1. WHY THE DETROIT AUTO SHOW MUST BE PERFECT: This year’s North American International Auto Show, the preeminent auto show in the country, is a chance to show that the bankrupt city is making a comeback. New York Times: “The auto show has historically been a financial boon to the city, and this year is no exception. Organizers estimate that it will contribute $365 million to the local economy in wages and other spending. Yet with the city mired in Chapter 9 bankruptcy, the event has taken on added importance. With Detroit’s worldwide reputation as shaky as its finances, it desperately needs a successful show to improve its battered image.” http://nyti.ms/1hSX4A4
2. NEW FASHION WEEK POP-UP COMBINES RUNWAY AND RETAIL: The fashion incubator Manufacture New York is creating a pop-up during New York Fashion Week called Launch NYC where designers can host runway shows and sell items in the same space. Racked: “Launch NYC's space has bare-white brick walls, wooden floors and high ceilings, giving designers a blank-canvas opportunity to be creative with their shows. … Shows will be live streamed, with video monitors outside for passersby to watch. As a form of performance art, some designers will be set up at sewing machines inside the studio's window-front to create some samples.” http://bit.ly/1cZHxtF
3. NEW JERSEY TRIES TO CLAIM SUPER BOWL CACHE: The Super Bowl next month technically takes place in New Jersey, but the host city of East Rutherford and neighboring Seacaucus are feeling a bit left out of the buzz as the high-profile parties are booked across the river in Manhattan. So they are creating their own events—which have to stay technically unaffiliated with the game. New York Times: “Don’t call them Super Bowl parties. While the Super Bowl is the only reason they are being organized, the National Football League is fiercely protective of the words ‘Super Bowl’ and does not permit their use for events it has not endorsed. It has not endorsed these two, so the organizers had to come up with names for their Super Bowl parties without saying they were Super Bowl parties. So the event here will be called ‘Meadowlands Tailgate Party 2014.’ The one in Secaucus will be called ‘Secaucus Winter Blast.’” http://nyti.ms/1dmHHfB
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Boston Wine Expo at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center is February 15-16.
According to Eater, a restaurant called Parsnip may replace UpStairs on the Square. The venue will have 180 seats and a patio that seats an additional 26, and it may offer live music and dancing. http://bit.ly/1cNZVGP
CHICAGO: Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation will host its seventh annual "Be My Valentine" family event on February 9 at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel.
Big Chef Burgers is now open in Schaumburg. Serving burgers, shakes, and brick-oven pizza, the venue offers catering and private dining for small-to-medium groups.
LAS VEGAS: The Life Is Beautiful festival appointed Andrew Donner as C.E.O. and Eve Cohen as managing director.
The Miss Nevada USA organization crowned its titleholders for the new year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on Sunday.
LOS ANGELES: OK magazine will host a pre-Grammys party at Lure on January 24 with a performance by Jason Derulo, plus activations for Herbal Essences, 5 Gum, Chapstick, and Aquahydrate.
Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White announced he has acquired the majority share of Austrian Air & Style Company GmbH and plans to expand the event series to the Americas along with a new musical component.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: R House, a restaurant, lounge, and art space in Wynwood, opens Thursday. The 168-seat restaurant has a dining room with an exhibition kitchen, an outdoor terrace, and a lounge that will offer DJs and live music. In a nod to its arts district neighborhood, the building's exterior features murals painted by local and international artists including Evoca1, Janet Mueller, and Eduardo Kobra.
NEW YORK: Brooklyn event rental company Patina launched a collaboration Domestic Construction featuring its textured designs and unexpected materials. Natural elements such as rope, wood, cotton and canvas are contrasted by glitter and sequin accents. The new line is available Wednesday.
Bent on Learning will honor the work of Dr. Frank Lipman at the fifth annual Inspire Gala January 29 at the Prince George Ballroom. The evening will be hosted by yoga and wellness expert Hilaria Baldwin and actress Alysia Reiner.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: Dermalogica Canada will launch its new line at a prom-theme bash on January 29. The event will take place at Epitome Pictures—the set of Degrassi High.
AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, Freeman’s audio visual business in Canada, announced it will change its brand name to Freeman Audio Visual, a change that better represents alignment with Freeman’s entire audiovisual offering. The new name is the result of the combined resources from TELAV Audio Visual Services and AVW, two previously acquired North American audiovisual solutions providers, and better positions Freeman Audio Visual to address customers’ needs in Canada.
WASHINGTON: The 2014 Sugar & Champagne Affair, hosted by chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray, is February 5 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The event benefits the Washington Humane Society.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily
Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]