October 15, 2014: California’s Foie Gras Ban Stands, Blogger Cancels Speech After Death Threats, Macy’s to Start Black Friday Shopping Even Earlier

1. CALIFORNIA’S FOIE GRAS BAN STANDS: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of California’s foie gras ban, letting the law stand. Restaurants and farmers had challenged the law, which went into effect in 2012. Los Angeles Times: "The Supreme Court’s decision means that the people of California have the right to prohibit the sale of certain food items, solely because they are the product of animal cruelty,” said Jonathan Lovvorn, chief counsel for the Humane Society of the United States, which filed a brief supporting the ban. “The holding in this case—that states have the right to cleanse their markets of cruel products—is a precedent of enormous consequence for millions of animals." http://lat.ms/1w6P3en

2. BLOGGER CANCELS SPEECH AFTER DEATH THREATS: Video game critic and blogger Anita Sarkeesian cancelled a speech after receiving specific death threats and learning that the venue at Utah State University could not restrict firearms. Salt Lake Tribune: “Sarkeesian is most famous for her critiques of how women are depicted in video games and popular culture and has received many death threats and terror threats against her speaking engagements. … ’Today marks the 3rd time I’ve gone on stage after specific death and bomb threats where issued to an event where I’m scheduled to speak,’ Sarkeesian tweeted on Saturday, when she spoke at Geek Girl Con in Seattle. A bomb threat also was made at the Game Developers Choice Awards in San Francisco, where Sarkeesian received an award in March.” http://bit.ly/1xS8usx

3. MACY’S TO START BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING EVEN EARLIER: Macy’s is pushing the trend of starting Black Friday holiday shopping on Thanksgiving day even earlier, opening stores at 6 p.m., two hours earlier than last year. Huffington Post: “In doing so, Macy's became the first major retailer in 2014 to wage war on Thanksgiving—a day people traditionally spend with family and friends. In recent years, the so-called ‘Black Friday creep’ has caused more and more low-wage workers to miss out on their own turkey dinners so they can staff the kickoff of the year's busiest shopping season.” http://huff.to/1Da3pPf


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

American Express Meetings & Events and DoubleDutch have announced a partnership to launch a “data-driven dashboard” to help meeting planners evaluate their events. Press release: http://on.mktw.net/1ttaMQI

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Mendon Twin Drive-In will host Halloween happenings throughout October. Events will include costume contests and horror movies playing on dueling screens; there will also be a pumpkin patch and seasonal treats.

CHICAGO:  Ten Mile House will open in Evanston next month. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant will seat 110 and have a 50-seat patio; it will serve comfort food such as wood-fired pizza and smoked meats.

LAS VEGAS:  Haze nightclub at Aria is slated to close on November 1 with a big closing party. Vegas Inc: http://bit.ly/1z7HGcn

Caesars Entertainment Properties in Las Vegas celebrated the first legal same-sex wedding at the Garden Chapel of the Flamingo Las Vegas on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES:  Children’s Hospital Los Angeles honored Natalie Portman, philanthropists Sally and Bill Hurt, and retailer Costco on Saturday night with the “Courage to Care” award at the hospital’s signature biennial gala, Noche de Niños. More than 1,200 attended at the Events Deck at L.A. Live, helping to raise $3.1 million. Business Wire: http://bit.ly/1u0JI5V

AEG Facilities’ Los Angeles Convention Center has launched a new website, lacclink.com.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Gary Nader Art Centre will reveal a model and renderings of the Latin American Art Museum, designed by Mexican architect Fernando Romero, during Art Basel Miami Beach. The museum will accompany the announcement with a group exhibition of art from the museum's permanent collection.

Detect Ovarian Cancer in Time will host its third annual fashion show November 7 at Zoo Miami’s Gold Coast Railroad Museum. The show will feature designs from South Florida designers as well as a silent auction.

NEW YORK:  Chef Scott Conant is opening an eponymous one-night-only "flash restaurant" on Saturday in partnership with the restaurant reservations app Resy. The restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m., and reservations will be priced according to seating time; the location of the dinner will be kept secret until users book a table on the app. Conant plans to open a permanent version of the restaurant next year.

The Trust for Public Land's second annual gala is tonight at Espace. The event will honor Tiffany & Company chairman and C.E.O. Michael J. Kowalski and the Tiffany and Company Foundation with the Land for People award.

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

TORONTO:  The opening ceremonies of the Royal Ontario Museum Centennial Ball will take place at the museum on November 8.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Mango Tree DC is planning to open in December at CityCenterDC. It will be the first United States branch of the global Thai restaurant concept and is coming to the city through a partnership with Richard Sandoval. The space will have a first-floor bar and lounge that seats 45, a second-floor dining room that seats 140, and a 24-seat seasonal terrace.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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