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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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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

In September, San Francisco boat tour operator Red & White Fleet added the Enhydra to its available vessels. This 128-foot, 600-passenger lithium-ion battery hybrid boat is the first of its kind in the United States. The near-silent vessel consumes less than eight gallons of gas per hour, making it a sustainable and unique option to tour the city from the San Francisco Bay. In addition to its green appeal, the vessel impresses guests with its two panoramic outdoor decks, elegant finishes, a state-of-the-art sound system, and audio tours available in 16 languages.

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In October, Parks Coffee Roastery opened a brick-and-mortar café in Carrollton. In addition to coffee, the menu includes light bites like granola parfaits, turkey sandwiches, and tarragon chicken salad from Bird Bakery. The outpost includes a 1,410-square-foot kitchenette and an adjoining 750-square-foot indoor/outdoor patio, which together offer table seating for about 85 guests, plus 10 more at the bar. Three 485-square-foot conference rooms each seat 12 and include projectors with whiteboard screens, speakers, podiums, and seminar tables and chairs. Since the venue is attached to the 50,000-square-foot Parks Coffee Roastery headquarters, planners can arrange group tours of the facility as well as coffee education classes during events.

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

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa unveiled an $8 million renovation in January, which included the addition of six new 500-square-foot pool suites, a V.I.P. poolside lounge area, and a dozen 120-square-foot private poolside cabana cottages, along with a 600-square-foot yoga lawn and 12 pickleball courts. In total, the 950-room property features 240,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, six restaurants, two championship golf courses, five pools, and a 28,000-square-foot spa.

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

Makhani Modern Indian, a B.Y.O.B. restaurant serving elevated, farm-to-table Indian cuisine, opened in Old City in January. The menu, half of which caters to vegans, includes specialties like mango chicken, Kasmiri lamb shank, and veggie samosas. Measuring 3,600 square feet, the bi-level venue features a ground-floor dining room that seats 34 or accommodates 50 for cocktail-style gatherings. A dedicated event space on the second floor will be added later this year.

10 New Philadelphia Venues for Spring 2019 Meetings and Events

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#1 Parade, Festival & Holiday Event More than 3.5 million in-person spectators and a TV audience of 50 million people across the country tune in each year to watch the massive floats, balloons, marching bands, and performances that comprise the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 2018 extravaganza featured 26 floats, more than 1,000 clowns, 1,200 cheerleaders and dancers, and appearances from headliners including John Legend, Bad Bunny, Sugarland, and Rita Ora. Next: November 28, 2019

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