Weekly North American agenda: Art Basel, Christmas Bird Count

(Jonathan Oleyar, courtesy National Audubon Society)

As the Christmas season begins, the National Audubon Society prepares for its 111th annual Christmas Bird Count, enlisting "citizen scientists" from North to South America in a wildlife census and conservation effort from December 14 through Januay 5.

Art Basel Miami Beach
December 2-5
Miami Beach, Florida

As the sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 41 years, Art Basel Miami Beach is North America's premiere art show. The fair plays host to over 250 leading art galleries and will showcase artworks from more than 2,000 international artists in the contemporary art scene. Events include talks, public art installations, and parties. Other coinciding events include Design Miami and Scope Art Fair featuring cutting-edge art works, located in the Wynwood Arts District.
http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com

Christmas Bird Count
December 14 - January 5
Throughout the Americas

The Audubon Society celebrates the 111th Christmas Bird Count, when thousands of volunteer "citizen scientists" from North to South America participate in local bird counting to assess the health of bird populations, habitat and migration patterns. This wildlife census and conservation effort will focus on the impact of the Gulf oil spill on species this year. The Great Backyard Bird Count, February 18- 21, is a 15-minute version, providing a snapshot of birds.
http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count

33rd Kennedy Center Honors
December 28
Washington DC

This annual gala Kennedy Center Honors salutes Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, and others in the fields of dance, music and theater. The ceremony pays tribute to performing artists for contributions to American arts and culture. The TV special is preceded by a ceremony at the White House with President Barack Obama. This event begins a series of award shows from People's Choice to the Golden Globes.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors

New Years Eve
December 31
New York City, New York

Annual television shows count down the New Year on camera from Times Square. Since 1972, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve shows the ball drop at midnight with an estimated billion viewers. Performers include Avril Lavigne and The Black Eyed Peas' Fergie from Las Vegas. Comic actress Jennie McCarthy co-hosts with American Idol's Ryan Seacrest: ABC-TV, 10-11 p.m. ET (resumes at 11:30 ET/PT). Television channel NBC-TV airs New Year's Eve with Carson Daly at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Guests ringing in last year were Green Day and Rihanna. CNN and MTV also telecast parties with special guests.

People's Choice Awards
January 5
Los Angeles, CA

Queen Latifah hosts the 37th anniversary of the People's Choice Awards, voted on by fans as an alternative to the Golden Globes, Grammys and Oscars. The 44 categories include Favorite Movie ( Alice in Wonderland, Inception, Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse), plus Best Actor an Actress in each genre, as well as awards for television shows and music genres including Rock, Pop and Hip-Hop. Similar to the American Music Awards and Nickelodeon's Kids Awards. Australia also has a People's Choice Awards. Vote online at http://www.peopleschoice.com/.

International CES
January 6-9
Las Vegas Convention Center/Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the world's largest consumer technology trade show. It is also one of the most closely followed events on the technology calendar - alongside CeBIT and Computex Taipei - as it welcomes numerous high-profile technology companies and is the launch-place for many groundbreaking new gadgets and high-tech products. CES attracts around 126,600 visitors each year and is a "must-see" event for technology enthusiasts.
http://www.cesweb.org/

North American International Auto Show
January 10-23
Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan

NAIAS is the biggest auto event in the US and one of the key shows in the industry, drawing visitors and exhibitors from around the world. Vehicle unveilings, concept cars, and the Design Awards are part of the attraction. This year finds the Big Three US automakers rebounding and all manufacturers showcasing green innovations. After preview days January 10-13, an estimated 800,000 will attend the public show January 15-23. Other events in the US happen in Los Angeles (December) and New York (April). http://www.naias.com/

Golden Globe Awards
January 16
Beverly Hills, California

The 68th annual Golden Globe Awards are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to recognize outstanding achievements in film and television. The show is telecast live to 150 countries from the Beverly Hills Hotel at 5 p.m. PT/8 p/m ET. Instead of formal seated events like the Oscars, which follows on March 7, the ceremony is set at a dinner for the nominees. Robert De Niro will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011. Nominations will be announced December 14.
http://www.goldenglobes.org

RC