Banquet Room

Sheraton has been in the midst of a multibillion dollar global revitalization effort, renovating almost half of its North American profile. One of the newest on the scene is the Sheraton Dallas.

Following a $90 million transformation, the downtown Dallas hotel boasts 1,840 redesigned guest rooms and over 230,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms and banquet spaces—some of the largest in the state of Texas. Whether in the 40,800-square-foot Lone Star Ballroom or 750-square-foot Executive Boardroom, Dallas events at the hotel enjoy expert in-house catering, audio-visual, floral and convention service departments.

Outside the boardroom, the Sheraton Dallas' new dining options, The Kitchen Table restaurant and Draft Media Sports Lounge, provide a place to kick back with a drink or dinner. The new lobby, complete with complimentary work stations and flat-screen televisions, is also a chic spot to rest after a day of work.

Located in the Arts and Financial District, the Sheraton Dallas hotel is extremely convenient for out-of-town meeting guests. The hotel itself is a stop on Dallas' light rail system and connected to the shopping complex Plaza of the Americas. Booking these Dallas accommodations also places attendees just minutes from the Dallas Convention Center, American Airlines Center and historic 6th Floor Museum.

View more information about Sheraton Dallas on the Cvent Supplier Network

Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants combine authentic Italian food, fine steak and seafood dining, casual beer gardens, lak shore cafes and great service to create a true Chicago dining experience. Located in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, Phil Stefani's ventures include 10 restaurant facilities, numerous Chicago banquet rooms, five seasonal venues, a complete catering department, food and beverage services at a premier golf facility, and lastly, a pasta shop.

Phil Stefani Restaurant Group has been in the hospitality and restaurant business since 1980. The atmosphere of its venues mimic a comfortable, traditional place for their guests to feel at home while being treated by impeccable customer service.

The famous Riva Restaurant in Chicago's Navy Pier is part of the Phil Stefani family. Specializing in steak and seafood and offering an extensive wine collection, its private dining rooms overlook the luminous Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. The 40-foot exhibition kitchen allows guests to watch the preparation of their meals while sampling some unusual treats from their in-house raw bar. Private dining space is available for groups of 40 to 100 guests, all of whom are guaranteed a fabulous experience with stunning views of the city.

For both private dining and catering requests, Phil Stefani's experienced staff goes a little bit further to make your experience one to remember. After customizing menu selections and printing personalized menus for your group with the culinary team, your assigned catering director will handle all rentals, linens, staffing, music, floral arrangements and room arrangements. This full-service company is sure to bring a little style and flair to your Chicago events.

For more information on more Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Last week in the nation's capital, non-profit group Fresh Farm Markets received approval to open a farmers' market in downtown DC. On Thursdays from September 17 through October 29, Vermont Avenue Northwest between H and I Streets will close to traffic to make room for vendors to sell fresh food from area farmers, an idea that's been backed by President Obama and the First Lady themselves.

Farmers' markets like the new one in DC are making it easier for people to eat close to home. This so-called "locavore" dining is growing in popularity. After all, it means that the food is fresher, having basically been purchased right after picking, and it's more eco-friendly—food doesn't need to be transported long distances nor heavily packaged.

Not only home cooks can take advantage of the locavore dining movement. Restaurants are getting on the bandwagon as well, which means that even when your business guests are on the road, you can treat them to fresh, healthy fare at your events.

Restaurant Nora
 
Committed to sustainable agriculture, Washington, DC restaurant Nora became America's first certified organic restaurant in 1999. From grass-fed beef to handmade goat cheeses to freshly-picked wild mushrooms, Nora uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to craft cuisine that is anything but bland. Menu options have included crispy Amish duck breast with maple sherry vinegar jus and grass-fed grilled rib eye steak with macaroni and cheese gratin.

Restaurant Nora offers four DC private event facilities. From dinner for 10 people in its cozy Parlor Room to receptions of up to 50 people in its Gallery Room, Nora's versatile spaces welcome events of all sizes. The restaurant is also a great DC banquet room for lunch events, for which the entire venue can be rented exclusively.

North Pond

Located in Lincoln Park, this Arts and Crafts-style Chicago restaurant features great views of the Chicago skyline and expertly-crafted cuisine. Chef Sherman supports local farmers with his purchases, selecting ingredients at the height of their seasons. Menu examples include smoked pork tenderloin with roasted black figs and charred pimentos and grass-fed grilled New York strip steak with warm purple and gold cauliflower.

With its floor-to-ceiling glass doors and attentive staff, North Pond is a great spot for Chicago wedding receptions, corporate dinners, association luncheons and more. This spacious Chicago event banquet facility can accommodate up to 110 guests.

Greens

This San Francisco restaurant has proved that vegetarian cuisine is more than deserving of a place among fine dining establishments. The restaurant sources much of its organic produce from the Green Gulch Farm, located 14 miles away, in order to craft menu selections such as wild mushroom ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms, roasted potato pesto pizza with smoked mozzarella and fontina cheeses, and ricotta corn cakes served with fresh salsa and pumpkin seed cilantro pesto.

An elegant San Francisco banquet facility, Greens has 20 years of experience hosting weddings, ceremonies, non-profit events, business gatherings, etc. The main dining room, whose windows face the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marina, can seat up to 135 guests and accommodate up to 200 guests for standing receptions. The private dining room is a more intimate San Francisco special event facility, offering seating for up to 50 guests.

Looking for San Antonio event space and accommodations? The Westin La Cantera Resort may be just the venue, with 39,000 square feet of meeting space and over 500 overnight rooms. Located in northwest San Antonio, the hotel is about 15 miles from the downtown business district.

Thanks to a recent $12 million renovation, the hotel's 508 guest rooms are up-to-date with new carpet, chairs and 42-inch flat-screen high-def televisions. Business travelers will find the high-speed Internet access, two direct dial telephones, complimentary Starbucks coffee, and oversized desks in each room especially beneficial.

For San Antonio banquet room, the hotel's ballroom boasts 17,000 square feet of space, divisible into two smaller ballrooms at 10,752 square feet and 5,088 square feet. The hotel also has eight separate meeting rooms and two boardrooms. Its 3,200-square-foot terraced event pavilion, which offers panoramic views of the city, is a great place to host a reception or wedding in San Antonio.

Beyond the boardroom, The Westin La Cantera Resort offers guests plenty of things to do in San Antonio. Its Arnold Palmer-designed golf course is a 6,926-yard, part 71 masterpiece. Golfers can also hit the links at the adjacent Resort Course at La Cantera, home of the PGA Tour's Valera Texas Open. Additionally, the resort is home to a world-class spa, several on-site restaurants, and six elaborately-designed pools.

View more information about The Westin La Cantera Resort on the Cvent Supplier Network

Summer is in full swing, and that means so are many baseball bats across the country. To me, nothing says summer like a day the stands, watching your favorite team and listening to one more round of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

You can bring the excitement of this great American pastime to your event attendees by hosting a party or reception at one of the many baseball parks across the country. Here are a few popular parks that will certainly make for a home run event:

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

This beautiful Baltimore baseball facility opened in 1992. Within walking distance of the city's Inner Harbor and just two blocks from the birthplace of Babe Ruth, the 48,876-seat stadium  uses steel, an arched brick facade, asymmetrical playing field, and natural grass turf to channel the great ballparks built in the early 1900s.

Several suites are available for game day events. Planners can also host events on non-game days, taking advantage of venues such as the Camden Club, Pastimes Cafe, and Camden Yards Banquet Room for receptions as large as 2,500 people or outdoor parties of up to 5,000 people.

Busch Stadium

The new retro-style Busch Stadium opened with a bang in 1992 when the St. Louis Cardinals home team beat the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. In addition to Cardinals games, the stadium is also serving as host to the 80th MLB All-Star Game.

Busch Stadium's versatile venues can accommodate events as small as 10 people or as large as 45,000 guests. Unique settings include the Casino Queen Party Porch for up to 400 people; the Busch Stadium Conference Center for up to 100 guests; and Ford Plaza for up to 2,500 guests. The ballpark also offers unique packages to make events even more memorable, including a Fantasy Batting Practice and Dinner at Home Plate.

Nationals Stadium

The Nationals might not have as stellar of a track record as other teams in the MLB, but what they lack in wins they certainly make up for in the stadium they call home. The magnificent Nationals Stadium, located at the Capitol Riverfront in Washington, DC, features a stunning steel, glass, and concrete design intended to reflect the architecture of DC. A cutting edge experience, the ballpark's technological features include a 4,500-square-foot high-def scoreboard and over 600 linear feet of LED ribbon board along the inner bowl.

The Nationals' Conference Center, located on the South Capitol Street side of the park, features one large room and four breakout rooms. The main room of this Washington, DC venue holds 300 people, while each of the side rooms can accommodate 50 people.

The historic Delta Queen used to ply the waters of the Mississippi, but in April it will open as Chattanooga's newest hotel. Guests will enjoy themed tours, jazz brunches and entertainment during the opening celebrations of the floating hotel, which will be managed by Sydney Slome, owner of the city's StoneFort Inn.

Built in 1927, the 285-foot-long Delta Queen lost its fight for exemption from the law that prevents any vessel from operating from a U.S. port carrying over 50 overnight passengers if it constructed primarily of wood. For over 30 years, campaigns to save the Queen saved it from losing exemption.

Moored in Chattanooga's North Shore, the hotel will have 88 rooms to cater to 174 guests. The hotel will also feature a banquet room for meetings of up to 250 attendees.

The Delta Queen joins its twin vessel Delta King's hotel status. The Delta King is a waterfront hotel and restaurant in Sacramento.

In a city that dyes its river emerald green in celebration, you can be sure that St. Patrick's Day is serious business. What better way to celebrate in the festive city of Chicago than by visiting one of its many Irish restaurant and pubs, which are great Chicago special event venues for March 17 parties and all year. Check out a few of the many options:

The Fifth Province

Located on the first floor of the Irish American Heritage Center, this authentic Irish pub welcomes guests Friday and Saturday night with fish and chips, corned beef sandwiches, Irish sausage and more. Wash it all down with Irish Stout, Irish Whiskey or another drink being served from the full bar while you enjoy live music nightly.

The Fifth Province is available for events in Chicago of up to 175 people, while the entire Irish American Center is also one of the best meeting venues in Chicago. From the 658-seat auditorium to the Shanachie Room, complete with portable bar, the center is prime spot for seminars, lectures, receptions and more.

The Celtic Knot Pub House

Just outside of Chicago in Evanston, the Celtic Knot is a unique blend of traditional and modern that appeals to both fans of Irish brews like Guinness and Smithwick's as well as those who'd rather stick to American favorites such as Miller Lite and Budweiser. All patrons enjoy the delicious dinner and pub menus and weekly music.

This Chicago restaurant's stone-walled "Snug" room is a cozy banquet room for up to 50 seated guests.

Graely's Pub & Grill

Boasting "modern favorites with Irish flair," D4 Irish Pub & Cafe is a great downtown spot to enjoy traditional entrees such as Shepard's Pie and contemporary favorites such as the 16-ounce ribeye with whiskey veal reduction. Also popular is the weekend brunch, where Irish specialties such as breakfast potatoes, Irish sausage and corned beef hash are served by the plenty.

With space for up to 250 guests, D4 is a popular Chicago party venue year-round.