September 19, 2013: Why Agency Emmy Parties Are the Most Exclusive, Miami Considers Massive Theme Park, Festival Plans World's Largest Cheesecake

1. WHY AGENCY EMMY PARTIES ARE THE MOST EXCLUSIVE: The after-parties the night of the Emmys are not the only invites to snag. Even more exclusive are the talent agency parties held days before the award show. Hollywood Reporter: "It's really about entertaining their nominees," said Tony Schubert, whose company Event Eleven is producing WME's bash. "It's about making sure that their guests are well taken care of in a beautiful space. They don't care about the press, there is no red carpet, and it truly is a private event." http://bit.ly/1aVBqIJ

2. MIAMI CONSIDERS OPENING THEME PARK: Two vastly different theme park concepts are competing to be built on 120 acres next to Zoo Miami, a modestly scaled dinosaur-theme museum and a massive complex from a major movie studio. Miami Herald: "20th Century Fox, the Hollywood movie and TV giant, wants to build Miami Wilds, its own near-$1 billion version of Universal Studios, complete with Ice Age-themed rides (yes, there would be snow), a resort hotel, a water park, a retail and entertainment district, a daily samba parade inspired by Rio, exploding volcanoes, and rides through the sinking Titanic and the entrails of the Nostromo, the seriously disturbing spaceship from Alien." http://hrld.us/158jT8h

3. FESTIVAL PLANS WORLD'S LARGEST CHEESECAKE: With assistance from Ace of Cakes star chef Duff Goldman, a team plans to make the world's largest cheesecake Saturday at the Lowville Cream Cheese Festival. The cake would weight 3 tons and measure 8 feet in diameter and 20 inches thick. The event takes place near the Kraft Foods plant that produces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and the fest will offer slices to people who donate to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry.

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  HL Group, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, has started an experiential marketing division, HL: Creative, and named Ryan Jordan as creative director. HL Group's clients include brands such as David Yurman, Hilton Worldwide Luxury Brands, Stella Artois, Barbie/Mattel, Amazon Fashion, and Toms.

CHICAGO:  Steppenwolf Theatre Company will host the fifth annual Women in the Arts benefit luncheon on December 9. This year's event, hosted by Tracy Letts, will honor August: Osage County stars Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, and Julianne Nicholson.

Marklund's pancake breakfast will take place at Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva on Saturday.

LAS VEGAS:  The Convention Industry Council, MGM Resorts’ Mandalay Bay, the IMEX Group, Freeman, and other event partners will host the annual Hall of Leaders Gala October 13 at IMEX America. The MGM Resorts Events team is producing a show with full sets, transitions, performances, a live orchestra, and a cast of singers, dancers, and specialty performers.

LONDON:  Fay Pannell, credited with being the first professional conference organizer to establish a business in the United Kingdom, died last month. She was a founder of the  International Association for Professional Conference Organisers, and in 1978 she received the O.B.E. and her company received the Queen's Award for Export and Technology.

LOS ANGELES:  The Grammy awards are hosting a concert to announce its nominations, and the special will air live on CBS December 6 at the Nokia Theatre. AEG Ehrlich Ventures is producing the event.

The Los Angeles Auto Show added a third press day, and programmed the kickoff day November 19 to focus on auto technology with announcements promised from Audi, Ford, and Sprint.

Innovative Dining Group has tapped Iron Chef America alum Tyson Wong Ophaso as the new executive chef at Chi Lin on the Sunset Strip.

The National Association of Music Merchants has signed a five-year contract with the City of Anaheim and the Anaheim Convention Center to continue to hold the its trade show there through 2018. The NAMM Show is the largest trade show held in the convention center, drawing nearly 95,000 registrants annually.

Tasting Table is taking its marquee event, the Lobster Roll Rumble, to Los Angeles. It will take place November 7 at the Copper Design Space, and tickets are $75.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is hosting a bodybuilding experience at Muscle Beach Venice Friday to celebrate the launch of his nutritional supplement line with MusclePharm along with the October issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MAUI:  Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort on Maui, named Scott Boyer as its new director of sales and marketing.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The former Versace mansion was sold at auction for $41.5 million following a bidding war Tuesday. South Florida Business Journal: "The Nakash family, of Jordache Jeans fame, intends to run the mansion in connection with the Hotel Victor, which they already own next door." http://bit.ly/1eLPdTT

NEW YORK:  Macy’s new Herald Square Visitor Center, a partnership with NYC & Company, opened Wednesday. The mezzanine-level space has technology such as information screens, concierge terminals, and digital touch screen kiosks for tourists to make restaurant reservations, book tours, or purchase tickets to various attractions.

The 10th annual Black Ball, November 7 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, will feature performances by host Alicia Keys, Carole King, Roy Ayers, Laura Mvula, and Kathleen Battle.

New York Times: "The Puck Building will be the New York home of the Chefs Club, a restaurant that started at the St. Regis in Aspen, Colo., last year. Like the Aspen template, it will be a collaboration between Food & Wine magazine and Stephane De Baets, a money manager who represents the owner of the hotel, and will feature visiting chefs. It is to open in the spring." http://nyti.ms/1drLfvy

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

TORONTO:  Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a 1950s-theme bash on September 22 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The evening will include a diner station, a display of vintage gala dresses, and a performance from Matt Dusk and his big-band orchestra.

The Toronto Snow Show will take place at the International Centre October 17-20. The event will offer a chalet activation from Tourisme Quebec, a miniature snowboard park, and a movie premiere.

WASHINGTON:  First Lady Michelle Obama will host a White House luncheon for winners of the 2013 National Design Awards Friday.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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