1. BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CANCELS TOUR OVER CORONAVIRUS FEARS: The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s East Asia tour has been canceled as growing concerns loom over the spread of the deadly new coronavirus. The tour had stops planned in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taipei, as well as the orchestra's first appearance in Seoul. But the U.S. State Department on Thursday warned Americans not to travel to China, and B.S.O. music director Andris Nelsons said, "We need to put the health and well-being of our musicians first and foremost." Boston.com: "The orchestra has only canceled two other international performances in the past: once in 1960, during the Asia-Australasia tour which skipped an appearance in Seoul, South Korea because of political unrest, and again in Beijing after the Chinese embassy in former Yugoslavia was accidentally bombed in 1999. ... To replace the time they would have spent touring, orchestra officials said they’re considering scheduling extra concerts and events for the next two weeks in Boston, one of which may be a free community concert."

2. INSIDE TODAY'S OVER-THE-TOP CHILDREN'S PARTIES: The stakes of high-end children's birthday parties are rising again, with parents paying event planners for extravagant celebrations that can cost into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Business Insider: "Nowadays, kids’ birthday celebrations can put most weddings to shame, with Instagram and celebrities inspiring a seemingly endless game of one-upmanship. Instead of gift bags filled with bubbles, Nike high-tops are doled out. Ball pits are custom $5,000 creations, and sleeping bags have been replaced by bespoke slumber-party tents complete with breakfast trays, 'fairy lights,' and 'accent cushions.'”

3. OSCARS PLAN KOBE BRYANT TRIBUTE: In addition to winning five N.B.A. titles, Kobe Bryant also won an Academy Award in 2018 for an animated short called Dear Basketball. Producers of the show are planning a tribute to the basketball star, who died along with eight others in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Deadline: "The Oscar ceremony annually features an In Memoriam segment devoted to those in the industry who have died in the past year. It’s unclear whether the Bryant mention will be part of that block or something else. Bryant is not a member of the Academy despite his Oscar win. ... On Monday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon began with a moment of silence for the victims of the helicopter crash."

4. CORONAVIRUS FORCES CRUISE COMPANIES TO CANCEL UPCOMING TRIPS: The spread of the coronavirus has led many cruise companies to cancel upcoming voyages, while other players in the space work to justify continuing operations. Royal Caribbean has pulled two sailings to Shanghai, including one that was slated for Monday, while Costa Cruises has suspended plans for eight upcoming voyages. So far, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Viking Cruises are still operating, though they are monitoring developments. Travel + Leisure: “‘For travelers with upcoming cruises sailing to or from China, it’s best to contact your cruise line or travel advisor directly with any questions or concerns,’ Chris Gray Faust, the managing editor of Cruise Critic, told Travel + Leisure on Monday, adding that ‘All cruise lines that have canceled cruises are offering affected guests the option to receive a full refund.’"

5. BAFTA AWARDS SUGGEST SUSTAINABLE DRESS CODE: Stars headed to the Bafta awards in London next week are being asked to re-wear old gowns, rent a new one, or make another choice to "dress sustainably." To help them, organizers are providing a sustainable fashion guide created by the London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainability. Harper's Bazaar: "The goal is that the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020 will be carbon neutral, working towards having a net positive impact on the environment. From travel and food, to branding and materials, Bafta is ensuring the awards are as sustainable as possible."