November 2, 2015: SXSW Announces Online Harassment Summit, Lionsgate Planning Theme Parks for Films Like ’Hunger Games,’ Republican Campaigns Look to Take Over Debate Planning

1. SXSW ANNOUNCES ONLINE HARASSMENT SUMMIT: Following backlash over its decision to cancel two panels that dealt with online harassment, South by Southwest Interactive organizers have responded by creating a new event on the topic. The summit, scheduled for March 12, will cover the same issues as the panels, which organizers had canceled because of threats of violence they received. Re/code: “Earlier this week we made a mistake. By canceling two sessions we sent an unintended message that SXSW not only tolerates online harassment but condones it, and for that we are truly sorry,” the SXSW statement said. “Online harassment is a serious matter and we stand firmly against hate speech and cyber-bullying. It is a menace that has often resulted in real world violence; the spread of discrimination; increased mental health issues and self-inflicted physical harm.” http://on.recode.net/1OiBANu

2. LIONSGATE PLANNING THEME PARKS FOR FILMS LIKE ’HUNGER GAMES’: New theme parks from the film studio Lionsgate will bring to life movies such as The Hunger Games, Twilight, and the Step Up dance franchise. The parks are slated to open in Atlanta, China, and the Middle East. The New York Times: “Theme park attractions and stage shows are entirely new businesses for Lionsgate. To limit risk, the studio is licensing its movie properties to developers, who will in turn pay to build and operate the attractions. Lionsgate, in other words, is trying to emulate not Disney or Universal, but Warner Bros., which has long licensed its characters, which include Batman and Bugs Bunny, to theme parks such as Six Flags.” http://nyti.ms/1Oi5PEf

3. REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS LOOK TO TAKE OVER DEBATE PLANNING: After a Republican presidential debate last week in which candidates openly rebelled against the CNBC moderators, individual campaigns met to seize control from the Republican National Committee about how debates are planned. Politico: “It was a stunning development for a party committee that entered the election cycle determined to take greater control of a debate process that, four years ago, went badly off track. And it was evidence of a national GOP that is struggling to oversee a large and rambunctious field of primary candidates. Those present in the meeting stressed that the RNC would maintain some key powers. In addition to focusing on logistical issues surrounding the debates, people present said, the RNC would help resolve disagreements between the campaigns and the networks when they arose. The changes will take effect after the next debate, which is slated to be held Nov. 10 on Fox Business.” http://politi.co/1NkXi1Z

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  The Alliance Theater has announced plans for a $22 million renovation, slated to finish in 2018. WABE: http://bit.ly/1GPJAmq

BOSTON:  The Spartan Sprint Post-Race Parties, hosted by dating app MeetMeOutside, will take place following the Fenway Park Spartan Sprint on November 7-8. The events will feature date auctions, a photo booth, raffle prizes, and a cash bar.

CHICAGO:  The City of Chicago has approved plans to build the George Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The space will have an observation deck with 360-degree views of the city. Wired: http://wrd.cm/1HhmwYC

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park will host its second annual “Cookies & Cheer Luxury Cookie Exchange” on December 3. Each guest leaves with three dozen cookies.

LAS VEGAS:  Guy Fieri's second Las Vegas restaurant, El Burro Borracho, will open at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino early next year. The Mexican concept will offer street tacos and signature margaritas.

LOS ANGELES:  The 33rd annual California Strawberry Festival is scheduled for May 21-22 on 15 acres at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Winter Music Conference organizers have shifted its dates to run following Ultra Music Festival rather than running at the same time. The music industry event will be held March 21-24 at the Shelborne Wyndham Grand hotel.

The Wynwood Walls Garden, a new art space that’s part of the Wynwood Walls complex, will debut in time for Art Basel Miami Beach. This year’s Wynwood Walls will feature 14 large-scale murals and installations from street artists, and the space will hold a number of events starting with a V.I.P. opening night on December 1.

NEW YORK:  The Bank of America Winter Village is now open at Bryant Park. The village's 128 holiday shops are open through January 3, and the 17,000-square-foot ice rink is open through March 6.

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

PHOENIX:  The Found:Re Hotel will open downtown this spring. The 104-room hotel, located next to Hance Park and the light rail in the Roosevelt Historic Neighborhood, will have an on-site art gallery and outdoor avant-garde art display.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The Edwardian Ball—a two-day steampunk-theme festival—will take place January 22-23 at the Regency Ballroom.

TORONTO:  The fifth annual Taste of Iceland festival will take place November 12-15. The event will include the Iceland Film Festival, a special menu at Luma, and a free Reykjavik Calling concert at Adelaide Hall.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  DC Cocktail Week, a promotional effort by Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, will take place November 16-22. For the third edition of the event, bars and restaurants across the region will create special drinks.

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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.

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