1. DESIGNERS GET POLITICAL AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK: While the Council of Fashion Designers of America chose to take a political stance during New York Fashion Week by supporting Planned Parenthood with custom pink pins, other designers are incorporating political statements into runway shows this season. Los Angeles Times: "That same day, U.K.-based online fashion publication Business of Fashion used the Tommy Hilfiger show in Los Angeles as the launch pad for its #TiedTogether initiative designed to establish the white bandanna 'as a sign to the world that you believe in the common bonds of humankind—regardless of race, sexuality, gender or religion.' Here on the East Coast, invitees to Friday morning’s Calvin Klein show received crisply folded white cotton bandannas printed with a black quilt-like design and accompanied by a note that read, 'Unity, inclusion hope and acceptance: Join us at Calvin Klein wearing the white bandan[n]a #TiedTogether.' That show, which marked Belgian designer Raf Simon’s debut collection for the iconic America brand, was itself a meditation on the state of the United States, opening and closing to the strains of David Bowie’s 1985 song, 'This Is Not America,' and including a model wrapped in an American flag. The message of inclusiveness and acceptance was in evidence well beyond the bandannas, too, most memorably at Christian Siriano’s Saturday afternoon show at the Plaza Hotel, where a model drew cheers of approval when she hit the runway in a pink silk, floor-length skirt and a black T-shirt emblazoned with the message, 'People are people.'" http://lat.ms/2ldcNBg
2. GRAMMY RATINGS HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS TWO TELECASTS: The 59th annual Grammys on Sunday drew 26.05 million viewers, which is higher than the 2016 and 2015 telecasts. Politically charged moments and performances also drew big buzz on social media. Forbes: "Last year's Grammy Awards, hosted by veteran emcee LL Cool J, were on a Monday night, drew 24.95 million viewers and garnered a final 7.7 rating. In 2015, the last time the Grammys were on a Sunday, the telecast garnered an audience of 25.3 million. This year's viewership is even more impressive when compared to the viewership of 10 years ago; the Grammys of 2005-2009 averaged an audience of 18.41 million. It is rare that award shows see an increase in ratings—this year's Golden Globes were an anomaly—as fewer and fewer people tune into live television each year, but early buzz on how the performers would address the political landscape (and how a pregnant Beyoncé would perform with twins) pointed to the possibility of a larger audience. On social media the show was also a hit with viewers taking to Facebook, Twitter and more to comment on Adele's sweep of the big categories, A Tribe Called Quest's call for resistance, Katy Perry's politicized performance, Chance the Rapper's many wins and, of course, Rihanna's flask. There were a total of 17.3 million Tweets around the Grammys between 5 pm and 12 am EST, according to Twitter. That's up from the 17.2 Tweets sent during the same time period last year. The moments that garnered the most Tweets were the end of Beyoncé's performance as a golden queen-mother, Adele's win for Record of the Year and Adele's tribute to George Michael—which she restarted due to a technical glitch." http://bit.ly/2lHPywr
3. JOURNALISTS AND CELEBRITIES WEARY OF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER: While the White House Correspondents' Dinner used to be a cant-miss event for journalists and stars, the event under President Trump will likely attract a different crowd. The Guardian: "Many news outlets, however, are planning to give the event a miss. The New York Times has not sent journalists to the dinner since 2008. The Guardian, which normally attends, will not be represented there this year. Jeff Mason, a Reuters journalist and president of the WHCA, has been obliged to confirm that the event will happen. Celebrities are also choosing to spend the night elsewhere. Actors from the casts of TV political drama shows such as House of Cards, Veep and Scandal, for example, have attended in recent years. They are not expected to be present this time. And according to the Hollywood Reporter, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has yet to secure a comedy headliner. … Whoever is eventually named as master of ceremonies for the dinner will have a chance to tease, needle or even roast the president, as Stephen Colbert famously did to a not-very amused George W Bush in 2006. And Trump will get a chance to reply in kind. His audience may lack familiar faces. In the past, stars such as Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington and the cast of Game of Thrones have been guests at the sprawling, ticketed dinner in the Hilton ballroom, which seats 2,670. This year, an unnamed Washington media executive was quoted as saying: 'There will be minimal celebrities in that room … it’s going to be difficult to get any talent there.'" http://bit.ly/2lEXX3H
* LOCAL NEWS *
AUSTIN: This year's Austin Urban Music Festival, which features R&B, hip hop, and neo-soul artists, takes place March 31-April 1 at Auditorium Shores.
DALLAS/FORT WORTH: Comedic acting troupe Four Day Weekend Comedy will have its 20th Anniversary Show on March 9 at Bass Hall. The event is presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth.
LOS ANGELES: La Tropezienne Bakery is slated to open on La Brea on Thursday.
The annual L.A. Festival of Colors, celebrating the Indian festival Holi, will take place March 11 at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Creative Glue's Brickell Business Edition will take place February 23 at the SLS Brickell. The invite-only networking event attracts business and creative professionals in the city.
Miami Beach Gay Pride will host "Pride Lights the Night" from April 7-9. The event will honor victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting by having landmark buildings light up in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag.
NEW YORK: The Village Lions Rugby Football Club will host its fourth annual White Collar Boxing Event on February 24 at the Highline Ballroom. The black-tie fund-raiser event supports PlayRugbyUSA.
Vanity Fair's first-ever Founders Fair will take place April 20 at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Sponsored by Dell, Barneys New York, and Lifetime, the event will feature speakers including Reese Witherspoon and Tory Burch.
The Bronx Charter Schools for Better Learning will host a cocktail benefit on May 11 at Casa Italiana at Columbia University.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: The third edition of Winter Stations, which temporarily transforms lifeguard stations into art installations, will run from February 20-March 27 at Balmy, Kew, and Ashbridges Bay beaches.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. has debuted its renovated Ritz-Carlton Suite. The 2,200-square-foot space includes an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the city, a fireplace, and a formal dining room that seats 10.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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