Palm Springs

Livin' It Up with the Locals! When you need to do more with less or when budget dictates more "open" evenings or afternoons in your program, talk to the team at ACCESS for some creative suggestions on how to maximize your guests' enjoyment of the destination by dove-tailing into existing community events. Many destinations offer local street fairs or farmers' markets, complete with local artisan demonstrations and musical entertainment, and Palm Springs is no exception! The ACCESS Palm Springs team reminds us that the Palm Springs Desert Resorts features a weekly VillageFest in downtown Palm Springs and a weekend Street Fair at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert - both year-round offerings.

The brainchild of the late Sonny Bono, ex-mayor of Palm Springs, the Palm Springs VillageFest is held year-round on Thursday evenings. A section of downtown is sealed off to traffic and transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian street fair - Southern California's most popular and longest-running weekly festival. Palm Canyon Drive becomes a browser's paradise of fresh fruit stands, local restaurant samplings, live music and the best of Palm Springs artists and craftspeople. More than 200 booths offer a unique shopping experience as artists create paintings before your eyes, massage tables invite the weary, and henna tattoos are artistically applied.

Visitors love the fantastic deals in an atmosphere reminiscent of a 1950's flea market and locals stop by to catch up with one another on what's new! Upon entering VillageFest, first noticed are the aromas of the many different food vendors featuring items such as roasted corn, Indian cuisine, kettle corn, dried fruits, gyros, homemade fudge and more. Check out the vendor booths with their great hand-crafted gift items such as candles, incense, natural stones and gems, jewelry and various forms of arts as well as many specialty items perfect for holiday gift-giving. All the while, there is something for everyone with the variety of entertainment including nature sounds, tribal drums, live comedians and musicians. But that's not all - look for the BOLT sign on many of the shops, restaurants and clubs located along "the strip" and you will find "Businesses Open Late Thursday."

On weekends throughout the year, the College of the Desert Street Fair, located on the beautiful college campus surrounded by date palms and mountain vistas, is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts and specialty remembrances. This outdoor experience features well over 300 vendors in high season, offering arts and crafts, entertainment, unique gifts, a farmers' market and enticing refreshments. Here, one can find just about anything: sun solar chimes, stone-inlaid jewelry, pillow pets, crystal laser art, hand-carved wooden pens and the world's thinnest wallets!

So...come on out to the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities and talk to the ACCESS Palm Springs team about the many ways your guests can enjoy what the area offers to locals and visitors alike on a regular basis. Perhaps a group dinner followed by free time at VillageFest or a visit to Street Fair combined with a group lunch might be the perfect way to keep tight budgets in line and guests entertained. Contact us today!

Los Angeles

A Taste of the Good Life at Terranea Resort! Whatever your dining preference might be, Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula offers eight unique dining destinations sure to please any palate! With locations ranging from a luxurious hilltop cottage to a trailside noshing spot for hikers, Terranea has become the destination of choice for culinary adventurists.

In a previous issue of The ACCESS Advantage, we featured the grand opening of this premier oceanfront Mediterranean-style resort and highlighted the property's 582 guest rooms and suites; 18,000 square foot main ballroom; 6,500 square foot junior ballroom and 15 breakout rooms; 75,000 square feet of oceanfront outdoor function space, 25,000 square foot state-of-the-art Spa at Terranea; The Links at Terranea (a nine-hole executive course) and over 2 miles of scenic walking trails.

Centrally located, just 20 miles from both the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Long Beach (LGB) airports, Terranea serves up spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean as well as some of the best dining destinations in Southern California. With an attentive eye towards locally sourced ingredients, sustainable practices and renewable and recyclable materials, Terranea is taking big steps to maintain a small ecological footprint.

The signature restaurant at Terranea is mar'sel, an elegant yet inviting abode with stunning panoramic ocean views and a classic Southern California residential feel. Warm chocolate browns and natural woods play off the vivid coral accents to create a luxurious aesthetic that complements the Chef's modern interpretations of a classic California-inspired menu. In addition to the intimate dining room, mar'sel offers outdoor seating, a stone fire pit overlooking the Pacific, and an intimate private dining room.

With equally stunning views, Nelson's is a bit more casual and capitalizes on the cove views made famous almost 50 years ago by the hit TV series, Sea Hunt. From the furnishings all made of recycled materials to the centerpiece bar countertop made from recycled wine bottles, Nelson's allows diners to enjoy the ocean while preserving it. Delightful pub fare in a laid-back atmosphere is all the more special with the outdoor fireplace and incredible natural beauty of the coastline.

At the Catalina Kitchen, with its Mediterranean-meets-So Cal inspired fare, guests may choose between the comfortably chic dining room or the expansive patio beside the main resort pool with ocean views.

The Terranea Grill offers poolside service and serves as the lively pool bar. For something a bit more sophisticated, the Lobby Bar, Living Room & Terrace offer some of the most breathtaking views of the coast. And...that's not all! For additional resort dining highlights check in with the team at ACCESS Los Angeles.

Complementing the resort's expansive culinary expertise and unparalleled oceanfront outdoor event space, the ACCESS team continues to design theme events to enhance your receptions and galas. "California Coastal" mixes decor components in shades of azure and aqua with natural fibers, seagrass, comfortable cushioned mahogany lounge-style furnishings and smooth jazz - L.A. style! A vintage beach theme also lends itself well to the outdoor setting with thatched bars and Tommy-Bahama inspired longboard patterned linens in combination with classic Beach Boys background tunes.

The ACCESS Los Angeles team looks forward to showcasing all of the many program options available for you to include during your next conference, meeting or incentive travel program targeted for Terranea Resort or any of the outstanding properties in the Los Angeles area. Call us today!

Photos represent: Aerial shot of Terranea Resort on Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula; Terranea's signature restaurant, mar'sel; Catalina Kitchen; expansive outdoor function space.

Spice it up with ACCESS

Eggplant Parmigiana
This recipe is credited to Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, as published in "The Sinatra Celebrity Cookbook."

Serves 6

Ingredients/Eggplant:

- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 medium eggplant, peeled and cut crosswise in 1/2 inch slices
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 (6 ounce) package Mozzarella cheese

Ingredients/Tomato Sauce:

- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped celery
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes, cut up
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
- 1 bay leaf

Directions:

Prepare tomato sauce and set aside. Combine flour and salt. Dip eggplant in egg, then in seasoned flour.

Saute eggplant slices in hot oil in large skillet for 3 minutes on each side, adding more oil if necessary. Drain slices well on paper towel.

Place 1/2 of eggplant in single layer in 10x6x2-inch baking dish, cutting slices to fit. Sprinkle with 1/2 of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 sauce and 1/2 Mozzarella cheese. Cut remaining Mozzarella into triangles. Repeat layers.

Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.

Sauce Directions:
Saute onion, celery and garlic in oil in large skillet until tender.

Add tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, black pepper, parsley, oregano and bay leaf.

Simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Remove bay leaf.

Enjoy!