November 12, 2015: Formula 1 Threatens to Pull Austin Race, Luxury Brands Step in to Save Italy’s Ancient Treasures, How an Upstart Music Festival Is Winning Over Fans

1. FORMULA 1 THREATENS TO PULL AUSTIN RACE: Austin's Formula 1 race may not return to the city because of the state government’s decision to decrease its funding to support the event, from $25 million in 2012 to 2014 to about $195 million this year. Austin American-Statesman: “The dispute raises the specter of a heavyweight legal battle, pitting the race’s wealthy local promoters against the state over whether Texas officials are reneging on their apparent commitment in 2011 to support the Austin race with a quarter-billion dollar subsidy over a decade. … Nixing the Austin race would be catastrophic to Circuit of the Americas. Although the $300 million facility also hosts other races, such as MotoGP, and includes the Austin360 Amphitheater music venue, the operation revolves around the track built specifically to host F1 races.” http://atxne.ws/1NqB4qX

2. LUXURY BRANDS STEP IN TO SAVE ITALY’S ANCIENT TREASURES: Looking for resources to help pay for restoration of major historic treasures, the Italian government is getting help from luxury brands. Fendi is supporting the Trevi Fountain, Bulgari is taking on the Spanish Steps, and Tod's will help fund preservation of the Colosseum. Conde Nast Traveler: “Meanwhile, if there are any high-end Italian brands who want to get in on this trend, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has a request: Pompeii, the historic site outside of Naples where some $137 million in EU funds wasn't deemed sufficient to complete needed repairs. Gucci and Versace, are you listening?” http://bit.ly/1OECYKw

3. HOW AN UPSTART MUSIC FESTIVAL IS WINNING OVER FANS: The EDM festival Desert Hearts, now in its third year, leans more toward Burning Man than Coachella, and organizers see it as offering fans a more intimate and authentic experience than other events. Los Angeles Times: “It's big enough to attract Coachella-caliber talent like Claude Von Stroke, Doc Martin and J.Phlip, but unlike Coachella with its luxe VIP packages or Electric Daisy Carnival with its helicopter Champagne soirees, Desert Hearts is so off the grid geographically that cell service — and sharing selfies — is impossible. Everyone, including the organizers, sleeps in tents or at best an RV. Set times are almost illusory — the bass-heavy kick of house and techno music is a 24-hour-a-day affair. Desert Hearts may be Southern California's most exhausting, delirious proposition in dance music, but it also represents a new subculture that's upending what fans want from festivals.” http://lat.ms/1MAU3D0

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  The 68th annual Macy's "Great Tree" lighting will take place November 22, instead of its traditional date of Thanksgiving night. Singer Jordin Sparks will perform at the event. Atlanta Business Chronicle: http://bit.ly/1ROXNRt

BOSTON:  Joe Andruzzi Foundation will host its eighth annual Gratitude Gala at Gillette Stadium’s Putnam Club on Monday. New England Patriots co-captain and offensive lineman Nate Solder will deliver the keynote address.

CHICAGO:  Coconutz Chicago, an island-inspired cocktail and wine bar with small plates, will open in the Gold Coast on December 1.

LAS VEGAS:  New performance venue the Foundry Hall will replace Life Nightclub next year, as the W Las Vegas is set to take over a 289-room tower at the SLS Las Vegas. Eater: http://bit.ly/1MKYF4V

LOS ANGELES:  The LA Zoo Lights will be on display November 27-January 3. The event will offer 60- to 90-minute self-guided tours of the zoo's expanded area that features animal-theme LED lights, 3-D projections, and a musical water and light display.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Holiday Market of La Feria del Mercado de San Miguel, a new concept, will open in downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park from November 27-January 6. The market will have more than 20 booths, gifts, and food and drink. The park’s holiday tree also will relocate to the market, with a tree-lighting ceremony scheduled for November 27.

NEW YORK:  The New York City Horror Film Festival runs today through Sunday with 15 screenings at the venue Times Scare. The festival is produced by MooDude Films.

Volunteers of America-Greater New York will host its 20th annual New York Winter's Eve Gala December 1 at the Plaza’s Grand Ballroom. Today co-host Willie Geist will emcee the event.

The Martha Washington Hotel has joined SBE's hotel collection and will be rebranded as the Redbury New York in early 2016. The 256-room hotel is home to Danny Meyer’s Marta pizzeria.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Rosen Shingle Creek Resort has plans for a major expansion that will add more than 250,000 square feet of new convention center space, a 16-story, 320-room condo tower, and a parking garage. Orlando Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1Y4Tghi

SAN FRANCISCO:  The Napa Valley Film Festival has added three venues as well as high-profile events, changes that organizers expect to increase attendance and prestige. Variety: http://bit.ly/1OENOAj

TAMPA:  The Tampa Convention Center celebrates its 25th anniversary on Friday.

TORONTO:  Toronto Botanical Garden will honor three “green stars” with its Aster Awards November 19 at the garden. The evening will start with a cocktail reception with catering that uses produce harvested from Rye's Homegrown Rooftop Farm and desserts infused with honey from the garden's own hives.

The 28th annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival runs today through November 21 at Aki Studio Theatre.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  As part of the photography festival FotoWeekDC, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is projecting images onto its exterior walls that show religious and ethnic minorities persecuted in Iraq. Quince Imaging produced the projections.

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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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