1. RIHANNA AND AMAL CLOONEY TO HOST CATHOLICISM-THEME MET GALA IN 2018: Rihanna, Amal Clooney, and Donatella Versace are slated to co-host the 2018 Met Gala, which will be themed “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” Vogue: “Designed to create a dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art in the museum’s holdings, the show will be presented in a trinity of locations: the Anna Wintour Costume Center, the medieval galleries at the Met’s Fifth Avenue location, and further uptown at the Cloisters. Central to the conversation will be the papal garb on loan from the Sistine Chapel sacristy, many of which have never been seen outside the Vatican, even in the 1983 Met blockbuster, ‘The Vatican Collections: The Papacy and Art.’ The display of these extraordinary ecclesiastical pieces will highlight the enduring influence of religion and liturgical vestments on fashion, from Cristóbal Balenciaga to Donatella Versace, who is a sponsor, alongside Christine and Stephen A. Schwarzman, of the show. (Condé Nast will provide additional support.) Among the 150 or so ensembles that will be on display are pieces by Coco Chanel, who was educated by nuns, and John Galliano, whose transgressive Fall 2000 Couture collection for Christian Dior opened with a mitred, incense-swinging pope-like figure who proceeded down the runway to a voice intoning: ‘Understand the concept of love.’” http://bit.ly/2j8WAhJ
2. INTERNATIONAL ART SHOW DIRECTOR ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Benjamin Genocchio, the executive director of New York’s international art fair the Armory Show, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. The New York Times: “Five women have told The New York Times that they experienced unwelcome touching by Mr. Genocchio in recent years, and a total of eight said he made sexually inappropriate comments to them. An additional 11 people said they observed or knew about Mr. Genocchio making these comments, often in the workplace. Those accusations come in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, as well as sexual harassment accusations against Knight Landesman, a longtime publisher of Artforum magazine. Mr. Genocchio is not as well known as Mr. Weinstein and the complaints against him typically involve misconduct that is described as more verbal than physical. But in the tight-knit and clubby art world, Mr. Genocchio’s contacts give him outsize power in the business. The Armory Show connects him with art professionals from all over the world. And he is accused of behaving in ways that many women experience or witness in the workplace — casual forms of sexual harassment that rarely make headlines but are insidious because of their pervasiveness, which generally goes unchecked. … Amanda Coulson, the artistic director of the Volta art fair, an affiliate of the Armory Show, confirmed that one of her female employees asked to work elsewhere because of Mr. Genocchio’s behavior. ‘She did not want to work in the office because she felt the environment was hostile,’ Ms. Coulson recalled. ‘So I immediately moved her out and got her another office.’ Several people who worked at the Armory described being present when Mr. Genocchio said he couldn’t have an employee in her 50s accompany him to a sponsorship event at a fashion house because he needed instead to bring ‘some arm candy.’” http://nyti.ms/2he97vX
3. UBER WANTS TO BRING FLYING CARS TO L.A. BY 2020: Uber has announced it plans to bring UberAir, its electric aircraft service, to Los Angeles by 2020. Los Angeles Times: "Aviation manufacturers such as Embraer, Bell Helicopter, Pipistrel, Aurora Flight Sciences, and Mooney Aviation will supply and pilot the aircraft. Uber will operate the software that passengers use to book a trip and take a commission, much like with Uber rides on the ground. 'We’re trying to work with cities in the early days who are interested in partnering to make it happen, while knowing that there will be pitfalls along the way,' said Jeff Holden, Uber’s chief product officer, explaining why the company chose Los Angeles and Dallas as the first cities to test the service. UberAir differs from UberChopper, a helicopter service the company has in the past offered during events such as the Coachella music festival, or during summertime for trips between New York City and the Hamptons. Rather than offering the service as a luxury product (trips to Coachella Valley from Los Angeles cost passengers $4,170 each way), Uber envisions UberAir as a commuter option, with fares comparable to taking an UberX car ride. The efficiency of electric aircraft brings 'the price point down dramatically' compared with helicopters, Holden said. Just like with self-driving vehicles, Uber says it plans to eventually develop aircraft that fly themselves — removing the cost of a pilot and subsequently lowering fares. By the 2028 Olympics, Holden said, the company believes Angelenos will be making 'heavy use' of UberAir. When the service is in full swing, he anticipates that 'tens of thousands' of flights will be performed each day across the city." http://lat.ms/2hTTmv3
* LOCAL NEWS *
LOS ANGELES: Low-calorie ice cream brand Halo Top is opening its first brick and mortar store. Located in the Westfield Topanga, the shop will open November 15. Time: http://ti.me/2yksZ7R
Turkey Trot Los Angeles, presented by UAE-USA United, will return on Thanksgiving morning to raise money for the Midnight Mission. The 5K and 10K run/walk courses begin in front of Los Angeles City Hall.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
NEW YORK: Market curator Urbanspace has announced the schedule for its annual holiday markets. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are open now through January 2; the Turnstyle Holiday Market at Columbus Circle subway station will run November 15-December 31; Union Square Holiday Market will run November 16-December 24; Garment District Holiday Market will run November 20-December 24; Gifted market in Times Square will run November 24-December 22; and Columbus Circle Holiday Market will run November 28-December 24.
Swarovski’s #CrystalsFromSwarovski holiday pop-up shop will run December 4-10 at Chelsea Market.
The Rag Trader, an industrial-influenced American restaurant and piano cocktail bar, will open in December in the Garment District. The venue will be managed by Fox Lifestyle Hospitality Group.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: Influence Orbis, a Montreal-based media company, will host its InfluenceTO conference on November 21 at the Enercare Centre. The event will highlight entrepreneurs and influencers from a variety of industries.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Sustained Dialogue Institute will honor congresswoman Gabby Giffords and astronaut Mark Kelly at its fourth annual National Dialogue Awards on November 16 at the National Press Club’s Grand Ballroom.
Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, which is located north of Richmond, has become the second property to join Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The 183-room hotel has 28,000 square feet of flexible event space.
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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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