L.A. Spirits Competition 2013 Has Begun

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Heather

Last week we gave you a peek into the 74th annual Los Angeles International Wine Competition. We haven’t slowed down one bit this week as we dive into the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.

Held behind closed doors at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, hundreds of glasses are lined up and ready to be filled with a variety of spirits: gin, whiskey, vodka, tequila and rum for starters. The judges started sipping and spitting bright and early this morning with tequila and whiskey (not your typical breakfast fare.)

We’ll be covering the event here on our blog but be sure to check Instagram and Twitter for additional coverage:

#laspiritscomp
#spitacular

Follow along: @lawinecomp

Cheers!

L.A. Weekender: Hockey, crawfish, art and wine

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Heather

It’s almost the weekend! We are wrapping up the Los Angeles International Wine Competition here at Fairplex and are getting ready for Food Truck Thursday, Preakness and our other weekend happenings. As for you, there is plenty to see, do and taste throughout all of Los Angeles…

Photo taken from Examiner

Go Kings Go!: If you’re a hockey fan, you might want to start your weekend a little early and hightail it over to the Staples Center to see the L.A. Kings face off against the San Jose Sharks in the second round of playoffs. Whether you have nosebleed seats or the best seats in the arena, it’s sure to be loud, wild and tons of fun.

Dominick’s Annual Crawfish Boil: If you’ve had enough of L.A. fare (quinoa, kale, organic everything) and want to escape to the South for a couple hours, stop by Dominick’s Restaurant on Saturday for Chef Brandon Boudet’s annual Crawfish Boil. The New Orleans native will be cooking 300 lbs. of live crawfish (flown over from Louisiana) for your dining pleasure.

International Museum Night at LACMA: If you’re looking for something slightly less rowdy than a crawfish boil, check out International Museum Night at LACMA. The agenda includes a series of lectures (“LACMA Exhibitions Around the World,” “Classic Maya” and “The Art of Looking.” KCRW will also be on hand to spin some low-key tunes along with two tasting stations.

CRUSH: End your weekend with some light wine and food tasting down in Santa Monica at the 18th St Arts Center. Down a cocktail or two and enjoy food from some of the best (or so they claim) that Los Angeles has to offer and spend an hour or two letting your inner foodie out.

And if all else fails… It looks like it will be a beautiful weekend, perfect for a walk in the park, a picnic on the beach or just relaxing with the family at home

L.A. International Wine Competition: Day 2

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Heather

Los Angeles International Wine Competition employees prepare the wine for our judges

The wine judging began yesterday morning and continues strong today. Anyone walking into the ballroom will be greeted with a whiff of wine… a lot of wine. The sound of clinking glasses and the scratching of judges’ pencils and the sight of plates heaped with generous amounts of cheese, grapes, crackers and other pairings completes the scene.

Here are a few photos we’ve taken from the competition:

All lined up and ready to go

Judges

Reppin' Dodger blue in the judges room

The judges ended yesterday’s round with their own Table-to-Farm dinner out at McKinley’s Farm. Staying true to tradition, Chef David Teig prepared the feast right in front of the judges. A wide variety of foods was served, including a course of octopus. Vegetables, fruits and herbs were taken fresh from the farm (of course.)

Event Industry News: LACMA gets a facelift

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Heather

“Urban Light”
Photo taken from eliteonearth.blogspot.com

LACMA: Next month the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will reveal plans for a $650 million for a new museum building. The upside: It would be one of the most impressive architectural feats of Los Angeles since the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The downside: As one building rises, two have to fall, including the original LACMA campus. “Urban Light” – the museum’s outdoor exhibit – is already an iconic piece of Los Angeles.

Quiet times: The Los Angeles Formula E race will take place on the streets of downtown in 2014. Race cars will zoom through the city at 140 mph although the whir of engines will be hard to hear — all the vehicles are electric (for the first time in history.) The event is part of a tournament with races taking place in 10 cities around the world including Rome, Buenos Aires and London. Miami and Los Angeles are the only two cities to host in the United States.

Blue skies ahead: According to the latest research conducted by IMEX, the IMEX America Index of Optimism reveals that the majority of the event industry looks with positivity towards the future of the industry. The survey reported increased budgets, a focus on reducing costs and continuation “green” initiatives.

L.A. Weekender: Rock out, channel your inner Yoda and celebrate all weekend long

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Heather

There’s no way around it: this weekend is packed. The L.A. Weekender is looking at Star Wars, the Kentucky Derby, and Cinco de Mayo. Shall we elaborate?

Taken from livemusicblog.com

The Rolling Stones: If you’re feeling spontaneous (and have some cash to blow), you can try to see The Rolling Stones, performing Friday night at the Staples Center. Perhaps it’s not the intimate performance the Echoplex saw last weekend, but for anyone who’s a fan, this is guaranteed to be a night to rock out and remember.

May the Fourth be with you: If you’re a Star Wars fan and tend to get a little geeked out when someone brings up the Death Star or Han Solo, you have a couple options:

1. Head out to Orange County and hit up Downtown Disney in the afternoon and meet Mike Kungl, Disney Fine Art painter as he reveals his latest Star Wars-inspired art collection. If you have a Disney pass, don’t forget to slip into Tomorrowland for a bit of fun.

2. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, Entertainment Weekly is going all out for at the CapeTown Film Fest at the Egyptian Theater with all-day screenings of Return of the Jedi.

Kentucky Derby: If racing and mint juleps are to your liking, consider the Kentucky Derby, happening on Saturday. Sure you might not actually be at the races and you’ll be hard pressed to find anything resembling a friendly Southern drawl, but why not swing by Finish Line Sports Grill for one of their signature Mint Juleps?

Enjoy ticketless wagering and watch the races with your fellow SoCal horse enthusiasts.

Cinco de Mayo: All of Los Angeles is celebrating the Mexican army’s triumph at the Battle of Puebla 150 years ago, and while there are plenty of food and drink specials to be found, we recommend taking the family to the free Cinco de Mayo Festival down on Olvera Street. Check out the folk dancing, live performances from Ballet Folklorico, Mariachi Estampa de America and La Original Banda El Limon, and chow down on your favorite Mexican meal before calling it a day.

So many options, so little time…

Event Industry News: Eventstagram, CicLAvia, Stagecoach and the Lemon Festival

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Heather

…And we’re live: Eventstagram, a live Instagram feed for events (think Tweetdeck for Instagram) has officially been adopted into the Wayra family. What does this mean for the rest of the event world? It means that Evenstagram (less than a year old) could soon be the answer to engaging event guests and aggregating live visual content, not to mention a practical and visually pleasing piece of decor for your venue. It’s a slideshow of your event, during your event, created by guests, curated by you. Worth trying out or at the very least, keeping an eye on.

I want to ride my bicycle: Last Sunday marked the 6th successful CicLAvia event. The Los Angeles take on a Colombian tradition opened a car-free 15-mile stretch from downtown to Venice Beach, allowing cyclists of all ages to enjoy a sunny Sunday ride from city to the sea. As Los Angeles continues to fight traffic and pollution (no easy feat; we are America’s most congested city), it will be interesting to see how much traction events like CicLAvia will gain. Currently only three days out of the year are scheduled for such events in the city–there are only so many days a car-dependent culture can take of massive street closures. CicLAvia has been met with high success. The average number of participants is 100,000.

Stagecoach: Southern California went a little country this weekend at the annual Stagecoach Country Music Festival. As soon as Coachella hipsters cleared the scene, a wave of cowboy hats and boots, Daisy Duke shorts, beer and guitars came roaring into the desert. Country music lovers enjoyed the sounds of Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Norah Jones and Trace Adkins among others all weekend long.

G’bye Gibson: The curtain falls on the Gibson Amphitheater to make way for Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest project: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Upland Lemon Festival: The Upland Lemon Festival hosted large crowds this weekend as the city celebrated with carnival rides and games, lemonade, food trucks, live entertainment and pie eating contests. You can check out photos of the event on the Facebook page.

L.A. Weekender: Upland Lemon Festival, foodie heaven and artist paradise

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Heather

The theme for this week’s L.A. Weekender is: free. Spend more time than money on this weekend’s itinerary. Whether you’re hanging out in the Inland Empire or enjoying a day on the Westside, there is plenty to do:

Image taken from coverbooth.com

1. Upland Lemon Festival: Carnival rides and games, live entertainment (is that Queen Nation and DSB I hear?) and all things lemon are happening in Upland this weekend. Grab your family and friends and enjoy a warm afternoon strolling through Crafter’s Village, hopping on a carnival ride or two and enjoying a slice of lemon pie. P.S. It’s free!

2. Brewery Artwalk: The world’s largest art complex is only open to the public twice a year and this weekend marks the first of 2013. Check out the works of more than 100 artists and purchase a few paintings if the mood strikes. Admission and parking are free.

3. Bite Flite: Our friends at L.A. Foodie are hosting quite the event on Saturday. Bite Flite, happening at Culver City’s Bar & Garden, invites guests to an evening of beer samples paired with a number of delectable hamburgers and desserts. Foodie heaven. Each guests receives a tote bag full of goodies too. While this event comes with a price, it’s only $15. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday evening!

4. Mom and Pop Up Shop: For nearly a decade, Etsy has been a virtual alternative to craft fairs, offering an online storefront for designers, thrifters and crafters. The site transforms from virtual to tangible at this weekend’s Mom and Pop Up Shop. A one-day-only collaboration with permanent San Pedro marketplace Crafted, the pop-up shop boasts more than 50 artisan vendors inside the Port of Los Angeles’ World War II–era warehouses. (Need we mention that admission is free?)

We hope you enjoy your weekend! Check back here on Monday for photos from the Upland Lemon Festival!

Event Industry News: Heightened event security measures take shape after Boston bombings

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Heather

Photo taken from http://blog.seattlepi.com

Boston: The tragedies that struck the Boston Marathon exactly a week ago has made a significant impact in the event industry, specifically in regards to security. In Los Angeles alone, police were out in full force at large events including the Toyota Grand Prix, Dodgers, Lakers and Kings games and an assortment of others. Event producers of runners events around the world are taking a second, third and fourth look at security measures for runners and onlookers.

potholesinmyblog.com

Social Media: Twitter has music. All users can use the new iPhone app/website to discover popular songs and dig emerging artists out of obscurity. To put it simply: it’s a new way to share and be shared. Song recommendations run freely, from both their friends and their favorite artists. One highlight is the ability to listen to music while perusing tweets at the same time.

Technology: Fujitsu took “scanning” to a whole new level and turned paper into a touchscreen. Event planners can use this technology to their advantage in multiple ways, from uploading tangible content directly to web/blog/social media to guests using the technology themselves (signing in, leaving comments, entering giveaways etc.)

Earth Day: Today more than 192 countries participate in the celebration of our planet and appreciating Mother Nature. While perhaps not directly related to event news, check out the Google homepage for a little inspiration for today.

What does Earth Day mean for you?

L.A. Weekender: Earth Day celebrations, Toyota Grand Prix and art galore

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Heather

“I can see clearly now, the rain has gone…” And that drizzle that hit Los Angeles earlier this week is a distant memory with the sun shining and warm winds blowing all weekend long. Head down to the beach and relax in the sand, take the kids to the park or just kick it on your patio at home–at any rate, get out and enjoy the sunshine!

Here are a few events you might want to check out on this glorious weekend:

Photo taken from KEarth

1. Celebrate Earth Day this weekend at the L.A. Zoo. The Earth Day Expo celebrates and brings awareness to the needs of California wildlife. Festivities include information booths, fun activities for the kids and recycled crafts. . April 20-21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

2. Grand Prix/Green Prix: If you are so inclined, try and make your way into Long Beach

kaytedeioma.com

for the Toyota Grand Prix. We at Fairplex are quite familiar with the sounds of racing and think race cars coupled with family activities, live music and bars and restaurants all around sounds like a great way to start, spend and end the weekend.

Then again, we are also home to an urban farm and are fans of sustainable foods so we also recommend the Green Prix of Long Beach, which highlights urban farmers, sustainable-minded local chefs, artists and a variety of environmental organizations. Get inspired about going green and check out vendors, food trucks, family fun activities and trade in the Grand Prix Budweiser’s for organic beers.

3. Festival of Books: Bookworms unite at USC this weekend for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (Apr. 20-21). Check the list of authors on their website and see if one of your favorites will be there. If not, it might still be fun to join in on conversations with famous authors and celebrities. If all else fails, the best in food, live entertainment and film should be entertainment enough for the day.

4. LACMA: Film enthusiasts might want to head down to LACMA and investigate the exhibit dedicated to Stanley Kubrick (Spartacus, A Clockwork Orange, 2001: Space Odyssey, The Shining). LACMA is the first U.S. art institute to feature an exhibit on the late filmmaker. P.S. For those with kids who are too young to be anywhere near a Stanley Kubrick film, LACMA offers free family tours in the late morning, featuring only kid-friendly exhibits.

5. Claremont Farmers and Artisans Markets: End your weekend with a relaxing stroll through the Farmers Market in Claremont. Stock up on fresh produce for the week, grab a bite to eat and do Sunday Funday right.

Event Industry News: Coachella Round 1 – Success or a failure?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Heather

Photo taken from Pretty Much Amazing

Coachella Round 1: The first weekend of this year’s music festival wasn’t quite up to par compared to last year. True it’s hard to beat a 2Pac hologram but when a headliner fails to draw crowds, it’s an issue. Still, Coachella is always a good time and the highlights were plentiful with a night of Phoenix and a surprise appearance by R. Kelly alongside solid performances by Blur, The Postal Service, Grizzly Bear and the Local Natives among others. Perhaps the biggest excitement was over a group that wasn’t even performing: Daft Punk.

Trend alert: Would you pay for a restaurant ticket? Most of us don’t think twice about cancelling or failing to show up at a restaurant. On the other side of the hostess desk it’s a whole different story. Now restaurants are taking matters into their own hands, creating a solution to the problem…and shame tweets are only the beginning. Trois Mec, about to open in Los Angeles has adapted a ticketing system where guests must purchase their tables in advance. The cost includes food, tax and tip so that diners need only to sit, enjoy their meal and walk out after. Several high-end restaurants have already adapted this form of payment though some owners hope to see the system trickle down into even the smallest of restaurants.

Sip, swirl and tweet: Breaking away from traditional wine tasting, Canada’s Open Wines invited guests to sample wine … and enjoy a full-fledged party. Partnering with Narrative PR and Bensimon Byrne, the wine company encouraged guests to “#BeOpen” and participate via Twitter to access all the event happenings. Using wristbands and smart phones, guests were encouraged (via tweets) to check out various games, treats and other stations in the venue.

Ah, Youth: A recent survey conducted by Piper Jaffay reports that Facebook and YouTube are losing popularity with teens. And considering how teens are responsible for $819 billion in consumer spending, marketers need to start finding new ways to influence these youths. The same survey revealed that social media still influences consumer purchasing decisions. So the question now is: which platform to target next?

Technology: CNet wrote a lengthy but eye-opening article on the innovation of smartphones and just where the technology is going, how it’s coming together and what that looks like for us.

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