1. HOW POLICE SECURED THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: Nearly 2,500 law enforcement officers attended this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, on the watch for anything amiss among the crowd of about three million people. The New York Times: “With the terror attacks in Paris fresh in many minds, and the emergence last week of a propaganda video by the Islamic State that includes scenes of New York, city officials orchestrated a plan as elaborate as the parade itself, even though they said there had been no credible threat against the city. Much of the work was invisible to the jubilant crowds cheering on Pikachu, Snoopy, and other airborne cartoon characters. There was the officer trailing the Hello Kitty float, his heavy backpack loaded with radiation detecting equipment. The plainclothes officers mingling with the tourist throngs. The helicopters overhead, scanning the crowds. They were trained and ready, officials said, to respond to an attack.” http://nyti.ms/1PVOKR1
2. SEE THE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT SET A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: With 518,838 lights, a Christmas tree in Australia achieved a Guinness World Record for most lights on an artificial Christmas tree, besting a five-year-old record set by Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Associated Press: “[David] Richards, a Canberra lawyer and businessman, brought together a team of volunteers including an electrical engineer, structural engineer, welders, carpenters, masons, and steel fixers to erect the dazzling display on a 72-foot steel tree. Richards creates such Christmas extravaganzas to raise money for Canberra’s Sudden Infant Death Syndrome charity, SIDS and Kids, by drawing large crowds and inviting them to donate.” http://bit.ly/1Hv4act
3. EIFFEL TOWER INSTALLATION MARKS START OF CLIMATE CONFERENCE: The Eiffel Tower will be covered in trees as part of a digital art installation unveiled Sunday to mark the start of the global climate conference in Paris. Called “1 Heart 1 Tree,” the work by artist Naziha Mestaoui uses digital technology to support reforestation efforts. Today: “Users can download a smartphone application which records their heartbeat via a sensor and then projects this along with the image of a tree, their name and a short message onto the landmark, using lighting and mapping technologies. Participants will be able to track the growth of their real-life trees, which will be planted in areas of Australia, Brazil, Senegal, India, France, Peru, and Ivory Coast from 2016.” http://bit.ly/1YD0NUP
* LOCAL NEWS *
CHICAGO: Commune Hotel & Resorts has taken over management of the Talbott Hotel. The property will undergo a six-month renovation starting in the spring.
LOS ANGELES: The first Humanitas/CTG Playwriting Prize will be awarded at the annual Humanitas dinner January 11 at the Directors Guild. Center Theatre Group announced the 10 finalists for the prize last week, which will be awarded to the best new, unproduced play written by a Southern California playwright. The winning playwright will receive a $5,000 cash prize, and an additional $5,000 will be given to a Southern California theater to subsidize the play’s world premiere production. Two runners-up also will be developed.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida will host its Buen Provecho Miami event, hosted by Jorge and Darlene Perez, January 28 at the Cruz Building in Coconut Grove.
NEW YORK: VH1 Save The Music will host its first Snowcoming Gala on Friday at the New York Public Library. The benefit, hosted by the organization’s Young Benefactors group, will feature a performance from headliner ASTR.
Diffa’s Gift For Life Holiday Pop-Up Shop will be open Wednesday through Sunday in the Siegel-Stockman Showroom in Chelsea. The shop was designed by students from Fashion Institute of Technology and LIM College during the Iron Design Challenge this fall.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
SAN FRANCISCO: Glide’s annual Holiday Jam: Love Matters will take place Thursday at the Warfield Theatre. The evening of spoken word, storytelling, and live music will feature performances by Valerie Simpson, Justin Vivian Bond, and others.
TORONTO: Hearn Generating Station will be the home base for the 2016 Luminato Festival in June. Previously, the festival had its hub at several city locations. InsideToronto.com: http://bit.ly/1SZXC5U
WASHINGTON, D.C.: For the 16th year, Safeway and Events DC hosted the Feast of Sharing at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The November 25 event invited 5,000 needy city residents to enjoy a holiday meal as well as a health and wellness expo with include free flu shots and diabetes testing and a free clothing giveaway.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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