May 2009 ACCESS Advantage
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
- Picture Perfect Orange County!
- New Coastal Venue with to-die-for Views!
Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack! With summer approaching and perception a critical factor in selecting activities and events for inclusion in your conference agendas, consider a "back to basics" approach by incorporating an exciting Southern California summertime baseball game or year-round spectator sport.
Not only are spectator sports often cost-effective from a ticket standpoint, many sports venues boast unique private spaces and suites for viewing or for pre- and post-game festivities, eliminating the need to transfer to an additional venue for casual dining and, in many cases, eliminating the need for decor.
Some of the most popular events in Los Angeles have to do with the various professional sports teams in the area; more than 10 teams call L.A. home. Baseball has always been a great tradition in the Los Angeles area. From April to October, take in Dodger baseball at the world famous Dodger Stadium. Downtown's Staples Center hosts several professional teams including the Lakers, Clippers, WNBA Sparks, NHL Kings and an array of special sports presentations. The Home Depot Center nearby hosts Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, one of the hottest teams in the MLS thanks to the celebrity status of David Beckham. Of course, there's also beach volleyball and even horse racing at Santa Anita Park in Pasadena and Hollywood Park in Inglewood.
Close by, Orange County's Anaheim is where the 2002 World Series champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play ball at Angel Stadium. The 2007 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks play at Anaheim's state-of-the-art Honda Center, one of the premier entertainment and sports venues in the country. Each of these venues is centrally located with easy access from both coastal resorts and Anaheim convention hotels. A visit by a team player prior to the game to hear about their personal experiences or charity work is a fun way to personalize a group visit and add meaning to the experience.
Home plate for the San Diego Padres is PETCO Park located near the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. This state-of-the-art ballpark combines the best sight lines in baseball with breathtaking views of San Diego. In addition to some of the best view seats in the sport, PETCO Park offers a variety of bonus options for group events including tours, scoreboard messaging and several unique special event venues. Additional spectator sports in San Diego include football with the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium and horseracing with the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club from mid-July to early September where the turf meets the surf at the Del Mar Racetrack.
The Palm Springs area may not have a baseball team, but who needs baseball when there are more golf and tennis opportunities than anywhere else in Southern California with the area's 132 golf courses and 600 tennis courts. Come out and cheer for a local team at Big League Dreams ballpark - or enjoy a teambuilding event of your own at this unique facility with replicas of Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and more. Or...enjoy a picnic while viewing a professional polo match at the Polo Club with perhaps a special golf cart polo round designed specially for your guests.
These are just a few of the many spectator options available for you and your guests in Southern California. The destination management team at ACCESS Destination Services will help you design the perfect activity or event to meet your goals and budgetary requirements while mindful of perception issues and concerns facing planners in today's economic climate.
Orange County
Picture Perfect Orange County! The old adage, "a picture is worth a thousand words," couldn't be more true than in picturesque coastal Orange County where photogenic subject matter is so plentiful that your memory card will be chock full of dazzling and memorable images in no time at all!
The team at ACCESS Orange County will provide your shutterbugs with "access" to The OC on a personalized photo expedition accompanied by a skilled and genial professional photographer familiar with the ins and outs of capturing postcard quality shots of Orange County landmarks. Following discussion of camera basics and photography skills, it's off to view the sights from perspectives not normally observed during routine visits. Learn some of the tricks that allow professional photographers to identify photo-worthy subjects and how to best portray them in a photograph.
Capture the true essence of early California with photographs of Mission San Juan Capistrano including the Serra Chapel and other key architectural features of this historic structure. For an eco-based photo shoot, the "focus" might include coastal preservation through an up-close pictorial of Laguna's tide pools at low tide. Or - hop aboard an electric boat and explore the sparkling side of Newport Harbor including magnificent waterfront homes, private yachts and sleek harbor seals snoozing in the sun.
All in all, the subject matter is limitless - from precious marine life to surfer dudes to architecturally significant structures, coastal habitats and much, much more! The best part, from a photographer's perspective, is that our enviable SoCal weather almost always cooperates to provide "picture perfect" exposure for a truly enlightening experience. What a great way to ensure that your guests will remember their Orange County program adventures for years to come.
Contact the team at ACCESS Orange County and we will create the ideal pictorial experience for your guests complete with optional themed amenities such as photo frames or bound journals to reflect your guests' excursion experiences and tour facts. Call us today!
San Diego
New Coastal Venue with to-die-for Views! There's a new place in town with spectacular ocean views, centrally located and poised to become a popular off-site venue for groups in San Diego's North County and in San Diego proper.
Located in the heart of a world-renowned scientific research and educational institution, this state-of-the-art ocean retreat is more than merely a perfect location for an upscale gala or a casual "California Coastal" themed event; it is a cutting-edge conference center with hi tech audio-visual equipment including 3D projection systems, multiple computer connections, Surround Sound and full teleconferencing capabilities. With its full auditorium, conference rooms and break-outs and a gorgeous garden plaza this multi-purpose venue will fill a variety of needs whether you desire a site for an awards banquet, reception or symposium.
The entire facility is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Supporting your green goals, landscaping consists of drought-tolerant vegetation, the carpet is made from recycled material, and all of the teak used on the interior and exterior is plantation-grown.
With more than 9,000 square feet of event space, a 275 person auditorium, beautiful balconies and more, this new ocean-view venue is sure to become one of the most popular and exciting venues in San Diego. Contact the ACCESS San Diego team to find out more about this unique location and to schedule a site inspection. Let us know your specifications and we will showcase how this venue can work for you for your next meeting, conference or incentive travel program in our area.
Spice it up with ACCESS
Stuffed Aubergines!
This recipe, featured in The Hollywood Cookbook - Cooking for Causes, is a favorite of actress Anne Hathaway.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
3 large eggplants with stems (4 to 5 pounds), halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 red onions, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups chopped fresh plum tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup fresh basil leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces (2 balls) fresh mozzarella, sliced thin
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Score eggplant flesh in a criss-cross pattern; avoid piercing the skin. In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Place eggplant halves in the pan, flesh down, and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
In a separate saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook onions over low heat until soft, around 4 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, and tomato paste and cook for 3 minutes.
Carefully scoop flesh from eggplants and reserve skins. Chop eggplant flesh and add to the tomato mixture. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper. Stuff reserved skins with mixture. Top with mozzarella slices and bake for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Enjoy!
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Event PlannerHess Corporation
