1. IS EUROVISION BIASED AGAINST BRITAIN?: As the massively popular Eurovision Song Contest begins its finals this week, Britain is wondering if the rules are working against them. None of its citizens have won since 1997. Washington Post: "Eurovision, a huge media event on a par with the Super Bowl in this part of the world, is an international music smackdown seen by some as blending the drama of American Idol with the intrigue of a U.N. summit. Others call it a bloated parade of unadulterated cheese. Either way, as acts from 26 countries prepare for harmonic battle at the Eurovision finals in Sweden this week, the national mood in Britain is grim." http://wapo.st/18Er3W1
2. EVENT EXPERIMENT AT GOOGLE I/O: At this year's Google I/O developers conference, attendees will be part of an event experience experiment. Environmental sensors will measure noise levels, temperature, humidity, and air quality in real time during the conference, which kicks off tomorrow at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. TechCrunch: "At first glance, this seems a little bit creepy, but it’s no different than a venue adjusting the cooling system based on the temperature inside at any given moment. As with anything that Google does, this could have implications for tracking indoor events or businesses in the future." http://tcrn.ch/18GgqSk
3. BLACKBERRY DEVELOPER CONFERENCE KICKS OFF: The company is also gathering developers this week at its BlackBerry Live conference, which starts today in Orlando. Mashable: "While the verdict is still out as to whether BlackBerry is truly 'back'—and if it can realistically compete against the iOS and Android juggernauts—the company is certainly going into the conference in a better position than it did last year." http://on.mash.to/10TcOVI
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Taj Boston has named Daniel Harrison Dumont as executive chef. He will oversee all banquet and catering operations for the hotel.
The Revere Hotel Boston Common will open Rooftop at Revere on May 19. With an attached private event space for 125 guests, the 16,000-square-foot venue will have cocktails, snacks, and proximity to the indoor swimming pool.
CHICAGO: The Cheeses of France Marketing Council will open a pop-up café in the Gold Coast later this week. The space will offer samples, demos, and more than 20 French cow's-milk cheeses, along with a Twitter wall using the event hashtag #CheeseCafe.
Red Bull Curates: the Canvas Cooler Project is Thursday at Lacuna Artists Lofts. The event will feature Red Bull coolers wrapped in artwork from 20 Chicago artists.
For the first time, DreamHome at the Merchandise Mart is available to host private events through September 1. The space can hold 125 people.
LAS VEGAS: ReCon, the global convention for the shopping center industry, is May 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
LONDON: DB Systems signed a three-year deal making Clarion Events its sole audiovisual provider for U.K. events. The contract includes events such as Top Gear Live and Pulse.
LOS ANGELES: The Recording Academy has announced some big award show dates: the 56th annual Grammy awards are January 26, 2014, at Staples Center, and the 57th annual awards are February 8, 2015.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: A Joy Wallace is hosting open houses this weekend of Comber Hall, a catering and design venue. An R.S.V.P. is required.
NEW YORK: The Discovery U.S. Hispanic upfront is today at Gotham Hall. The space, designed by Urbana 360, will take on the look of a living room with vintage and modern furniture.
Press release: "DeWitt Stern, the New York City based insurance broker specializing in entertainment and sports, today announced that it is offering a unique policy insuring businesses against loss of revenue they would incur if Super Bowl XLVIII, to be played on February 2, 2014, at New Jersey's Met Life Stadium, is cancelled or moved out of the tri-state area. This game is the first Super Bowl to be held in an open air stadium in a northeastern cold weather state in its 48 year history."
A 10-piece dance band from Hank Lane Music will play tonight at the opening-night gala for the American Ballet Theatre. Dancing will follow immediately after the performance in the Tent at Damrosch Park.
Macy's kicks off its American Icons campaign at Gotham Hall tonight. Actor Tracy Morgan will host the event, which will also include a fashion show and a performance by Sheryl Crow.
On Monday, 300 guests from the city's tech, business, and social enterprises will join the Adventure Project, a nonprofit start-up founded by former Charity:Water director Becky Straw, at the Gansevoort Park Avenue to support entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Kellen Company managed the on-site operation, V.I.P. handling, and public relations at the New York Women in Communications Matrix Awards luncheon last month at the Waldorf-Astoria. An online check-in and seating app allowed guests to have their table number texted directly to them, cutting down on wait time at the registration line.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Fabulous Fashion With a Focus is May 17-19 at Winter Park 330. The designer pop-up showcase will be hosted by Women With a Vision of Lighthouse Central Florida and will feature donated upscale women's, men's, and children's handbags, shoes, and jewelry. Proceeds will go to the Early Intervention program, which supports babies and children with low vision or blindness.
OTTAWA, CANADA: An economic impact study from Ipsos Ross determined that the Ottawa Convention Centre contributed approximately $101 million to Ottawa's economy in 2012. The 57 conventions at the centre last year drew 54,000 out-of-town visitors.
SAN FRANCISCO: Lighting design firm Got Light will design the San Francisco Symphony's Spring Gala at San Francisco City Hall Thursday; the event will have a lilac, purple, and teal theme. The evening's entertainment will include a live band, DJ, and headliner Janelle Monáe.
TORONTO: EnVille event design and catering will no longer service the Design Exchange as it increases its capacity for design exhibitions. However, the company is now handling events at the Deanery, on the third floor of the St. James Cathedral Centre, built in 2012.
WASHINGTON: The eighth annual Strut Your Mutt Parade and Festival to benefit the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rotary Club is Saturday in the Woodmont Triangle area. The event draws 5,000 people and their pets for live music, dog vendors, a kids' play area, and a raffle.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Jenna Berris, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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