November 15, 2013: Microsoft Plans Concerts for Xbox Launch, How to Dress at Holiday Parties, Behind the Scenes at 'Glamour’s Big Award Night

1. MICROSOFT PLANS CONCERTS FOR XBOX LAUNCH: Deadmau5 and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will perform at concerts Microsoft has planned as part of its launch of Xbox One. The concerts, as well as other launch events, will be streamed through the gaming system as well as Spike TV. GameSpot: “Microsoft will take over Times Square on launch night, bringing zombie and Roman soldier performers to promote Dead Rising 3 and Ryse: Son of Rome, as well as supercars to highlight Forza Motorsport 5. … On the west coast, Microsoft will hold an Xbox One launch party at Milk Studios, which will be transformed into a 'gamer haven,' Microsoft said. Demo stations for Forza 5, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, and Killer Instinct will be available.” http://l.gamespot.com/1a6F4x0

2. HOW TO DRESS AT HOLIDAY PARTIES: With holiday party season about to kick off, both guests and hosts face the dilemma over confusing or vague dress codes. The blog Fashionista spoke with event designer David Stark to get his recommendations. “Stark suggests requesting a ‘dash of sparkle’ for a ‘festive’ dress code tweak. ‘That can be interpreted in many ways. It could be jewelry or sequins or even makeup,’ he said. And if you have some Scrooges who show up in boring basic black, you can greet them at the door with a basket of sparkly, wearable party favors.” http://bit.ly/1887Lcy

3. BEHIND THE SCENES AT 'GLAMOUR’S BIG AWARD NIGHT: What’s it like to be Glamour’s editor in chief on the day of the magazine’s annual Women of the Year Awards? The New York Times followed Cindi Leive as she dealt with last-minute changes to seating charts, soundtracks, and, of course, what she would wear. Another wrinkle? The awards were scheduled for the same night as Vogue’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards. “If Ms. Leive was irritated by the encroachment on her big night, she wasn’t saying. ‘We’ve worked with the CFDA to ensure that will never happen again,’ she said in her characteristically upbeat manner. 'It’s nice for everybody to get to go to both.’” http://nyti.ms/1e7z1Jd

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Kay McCarthy is the new director of catering at Top of the Hub  and Skywalk Observatory, the dining and event location atop the Prudential Tower.

CHICAGO:  The Chicago Auto Show has launched a new Web site with a responsive design that makes for optimal viewing on mobile devices. Features of the site include a virtual tour of the show, more than 160 videos, and details on the show's history.

The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is November 23. The event includes a full day of holiday-theme activities, including a tree-lighting parade, a communal art project, and the "Largest Holiday Carol" sing-along.

Old Town Pour House will open in Oak Brook on November 25. The 7,000-square-foot venue seats 190 guests and serves American fare with a twist (think crab fondue).

HOUSTON:  Staci Currie has joined Associated Luxury Hotels International as director of sales for the U.S. South region. She will assist meeting professionals, association executives, convention specialists, and business executives in booking their events and will be based in Houston.

LAS VEGAS:  FenderBender.com: “Organizers of the SEMA Show reported record-breaking attendance numbers for this year’s show, which took place Nov. 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Although final daily attendance numbers have not gone through an official audit, organizers said they issued more than 126,000 credentials prior to the event, a 7 percent increase over 2012. There were thousands more issued onsite each day.” http://bit.ly/1eQ1jLk

LOS ANGELES:  To commemorate the 50th anniversary of a historic moment in music and television, the Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures, and CBS will present "The Night That Changed America: a Grammy Salute to the Beatles." The two-hour show will tape on January 27, the day after the 56th annual Grammys, and will be broadcast on CBS February 9, exactly 50 years to the day, date, and time of the original event.

Bar Verde Restaurant at Nordstrom is now open at the Grove for lunch and dinner.

Denise Flanders, general manager of Hotel Bel-Air, has appointed chef Hugo Bolanos executive chef of the property.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center raised $650,000 at its Anniversary Gala Vanguard Awards on November 9 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Fontainebleau Miami Beach appointed John Garland to the position of vice president of finance. He will direct all aspects of the finance and accounting functions of the 20-acre, 1,504-room oceanfront resort.

Food for the Poor’s Fine Wines & Hidden Treasures Gala committee will host a pre-event party December 13 at Daniella Ortiz, a Worth Avenue store. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales that evening will be donated toward the gala’s education initiatives in Jamaica.

NEW YORK:  Diffa is hosting Thanks for Giving, a cocktail reception Wednesday at McCann Erickson with a gift auction and other pre-holiday festivities. Canard Inc. is catering the event.

The New York International Automobile Show and World Car Awards announced a five-year alliance that will keep the awards in New York City through 2018.

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

PHILADELPHIA:  The 20th annual Gore-Tex Philadelphia Marathon Race Weekend begins today, with more than 30,000 runners expected for the weekend's races.

TORONTO:  The Young and the Restless star Kate Linder will host the "Opportuniteas High Tea" at Fairmont Royal York on December 8. The event benefits March of Dimes Canada.

The Canadian Opera Company will host its new gala, Centre Stage, on November 26.

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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.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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