BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #156 — Monday, 12.05.11
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. KENNEDY CENTER HONORS: From contributor Channing Muller: Music legends, stars of the big and small screen, and the President and Mrs. Obama headed to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Sunday night for the 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors. Honorees Yo Yo Ma, singer Barbara Cook, saxophist Sonny Rollins, singer/songwriter Neil Diamond, and actress Meryl Streep sat in the president’s box in the opera house as performers like Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, Patti Lupone, and Anne Hathaway took to the stage—adorned with a different set for each tribute performance—to pay homage with musical numbers. Past honorees Bill Cosby, Robert De Niro, and director Mike Nichols, among others, also participated in the three-hour program.
Nearly 2,000 guests then moved to the grand foyer and two stages on either end of the space, where Campbell, Peachey, and Associates arranged 171 dinner tables, marking the only time each year that dinner is held in the memorial space. Caroline Kennedy served as the night’s host. CBS will broadcast the show December 27.
2. MADONNA HEADLINES HALFTIME: It’s official: She will be the featured performer at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium February 5, the N.F.L. and NBC confirmed Sunday. Madonna is collaborating with Cirque Du Soleil, choreographer Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory. The Hollywood Reporter:
http://bit.ly/vwnMxh
3. SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT: Mashable lists 10 historical events and how they have been affected by platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, including the September 11 attacks, the earthquake in Haiti, and the Chilean minor rescue. "Today we turn to social media when an influential event occurs as a way to share our personal experiences and relate to the people most affected. It provides us with the reassurance that we’re not alone, but also gives us the opportunity to help."
http://on.mash.to/vwbkvA
Speaking of Facebook: Although not publicly announced yet, a source says that the platform purchased location-sharing service Gowalla for an undisclosed sum. CNN: "Whether or not Gowalla's app will remain alive has not yet been determined. Facebook has a habit of buying promising startups and killing them off to deploy their engineers and developers on other projects."
http://cnnmon.ie/tPzABK
4. WALMART'S FOURSQUARE SUCCESS: During Thanksgiving week, Walmart came in third in total retail check-ins on the platform, and the store continues its dominance as a top-tier retailer on Foursquare according to data from Trendrr. Walmart joins Starbucks and McDonalds, which hold the number one and two spot for most check-ins. Ad Age:
http://bit.ly/tzQDj0
* UPCOMING *
BtoB's third annual Digital Edge virtual trade show is Thursday and will feature an opening video keynote by David Meerman Scott, author of "The New Rules of Marketing & PR."
http://bit.ly/tPi6CO
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Belden Inc., which specializes in signal transmission solutions, will hold its annual analyst and investor day today at the Four Seasons Hotel.
CHICAGO: The seasonal menu at Private Dining by Sepia includes spicy lamb meatballs, wild mushroom bread pudding, chestnut soup, and malted milk chocolate mousse.
Swissotel Chicago is getting updates. Check-in pods will replace the front desk, new lobby restaurant Amuse will serve small plates, and the meeting space will get a new design scheme.
James Perse will open a pop-up shop in the Gold Coast December 15. The 5,000-square-foot space on Walton Place will be open for four days; brand reps are considering opening a permanent shop there later. Crain's Chicago Business:
http://bit.ly/uhCXHg
Crain's Chicago Business: "Longtime Chicago bakers Joan and Paul Rubschlager have donated $1 million to the Alzheimer's Assn. The owners of Rubschlager Baking Corp....will receive the Civic Award at the Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala to be held in May. It is the 25th anniversary of the event."
LAS VEGAS: The Globe and Mail: "Aria Resort and Casino has decided to pull the plug on the Cirque's acrobatic and dancing tribute to Elvis Presley at the end of 2012, the first time a Las Vegas venue has curtailed a Cirque production."
http://bit.ly/sKi24b
Ahead of its planned January opening at Caesars Palace, Old Homestead Steakhouse revealed its cocktail menu. It includes 15 new drinks created by Eddie Perales like the "Beer It Up," with Knob Creek single barrel orange bitters, orange marmalade and juice, lemon sour, and float Negro Modelo beer.
LOS ANGELES: Adventures in Parties Inc., a 20-year-old, full-service event company with clients in Southern California, Las Vegas, and Virginia, is for sale. Among its specialties is custom decor, and the company comes with a full studio with props and pieces to execute more than 50 themes. Events are already booked for 2012. For additional information or to inquire about purchasing, contact Connie Carter at 818.825.5396.
The Downtown on Ice rink at Pershing Square will offer a free holiday festival December 10. Activities will include train rides, children's crafts, puppet shows, and community youth performances.
Lisa Lori is co-hosting two events this week in California with hand bag designer Kathy Van Zeeland. The events in San Francisco tonight at MatrixFilmore and in Beverly Hills at Kate Mantilini December 6 will celebrate the launch of the Three Little Bears teddy bears to benefit Operation Smile.
A special Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival will run January 19-29 and feature more than 30 performances. The event is organized by the Getty Research Institute and LA ART.
http://bit.ly/pf7ko8
Chet Mehta has moved from ID PR to Sunshine Sachs, where his first day was Thursday.
Insomniac Events, the company behind the Electric Daisy Carnival, has unveiled White Wonderland, a two-day New Year's party at the Anaheim Convention Center, with top DJs booked. The Hollywood Reporter:
http://bit.ly/t8coFV
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Courtyard Miami Lakes Hotel has completed a major renovation to the lobby and guest rooms.
http://bit.ly/uKQORs
NEW YORK: The New York Giants and New Jersey Transit will welcome a new neighbor in May at Laurel Hill Park. The exhibit “Field Station: Dinosaurs” is an interactive outdoor Jurassic set-up with 31 full-sized animatronic dinosaurs, including a 14-foot T-Rex.
From October 3-6, 2013, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn will host the world's most prestigious equestrian show jumping competition with the debut of the New York Masters.
http://on.nba.com/uOafNd
St. Giles Hotel Group announced the temporary closure of the Tuscany Hotel for a complete renovation starting February 11. The hotel is set to re-open late 2012.
http://bit.ly/vCkkce
ORLANDO: Chef Jeannie Pierola opens the latest installment of her pop-up restaurant, KitchenBar, tomorrow night at Knife & Co. in Tampa. The limited engagement restaurant will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays through December 31. This will be the fourth rendition of KitchenBar since November 2010.
Universal Orlando is closing the Jaws ride and the surrounding Amity area at Universal Studios January 2 to make room for a new attraction. The park has not said what that new attraction will be or when it will open.
TORONTO: The Food Dudes will open their restaurant and lounge, Bloke & 4th, with a grand opening party Thursday. The eatery's east wing has eight V.I.P. tables and the west wing features three private dining areas for up to 30 guests.
Rumours are circulating that a new hotel and residence (currently in the early application stages) in the Distillery District may be a Gansevoort. The plan for the 34-story tower includes a restaurant on the ground floor, 88 hotel suites on the first seven floors, and 246 condos on the remaining 27 floors. The Toronto Standard:
http://bit.ly/uFy83U
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Matthew Mogavero, Jana Schiowitz, Anna Sekula, Courtney Thompson, and Katherine Zoeller in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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