June 28, 2018: Bird's Nest Halts Preparations for Major Canada Music Festival, Cannes Lions Might Provide Childcare Next Year, Popular Festival in Sweden Shut Down After Rise in Sexual Assaults

1. BIRD'S NEST HALTS PREPARATIONS FOR MAJOR CANADA MUSIC FESTIVAL: Preparations for Bluesfest, one of Canada’s biggest music festivals in Ottawa, are being put on hold to protect a small bird and her nest. CNN: “Workers discovered the bird, a killdeer, guarding her four eggs while they were setting up one of the festival's main stages. The breed is protected by the Canadian government and cannot be moved without federal permission. ‘I have to say this is one of the most challenging problems that we've been presented with recently,’ Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan told reporters. A parent killdeer may abandon the eggs if they are moved more than a few feet, Carleton University naturalist Michael Runtz told CNN partner CBC. Killdeer eggs take between 24 and 28 days to hatch, and the birds can fly away shortly after. The festival is set to begin July 5. Bluesfest cites an average attendance of more than 300,000 fans. This year's lineup includes Shawn Mendes, the Foo Fighters and the Dave Matthews Band. Workers have blocked off the nest with caution tape and the festival has hired a security guard to make sure no one tampers with the nest. Organizers have identified multiple re-nesting locations and are hoping to receive a decision from federal officials soon.” https://cnn.it/2N3jBwZ

2. CANNES LIONS MIGHT PROVIDE CHILDCARE NEXT YEAR: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity isn't regarded as the most family-friendly event. But one ad-tech owner wants to offer childcare for people who bring their families along in 2019. Adweek: "Loren Rochelle, co-founder and CEO of Los Angeles ad-tech company Nom, has a 6-month-old and nearly turned down an invitation to Cannes this year. She was one of eight women business owners invited to participate in the R/GA & Cannes Lions Start-up Academy. But after some quick research, Rochelle realized the festival wasn’t set up for new moms. Child care, pump stations and other parents with kids in tow were scarce to nonexistent. Her team convinced her to seize the opportunity, so she packed up her daughter and went last week. With the help of a nanny and publicist, she navigated nap time, bedtime and blocked off an hour every day to eat and pump. But even with extra hands, she said the nonstop schedule was challenging: 'It was difficult to find time to do much of anything outside of the program.' 'I found Cannes Lions to be very female-friendly, but not very family-friendly,' Rochelle added. 'I’m fortunate to be supported and empowered by R/GA Ventures … they didn’t even flinch when I mentioned I was bringing my 6-month-old.' Wanting to connect with other moms in her position, she created the hashtag #MomsCannes and hosted a meetup on the beach Thursday. Moms from New York, London and Shanghai attended, as well as a couple dads. Some brought their families along, while others left their kids at home. Next year, Nom wants to offer child care and is talking to female-focused groups like The Jane Club to make it happen. She hopes the hashtag #MomCannes will grow into a larger #MomsCan movement. ... Notably, the moms who attended Nom’s meetup were their own bosses, said Nom marketing vp Cyndi Otteson. She added that Rochelle is in a privileged position, and child care could help parents with less money and flexibility. Not everyone would take advantage of daycare centers alongside the rosé-fueled tech beaches and yachts. For every parent who misses their kids, others seem grateful for the break, Otteson acknowledged." https://bit.ly/2N3gzsC

3. POPULAR FESTIVAL IN SWEDEN SHUT DOWN AFTER RISE IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS: The Bravalla Festival, Sweden's largest music festival, has been shut down for good because of a rise in sexual assaults at the event. Organizers FKP Scorpio plan to create new events in the future. Billboard: "Following last year’s event, organizers said the festival would be canceled for 2018 after an excess of sexual assaults. In 2017, Police in Östergötland, where the festival is held, said four rapes and 23 sexual assaults were reported over the weekend. In 2016, there were five rapes and 12 cases of sexual assault reported over the four days. Days after the 2017 edition, organizers told The Guardian 'Certain men … apparently cannot behave. It’s a shame. We have therefore decided to cancel Bråvalla 2018.' The head of PR for FKP Scorpio, Kajsa Apelqvist, told Swedish outlet Norrköpings Tidningar last week that they no longer felt they could provide the experience their visitors deserved and there will no longer be a Bråvalla Festival. Bråvalla was one of several music festivals in Sweden that faced several reports of sexual assault, which prompted a group including comedian and radio presenter, Emma Knyckare, to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a music festival without men. The Statement Festival reached its fundraising goal and is slated to take place this year from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Apelqvist told Norrköpings Tidningar that sexual assault is still an issue for festivals that the company will continue to combat with its other events, but not the sole reason for canceling Bråvalla. FKP Scorpio’s decision also follows Live Nation Sweden announcing an expansion of the Lollapalooza brand next year. Lollapalooza Stockholm’s inaugural festival will run from June 28-29, 2019." https://bit.ly/2N6UrxI


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Event management platform Allcal Events has launched Allcal Festivals, an all-in-one event management solution designed to serve festival and convention needs. The platform allows groups to launch branded apps and online schedules, make changes to the schedule in real time, and create ticketed events. 

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  James Beard Foundation’s sixth annual Taste America will take place September 28-November 17 and travel to Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Louisville, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Seattle. This year Taste America will work with Feeding America to reduce food waste and donate leftovers to those in need. 

Omni Hotels & Resorts will be the official hotel partner of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions through 2022. To celebrate the two-year anniversary of Omni’s Say Goodnight to Hunger program, the company will help provide four meals for a family in need for every birdie-or-better made during each PGA Tour event.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA:  Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront unveiled progress in its lobby redesign and new culinary experiences. The lobby will include new materials and fixtures including onyx stone counter tops and Italian large-format tile. A new 24-hour market serving fast-casual food items and Starbucks is slated to open in July, as is Shor Seafood Grill, an on-site restaurant that can accommodate 150 guests. 

LOS ANGELES:  The inaugural California Pizza Festival will take place July 28-29 at Los Angeles Center Studios. The event will have more than 30 pizza vendors. 

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Miami Marlins’ third annual Pride at the Park will take place June 29 in a home game against the New York Mets. Proceeds will benefit Safe Schools South Florida, and the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will sing the national anthem.

Informa Exhibitions, the organizer of South Florida's largest boat shows, has opened a Fort Lauderdale office. South Florida Business Journal: https://bit.ly/2KcXt5D

NEW YORK:  Fashion lifestyle brand Studio One Eighty Nine, co-founded by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, won first place in this year’s C.F.D.A. and Lexus Fashion Initiative. The Council for Fashion Designers of America and Lexus hosted a celebration at the Soho Grand Hotel June 26 to announce the winner. The nine-month business development initiative aims to elevate the level of sustainability within the designers’ businesses. 

The 16th annual Hispanic Television Summit, presented by Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel New, will take place October 4 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The event will focus on advertising.

Bodega Negra at Dream Downtown has named Victor Santibañez chef de cuisine. The restaurant, which is part of Tao Group, also has a new summer menu with dishes from regions across Mexico as well as new mezcal and tequila cocktails.

American Heart Association’s 22nd annual Hamptons Heart Ball took place at the Southampton Arts Center June 27. The event, which was attended by 400 people, raised more than $700,000.

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  District Distilling will temporarily suspend restaurant operations on July 4 to focus on its line of spirits. The restaurant will resume operations in September under new management and with a new concept, while the tasting room and bar will remain open Thursday through Saturday during the summer. During the transition, boutique event management firm Rex & Regina Events will oversee private events for the property.

Diner en Blanc will take place in Washington for the fifth time on August 25. Washingtonian: https://bit.ly/2lCRHeN

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Ian Zelaya, and Kristine Liao in New York.

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