Location Reports Chester County, PA
Information Center occupies the front of this historic building and houses a story- board of the structure’s history.
are welcomed daily from 9 am to 5 pm. PLACES TO MEET
The Conference Center at the Chester County Intermediate Unit is a versatile facility located in the center of the county. Convenient access, ample parking and a spacious layout are some of the features that make this state-of-the-art center a valuable resource for meeting planners. Groups from 5 to 220 are easily accom- modated.
The Conference Center at Penn State Great Valley is a state-of-the-art confer- ence facility ideal for conferences and events. Among its highlights are a 300- seat auditorium, plenty of classrooms for breakout sessions or smaller lectures. The center’s
Services staff is available to assist with all aspects of meetings.
The Embassy Suites Philadelphia-Valley Forge hotel in Wayne features contempo- rary decor, high-speed Internet access, and a host of amenities. Meeting spaces are available on site for up to 150 people. During downtime, attendees can enjoy the hotel's swimming pool, relax on the sundeck, head to the fitness center, or utilize the jogging track adjacent to the hotel. The Grille at Chesterbrook is the on site restaurant, while the sophisticated E Bar Lounge is a great gathering place.
The 198-room Sheraton Great Valley Hotel, located in Frazer, is set amid peaceful scenery and a wealth of unique attractions. Amenities include a fully- equipped fitness center, heated indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and the Link@Sheraton(SM) experienced with Microsoft®, featuring remote printing and complimentary high speed Internet access. The White Horse, which is locat- ed in a historic 18th-century farmhouse, serves traditional American cuisine and has five private dining rooms. The hotel offers 13 meeting and banquet rooms.
The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center is certified by the International
60 November December 2012 Guests
Association of Conference Centers (IACC), and features on site planning help, 11 dedicated conference rooms accommodating groups from five to 125, plus flexible package options that provide value and simplified planning. The hotel also is home to an on site restaurant and bar, plus 194 guest rooms.
CULINARY SCENE
The Whip is a cozy, British-style pub in the middle of Chester County’s equestri- an landscape. Horse farms dot the coun- tryside; one of the country’s oldest fox hunts is right up the road in Unionville, and nearby is the famed New Bolten Center. Though 50 unique beers and ciders are served at the pub, the Whip is actually a BYOB.
Conference Planning
The Gables at Chadds Ford is another area favorite restaurant offering charm- ingly rustic banquet and event space complemented by a new, beautiful out- door function area. The menu offers a twist on traditional American cuisine utiliz- ing the fresh local ingredients native to the area. The Gables is 2012 Winner of Open Table’s Diners’ Choice.
The General Warren Inne is a unique his- toric property blending old world charm, excellent cuisine, overnight accommoda- tions and a year round terraced event space. Fine dining is a hallmark of this restored 18th century estate, which has a spacious bar, The Warren Tavern, for lighter fare, spirits and music. The Spring House Terrace is ideal for cocktail recep- tions, luncheons or dinner meetings, or for dining “al fresco” in warmer months.
UNIQUE MEETING SITES
Built in 1882, Phoenixville Foundry is an architecturally stunning building located on the banks of French Creek. The indus- trial character of this building’s exterior has remained largely intact while its fully renovated interior provides a sophisticat- ed and elegant atmosphere. The space, which includes the Cupola Ballroom and Mezzanine, Foundry West Ballroom and The Heritage Center, is flexible and can accommodate a large or progressive- style event for up to 500 guests.
The flexibility of the interior design makes the possibilities virtually limitless at Phoenixville Foundry. Its eastern pavilion, which houses the Schuylkill River Heritage Center, is an intimate space that can stand alone for smaller group func- tions or be packaged with adjacent facili- ties for a more complex or larger event. Tenting of the venue’s exterior areas can add additional event space.
Franklin Commons is a mixed-use edu- cational, corporate and recreational facili- ty in north Phoenixville. An adaptive reuse of a former mill and manufacturing site, it offers classroom, office and even recre- ational space that can be custom- designed and built-to-suit. With 225,000- square feet, 200,000 of which is on one floor, the space features flexible, open floor plans and first-class common areas. Drexelbrook Catering is the exclusive catering provider for the facility.
The newly renovated 1750s bank barn at Sweetwater Farm is home to Grace Winery, a tasting room and event space. Private dinners in the winery and cocktail receptions on the patio overlooking Sweetwater Wood are just a couple of the unique experiences available here. Fourteen guest accommodations are an added benefit on site, as well.
THINGS TO DO
A rich trail of artists and artisans can be found in the lush countryside of the Brandywine Valley. An artisan along the Arts Trail of the Brandywine Valley was Wharton Esherick, the “Dean of American craftsmen.” A sculptor who worked pri- marily in wood, molding furniture, interiors and buildings, creating sculptural envi- ronments, his work can be seen in col- lections at several museums.
Esherick’s hilltop studio and residence in Paoli remains one of his most creative endeavors. The studio is a National Historic Landmark for Architecture and became the Wharton Esherick Museum in 1972, featuring more than 200 of his works on exhibition. It is open to the pub- lic for guided tours by appointment.
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