SITE: Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
ADDRESS: 233 Newton St., New Orleans, LA 70114
PHONE: 800/362-8213
WEB SITE: www.mardigrasworld.com
VISUALS & VIBE: Since 1984, the facility's staff of artists has created parade floats and papier-mâché props and figures for use in New Orleans' renowned Mardi Gras parades. The site also hosts more than 100 private parties each year, including corporate events, fund-raisers, wedding receptions and birthday parties.
EVENT SPACE: The facility offers several warehouse areas, called “dens,” that can be rented for events ranging from 60 to 6,000 guests. Available spaces include Den 1, measuring 10,000 square feet; Den 3, at 12,000 square feet; and Den 7, at 22,500 square feet. The rooms are all lined with the company's colorful floats and carnival creations.
EVENT CLIENTS: Sony Electronics, SC Johnson, Southern Association of Orthodontists.
SITE: Sierra Nevada Brewery
ADDRESS: 1075 E. 20th St., Chico, CA 95928
PHONE: 530/893-3520
WEB SITE: www.sierranevada.com
VISUALS & VIBE: Founded in 1980, the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has produced specialty beers at its current location since 1989. The working brewery has accommodated guests at events ranging from wedding receptions to sales meetings. Event guests can tour the facility, view master brewers at work, watch the beer packaging process from a glass-enclosed viewing deck, and, of course, sample Sierra Nevada microbrews on tap.
EVENT SPACE: The main event space, the Big Room, is a 350-seat venue featuring a stage, extensive audiovisual equipment, and banquet capabilities, including catering from the brewery's Taproom & Restaurant. The adjoining mezzanine, which can be booked with or without the Big Room, can accommodate 100 guests.
EVENT CLIENTS: American Heart Association awards gala, Big Brothers/Big Sisters annual fund-raiser.
SITE: Orlando Harley-Davidson Historic Factory Dealership
ADDRESS: 3770 37th St., Orlando, FL 32805
PHONE: 407/423-0346
WEB SITE: www.orlando harley.com
VISUALS & VIBE: This operating motorcycle dealership, with its high ceilings, chrome fixtures and Harley-themed murals, takes its inspiration from the original Harley-Davidson factory in Milwaukee to showcase bikes, accessories and gear. Set on six acres, the site includes both indoor and outdoor event areas — including a 40,000-square-foot motorcycle test track — that are popular for corporate parties, team-building events and fund-raisers.
EVENT SPACE: The 12,000-square-foot showroom, which features glass-and-steel garage doors that open onto an outdoor terrace, can accommodate more than 300 for seated events and 1,200 for receptions; using the outside space increases reception capacity to 2,500.
EVENT CLIENTS: Turner Sports, Freddie Mac, Leica Geo Systems.
