Events

Beachwood, Ohio -- Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said that it earned one MAXI Gold and four MAXI Silver awards for shopping center marketing and management programs at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Fusion Conference in Hollywood, Calif.

In the Sales Promotions and Events category, a MAXI Gold was awarded to the 25 on the 25th event at Deer Park Town Center in Chicago. The center developed a wine-tasting promotion to showcase a local merchant and encourage shoppers to explore the center.

Cleveland -- Forest City Commercial Management, in partnership with PlaceWise Media, announced Tuesday the launch of the Shoptopia Network.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. and its franchisees plans to hire as many as 50,000 new U.S. employees -- ranging from restaurant crew to managers -- on April 19. The one-day event will seek to bring in and hire a combination of both full- and part-time positions in close to 14,000 U.S. restaurants nationwide, increasing the company's U.S. work force by 7.7% to 700,000, but such hiring is typical in the lead up to the busy summer months.

Target plans to give away one million reusable shopping bags on Sunday, April 17 in line with the release of its weekly ad featuring an assortment of environmentally-friendly products in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22.

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic announced that it is giving consumers the chance to experience its 2011 line-up of home entertainment products during its six-week, 15-market "Panasonic Experience Amazing Tour."

The tour starts April 4 in New York and will make stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC over the next five weeks, through May 15.  

AUSTIN, Texas and WASHINGTON -- Whole Foods Market announced that it is teaming up with AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Festival, the nation's leading documentary festival, to award $50,000 in grant money to filmmakers working in the green film genre.

San Francisco -- Madison Marquette has announced the return of its retail business incubator program it calls Retail Star.

As part of the program, Madison Marquette is on the hunt for the third consecutive year to find entrepreneurs with new viable retail concepts.

The competition returns to Bayfair Center, in San Leandro, Calif., and kicks-off for the first time this year at Bay Street, in Emeryville, Calif., according to Madison Marquette.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target announced that as part of its Earth Month celebration, it is offering customers the chance to win a "Refresh Your Nest" home makeover worth up to $50,000 with the help of LEED accredited designer Sabrina Soto, as well as hundreds of other sustainable prizes. Guests can log on to Target.com/Eco to enter the sweepstakes.

The Target.com/Eco site also features sustainable products for purchase, sustainable decorating tips from Soto and coupons for use at Target stores.