1. THE RISE OF ALCOHOL-FREE ALTERNATIVES TO HAPPY HOUR: Meditation, juice crawls, and ice-breakers are taking the place of cocktails at a new crop of alcohol-free happy hours. Events organized in New York, Los Angeles, London, and elsewhere are drawing waiting lists as people seek to connect without booze. The New York Times: “Though malbec has arrived at the movies, and brunch cocktails now go way beyond Bloody Marys, some are seeking social gatherings where alcohol isn’t even a temptation.” http://nyti.ms/1ndmahK
2. NEW YORK CITY MARATHON LOTTERY CHALLENGED IN LAWSUIT: Using a lottery to determine who gets to run in the New York City Marathon is illegal, according to a new lawsuit filed against the race’s organizers, New York Road Runners. Everyone who initially registers for the race pays an $11 fee, which the plaintiffs argue is a chance-based lottery that violates the state’s constitution. A Road Runners rep says the entry process complies with the law. Reuters: “Thursday's complaint was filed on the same day the Road Runners opened a one-month window for runners to apply for this year's marathon, which is scheduled for Nov. 6. According to the complaint, fewer than 18 percent of lottery participants win spots in the race each year, and only 14 percent of the more than 80,000 participants did so in 2015.” http://reut.rs/1Ktbml3
3. TOP DESIGNERS CREATE FASHIONABLE FOOTBALLS FOR SUPER BOWL: Football and high fashion don’t typically go together. But for Super Bowl 50, the N.F.L. teamed up with the C.F.D.A. to have designers create 50 fashionable footballs. Designers including Prabal Gurung, Marchesa, and Vince Camuto contributed to the effort, and the results are available for auction on NFL.com. New York Post: “The haute pigskins are jewel-encrusted, beaded, studded and embellished.” http://nyp.st/1RAx7Hn
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
Destination Hotels has launched Destination Event Producers, a new catering and conference service career development and training program.
* LOCAL NEWS *
ATLANTA: The 40th annual Atlanta Film Festival will take place April 1-10.
BOSTON: Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals will honor Joseph Gordon-Levitt as its Man of the Year at a roast scheduled for February 5.
CHICAGO: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 19th annual Grand Chefs Gala will take place at Navy Pier on January 29. The evening will offer signature dishes, desserts, and cocktails from more than 50 local chefs and mixologists.
DALLAS: Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine has announced a $120 million expansion that will include 300 more rooms and 86,000 square feet of meeting space, bringing the hotel's totals to 1,811 rooms and 490,000 square feet of meeting space.
LAS VEGAS: Jennifer Lopez debuted her headlining residency “Jennifer Lopez: All I Have” at the Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES: The National Football Hall of Fame Dinner will take place March 14 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Design Center of the Americas's WinterMarket, two days of showroom presentations and discussions, will take place February 3-4. This year is the Dania Beach-based organization’s 30th anniversary.
NEW YORK: Additional details are available about the renovation of the Ziegfeld Theatre into dedicated event space. The theater will close in the coming weeks to begin a comprehensive $25 million gut renovation. It will reopen in the fall of 2017 as the Ziegfeld Ballroom. The venue will have 21,331 square feet of space, including a 10,000-square-foot column-free ballroom; five meeting rooms on the mezzanine level divided by air walls; a fully equipped kitchen; and audiovisual equipment. It will be able to hold receptions of 1,200 people and between 800 and 1,000 people for seated events. Fisher Brothers and Core Ziegfeld will operate the venue, with Gotham Hall managing director B. Allan Kurtz also serving as managing director of the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC & Company announced that 2015 was the sixth consecutive year for record tourism growth in New York, with an estimated 58.3 million visitors. The city also saw a 4 percent growth in hotel room stays with 33.7 million sold, and 6.1 million meetings and conventions delegates visiting the five boroughs.
The New School's 68th annual Parsons Benefit and Fashion Show will take place May 23 at Pier 60.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Canvas Restaurant and Market will open Monday in Laureate Park Village Center in Lake Nona. The waterfront dinner-only restaurant will seat 278 and serve American cuisine with Floridian and Latin American flare. Orlando Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1Prx76c
PHILADELPHIA: ESM Productions has partnered with Vetri Family to manage events at the Navy Yard during the 2016 Democratic National Convention, which will take place July 25-28.
SAN FRANCISCO: The Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform at DirecTV's Super Saturday Night party at Pier 70 on February 6.
The Westin St. Francis has completed a $6 million renovation of its meeting and event spaces.
TAMPA: ID&C, a United Kingdom-based company that supplies R.F.I.D. wristbands for festivals and other events, has opened an office in Sarasota. The company has supplied wristbands for Coachella and Lollapalooza and will now focus on expanding its business in the United States.
TORONTO: Harbourfront Centre will host its family-friendly Snowglobe Festival on February 15. The event features free skating, a life-size snow globe, and live entertainment.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Because of the expected blizzard and the state of emergency declared by city officials, the Washington Auto Show will not open to the public as originally scheduled this weekend. It will open Monday at noon.
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, 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.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily
Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]
More in New York
Most Popular
