Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/458344
Gardens, the birthplace of the nation's first Black four-star general. Go to the Pensacola Museum of Art, the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum, the historic Belmont Devilliers Neighborhood, The African American Heritage Trail (a walka- ble tour), National Flight Academy, the Blues Angels 4D Theatre, the Pensacola Museum of Art and several other art gal- leries. Palafox Street, which runs through the heart of downtown Pensacola, is lined with boutiques, restaurants and chic and trendy bars and was named one of the "10 Great Streets" in America for 2013 by the American Planning Association. Visit the historic Saenger Theatre on Palafox. The Saenger Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Pensacola and- called the "Great Dame of Palafox," hosts symphony, opera, ballet, choral and even touring Broadway productions. Enjoy live music at one of the many bars and restaurants and at Vinyl Music Hall. Or, discover the fun of canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and camping with Adventures Unlimited. Explore the Pensacola GeoTour. The Pensacola Bay Center, the city's convention center, doubles as a hockey arena and is home to the Pensacola Ice Flyers, who recently won their second consecutive Southern Professional Hockey League Championship. Pensacola Bay Center is a 10,000-seat arena with over 20,000 sq. ft. of exhibi- tion space and 12 versatile meeting rooms with 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Another option is the Saenger Theatre, which has a 3,000 sq. ft. meeting room that can seat up to 250 for sit down dinners. The room can be subdi- vided into 1,000 sq. ft. or 2,000 sq. ft. rooms to accommodate sales demon- strations, receptions, reunions, trade shows, and weekly luncheons. The city has 95 properties/9,901 available units in Escambia County. All area hotels and resorts are within a 20-30-minute drive of the airport, which is less than 20 minutes away from the heart of downtown Pensacola. For some good eatin' check out: the Five Sisters Blues Café and Blue Dot Barbecue. http://www.historicpensacola- .org/ BAKERSFIELD Why should you hold your next meeting in Bakersfield? Well, there are a couple of reasons according to Misty Glasco of Visit Bakersfield. If you believe the Bakersfield Convention and Visitors Bureau's motto, 'More to Explore,' you'll take a look at what the city has to offer. Bakersfield (Calif.), with a population of 367,315 (30,210 or 8.3 percent) are African-American), is centrally located and within four hours driving distance of 90 percent of the state's population. It's also located near Interstate 5 and on State Highway 99. Hotel room rates are regularly 40 percent below the state average. There is also complimentary event planning assistance and low venue rental fees. Glasco also points out that there are award-winning restaurants, attractions and outdoor adventure. When it's time to get down to business, there are some interest- ing meeting places, including: Buck Owens Crystal Palace, an all-in- one restaurant, museum and music & event venue focuses on the rich history and sounds of country music and the legacy of Buck Owens. www.buck- owens.com The Stars Dinner Theater is consid- ered the perfect group experience. There is gourmet dining and live theatre in one cozy venue. Converted from a historic bank building in 1999, Stars Theatre Restaurant has become a favorite stop on the itineraries of groups throughout southern California. Award- winning dining combined with outstand- ing Broadway musicals and comedies make Stars an unforgettable group expe- rience. www.bmtstars.com At the Bakersfield Museum of Art there is something called The Canvas For Your Event. That's where you get to cre- ate your own affair to remember. The Bakersfield Museum of Art provides a unique setting for any occasion.Your spe- cial event can be surrounded by local, national, and world-renowned art. It can be inside the Banquet Room or outside in the Museum's lush gardens. Tejon Ranch Sculpture Garden is a featured attraction.The garden is presently home to hundreds of plant species that serve as a wonderful example of plants that can be grown in the valley's climate. www.bmoa.org Pioneer Village (Kern County 17 B M & T ••• November/December 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Chappie James Memorial Gardens, the birthplace of the nation's first Black four-star general. Welcome to Bakerfield Photo Credit: Jonesey, Wikipedia