1. HIGH DRAMA ENLIVENS BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS: Viewers of the Billboard Music Awards had plenty to react to on social media, from boos for Justin Bieber to speculation over Kid Rock's sobriety, according to a sampling of tweets. New York Times: "The Billboard Music Awards don’t have the following of the Grammys or even the American Music Awards, but as Sunday night’s show demonstrated, they certainly hold their own in terms of drama." http://nyti.ms/10jhYyQ
2. N.F.L. ANNOUNCES SUPER BOWL HOST CITIES: The N.F.L. announced that the San Francisco 49ers would host the 2016 Super Bowl—the 50th championship game—in their new stadium in Santa Clara, and the 2017 Super Bowl is headed to Houston. The moves were seen as wins for the host cities as well as a loss for Miami, which bid for the games but lost when the billionaire owner of the Miami Dolphins failed to get public money from the Florida legislature to renovate Sun Life Stadium. ESPN: "For years, it was thought the N.F.L. would seek to stage the 50th Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where the first one was played (but did not sell out) on January 15, 1967. But with no franchise in L.A. and no suitable stadium projects approved, that hope disappeared." http://es.pn/10KoxpF
3. COMPANY OFFERS "GHETTO" TOUR OF BRONX: A tour company that advertised its bus rides through the Bronx as a tour of the "Ghetto" drew criticism from politicians as insensitive. New York Post: "Three times a week, Real Bronx Tours takes riders—mainly white Europeans and Australians—on a trip that includes stops at food-pantry lines and a 'pickpocket' park. Last week, on the first stop of the $45 tour, guide Lynn Battaglia, from Pittsburgh, pointed out a housing project. She then mocked the Grand Concourse, modeled after a Parisian boulevard." The company announced Tuesday it would stop offering the tour. http://bit.ly/10DEMJl
INDUSTRY NEWS
The Professional Convention Management Association announced a partnership with International Association of Professional Congress Organisers. Press Release: "The partnership provides an opportunity for both PCMA and IAPCO to collaborate on programs, education, and products and services intended to advance both organizations and the industry."
* LOCAL NEWS *
ATLANTIC CITY: The Diving Horse restaurant in Avalon, New Jersey, has reopened for the season. The 70-seat New American eatery from the team behind Philadelphia’s Pub & Kitchen and Fitler Dining Room is available for buyouts.
BOSTON: Legal Sea Bar will open at the Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham on Thursday. Featuring menu items that start with "C"—think cod, crabmeat, calamari, and cocktails—the venue is 6,500 square feet and has communal tables as well as seating areas separated by glass.
CHICAGO: Venus de Miles, an all-women's bike race, will take place in Lake Forest July 28. The inaugural ride will offer 30- and 60-mile courses, and a post-ride expo will offer women's spa services, prizes, wine, and beer.
Carlucci restaurant will host its summer-kickoff patio party June 6. The event will offer live music, cocktails, and a dinner buffet.
Midsummer Eve of the Eve, a benefit for HighSight, is June 5 at the Plaza at Park Grill. The event includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash raffle and silent auction, and live music from Pat McKillen and Clik Entertainment.
The Gene Siskel Film Center will host a kickoff gala for its "Summer Soiree With Gwyneth Paltrow" at Blake on Thursday. The party will offer shopping and snacks from Blackbird; the gala itself takes place in June.
Weber Grill restaurants' new Weber on Wheels offers party packages for office lunches and alfresco bashes. Handling set up, grilling, serving, and cleanup, the service features summery menu items such as barbecue ribs, burgers, and brick chicken.
LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas Review-Journal: "In Las Vegas through Wednesday, RECon is expecting as many as 35,000 people, up from the 32,000 who attended last year. Council spokesman Jesse Tron said the uptick is a reflection of the state of the retail real estate industry and the economy. Attendance is edging closer to pre-recession numbers, which ran 40,000 when the show was really healthy." http://bit.ly/14q23z4
LONDON: A symposium at Leeds Metropolitan June 12 will consider aspects of protests as events and events as protests. There will be activists' workshops and performance and a social get-together at the end of the day. Program: http://bit.ly/15I6EPV
LOS ANGELES: Global event marketing agency Sparks continues its expansion on the West Coast by opening two facilities in the Los Angeles area. Press release: http://bit.ly/116UnwD
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: RA Sushi in South Miami will host the ninth annual Nicky’s Week fund-raiser Sunday through June 1, benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
NEW YORK: Taste of Summer 2013 is June 19 in Central Park's Bethesda Terrace. The event will feature food from the city's top chefs and raise money for the Central Park Conservancy.
Project One Media Group now represents Perfect Picnic, an artisanal take-out food concept that delivers locally sourced picnics anywhere in New York City. The company also offers local products such as cheeses, meats, and breads at its Lower East Side retail location.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The Peabody Orlando and Hilton Orlando have created a joint venture to market the two properties under the name of "Orlando 3000," referring to their combined 3,000 hotels rooms adjoining the Orange County Convention Center. A new Web site, orlando-3000.com, has been created to serve as a destination for large groups to get information on the properties.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has promoted Nancy Wilkerson to director of group sales and hired Daniel Keyser as executive director of resort sales.
WASHINGTON: The National Children’s Museum and MGM Resorts International will host CycleFest, which celebrates outdoor riding and safe and active play. The June 22 event is free and takes place outside the Museum on American Way.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Fandango Productions are hosting a warehouse tour May 29-31 in Baltimore, showing the latest trends and designs and serving creative beverages, food, games, and prizes. More than 100 companies in the event world are expected to attend.
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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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