Amy Gordon | BizBash

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Main Street Vancouver welcomed Old Bird in January. Serving modern Chinese cuisine, the hip restaurant boasts high ceilings that bring in an abundance of natural light during the day, while giant red lanterns create a moody atmosphere at night. Guests can enjoy a menu inspired by both Chinese street food and home cooking, with dishes like Taiwanese-style pork sausage, fried veggie spring rolls, steamed black cod, lamb skewers, and crispy tofu with sambal chili sauce and black vinegar. The 1,500-square-foot restaurant seats as many as 59 guests, including 14 seats at the bar.

5 New Venues in Vancouver for Spring 2020 Meetings and Events

The Farsides opened its doors in Old Montreal in December. The funky space feels like a tiki bar crossed with a 1990s Brooklyn hip-hop scene, with live greenery, graffitied brick walls, fire escapes, and even a basketball court. The “Thaiwaiian” menu blends Thai and Hawaiian cuisine, with options like black cod tempura tacos, poke bowls, drunken lobster pad thai, and shrimp fried rice served in a pineapple. Fun options to choose from on the cocktail menu include the LL Cool Juice (vodka with mangosteen galangal syrup and lime), the Funky Cold Mojito (rum with tamarind syrup, lime, chili, and mint), and the Thaiwaiian Gin Tonic (gin with tonic water, cucumber, papaya, passion fruit, lime, and Thai peppercorn). With an interior that spans 3,000 square feet, the restaurant can fit as many as 160 seated guests or 300 for cocktail receptions. Events that also utilize the 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio can accommodate as many as 240 and 400, respectively.

5 New Montreal Venues for Spring 2020 Meetings and Events

Hall Arts Hotel, an 11-story, 183-room property, debuted in the Arts District in December. The hotel features 6,000 square feet of space for events, including outdoor areas and indoor meeting rooms that incorporate advanced smart technology and are filled with engaging art. The hotel can accommodate as many as 250 guests for events in a variety of spaces: the 2,500-square-foot Grand Hall Ballroom, adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows and custom chandeliers; Flora Hall, an 1,800-square-foot room with views of the Winspear Opera House and Symphony Center; and the 1,250-square-foot outdoor Urban Garden. For larger events, planners can host groups in the 15,000-square-foot Texas Sculpture Walk sculpture garden adjacent to the hotel.

10 New Dallas/Fort Worth Venues for Spring 2020 Meetings and Events

Cambria Hotel Downtown Phoenix opened in the Roosevelt Row Arts District in November, adding 127 rooms to the city’s inventory. The hotel offers several spaces for events: the 1,600-square-foot Poppy restaurant, which serves locally inspired cuisine, seats 150; the 5,000-square-foot From the Rooftop bar, which offers sweeping views of downtown Phoenix, seats 375; and the 900-square-foot Masai Room seats 100. The hotel also features a state-of-the-art fitness center, a sun deck, and complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the property.

10 New Phoenix/Scottsdale Venues for 2020 Spring Meetings and Events

10 New Venues in Philadelphia for Spring 2020 Meetings and Events

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New York's Top 100 Events 2020

10 New Phoenix/Scottsdale Venues for 2019 Fall Meetings and Events

In August, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center debuted on the top 12 floors of the Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, the city’s tallest building. The high-end hotel brings a new level of luxury to Center City, with amenities like a full-service spa, a 24-hour fitness center with a floor-to-ceiling media wall, and an indoor infinity-edge pool with sweeping views of the city and beyond. Each of the 219 guest rooms, including 39 suites, features bespoke furniture and next-generation Comcast internet and entertainment technology. Two master chefs helm on-site dining outposts: Greg Vernick’s Vernick Fish occupies part of the building’s ground level, and the 40-seat Vernick Coffee Bar offers light bites and grab-and-go options; Jean-George Vongerichten’s stunning Jean Georges restaurant dazzles guests with five-star cuisine on the 59th floor, while the adjoining JG SkyHigh serves more casual dishes in a sleek, chic atmosphere. The hotel offers more than 15,602 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate as many as 1,000 total guests, including the 4,554-square-foot Grand Terrace Ballroom, the 2,364-square-foot Arch Ballroom, and the 600-square-foot Executive Boardroom. All event spaces feature natural light and can be adorned with florals and decor by celebrity florist and in-house artistic director Jeff Leatham.

10 New Philadelphia Venues for 2019 Fall Meetings and Events

Punch Bowl Social opened a 12,500-square-foot outpost in Fort Worth in July. With design details like neon signs, bright colors, and eye-catching light fixtures, the fun-focused space melds modern and western decor and features classic arcade games, foosball, darts, and board games. The menu includes creative dishes like cocoa-dusted carnitas tacos, cauliflower nachos, and falafel burgers, along with fruity cocktails, canned and bottled beer, wine, and house-made sodas. In total, the venue can host as many as 600 guests. Smaller groups can reserve private spaces such as the Punch Lounge, which accommodates 150 and includes access to the Bonzini karaoke lounge, eight mini bowling lanes, and the Holiday Lodge; the indoor-outdoor Social Lounge, which fits 100 guests and features shuffleboard, ping pong, and a photo booth; Bonzini, with room for 30; the 30-seat Social Mini Bowling Lounge; the 20-seat Holiday Lodge; and the V.I.P. Mini Bowling area with room for 15.

10 New Dallas/Fort Worth Venues for 2019 Fall Meetings and Events

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Top 100 Events in the United States 2019

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Agave del Scottsdale opened in June, offering a new option for upscale Mexican cuisine in the city. The menu includes authentic dishes like queso fundido, octopus ceviche, and chicken enchiladas with mole. From the bar, guests can enjoy an impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals, along with wine and fresh-fruit cocktails. In total, the elegant, 2,500-square-foot restaurant holds 260 guests for receptions. For smaller events, the back area of the dining room is ideal for parties of as many as 30 seated guests or 40 for cocktail-style receptions, while the 650-square-foot patio has space for many as 60 seated guests or 80 for receptions.

10 New Phoenix/Scottsdale Venues for 2019 Summer Entertaining and Events

Malibu Poke opened a second Dallas location in April. Set in Uptown in the mixed-use development McKinney & Olive, the elevated quick-serve restaurant specializes in traditional poke bowls made with freshly butchered sashimi-grade seafood and house-made sauces, as well as cooked dishes with chicken, fish, seafood, and vegetables. Measuring 2,100 square feet, the venue offers a modern and inviting atmosphere, with light wood tables, live plants, an exposed ceiling, and seating for 40. For larger groups, planners can reserve the shared McKinney & Olive courtyard, which can host as many as 1,000 people.

10 New Dallas/Fort Worth Venues for 2019 Summer Entertaining and Events

To find Blume, look for the giant butterfly mural that adorns the front facade of the restaurant, which opened in April in Rittenhouse Square. The interior design is energetic and colorful, with 2,300 roses on the back wall, more than 200 live plants lining the ceiling, 88 gem-colored mirrors, and colorful oversize banquettes. Measuring 2,400 square feet, the restaurant seats as many as 100 guests inside, with 12 additional sidewalk seats. The menu features elevated yet approachable versions of classic cuisine, including shareable dishes like kung pao calamari and deviled eggs, entrées like gnocchi and cauliflower steak, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads. At the bar, guests can order creative cocktails and a curated selection of natural wine, beer, and cider.

10 New Philadelphia Venues for 2019 Summer Entertaining and Events