://bit.ly/1cZihC6

2. ADORABLE TODDLER STEALS SHOW AT WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS EVENT: A routine White House holiday event—the reveal of this year’s Christmas decorations—went viral after two things the Internet can’t resist (cute kids and puppies) came together. Washington Post: “Two-year-old Ashtyn Gardner of Mobile, Ala., became an instant Twitter sensation when cameras captured the her falling down (or maybe knocked down) when approached by Sunny, the first family’s newest puppy. The first lady leaped into action … checking to make sure the little girl was okay. Ashtyn was fine; Sunny licked her face.” http://wapo.st/192VsP5

3. MIAMI’S NEW ART MUSEUM PREPS FOR ART BASEL OPENING: The Pérez Art Museum Miami makes its debut this week, a striking building architecturally but one that is still trying to find an identity with its small but evolving collection. New York Times: “Here, the challenge was to construct a building for an institution without a large collection and to design a museum that could compete with the beach for visitors’ time and attention. … Christine Binswanger, the project architect, said the most radical design element is the wide series of steps that serve both as stadium seating and as a staircase to the second level. Thick acoustic curtains can be drawn to change the size of what could be a theater, auditorium, social center or walkway.” http://nyti.ms/IFElIt


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

The International Special Events Society announced seven event professionals who earned the Certified Special Events Professional designation in October. They are: Laura Brewer of Charlotte, North Carolina, Tracie Domino of Tampa, Deirdre Furlow of Phoenix, Christopher Keesler of Webster, Texas, Corrie Morley of Aurora, Colorado, and two Canadians: Kimberly Beaune of Oakville, Ontario, and Chris Jodoin of New Westminster, British Columbia.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Hawthorne will host several holiday events this season, including a Formaggio pop-up shop on December 12. The activation will sell cheese, cheese knives, cutting boards, jams, and gift baskets.

CHICAGO:  "Candy Land," a charity event benefitting Aspire, will take place at Parliament on December 12. The event will offer candy-inspired cocktails, local confections, and gift bags.

LAS VEGAS:  Britney Spears celebrated her two-year residency with an elaborate arrival stunt at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Tuesday. After dancers performed several of her hits at the top of the property’s front steps, the singer restored a 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible escorted by an eight-car motorcade. She then walked through a custom LED-lit arch before ascending the stairs to be greeted by the resort's president, David Hoenemeyer.

LOS ANGELES:  For the third consecutive year, Fiji Water will serve as the official water for the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The bottled water will be served on the red carpet with custom straws and featured on the dinner tables during the televised award show ceremony.

Women In Film, Los Angeles’ annual Crystal & Lucy Awards, is June 11 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Newport Hospitality Group has launched Newport Occasions, a full-service event management and catering company for off-site events. Pamela Presley will head the business.

Johns Hopkins will present "A Woman's Journey" health conference and luncheon on January 23 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.  The day will feature seminars on medical advances in women's health from Johns Hopkins doctors.

NEW YORK:  Women for Women International celebrated its 20th anniversary by raising $2.1 million at its gala Tuesday at the American Museum of Natural History. Honorary chairwoman Sheryl Sandberg, C.O.O. of Facebook, presented former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with the Champion of Peace award.

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

ST. LOUIS:  Interior designer Retta Leritz has joined the event design and creative agency Evntiv.

TORONTO:  Jack Daniel's will unveil its first Canadian Jack Daniel's Holiday Barrel Tree with a lighting ceremony downtown on December 11. The 23-foot-tall tree is made of original whiskey barrels, and guests will be able to sample a new apple whiskey punch.

WASHINGTON:  The National Press Club's Book Fair and Authors' Night drew a crowd of 750 people at its 36th annual event last month. Next year the event will be held November 18.

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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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