November 26, 2014: Commercial Holiday Displays Return After Recession, Oscar Party Moves Venues Because of Hotel Boycott, Lipstick Brand Plans Road Trip to Art Basel

1. COMMERCIAL HOLIDAY DISPLAYS RETURN AFTER RECESSION: Landlords of commercial buildings are spending more on holiday decorations, hiring event designers like David Beahm to create intricate holiday displays. The New York Times: “The plans are extensive: The Durst office buildings will be outfitted with 3,000 sugar pine cones, 15,000 stems of red berry branches and 7,500 replica apples. They will feature giant square wreaths decorated with 16,800 LED bulbs, 24-foot-tall Christmas trees with 11,600 lights, as well as 4,000 running feet of handmade garlands. Surrounding the Durst Organization’s headquarters at One Bryant Park will be a forest of 23 free-standing white trees that are laser-cut to represent traditional Scandinavian paper cutouts. One World Trade Center will use projectors in the lobby to create bright tree patterns on the walls and washes of colors to mimic day turning into night, with soft morning pinks and sunset oranges. In the evenings as tenants leave, stars will appear on the ceiling.” http://nyti.ms/11YZJ59

2. OSCAR PARTY MOVES VENUES BECAUSE OF HOTEL BOYCOTT: Hollywood is continuing its boycott of the Beverly Hills Hotel, with the “Night Before” Oscars party being the latest high-profile event to abandon the venue. The event, a fund-raiser put on by DreamWorks Animation C.E.O. Jeffrey Katzenberg, will move to the 20th Century Fox lot. Hollywood Reporter: “The event, a benefit for the Motion Picture & Television Fund, was held since 2003 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, but organizers revealed earlier this year that the party would be moved as part of a boycott of the hotel over its owner the Sultan of Brunei's controversial stance on gays.” http://bit.ly/1riIlVg

3. LIPSTICK BRAND PLANS ROAD TRIP TO ART BASEL: Smash box Cosmetics is taking a stylish cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to Miami Beach for Art Basel. The vehicle of choice is a white 1974 Cadillac Eldorado emblazoned with a lipstick motif from illustrator Donald Robertson. Glamour: “Along the way, the car will make stops in various cities, where lucky fans will be the first to get matching lip-printed tubes of a new cherry-red Smashbox Legendary Lipstick, called Bing.” The hashtag? #BingtoBasel.

* LOCAL NEWS *

AUSTIN:  Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa has appointed Carissa Smith as its new director of sales and marketing.

BOSTON:  Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center will host its third annual Toy Drive and Holiday Tree Auction on December 3. The event will feature a “Boston Strong” tree in memory of former Mayor Thomas Menino; there will also be “Winter Wonderland” theme decor.

CHICAGO:  The Duck Inn, a new concept from chef Kevin Hickey and Rockit Ranch Productions, will open in Bridgeport later this year. With midcentury design, the venue will have a bar area, a main dining room, and a back porch that will seat guests during the warmer months. Menu items include a rotisserie duck for two, a foie gras tamale, and a Chicago-style "duck fat" dog.

LAS VEGAS:  The Riviera’s second annual toy drive—dubbed the “Toy D-Riv-E”—will take place December 1-11, with givers getting tickets to an upcoming show in exchange for their donations.

LOS ANGELES:  The Humane Society of the United States and Jon Bernthal will host a benefit supporting the Pets for Life program on December 2 at the Wellesbourne.

Variety’s Power of Comedy event will honor Aziz Ansari on December 11 at the Belasco Theater.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  District 15 is a new nightclub in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Opened in October, the 6,600-square-foot space holds 350 for standing events.

NEW YORK:  Katz's Delicatessen is offering private event rental of the Space, a ground-floor venue adjacent to the deli on Houston Street, through January. The venue is 950 square feet and holds 100 for receptions or 50 for seated events. The space is a blank slate for events, with white walls and large picture windows at the front.

Uma Thurman will emcee the 2014 Gotham Awards, which are Monday at Cipriani Wall Street. The awards, which honor independent films, also announced presenters including Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Meryl Streep, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Hollywood Reporter: http://bit.ly/11V4Y5H

To commemorate World AIDS Day, the New York City Health Department is hosting the R.E.D. Ball Monday at BPM at the Out Hotel. The free event—which stands for remembering, empowering, doing—will feature a live performance by Ana Matronic, a fashion show, free H.I.V. testing, condoms, and education on H.I.V. prevention and treatment.

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

TORONTO:  The Interior Design Show will be held January 22-25. Author, designer, and potter Jonathan Adler is one of the speakers.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Safeway Inc. and Events DC will host the 15th Annual Safeway Feast of Sharing today. About 5,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will include a free traditional turkey meal served by volunteers as well as a job fair, free clothing, and health screenings.

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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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