Event today widget

<?php
    class EventToday extends WP_Widget {

        public function __construct() {
            // Instantiate the parent object
            parent::__construct(
                'event_now',                    // Base ID
                'IDF: Taking Place Today',      // Name
                array( 'description' => 'Events taking place today' ) // Args
            );
        }

        public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
            if ( class_exists( 'EM_Events' ) ) { // if events plugin is enabled

                extract( $args );
                $tpn_widgettitle    = "Taking place now";
                $event_now          = do_shortcode( '<ul>[events_list scope="today" limit="1"]{is_current}<li>#_EVENTEDIT <a href="#_EVENTURL">#_RACENAMENOYEAR</a> ({has_category_world-cup}<a href="' . home_url() . '/races/type/world-cup/">WC</a>{/has_category_world-cup}{has_category_world-qualifying-series}<a href="' . home_url() . '/races/type/world-qualifying-series/">WQS</a>{/has_category_world-qualifying-series}) on #_{F j} in #_LOCATIONCOUNTRY #_COUNTRYFLAG</li>{/is_current}[/events_list]</ul>' );

                $event_today_args         = array(
                    'scope'   => 'today',
                    'orderby' => 'event_start_date,event_name',
                );
                // $event_now = EM_Events::get( $event_today_args );

                // Widget output
                if ( strlen( $event_now ) > 25 ) {

                    echo $before_widget;
                    if ( $tpn_widgettitle ) echo $before_title . $tpn_widgettitle . $after_title;

                    // widget content
                    echo $event_now;

                    echo '<div><a href="' . home_url() . '/races/">All races &raquo;</a></div>';

                    echo $after_widget;

                }
            }
        }

    }