Los Angeles

Old Town Pasadena: A Blend of Old and New! While most people think "Rose Bowl" when Pasadena is mentioned, the city's "Old Pasadena Historic District," also known as "Old Town Pasadena," is a gem worth mentioning as a dynamic destination for excursions and dining during conferences planned for the Los Angeles area.

Old Pasadena is a bustling urban center where old historic buildings have been preserved and merged with new buildings to create a unique marketplace environment. On the National Register of Historic Places, this 20-block historic area of 19th century structures, cobblestone streets, colorful alleyways, and hidden courtyards reflects the traditions of early California, blending more than 200 retail stores, art galleries, trendy boutiques, vintage clothing stores, theaters and restaurants while maintaining the heritage of Pasadena's early downtown charm.

More than 200 buildings that date back to the 1880s and 1890s are evidence that Old Town Pasadena is one of L.A.'s greatest urban renewal stories. Once considered low-rent retail space, these architectural gems now house popular stores such as Banana Republic and Crate & Barrel alongside trendy boutiques, specialty shops, and cafes - all centered around the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue. Plan an excursion with ACCESS and our local Los Angeles team will share some insider's knowledge about treasures to be found along the little side streets off Colorado which feature some unique dining spots and whimsical little specialty shops including one of the best chocolatiers in Southern California.

In addition to some outstanding shopping opportunities for your guests, Old Town Pasadena is home to several art galleries, museums, and cultural institutions in the area including the Norton Simon Museum, one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled, featuring European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century including famous works by Raphael, Botticelli, Rubens, Rembrandt and Goya; Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings; and 20th century works by Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky and Moore.

Dining is also a special treat in Old Town Pasadena. In addition to traditional fare, guests will find foods from around the world in this melting pot of ethnic dining opportunity. Talk to the ACCESS Los Angeles team about designing a food-tasting tour during your next L.A. area program. New on the dining scene in Old Town Pasadena is Dish Bistro and Bar featuring "Mediterranean market-driven cuisine" with a fine selection of California boutique wines and hand-crafted cocktails. With its loft-style space, exposed brick walls, dark wood accents, and deep red tones, the restaurant's owner created an atmosphere that is cool and comfortable and, he says, "the kind of place Frank Sinatra could stroll into and feel right at home."

With all this variety, Old Town Pasadena is a great option for your guests. The ACCESS Los Angeles team looks forward to presenting you with the best of Old Town Pasadena as part of your destination management itinerary during your next meeting, conference, or incentive travel program targeted for the Los Angeles area. Contact us today!

Photos represent Old Town Pasadana including the new Dish Bistro and Bar

Palm Springs

Inspiring Mid-Century Design for your Next Program! Architecturally appealing mid-century desert modern designs, including projects for celebrities such as Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, distinguish the Palm Springs area and are highly visible to your guests throughout your conferences, meetings, and incentive programs held in the desert resort communities. Whether noted on an ACCESS-planned tour excursion, enjoyed at a spouse luncheon, or appreciated at a period-themed event at a distinctive venue, butterfly roofs, clean lines, glass walls and open spaces punctuate the mid-century modern architecture that permeates Palm Springs.

The Coachella Valley's abundant sunlight, views of mountains and desert, and outstanding weather led to structures, especially homes, with deep overhangs, sunscreens, and generous use of glass - but not all of the desert modernism incorporates right angles, flat roofs, and glass walls. There are also nods to International Style, Moderne, Tiki and Polynesia, opulent Brazilian formalism, Spanish and Indian architecture, and many experiments with organic architecture that hugs hillsides and incorporates boulders and desert terrain into the buildings themselves. States one architecture historian, Palm Springs is "a neat microcosm of mid-century architecture from across the nation" and he further states that it was a "fluke to have such a concentration of good architects" in the 1940's, '50s, and '60s concentrated in such a small place.

Fortunately for lovers of the mid-century aesthetic that distinguishes commercial and residential properties in the Coachella Valley, local and Los Angeles-based architects continue interpreting modernism in the desert, some fiercely innovative and some with literal homage to the 1950s and 1960s and the ACCESS Palm Springs team would love to showcase for you and your guests this important aspect of Palm Springs - home to the greatest concentration of mid-century architecture anywhere. Allow the team at ACCESS Palm Springs to creatively design one or more architecturally-inspired events or excursions during your next program targeted for Palm Springs. Call us today!

Spice it up with ACCESS

Sbicca Seafood Paella
Try this delicious seafood specialty from Sbicca restaurant in Del Mar, as published in The San Diego Restaurant Cookbook. Sbicca has been voted "Best American Cuisine" year after year in San Diego Magazine.

Serves 10-12

Ingredients:

- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
- olive oil for sauteing
- 1-2 tablespoons garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red chili peppers
- 2 teaspoons thyme
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 1/4 cups Arborio rice
- 1 tablespoon Pernod
- 10-15 threads saffron
- 1 cup white wine
- 8-10 cups chicken stock
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and de-veined
- 1 pound scallops
- 1 pound mussels
- 1/2 pound fish
- 1 1/2 cups diced tomato

Directions:

Saute onion and bell peppers in olive oil for 3 minutes. Add garlic, chilies, thyme, and oregano. Stir well for 2-3 minutes. Add rice and mix well. Add Pernod, saffron, and wine. Stir for 1 minute. Add 8 cups of chicken stock. Cook until rice is tender. Add more chicken stock if necessary.

To Serve: Saute shrimp, scallops, mussels, and fish in a hot pan until half-cooked. Add rice, diced tomato, and chicken stock as necessary. Cover and steam until everything is hot and the seafood is fully cooked. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!