BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #192 — Friday, 02.03.12
Compiled today by Jana Schiowitz and Anna Sekula in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. PERFECT STORM: Director Danny Boyle is using Shakespeare's "The Tempest" as inspiration for the London Olympics’ opening ceremony production. The Hollywood Reporter: "[National Health Service] nurses, hundreds of children from the British capital’s East End will be heralded by the biggest ringing bell in Europe, Boyle told media when sketching selected details of his artistic vision for the opening ceremony."
http://bit.ly/x3csZO
In related news, hair care brand Pantene is leveraging its sponsorship of this summer's London Olympic Games to reach female viewers. Pantene chose 11 female athletes to be brand ambassadors to wear and talk about the products and, are planning a substantial TV campaign. Adweek:
http://bit.ly/zZR39r
2. SUPER BOWL MANIA: Although the big game is taking place in Indianapolis Sunday, Indiana is still enforcing its liquor laws, which ban carry-out liquor sales after 3 a.m. Sunday until 7 a.m. Monday. Those hosting Super Bowl parties have to plan ahead and stock up on alcohol as no exception has been made for the state on game day. Still, Dillingham, Alaska has lifted its ban on alcohol sales at restaurants and bars. The Washington Post: "Back in Indiana, [United Package Liquors’ Brad] Rider figures the homestate Hoosiers — and their Super Bowl visitors — won’t struggle finding spirits this Sunday, ban or no ban."
http://wapo.st/A3TZz9
Super Bowl central: According to the Indianapolis Star, the city spent $12 million to transform three blocks of George Street into Super Bowl Village. Another fast fact: there are 8,000 volunteers on board for Super Bowl weekend.
http://indy.st/yaCONM
GM campaigns: General Motors has scaled back on its advertising, almost half of its broadcast and cable buys, to focus on spots for top sporting events. Adweek: "Having beat a retreat from a good chunk of its upfront buys, GM will lean heavily on two high-impact sports franchises. At least four GM commercials are expected to air in NBC’s February 5 broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI, including three Chevrolet ads (for Camaro, Sonic and either Silverado or Volt) and a lone Cadillac spot."
http://bit.ly/zcaLZw
Time Warner Cable's service ad: The cable provider is unveiling its ‘Enjoy Better’ brand platform this Sunday, in time for the big game. The initiative will kick off with a Super Bowl TV ad promoting its products and services to viewers. Celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Mary Louise Parker will make appearances and, the ad will also be shown on the Time Warner Cable's YouTube channel, Facebook page, web site, and blog, Untangled. Enhanced Online News:
http://bit.ly/zS1pXf
Food face-off: Editors of Foodspring.com, a web site from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, staged its second annual Super Bowl food-off, pitting New York City against Boston to determine which team can claim the title of Super Bowl Food-Off Champion. The New York Giants won because "...Giants are home to a city that knows food and takes it seriously."
http://bit.ly/yY3dil
3. NEW CREATIVE COMPANY: From contributor Jim Shi: Keith Baptista, who left his post as senior vice president of production and managing director at KCD in November, announced the formation of Prodject yesterday. Specializing in the design and management of special projects and events in fashion, luxury, film, TV, art, music, and digital content, the New York-based company also includes ex-KCD event producers Jihye Song and Tobi Armstrong. In related news, René Célestin, another member of Prodject, has enlisted Baptista as a partner in his Paris-based OBO firm with a goal to further develop and sustain the company's growth inside and outside of Europe as well as in new markets like China, India, and South America. Prodject has also become an equal partner to Milk Studios and the Terminal Presents in developing the Made Fashion Week, working with the property’s representation, Creative Artists Agency, to devise new programs.
4. PINTEREST TRAFFIC: The new social media platform is driving more traffic than Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn combined, according to a Shareaholic study. Mashable:
http://on.mash.to/xNWMbR
Here are pins from the BizBash Pinterest site:
http://bit.ly/wCsfiV
* THE WEEK IN EVENTS *
Here's a look at 10 highlights from our event coverage this week, including the after-party for the Screen Actors Guild awards, interactive exhibits at the opening night party for the Interior Design Show, and the History Channel's Louisiana-style swamp experience.
http://bizba.sh/zgfRxC
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: New Balance hopes to build a 14-acre "health and wellness" district in Brighton. The area would house a sports complex with track and field facility and a regulation hockey arena, as well as office buildings and a boutique hotel. Boston.com:
http://bo.st/x9gMsL
CHICAGO: Carnivale, which has seven event spaces, has a new lunch menu. Items include crispy whitefish tacos, a chicken Milanesa sandwich, and beer-battered fish.
http://bit.ly/BIXAx
StyleChicago will host "South Beach Style" at Nacional 27 on March 1. Billed as a "Girls Night Out," the event offers passed tapas, Zumba lessons, and spa and beauty services.
http://bit.ly/4UFuDJ
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is asking for the public to weigh in on a cultural plan for 2012, which will be unveiled in the fall. The last cultural plan, developed in 1986, included offering incentives for movie projects and revamping Navy Pier. The Chicago Tribune:
http://trib.in/zeAlDZ
Local event pro Sarah Finlayson announced the Facebook page for a new venture on the social media site: "As many might know, I have been working to launch a special event planning arm at Sodexo-Shomi Events. We have gotten off to an exciting start planning events in Atlanta, Louisville, and Dallas.”
LAS VEGAS: Global commerce software provider ChannelAdvisor announced that top executives from Amazon and Google will join the lineup for the Catalyst Conference, a networking event known as NewCommerce, slated for April 16-18 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
http://bit.ly/wUf2mg
LOS ANGELES: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have been added to the lineup for the 54th annual Grammy awards.
Architectural Digest has chosen interior designer Waldo Fernandez to create the magazine's greenroom at the Oscars, editor in chief Margaret Russell revealed Thursday. This is the 10th consecutive year that the magazine will produce the backstage lounge.
Rent the Runway will unveil its first-ever pop-up shop in Los Angeles February 11-13, ahead of Valentine’s Day.
The annual trade show for Meeting Professionals International’s Southern California Chapter is getting a total makeover. The Education Conference (known as EdCon) will take place March 27 at the new Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Super Bowl food and drink deals from local restaurants: The Miami Herald:
http://bit.ly/xT3qG9
The second annual Bruise Cruise Festival, a rock music event, sets sail out of the Port of Miami February 10-13. Around 499 music-goers are expected to see headliners like King Khan & the Shrines and Thee Oh Sees. The Miami New Times:
http://bit.ly/xy0gzv
SouthFloridaCaribbeanNews.com lists events honoring Black History Month:
http://bit.ly/xEYYgZ
NEW YORK: This morning, the Council of Protocol Executive takes over the Pierre New York for its Eventpower conference, with sessions on philanthropic corporate partnerships, event production, and experiential design. Speakers include Nickelodeon's supervising producer of events Liz Kelly, Lee Brian Schrager—the founder and director of the New York City Wine & Food Festival—and ING's head of sponsorships and cause-related marketing Suzanne Sullivan.
From contributor Jim Shi: To celebrate Christian Louboutin's 20th anniversary and launch his capsule collection of greatest hit designs, Bergdorf Goodman rolled out the red carpet—in every sense of the term—Wednesday, turning its second floor designer shoe sanctuary into a glitter-strewn, red-lacquered oasis. From the circular dance floor to the hundreds of red balloons that hung from overhead, guests partook in red mania while noshing on trays of pigs in a blanket, mini hamburgers and paper cones full of truffle-scented tator tots. For the bash, staffers removed every single pair of shoes (save for Louboutins displayed in clever glass vignettes) from the displays and replaced them with oversized martini glasses and glitter-covered party hats and red streamers.
The Barclays Center, which is set to open September 28 with a gala and convert by Jay-Z, could boost growth in Brooklyn. The venue has already booked 180 events for its first calendar year. am New York:
http://bit.ly/xS9Oi8
The Parks Department is once again looking for an operator for Tavern on the Green and at a site visit Wednesday, the restaurant attracted industry names like Drew Nieporent, chef Bill Telepan, and representatives from 21 Club and City Winery. DNAinfo.com:
http://bit.ly/zylX6U
The 3rd Ward is opening a Culinary Incubator in Brooklyn in 2013. The venue will have classes on food prep, health and nutritian, urban agriculture, and more.
http://bit.ly/AdvRAB
The Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau received a $300,000 grant from New Jersey in January.
ORLANDO: SeaWorld Orlando is expanding its Bands, Brew & BBQ Festival to Saturdays and Sundays. The four-week event will take place every weekend from February 11 through March 4. The festival offers entertainment from artists such as Foreigner, Trace Adkins, Kenny Rogers, and Sara Evans, a beer garden serving nearly 50 craft beers, and a variety of barbecue items from local restaurants.
The Tampa Airport Marriott recently completed a $9 million renovation, including new decor and furniture in its concierge lounge and extensive updates to the property's 298 guest rooms.
SAN FRANCISCO: The San Francisco Travel Association has named Christophe Ley as director of meetings, incentive, congress, and exhibitions.
TORONTO: Last year proved to be a record-breaking year for tourism: the city hosted 10 million over-night visitors, with an increase of overnight guests from the U.S. Visitor spending totalled $4.6 billion.
The 11th annual Motionball gala will be at the Carlu tonight. Organizers hope to raise $250,000 for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation.
WASHINGTON: Restaurateurs Michel Daley and Jordan Cappolla are hosting an event today in celebration of their new jazz and blues restaurant and lounge, Melody Tavern.
The Washington Post: "The owners of four Ritz-Carlton hotels‚ including those in Georgetown and the West End, are at-risk of defaulting on a $170.6 million loan, according to the ratings agency Morningstar. The borrowers of the Ritz-Carlton loan are at risk of defaulting and have cited an ongoing 'lack of business travel' for the problems according to Morningstar and a report from Bloomberg."
http://wapo.st/xe6MV
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Jana Schiowitz and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
