LARRY KING DRAWS FIRE FOR INAUGURATION M.C. GIG
Larry King should know better. The talking head is in hot water for his chummy M.C. job at George W. Bush's inauguration. According to The New York Post, someone had to remind King--who makes lots of event appearances and speeches--that he's a journalist first and foremost, and he's supposed to at least appear nonpartisan. CNN White House correspondent John King was so peeved that he reportedly fired off an email complaint to top CNN execs describing his "shame and horror as Larry King was not only the master of ceremonies...he shamelessly rushed on stage to hug the president-elect and entertainer Ricky Martin." The Post says that even CNN network CEO Tom Johnson called the inaugural escapade "a mistake." A good reminder to special event planners: Be aware of any similar conflicts of interest when booking an M.C.
INSIDE.COM'S CONFERENCE FEE SLASHED
Kurt Andersen's Powerful Media (owner of Inside.com and Inside magazine) and Publishers Weekly decided to slash their Book Industry Summit's entry fee from $795 to $495, according to The Chicago Tribune. The reduction was a result of the disappointingly low number of reservations (200) that were made by the end of February for the March 19 event, which is to be held at the Hudson Theater in the Millennium Hotel. "We felt we could do better," Andersen said.
WARNER LEROY MISSED AT C-CAP
As we reported last week, Warner LeRoy's death has created an emotional stir among restaurant industry folk, and special events just aren't the same without LeRoy's presence. Case-in-point: the Careers Through Culinary Arts benefit at Pier Sixty. It was a successful event, thanks to the many participating chefs and attending restaurant folk. But the Tavern on the Green and new Russian Tea Room founder was terribly missed, especially by the event's honoree, Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque 2000. "I still haven't recovered, and I probably won't for a long time," he told The New York Daily News. The Sea Grill's Ed Brown added, "His enthusiasm was more like a chef than an owner. He had wild ideas. He was a visionary."
ISAAC MIZRAHI: DECISIONS, DECISIONS...
Liz Smith reported that Isaac Mizrahi is having trouble deciding which film to show at an upcoming screening. The former fashion designer auctioned a night with himself hosting a screening of one of his favorite films at Jean Doumanian's Sweetland Screening Room, to benefit Bailey House at its Open Your Heart benefit. (His prize earned $4,000 for the nonprofit.) Smith says he's choosing between Valley of the Dolls and Mommie Dearest, but three other films were mentioned during the auction.
ORIGINAL CIPRIANI IS A LANDMARK
According to The New York Post, the Italian Ministry of Culture declared the original Cipriani restaurant, Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy, a landmark. Owner Arrigo Cipriani's empire currently includes more than 10 restaurants in Venice, Buenos Aires and New York, including Cipriani 42nd Street, the popular special events spot that formerly housed the Bowery Savings Bank.
Posted 03.12.01
Last week's Bash Buzz...
Larry King should know better. The talking head is in hot water for his chummy M.C. job at George W. Bush's inauguration. According to The New York Post, someone had to remind King--who makes lots of event appearances and speeches--that he's a journalist first and foremost, and he's supposed to at least appear nonpartisan. CNN White House correspondent John King was so peeved that he reportedly fired off an email complaint to top CNN execs describing his "shame and horror as Larry King was not only the master of ceremonies...he shamelessly rushed on stage to hug the president-elect and entertainer Ricky Martin." The Post says that even CNN network CEO Tom Johnson called the inaugural escapade "a mistake." A good reminder to special event planners: Be aware of any similar conflicts of interest when booking an M.C.
INSIDE.COM'S CONFERENCE FEE SLASHED
Kurt Andersen's Powerful Media (owner of Inside.com and Inside magazine) and Publishers Weekly decided to slash their Book Industry Summit's entry fee from $795 to $495, according to The Chicago Tribune. The reduction was a result of the disappointingly low number of reservations (200) that were made by the end of February for the March 19 event, which is to be held at the Hudson Theater in the Millennium Hotel. "We felt we could do better," Andersen said.
WARNER LEROY MISSED AT C-CAP
As we reported last week, Warner LeRoy's death has created an emotional stir among restaurant industry folk, and special events just aren't the same without LeRoy's presence. Case-in-point: the Careers Through Culinary Arts benefit at Pier Sixty. It was a successful event, thanks to the many participating chefs and attending restaurant folk. But the Tavern on the Green and new Russian Tea Room founder was terribly missed, especially by the event's honoree, Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque 2000. "I still haven't recovered, and I probably won't for a long time," he told The New York Daily News. The Sea Grill's Ed Brown added, "His enthusiasm was more like a chef than an owner. He had wild ideas. He was a visionary."
ISAAC MIZRAHI: DECISIONS, DECISIONS...
Liz Smith reported that Isaac Mizrahi is having trouble deciding which film to show at an upcoming screening. The former fashion designer auctioned a night with himself hosting a screening of one of his favorite films at Jean Doumanian's Sweetland Screening Room, to benefit Bailey House at its Open Your Heart benefit. (His prize earned $4,000 for the nonprofit.) Smith says he's choosing between Valley of the Dolls and Mommie Dearest, but three other films were mentioned during the auction.
ORIGINAL CIPRIANI IS A LANDMARK
According to The New York Post, the Italian Ministry of Culture declared the original Cipriani restaurant, Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy, a landmark. Owner Arrigo Cipriani's empire currently includes more than 10 restaurants in Venice, Buenos Aires and New York, including Cipriani 42nd Street, the popular special events spot that formerly housed the Bowery Savings Bank.
Posted 03.12.01
Last week's Bash Buzz...
