Tasty New Event Venues
BICE, a new Italian restaurant located in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, offers delicious food and a unique venue for meetings and small events. The restaurant’s private dining room, The Milano Room, accommodates up to 40 guests for private parties and comes equipped with audio and video equipment for professional presentations. BICE serves a skillful mix of traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine and is known for its homemade pastas and famous Pappardelle Al Telefono. Special party menus are available, and menus can be specifically tailored for any event. For more information, visit www.bicesandiego.com.
In June 2010, Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort in San Diego’s Inland North County reopened its expansive buffet venue after a $6.2 million renovation. The new Modern Food Theater offers 9,000 sq. ft. of space and more than 200 menu items and can accommodate up to 426 guests. Special features of the buffet include a Tandoor Oven for Indian cuisine, a Brazilian Churrascaria Grill, freshly made tortillas and pasta, a salad bar, sushi station and desert bar with cotton candy machine, ice cream and gelato. For more information, visit www.harrahsrincon.com.
A longtime San Diego favorite for locals, Phil’s BBQ in Point Loma is now offering meeting space and catering packages for meetings and special events. Phil’s Event Center features two meeting rooms; state of the art audio visual equipment including wireless internet connections; a ceiling mounted LCD projector with drop-down screen; flat screen LCD TVs; CD players; Satellite Radio; videoconferencing capabilities, and microphones. Two options for event service are available. The Standard service includes a buffet of Phil’s mouthwatering barbeque, bussing and self-service beverages; the Enhanced service includes plated entrees, soft drinks and desserts served tableside with a full-service bar. For more information, visit www.philsbbq.net/event-center.html.
In April 2010, the 55-year-old landmark Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island unveiled a new look and feel after months of renovation. While the original building structure made from rare types of woods was preserved, the restaurant’s interior now features classic-style Hawaiian décor, a new Bamboo Lounge with a honey onyx bar and new areas for special events, including an outdoor dining deck, bayside patio and two refurbished dining areas for meeting and events. The 3,500-sq. ft. South Pacific Room on the first floor accommodates up to 400 guests reception style or 200 guests banquet style; the 425-sq. ft. Tiki Room, a private dining room on the second floor, accommodates up to 50 guests reception style or 35 guests dining style, and the 3,000-sq. ft. outdoor Hawaiian Village accommodations up to 400 guests reception style or 200 guests banquet style. Bali Hai also features a new menu featuring sophisticated Asian and Hawaiian cuisine, and special menus are available for small and large group events. For more information, visit www.balihairestaurant.com.
Exciting New Meeting Spaces
Voyeur, in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, offers a seductive new venue for meetings and events. With unique gothic-inspired design and convenient location to neighboring hotels, restaurants and attractions, the versatile restaurant and nightclub offers a unique alternative for break-out sessions and intimate meetings. Voyeur features five rooms with independent sound systems, stages, various degrees of privacy and modern technologies and equipment for any event. Housed in an historic, two-story building, the 6,500 sq. ft. of space can accommodate up to 500 guests. For more information, visit www.voyeursd.com.
As part of a $20 million resort renovation, Paradise Point Resort & Spa along Mission Bay unveiled extensive upgrades to its meeting and event space in February 2010. More than 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space was refurbished to accent the property’s waterfront location and scenic views. The resort’s 29 meeting and banquet rooms and three ballrooms were restyled with Asian design elements to evoke a comforting residential feel. Meeting rooms now feature wood ceilings, slate and river stone flooring, mother of pearl and rich walnut wall paneling, abstract custom light fixtures, rattan and bamboo accents and striking modern art, sculptures and furnishings. For more information, visit www.paradisepoint.com.
Unique Meeting Activites
A unique service to conventions, conferences and meetings held in San Diego, Off ‘N Running Tours provides race direction and race management for every aspect of a running or walking event, including event management, permitting, finish line services, course services, vendor selection, graphic assistance and more. Off ‘N Running Tours also provides meeting planners and DMCs with specially designed courses that include hotel pickup and drop-off, socially-responsible courses and activities for green meetings and fundraising opportunities. For more information, visit www.offnrunningtours.com.
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Joe Timko (619) 557-2812
Kate Buska (619) 557-2889
Stephenie Medina (619) 557-2838
