Meeting places.Pulling off a successful convention is challenging task, and the first step is determining where to host it. Choosing a convention site is largely dictated by the needs of the organization and its process for selecting a meeting place. African-American organizations want to know that their members will be well-received in the cities they choose. Black conventioneers also demand that the 3 billion dollars they spend, not be taken for granted Adj. 1. taken for granted - evident without proof or argument; "an axiomatic truth"; "we hold these truths to be self-evident" axiomatic, self-evident obvious - easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind; "obvious errors" . Oliver Childs, president of the board of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, says that organizations should "look at the city to verify that there are blacks in visible positions in city government, in the convention bureau and in nontoken positions at the hotel properties they are considering." He says that organizations should host conventions at properties that "visibly demonstrate equal opportunity." "Cities are starting to capitulate ca·pit·u·late intr.v. ca·pit·u·lat·ed, ca·pit·u·lat·ing, ca·pit·u·lates 1. To surrender under specified conditions; come to terms. 2. To give up all resistance; acquiesce. See Synonyms at yield. and strengthen their efforts to attract African-American groups," says Solomon Herbert, editor of the $IThe Black Convention$N, a new magazine for meeting planners. Herbert points out that some cities have hired salespeople at their convention and visitorsd bureaus who actively solicit the black tourist market. Others publish promotional materials that highlight African-American historical sites and attractions. While associations are beginning to consider smaller, second-tier cities for their conventions, large African-American organizations still favor big cities for their events. Here is a roundup of the top convention cities and attractions, chosen by African-Americans. CHICAGO Even the Chicago hawk's mighty winds couldn't prevent over 3 million conventioneers and the trade show attendees from making their way there last year. The Windy City has it all: access via two airports, reliable public transportation and a diverse cultural experience. Besides the scores of major hotels with meeting facilities, there's McCormick Place McCormick Place is an enormous exposition complex located in Chicago, Illinois. (2301 S. Lake Shore Drive Lake Shore Drive (colloquially referred to as LSD or simply Lake Shore) is a mostly freeway-standard expressway running parallel with and next to Lake Michigan through Chicago, Illinois, USA. , 312-791-70000), the largest convention center in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . The DuSable Museum The DuSable Museum of African American History is the first and oldest museum dedicated to the study and conservation of African American history, culture, and art. It was founded 1961 by Dr. Margaret Taylor-Burroughs, her husband Charles Burroughs, Gerard Lew, and others. (740 E. 56th Place, 312-947-0600) is committed to preserving the culture and history of Africans and African-Americans. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students and $.50 for children under 13. The Isobel Neal Gallery (200 W. Superior, Suite 200, 312-944-1570) features the work of African-American visual artists. Find out if the Muntu Dance Theatre (6800 S. Wentworth, 312-6002-1135), an African dance The term African dance refers mainly to the dances of subsaharan and West Africa. The music and dances of northern Africa and the Sahara are generally more closely connected to those of the Near East. Also the dances of immigrants of European and Asian descent (e.g. and music company, will be performing in the city while your group is there. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to catch them when you're in town. Army & Lou's (420-22 E. 75th St., 312-483-6550) is a 45-year old institution, serving up soul food that is not only tasty but nutritious. The proprietors have cut out the lard and cut down on the salt and preservatives preservatives, n.pl food additives that hinder spoilage by reducing the growth of microorganisms. Include nitrates and nitrites, benzoates and sulfites, and many others. . There's also Mama Desta's Red Sea (3216 N. Clark, 312-935-7561) which serves sumptuous Ethiopian and other African fare. There's also Eccentric (159 W. Erie, 312-787-8390), co-owned by Oprah Winfrey “Oprah” redirects here. For the show, see The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is the American multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated talk show in television history. . After a full day of conferencing, Chicago offers some of the best blues around. Check out Blue Chicago (937 N. State St., 312-642-6261). For more information, contact the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau The mission of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) is to promote Chicago as the premier sales and marketing organization that promotes Chicago’s world-class assets to global leisure travel and convention business to ensure the economic vitality of the City and its , McCormick Place on the Lake, Chicago, IL 60616, 312-567-8500. DETROIT The Model T hit the road here. Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has been called for many years "The Queen of Soul", but many also call her "Lady Soul," as well as the more affectionate "Sister Ree. and Anita Baker Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an eight-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-Platinum rhythm and blues and soul singer and songwriter, renowned for her soaring alto vocal range. cut their teeth here. Joe Louis learned his moves here. And, the Motown Sound The Motown Sound is a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodic and chord structure, and a "call and response" singing style originating in gospel music. made musical history here. Technically, Detroit encompasses three contries that surround the Motor City. Officials, however are proud of Detroit's distinction as an international destination, since Windsor, Ontario Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and lies at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. Windsor is located directly south of Detroit and is separated from that city by the Detroit River. The city has views of the Detroit skyline. , Canada, is a mere two-minute drive away. In fact, when the Metropolitan Detroit Convention Visitors Bureau tallies up the 28,000 hotel rooms it has to offer, it includes Windsor. The Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center (1 Washington Blvd., 313-224-1000) has become well-known as a convention site in downtown Detroit. It is surrounded by some of the areas top hotels, restaurants and shops. Following a $225 million expansion, the center is now one of the largest convention centers in the nation. For those who want to combine a convention in Detroit with a little family pleasure, the city offers much to keep the entire clan busy. The kids can enjoy a ride on the antique steamer that takes them over to the Boblo Island Amusement Park amusement park, a commercially operated park offering various forms of entertainment, such as arcade games, carousels, roller coasters, and performers, as well as food, drink, and souvenirs. , where they can become delirious de·lir·i·ous adj. Of, suffering from, or characteristic of delirium. on the 75 rides, shows and other attractions. Visitors can get a boat over to the island in Gibraltor, Mich., or from Amherstburg, Ontario Amherstburg (2006 population 21,748; UA population 13,410) is a town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately 25 kilometres (15 mi) south of Detroit. (Boblo Island business office: 4410 W. Jefferson, 313-843-8800). The Children's Museum Children's museums are institutions that provide exhibits and programs that stimulate informal learning experiences for children. In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy regarding exhibits, children's museums feature interactive exhibits that are (67 E. Kirby, 313-494-1210), offers fun activities and features an exhibit of African musical instruments. The Museum of African-American History (301 Frederick Douglass, 313-883-9800) features period relics and contemporary artwork chronicling black history in the United States. The Graystone International Jazz Museum (1521 Broadway, 313-963-3813) features musical instruments and other memorabilia, an ongoing photographic exhibit and biographical and other research materials about the jazz genre. The house Berry Gordy bought in 1959 when he was a fledging songwriter and manager is now the Motown Museum (2648 W. Grand Blvd., 313-875-2264). On display is Gorby's first music studio, with much of its original recording equipment, and the costumes worn by the Supremes, the Temptations, Four Tops and the Jackson 5. Admissionfor adults is $3 and $2 for children 12 and under. For serious soul food, there is Mrs. Funderburg's Heart and Soul Cafeteria (2590 Puritan at Lanwood, 313-864-5300) and New Detroiters Fine Food Restaurant (7339 E. Jefferson Ave., 313-822-2642). For more information, contact the Metropolitan Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau, 100 Renaissance Center, Suite 1950, Detroit, MI 48242-1056, 313-259-4333 for conventions and 800-DETROIT for tourist information. KANSAS CITY While its barbecue definitely draws a crowd, Kansas City has far more to offer than great ribs. The Greater Kansas City area consists of eight countries and two cities--the one in Missouri and its sister in Kansas. In 1990, 666 organizations brought their conferences to "K.C., MO," as natives affectionately refer to their city. By 1994, the city will be even more attractive as the H. Roe Bartle Exposition Hall (Broadway and 14th Sts., 816-871-3700) is currently undergoing expansion to include even more exhibit space and meeting rooms. But what makes Kansas City most attractive as a convention spot is its central location and its moderate price. The city is easily accessible from most other cities east or west, and is small enough to offer the kind of individual attention organizations often need. There are dozens of blues and jazz clubs in the city. Voted by the National Blues Foundation as the best blues club in America twice in three years, the Grand Emporium (3832 Main, 816-531-1504) features live music 'til the wee hours of the morning. The Phoenix Piano Bar and Grill (corner of Eighth St. and Central, 816-472-0001) is Kansas City's hottest new club. Visitors to the city in July can spend time at the largest free outdoor blues and jazz concert in the state, the Kansas City Blues Kansas City Blues has been the name used by several sports teams in Kansas City, Missouri:
The 176-acre park was developed in 1904 on land through which the Santa Fe Trail had passed. in the heart of downtown. For more information, call 800-530-5266. For those planning ahead, the International Jazz Hall of Fame The term Jazz hall of fame can refer to the following institutions:
Famous for its smoked baby-back ribs, Gates Bar-B-Q (1221 Brooklyn, 816-483-3880) has several restaurants around town. Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (1727 Brooklyn, 816-231-1123) east of downtown is also worthy of its superb reputation. For more information, contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Kansas City, 1100 Main, Suite 2250, Kansas City, Mo 64105, 800-767-7700. LOS ANGELES The beaches, sunshine and celebrities are enough to entice anyone to come to Los Angeles. A convention only provides a worthy excuse to visit. Los Angeles has the largest hotel inventory in the world with 86,000 hotel rooms countywide, 9,000 of which are in the downtown area. In 1990, 750,000 conventioneers came to L.A. Currently undergoing a $485 million expansion, The Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. (1201 S. Figueroa St., 213-741-1151) is schedules to be completed in mid-1993. The center will be the largest of its kind on the West Coast. It may be the "City of Angels," but getting around L.A. can be a hellish task. The freeways are formidable and public transportation is unreliable, a fact of life that must be considered when planning convention activities. Although the five-county Los Angeles area has only 8 percent African-American population, the city prides itself on its cultural diversity. A new memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wa dedicated on January 15th of this year on Alameda Blvd. in the Watts section of the city near the Watts Towers. The monument is a cement pulpit inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. with the entire "I Have a Dream" speech. Closer to downtown L.A. in Exposition Park is the California Afro-American Museum (600 State Drive, 213-744-7432), an art museum featuring wide array of exhibits by black visual artists. Most people don't go to L.A. for a heady cultural experience; they do want to sample a slice of Hollywood. If you want to be in the audience of the Arsenio Hall Show while your group is in town, call Paramount Studios group sales Group sales Block sale (of large amounts) of securities to institutional investors. group sales The distribution of a new security issue to institutional clients. office (231-956-1777); for individual tickets, write to Paramount Studios, 860 N. Gower St., Hollywood, CA 90038, 213-956-5575. Attend a concert, play or feature film at The Vision, the Crossroads National Education and Arts Center (4310 Degnan Blvd., 213-956-7321). Then head over to Marla's Jazz Super Club (2323 Martin Luther King Drive, 213-294-8430), owned by actress Marla Gibbs, or Aunt Kizzy's Back Porch (4325 Glencoe Ave., 310-578-1005) in Marina Del Rey for a soulful meal. For more information about Los Angeles as a convention site, contact the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, 515 South Figueroa, 11th Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-624-7300. NEW ORLEANS Good music, good food and a good time are still abundant in "The Big Easy." That's why nearly 1,500 organizations held conventions there in 1991. From its African roots to its Zydeco zydeco (zī`dĭkō'), American musical form originating among the African-American Creoles of Louisiana. Drawing on elements of traditional Cajun music as well as jazz, country and western, and blues, it is characterized by French lyrics, music, New Orleans has it all. For those charged with the responsibility of developing workshops and panel discussions, scholars at the area's black universities--Dilliard, Southern and Xavier--are likely to be an invaluable resource. There is also the Amistad Research Center--the world's largest archive on African-American history and race relations--housed in Tilton Hall at Tulane University (6823 St. Charles Ave., 504-865-5535). When the workshops adjourn adjourn v. the final closing of a meeting, such as a convention, a meeting of the board of directors, or any official gathering. It should not be confused with a recess, meaning the meeting will break and then continue at a later time. (See: recess, session) , conventioneers are likely to head for the French Quarter, where jazz and Creole cooking permeate the air. Gumbo gumbo, another name for okra; also applied in the W United States to a rich, black, alkaline alluvial soil, which is soapy or sticky when wet. gumbo at Dooky Chase's (2310 Orleans Ave., 504-821-0600) should be required eating for all convention attendees. The seventh ward is the Creole section of town and where you'll find Chez chez prep. At the home of; at or by. [French, from Old French, from Latin casa, cottage, hut.] chez prep at the home of [French] Helene (1540 N. Robertson St., 504-954-0444), the restaurant that inspired the much-acclaimed television series, "Frank's Place." Visitors won't have any trouble finding jazz haunts in the city, but Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter St., 504-522-2841) presents good riffs nightly for the nominal price Nominal price Price quotations on futures for a period in which no actual trading took place. of $3. For daytime recreation, there's Jackson Square (Decatur St. between St. Peter and St. Ann Sts.), a park where musicians and street performers entertain the crowds. The Louisiana State Jazz Museum in the U.S. Mint (400 Esplanade Ave., 504-568-6993), features memorabilia of jazz great Louis Armstrong among others. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum (724 Dumaine St., 504-523-7685) promises to charm and fascinate visitors. For more information, contact the Greater New Orleans Tourist & Convention Commission, 1520 Sugar Bowl Drive, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-566-5011; or the Greater New Orleans Black Tourism Network, Louisiana Superdome, 1520 Sugar Bowl Drive, New Orleans, LA 70112, 800-725-5652. NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Three million convention delegates spent an average of four days and three nights in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. in 1990. And the Democratic National Convention is expected to bring more than 35,000 people to the Big Apple in July. Why? Because New York has a plethora of facilities and activities for visitors. Convence a meeting for several thousand at any of the city's major hotels or hold a mammoth event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Jacob K. Javits Convention Center is a large convention center on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by architects I. M. Pei and partners. The revolutionary space frame structure was built in 1986 and named for New York Senator Jacob K. (655 W. 34th St., 212-216-2000). Keynote speakers, celebrities and entertainment are at your organization's fingertips "Fingertips" is a 1963 number-one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number-one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States. . A hub city for every domestic and most international airlines, New York is easily accessible by any means of transportation, including subway, which travels to all five boroughts for $1.25. Although most conventions are held in Manhattan, the other boroughts are great for interesting side trips. For example, the Brooklyn Academy of Music Brooklyn Academy of Music, performing arts center located in the borough of Brooklyn, N.Y. and popularly known as BAM. Founded in 1859 and opened in 1861, it is the oldest such institution still in operation in the United States. (30 Lafayette Ave., 718-636-4100) features all kinds of music and dance performances. While in Brooklyn, check out Spike's Joint (1 S. Elliot Place, 718-802-1000) to pick up memorabilia from the filmmaker's flicks and the Billie Holiday Theater (1368 Fulton St., 718-857-6363) to see quality stage productions. Theater abounds in Manhattan, from community productions to spectacular musicals and plays on the Great White Way, including the latest import from London, "Five Guys Named Moe" (Eugene O'Neil Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., 212-398-8383 for group sales) featuring the sounds of American jazz legend Louis Jordan. Get half-price theater tickets to shows on the same-day by standing in line at TKS TKS Thanks TKS Tokushima, Japan - Tokushima (Airport Code) TKS Time Keeping System (GPS) TKS Target Kill Simulator TKS The Knox School (Victoria, Australia) (Times Square and 46th St., 212-354-5800), but be prepared to wait. You cannot go to New York without heading uptown to Harlem. If you want a guided tour, Harlem, Your Way! Tours Unlimited (129 W. 130th St., 212-690-1687) will give you the lay of the land. If you decide to go it alone, head for the Studio Museum in Harlem The Studio Museum in Harlem is an American fine arts museum in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, New York. It was founded in 1968 as the first such museum in the U.S. (144 W. 125th St., 212-864-4500) to enjoy the work of renowned African-American artists. Of course, there's always something going on at the world famous Apollo Theater (253 W. 125th St., 212-749-5838). Two blocks east around the corner is Sylvia's Restaurant (328 Lenox Ave., 212-996-0660) which has been serving up soul food for 30 years. Farther uptown, Copeland's (547 W. 145th St., 212-234-2356) serves up a scrumptious Sunday brunch. For more eating and meeting places, head downtown to the Shark Bar (307 Amsterdam Ave., 212-874-8500) and B. Smith's Restaurant (771 Eighth Ave., 212-247-2222). For more information on what's happening in Harlem, contact the Uptown Chamber of Commerce, 1 W. 125th St., New York, NY 10027, 212-427-7200. For help in planning your convention in New York City, contact the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau at 212-397-8222. PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia is a city with a clear commitment to accomodating the African-American conventioneer con·ven·tion·eer n. One who attends a convention. Noun 1. conventioneer - someone who attends a convention attendee, meeter, attendant, attender - a person who is present and participates in a meeting; "he was a regular . In 1988, its Convention and Visitors Bureau established the MultiCultural Affairs Congress (MAC), a committee of 30 professionals from business, academia and community organizations. Its objectives: to increase Philadelphia's share of the multibillion-dollar market for minority conventions and to expand opportunities for minority employment of vendor participation in its hospitality industry. The congress' efforts have paid off. Between 1987 and 1988, Philadelphia hosted only six black conventions. By 1990, the city booked 41. Because of MAC's efforts, Philadelphia was named the number one city in America for minority tourism in 1991 by the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency. Philadelphia boasts a rich African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. heritage. The Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum (Seventh and Arch Sts., 215-574-0380) features historical and artistic exhibits and offers lectures on the black American experience. At the All-Wars Memorial to Black Soldiers (Lansdowne Drive in Fairmount Park, 215-685-0047) an outdoor statue commemorates Pennsylvania's black soldiers who have fought in American wars. Although the Philadelphia Dance Company, better known as Philadanco (9 N. Preston St., 215-387-8200) is considered an African-American modern dance company, its repertoire includes neoclassical ne·o·clas·si·cism also Ne·o·clas·si·cism n. A revival of classical aesthetics and forms, especially: a. A revival in literature in the late 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a regard for the classical ideals of reason, form, and jazz pieces. The October Gallery (3805) Lancaster Ave., 215-387-7177) specializes in the works of black artists, and the Philadelphia Doll Museum (7257 N. 18th St., 215-924-3121) is dedicated to the preservation of African-American dolls. Even the Liberty Bell has historical significance for African-Americans: It was first named by the Friends of Freedom, an antislavery society, in 1839. Delilah's (Reading Terminal Market at 12th and Arch Sts., 215-574-0929) comes highly recommended for its healthy soul food, such as its chopped barbecue made of chicken instead of pork. For more information, contact the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1515 Market St., Suite 2020, Philadelphia, PA 19102-2071 or call 800-537-7676. ST. LOUIS "St. Louis may be a well-kept secret, but there are a wealth of resources that can be tapped, especially for black professionals," says Antoinette Malveaux, director of operations for the National Black MBA Association The National Black MBA Association is a professional association for African Americans with a Master of Business Administration. The National Black MBA Association was formed in 1970 and currently has 40 chapters and 6000 members in the United States. (NBMBAA NBMBAA National Black MBA Association, Inc. ), which is holding its annual October convention in St. Louis. But the secret is not likely to be kept under wraps for long organizations are quickly finding that the city has much to offer. For the NBMBAA, those resources include African-Americans in high places For the Mike Oldfield song, see . In High Places is a 1960 novel written by Arthur Hailey, who is better known through his other books like The Evening News and Airport. , both in city government and the corporate sector, from such companies as AnheuserBusch Cos. Inc., General Dynamics Corp. and McDonnell Douglas Corp., recruiters, speakers and sponsors for their events. St Louis has been a site of historical significance for African-Americans. In 1847, Dred Scott brought suit at the old Federal Courthouse in St. Louis in an effort to win his freedom from slavery. He eventually lost hi case, but not before raising a heated national debate. The Old Courthouse (11 N. Fourth St., 314-425-4468) still stands not far from St. Louis' famed Gateway Arch on the St. Louis Riverfront (Memorial Drive, 314-425-4465), but now houses a permanent exibit of the African-American heritage in St. Louis. Turn-of-the-century composer Scott Joplin's House (2658 Delmar, 314-533-1003) is now an official state historic site. Visitors can take a tour for $1.25 per adult and $.50 per child. While in the city, visitors should try to fit in a performance by the St. Louis Black Repertory Company (634 N. Grand Blvd., 10th Floor, Suite F, 314-534-3807), whose productions have included August Wilson's "May Rainey's Black Bottom" and Charles Fuller's "A Soldier's Story." Other nightlife sites include the 1860 Saloon and Hardshell Cafe (1860 Ninth St., 314-231-1860) which features dancing to live blues and soul bands on weekends; and The Just Jazz Room at the Hotel Majestic (1019 Pine St., 800-451-2355). L.A.'s Hollywood Blvd. is not the only place where celebrities have their own stars on the sidewalk. At the University Loop (6504 Delmar), you'll find the stars of such legends as Miles Davis and Tina Turner. For more information, call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, 10 S. Broadway, Suite 1000, St. Louis, MO 63102, 800-325-7962 for conventions and 800-247-9791 for general tourism. |
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