"Live" Camera Allows You to Watch Ballroom Expansion as it Happens

The exciting 24,000 square foot Convention Center ballroom expansion is underway and you can watch it happen “live.” Construction has been ongoing since this past October, 2007 and is gaining steam. The new space is designed for multi-purpose use as ballroom, meeting, or exhibit space.

The current construction does not interrupt any of the current Convention Center operations. The Center is connected to the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara and next to the Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club. Across the street and within short walking distance is California’s Great America theme park.

Just two years ago, the Convention Center celebrated its 20th anniversary. The state-of-the-art 262,000 square foot building has hosted many dignitaries including President George W. Bush, Prince Andrew, current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Senator John Glenn, and many others.

Convention Center and Great America Hotels

A recent report by the Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau indicates that the eight full service hotels surrounding the Santa Clara Convention Center and Great America theme park averaged 73% occupancy in 2007, the same average as 2006. The hotels included in the report included the Biltmore Hotel & Suites, Embassy Suites, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Plaza Suites, and Sierra Suites.

Given today's business and leisure travel climate, this is a substantially high occupancy rate. It's no surprise though because the hotels in the north of Bayshore "Entertainment District" of Santa Clara are very high quality. Almost all of them included in the above report spent millions on upgrades to their hotel in 2007 or are in the planning stages to do so. These are first class hotels in a safe, clean city. Pair that with the many business, convention, and leisure travelers who visit Santa Clara and you can see why the city's occupancy rate is as high as it is.

Santa Clara hotels remain the biggest bargain in the state on weekends. For example, once California's Great America theme park opens on March 16, hotel/theme park packages will be available with rates ranging from $119.00 - $159.00. That includes two admission tickets to the theme park! The mid-week rate per night alone is above the price of these outstanding hotel/theme park packages. You can book one of these packages starting in March at santaclara.org.

Year-round Farmer's Market

Every Saturday at Franklin Square near Santa Clara University (SCU) the Farmer’s Market is open from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The market is over a block long and features not only the freshest food and vegetables, but also several arts and crafts booths, and often live music. It’s a fun way to spend the first half of your Saturday in Santa Clara.
The market is “certified," meaning the participants only sell food items they have produced themselves. You can find the Farmer’s Market near SCU on Jackson Street between Benton and Homestead. After visiting the market, take a walk over to Mission Santa Clara de Asis on the SCU campus. The Mission Church and Mission Gardens are definitely worth seeing

NCAA Division 1 Basketball in Santa Clara

For sports fans visiting Santa Clara, check out a Santa Clara University (SCU) men’s or women’s basketball game. When watching a college basketball game, you never know when you might be watching one of the future NBA greats. SCU, after all, produced one of the NBA’s top talent’s in two time MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns. This year the SCU men will play host to some great West Coast Conference (WCC) division games including contests against perennial power Gonzaga and much improved Saint Mary’s. Other opponents include Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego. Games are on Monday or Saturday nights at Leavey Center on the campus of Santa Clara University. For ticket information, you can call 408.554.4660 or visit SCU Athletics website at santaclarabroncos.com.

Don't miss out on Santa Clara's Holiday Events

Santa Clara will rejoice in the holiday spirit this holiday season with a variety of events. The following events are listed by date: December 6 – “Handel’s Messiah” Sing-along Concert – Holiday music event includes the conductor of the Mission City Opera Orchestra and featured soloists. December 7 – Annual Holiday Tree Lighting features refreshments, live music and Teddy, the stuffed bear that has graced the City Holiday Tree since the early 1900’s. December 7-8 – Holiday Historic Home Tour – Tours of private homes of various Victorian styles includes the Franck Mansion, a California Colonial Revival home, and a recently restored Queen Anne.
December 7-9 – Christmas with the Chorale – Holiday Concert with the Santa Clara Chorale features joyous carols and other holiday favorites. December 9 – “The Nutcracker” – This full-length traditional version is performed by the Santa Clara Ballet and features guest dancers in the principal roles of Cavalier and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Santa Clara - Silicon Valley FREE Visitor Attractions

Millions of visitors come to Santa Clara each year to ride roller coasters and have fun at California's Great America theme park. What they may not realize is that minutes away there are some great visitor attractions that are FREE to visit. The “Top Five” list includes the Intel Museum, Mission Santa Clara de Asis and Mission Gardens, Triton Museum of Art, de Saisset Museum, and the city’s “Stroll into the Past.” All are free with no admission charge.

The Intel Museum is located at the computer giant’s headquarters and offers interactive exhibits that describe the technology and history of the chip-making industry and Intel. The museum is open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Another free visitor attraction is Mission Santa Clara de Asis. The historic mission is the eighth of 21 in California and is located on the picturesque campus of Santa Clara University.
Other no cost visitor attractions include the de Saisset Art Museum, also located at Santa Clara University and the Triton Museum of Art. In addition, the city’s “Stroll into the Past” is a self-guided tour of Santa Clara history located on the grounds of Santa Clara City Hall. If you're on tight budget or just want to have some fun, these attractions are a great bargain. They're FREE!

Convention Center Team Shines During Recent Emergency Response

Two Santa Clara Convention Center security officers on normal patrol of the facility came across an unidentified man laying face down in front of Exhibit Halls B & C at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2007 during the Coin, Stamp and Collectable Show.

Security Officers Phil Ortega and Lester Johnson immediately called 911 and initiated the Emergency Response Team. Officer Ortega and a female vendor exhibiting at the show then turned the man over and began CPR. Ortega, assisted by the vendor, performed three rounds of chest compressions and rescue breathing. The Fire Department from Station 10 (less than a mile from the center) then arrived and administered one AED shock, which revived the man.

Convention Center Officers Ortega and Johnson were at the right place at the right time and their efforts certainly assisted the fire department with reviving this man. Kudos go out to the security team for a JOB WELL DONE!