ACE Conference Center News & Events

Just goes to show you, even when it comes to love it might be based on “who you know.” Take Christine and Sid, who both just happened to know Christie.  Just not each other.  At least, not until their all-powerful friend Christie introduced them.

Christie was throwing a going away party at her Maryland home for her co-worker, Sid, the same weekend that her college roommate, Christine, was planning to be in Washington, D.C. for a job fair.  Inviting her dear friend to stay the weekend, meant Christine would be at Christie’s for the going away weekend for Sid.  Once Sid and Christine were introduced at the party it was obvious to everyone, they hit it off!  After a long party weekend of getting to know each other, Sid moved to Florida as planned and Christine returned home to Philadelphia.  They spent the next month talking everyday on the phone, sometimes for hours at a time, as well as chatting online.  After just a month of living in Florida, Sid decided to take a chance and moved back to Maryland to be closer to Christine.  Sometimes, you really just KNOW.  These two love birds sure recognized a good thing when they saw it!  Apparently, so did Christie and if not for that party at her house in Maryland, there wouldn’t have been a wedding this past Saturday.  That’s right, Sid and Christine were married at the ACE Conference Center this past weekend!  Congratulations to you both! (oh, and by the way, you owe Christie BIG)

Tags: Main Line Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, philadelphia weddings

Thanks to the gorgeous weather we’ve been having, our Chef’s Garden is filled with fragrant mint!  Just brushing up against the dark green leaves is enough to bring your temperature down to candy cane levels of freshness.  Our chefs live to use different kinds of mint in everything and anything from chilled summer soups to steamed vegetables,  Southern iced tea and mint juleps!  There are many culinary uses for mint and luckily, it isn’t hard to grow!

Varieties of Mint

The spearmints or green mints are the ones most often used in cooking. They include Banana Mint, Mint the Best, Kentucky Colonel Mint, Curly Mint, Lemon Bergamot Mint and Macho Mint.  The peppermints or red mints are very strong flavored and should be dried before using or used sparingly, if fresh. Peppermint contains menthol which spearmint does not. This makes the peppermints the ones to use for soothing upset stomachs. They include Moroccan Mint, Orange Bergamot Mint, Chocolate Mint, Lavender Mint and, of course, Peppermint.  The gray mints are also excellent cooking mints and they include Eqyptian, Habek, Apple and Pineapple Mint.

This summer, you’ll find the following mint varieties growing in our garden:

• Spearmint is wonderful in hot or cold teas, as garnish on fresh fruit, or muddled in tall cool cocktails.
• Chocolate Mint truly smells like a peppermint patty! Excellent in sparkling water, raspberry iced tea or blackberry-infused martinis.

Growing Mint at Home

Most mints are hardy perennials that not only grow like crazy, they can be quite invasive if planted too close to other herbs. Mint also likes sunny spots with late afternoon dappled shade and consistent moisture so watering mint every day is essential.  When planting multiple varieties of mint, it’s best to plant them in different beds or pots to avoid cross pollination that will reduce the distinctive flavors each provides.   Unlike other herbs in the garden, it’s not about getting mint to thrive, it’s about keeping it contained!  One thing’s for sure, butterflies and bees love mint flowers!  However, if your mint is flowering it’s not producing leaves or has ripened beyond it’s best flavor.

Drying Your Own Mint

You can dry (dehydrate) fresh mint leaves by washing the mint stems in cold water (warm or hot water can remove the oils you want to retain!). Drain and pat dry.  Then air dry the mint stems by hanging then in a paper bag in a warm well-ventilated area. (The paper bag catches any leaves that fall, rather than having them make a mess on the floor.) When the leaves are dry and brittle, remove them from the stems and store in an airtight container away from the light. Note: if you live in a very humid area, air-drying this herb may not be an option for you, as things tend to mold quickly in such climates. Try using a dehydrator on it’s lowest setting (below 100 degrees (F)) instead. Make sure the leaves are completely dry and brittle, or they may mold after you place them in storage. We don’t recommend storing mint in paper bags or containers, as they absorb the herbs oils.

Tags: Chef' Garden, Green Initiatives Programs, Main Line Wedding Venues, Philadelphia Event Venues, Philadelphia Hotels, Recipes, Sustainable Practices

What to Do, What to Do, What to Do? The Greater Philadelphia area is busting at the seams with all kinds of summer activities to be enjoyed!  There’s truly something for everyone.  Here are some of our favorites to consider this month:

June 13th-June 30th, The History of Valley Forge Trolley Tour, Valley Forge National Historical Park

National Park Service-trained tour guides will lead your group through an enlightening and entertaining tour of the park. Tours are approximately 90 minutes and include stops at the soldier huts at the Muhlenberg Brigade site and the original house that was once General Washington’s Headquarters at Valley Forge.
Reservations for “The Official Valley Forge NHP Tour” are required. For more information about the tours, available times and fee or to make a reservation, please contact The Encampment Store at 610-783-1074 or via email at vftours@aol.com.

June 18th, Kimmel Center Summer Solstice, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Center City Philadelphia

Kick off the summer in style at the Kimmel Center’s annual Summer Solstice extravaganza! The celebration launches at noon with a giant drum circle, followed by an afternoon of kid-friendly activities, classical, jazz and dance performances. When the sun sets, the party heats up with indie bands, singer-songwriters, club dancing, and even a drag show—an audience favorite every year!  http://www.kimmelcenter.org/events/index.php?id=4052

June 18th, Fireworks and Fountain Show at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Spend the day enjoying the gardens, enjoy dinner or a picnic on the grounds then stay for the show. Gorgeous fireworks and elaborate fountain shows light up the night sky.  http://www.longwoodgardens.org/

June 18th-October 23rd, Mummies of the World Exhibition, The Franklin Institute, Center City, Philadelphia

The largest exhibition of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled makes its East Coast debut in Philadelphia! Learn about the intriguing world of mummies and mummification with a glimpse into the lives of ancient people from every region of the world. The never-before-seen collection, presented with reverence and dignity, includes 150 mummies and important artifacts from Asia Oceania, South America, Europe, as well as ancient Egypt dating as far back as 6,500 years.  http://www.fi.edu/mummies/

June 18th, Evening Exploration at Bowmans Hill Wildflower Preserve, New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Explore the Preserve after hours with a leisurely guided walk along the Preserve’s diverse trails in search of blooming native plants like rosebay rhododendron, mountain laurel and purple-flowering raspberry. Explore the world of insects in the wildflower meadow and take part in a unique opportunity to catch, study and release – unharmed – a great diversity of bugs, butterflies, grasshoppers and any other critters.  http://www.bhwp.org/calendar.htm

June 25th, Spirit of Philadelphia Fireworks Dinner Cruises, Center City, Philadelphia, On the Waterfront

Tags: Local Area Attractions, Main Line Party Venues, Philadelphia Event Venues, Philadelphia Hotels, Philadelphia Sightseeing, Travel Tips

Flowering Spring trees, rolling green hills and tempestuous weather provided a stunning backdrop for Chris and Lindsey’s May wedding at the ACE Conference Center.  {Photos courtesy of Barnyard Photography}

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Tags: Country Weddings, Main Line Wedding Venues, Main Line Weddings, Outdoor Wedding Venues, Outdoor Weddings, philadelphia wedding venues, philadelphia weddings, Purple Weddings

What finer way to recognize Kate and William’s Royal Wedding and the Obamas’ recent visit to Britain, than to put on a traditional British Afternoon Tea for a group of local attorneys meeting at the ACE Conference Center!?

Although a favorite, many Americans don’t know that the tradition of Afternoon Tea was created in the 1840′s by Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford and bosom friend of the young Queen Victoria. The British aristocracy in those days would go hunting in the morning, then eat a hearty breakfast and then wait until
8:00pm to enjoy a multi-course formal dinner. The Duchess ordered hot tea, small sandwiches and little cakes to stave off her “sinking feeling” in the middle of the afternoon. Before long, her friends were joining her in what became a delightful, social event enjoyed around a low table on couches in the ladies’ sitting rooms across England. Quickly becoming a favorite social break in an otherwise quiet afternoon, the gentlemen started joining in as well.

Afternoon Tea (or low tea) is not to be confused with High Tea, which is a hearty meal served at about 6:00pm consisting of hot tea, crusty breads, meats and other savory pies, maybe sausages, eggs, potatoes and big cakes. This meal was originally enjoyed by laborers, miners and farm workers at the end of their work day.
Living in the damp meant these hardworking men would rush home after their day and eat their meal standing up resting their plates on the mantel piece in front of the fire to get warm. Hence the term “High Tea.”

Our Afternoon Tea service includes all the expected savories and sweets from mini cucumber, salmon and watercress sandwiches, to homemade scones, clotted cream, fresh fruit and pastries. Generally a light meal that is interactive and casual, many of our bridal and baby showers enjoy Afternoon Tea as do local ladies clubs and larger corporate groups. For more information on our Afternoon Tea please contact our catering department at 800-523-8000.

Tags: Baby Showers, Breakout Stations, Bridal Showers, Corporate Events, Main Line Party Venues, Main Line Weddings, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia weddings

Oh, the times they are a changin’!  Today’s savvy brides and grooms are sharing their love stories and communicating their wedding details on their very own wedding websites!  There are several wedding website companies available online that allow users to design their site for free or for a reasonable fee.  Most of these online resources allow couples to customize domain names, backgrounds, layouts and photo formats to reflect the personal style of the wedding theme.  One of the most popular wedding website services is eWedding.com, which also provides user-friendly methods to track RSVPs, budgets and mailing lists.  But what we’re thoroughly enamored with is not just the organizational aspects but the speedy and thorough manner of storytelling in a visually appealing fashion.  Guests and family members can not only share where the bride and groom met, but watch a video of how he popped the question or hear the audio of her acceptance!  It’s an incredible way to share the joy of the private moment with friends and family!  Recently, one of our clients, Juliya and Armand, launched their own wedding website to share their engagement journey, including how they met in the first place:

“Way back when (Fall – 2003), we met in a Management Information Systems class at Penn State. But it wasn’t until 2007 that we started dating. It all began with a camping trip, where Armand took us fishing in a sinking boat. He caught a fish. I caught the motor….twice and dropped my sunglasses in the water. Armand’s outdoor skills were very impressive. He set up the entire site by himself (including building a fire) and told me I could sit in the folding chair and relax. I later learned that was guy-code for “Don’t touch or do anything because you’re going to kill us!” From that day on, we planned many trips together and have been traveling all over the United States as part of our “Seeing All 50 States Before We’re 30!” plan.”

Guests are encouraged to visit their website often to stay up on the wedding planning process, the bridal showers and bachelor/ette parties, as well as the funny stories and sweet moments that develop as they lead up to their October 8th celebration at ACE.   We applaud the idea and look forward to seeing photos of their Hawaiian honeymoon!

To read more about Juliya and Armand’s wedding on their wedding website powered by WeddingWire, go to http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding/UserViewWebsiteIntro?wid=322126603bb2ed71&pid=e60871413f111a30&themeCode.

Or, for more information on wedding website creation, we encourage you to visit the following excellent resources:  www.ewedding.com; www.weddingwire.com; www.weddingwindow.com.

Tags: Main Line Weddings, philadelphia weddings, Wedding Planning Tips, Wedding Websites

Regular conference warriors and meeting attendees have all been there at one time or another.  We’ve all arrived at our hosting hotel with just enough time to quickly don our suits before heading out to the first dinner listed on the busy conference schedule. As we unzip our trusty carry-on, we see, yet again, that our suit is a ball of wrinkles!

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, there are simple ways to avoid the wrinkles and creases. Our favorite suggestion is to simply purchase a carry-on suitcase that has a suit compartment already in place. This will allow you to hang the suit in a special compartment where the clips and hanger will ensure there is no wrinkling.  You can also invest in a garment bag; however, more and more business travelers find they have trouble carrying them through busy airports and/or storing the garment bags on “packed” business flights where very little garment bag space is offered.

If buying a new suitcase with a suit compartment is not going to happen anytime soon, we invite you to take a look at the following packing tips for standard carry-on rolling cases:

Tip #1:  Fill your carry-on suitcase with all the other clothing and items you will need before adding your suit to the top of the pile. It’s only when the carry-on is close to full that the suit should be added in order to keep the suit tightly packed.

Tip #2:  Before you add the suit, place it in a dry-cleaning plastic bag or sleeve.  For whatever reason, the plastic helps keep creases at bay.  (It also helps with dress shirts and you can usually store up to three shirts in one plastic sleeve.) Once you’ve got the suit in its plastic sleeve, lay it down across the top of the almost full suitcase.  The collar should be one inch below the hinge of the suitcase top. The arms of the suit should be folded neatly over the front of the suit.

Tip #3:  Place the trousers of the suit on top of the suit jacket. The waist line will be on the right side of the suitcase along the shoulder of the suit, with the legs of the trousers hanging over the opposite side of the suitcase.

Tip#4:  Fold the jacket bottom over the legs of the trousers toward the hinge of the suitcase.

Tip #5: Finally, fold the trouser legs toward the waist line of the trousers and over the suit jacket.

The packing is complete!  Hopefully, when you unpack at your hotel, you’ll be dressed and ready for business in a crease-free fashion.

{Photo:  Bespoke Suits, London}

Tags: Business Conferences, business travel tips, conference planning, Main Line Event Facilities, Main Line Event Venues, Meeting Services, Philadelphia Hotels, Philadelphia Meeting Venues

Our excitement about our new partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering is off the charts!  After spending the day working on our new wedding reception menus we thought we’d share some menu planning tips and suggestions.

When it comes down to it, today’s weddings are all about hosting a fabulous party and FABULOUS begins with the basics – sensational food and a full-service bar. But contrary to popular belief, it is absolutely possible to have a well-designed menu and serve delicious food at your wedding.  Working with such famous restauranteurs-turned-caterers like Wolfgang Puck Catering only hammers that point home.  But where to start?  The first step a bride and groom should do is create their own ”foodie wish list” that details their personal food favorites, or the dreaded “ick, I hate that!” list, as well as foods that cause allergic reactions and foods that your families would expect to share at the wedding.  If you have trouble getting a handle on these items, start by writing down your favorite restaurants, cooking techniques, ethnic traditions or family recipes.  Have you discussed with each other or with your families what your guests would enjoy?  For instance, are your Italian relatives expecting to see some form of antipasto at the cocktail reception? What about your fiance’s Chinese grandparents, would they nibble on Wolfgang’s mini peking duck rolls or is a whole dim sum station a must-have?  And if your Uncle Joey only eats burgers, well, that’s certainly possible, even if they are slider-sized and oozing with melted cheese (see below and prepare to salivate).

Something else to consider when conceptualizing your reception menu is the season in which you are celebrating the wedding.  A dramatic plated first course for Summer could be Wolfgang’s Roasted Beet and Herbed Goat Cheese Napolean!  (see below). Wow, what a first impression that makes on a crowd!  For Fall or Winter weddings you may want more hot hors d’oeuvres than cold, and including seasonal produce into the dinner service might be interesting.  For instance, we love mini shooters of butternut squash soup paired with grilled crostini. Wolfgang’s well-known philosophy is to design their catering menus with the freshest, organic and humanely-raised food they can get their hands on so sharing your seasonal preferences is not only welcome but crucial from the get-go.

Aside from the types of foods you hope to enjoy at your wedding, you’ll also have to decide the service style.  Specifically, whether your reception will be buffet-style (large displays with multiple selections), food stations (several mini buffets) or a sit-down plated meal (tableside service).  Buffet-style tends to be more casual, food stations can be entertaining and sit-down is certainly the most formal.  Most wedding menus are designed with a mixture of these food service styles over the course of the 5-hour event.  For instance, during your cocktail reception a combination of passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations followed by a sit-down plated dinner keeps the grazers and talkers equally happy.  After dinner, why not repeat the cocktail-style service with passed mini-desserts, a plated dessert and a sweet dessert station?  Doesn’t this Chocolate Lava Cake look divine?

Once you have some idea as to your own personal food tastes and preferred service styles, it’s time to pour through the carefully crafted sample WPC menus.  Designing your wedding menu is a process and you’ll have to study the sample menus and compare them to your “wish list” before your final menu plan is realized.  Luckily, at ACE you have a fantastic team of professionals to help guide you through what could be a challenging process!  Particularly, when each hors d’oeuvre, stationery display and plated course tastes and looks better than the last!  Remember, the golden rule is to balance the menu with a variety of foods that have different flavors, textures, colors and temperatures to keep things enjoyable for all.  Ugh, it’s overwhelming, we know! But don’t fret!  Our ACE Planning Team will be able to take your ideas and preferences and use them to design a menu that is just right for your wedding.

Tags: catering notes, Chef Notes, Food & Beverage, Main Line Wedding Venues, Main Line Weddings, menu planning, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings, weddings

It’s official! We’re thrilled to announce our exclusive catering partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering. The ACE Conference Center is collaborating with esteemed chef, Wolfgang Puck, to further enhance the ACE Conference Center’s reputation as one of the area’s premier special event locations. “We are pleased to join forces with Wolfgang Puck Catering and their legendary, innovative cuisine, to bring a unique dining experience to our customers,” says ACE General Manager, Daniel Briones. “It’s a win-win situation – this collaboration with Wolfgang Puck Catering will further extend the public’s awareness of both our brands throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.”

Wolfgang Puck’s illustrious name carries an undeniable cachet, and is synonymous with a bold, innovative style of cooking that has redefined the essence of fine dining in America and around the world. Founded in 1998, Wolfgang Puck Catering continues to set the standard for culinary excellence, bringing its team’s legendary combination of creative cuisine and refined service to the world’s most renowned and demanding corporate, cultural, and entertainment settings. Delivering a restaurant-quality experience in a special event setting, Wolfgang’s experienced team caters intimate weddings, convention galas, family occasions, and such noteworthy events as the Academy Awards® Governors Ball. His trademark dishes, coupled with his unmistakable panache and passion, have, in fact, revolutionized the culinary industry. Guests at the ACE Conference
Center can also expect Wolfgang Puck’s menus and dishes to reflect his philosophy of incorporating fresh, natural and organic ingredients in every recipe.

With more than 25 years of event planning and production experience, the ACE Conference Center regularly hosts groups and conventions for up to 500 guests. Located just a few miles from Center City Philadelphia, ACE offers distinctive, state-of-the-art facilities situated on 300 picturesque acres of inviting woodlands and rolling hills. ACE Conference Center provides a secluded, yet highly accessible venue for any type of event, indoors and out. It perfectly combines the fast pace of urban life with the serenity of the countryside in a suburban setting.

Together, ACE and Wolfgang intend to offer guests a creative culinary experience unlike any other in the Greater Philadelphia region.

To learn more about events at the ACE Conference Center, please visit www.aceconferencecenter.com

Tags: Celebrity Caterer, Main Line Hotels, Main Line Party Venues, Meetings & Events, Philadelphia Event Venues, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings

The place where your wedding ceremony will be held can also influence the style and type of ceremony you choose to plan.  Have you dreamt of a grand ballroom ceremony with a long dramatic candlelit entrance?  Or a casual outdoor ceremony with only wispy green trees and blue sky as the backdrop?  Certainly knowing that every ceremony needs a spiritual center and a visual focus, it’s important to look creatively at your wedding venue to determine the best options available for your wedding ceremony.

Over the years we’ve planned and orchestrated hundreds of wedding ceremonies here at the ACE Conference Center.  We find that where the ceremony takes place and how the ceremony is presented is crucial to your experience, not to mention how your family and friends witness your promises to each other.  The ceremony area where you will stand together to exchange vows and rings — whether it’s under a traditional Jewish Chuppah on a stage, in front of a fireplace, or in front of a floral-covered arch on a terrace — should be the focal point and yet still convey a sense of intimacy.  Don’t be afraid to seat guests up close to where you will stand or to turn and face your guests during the service.  Ultimately, you and your fiance are responsible for your wedding ritual and how it suits the surroundings you’ve chosen.

There are many ceremony settings available at the ACE Conference Center: in the Marquis Ballroom, the American Ballroom, the ACE Golf Club, or on the helipad overlooking the golf course.  But we’re EXCITED and proud to announce two additional wedding ceremony areas now available here at ACE!   The Lafayette Ballroom and the Lafayette Event Deck.  In fact, our event planning staff wanted to share these new amazing spaces with other event professionals as soon as possible!  This past Monday we invited local area wedding planners and event designers to a preview party to introduce them to our new fabulous ceremony areas.  Needless to say, they loved them and we heard many sensational ideas on how they would use the spaces for their clients.  We also featured our new catering services provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering.  Arrangements Unlimited designed the ceremony settings for us; their black iron chuppah frame was set up on our stage in the Lafayette Ballroom for a more formal indoor set up and their natural birch chuppah was placed outside on our Lafayette Event Deck.  Both were stunning and incredibly inspirational!   We thank Party Rental Ltd., Bredenbecks Bakery, EventQuip, The Total Table, and The Papery of Philadelphia for partnering with us on the event and look forward to working on many events together!

The high ceilings and warm exposed brick walls of the Lafayette Ballroom were formally dressed with ivory drapery in full “wedding” mode!  The Lafayette Ballroom comfortably seats 250 for a wedding ceremony.  As seen above, wedding ceremonies can be set up with a long wide aisle ideal for dramatic ceremony processionals!

Our new Outdoor Event Deck is a stunning location for an open-air or tented wedding ceremony for up to 500 guests!  Traditional auditorium-style seating works beautifully with the rolling green hills as your backdrop but a ceremony “in the round” is also possible on the Event Deck.  For many bridal couples, being surrounded by their family and friends is tremendously appealing for its intimate style of presentation.

As a ritual, the wedding ceremony is the only part of the wedding day where the engaged couple, together with their family and friends, are removed from the outside world both literally and figuratively.  Through the wording, traditions, music and symbols of the wedding ceremony the bride and groom can truly be transported out of their everyday world and into a magical place only they know.  We can’t wait to help you plan your wedding ceremony in our new ceremony settings!

Tags: jewish weddings, Main Line Hotels, Main Line Weddings, Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies, Outdoor Weddings, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings, wedding ceremonies

More and more wonderful changes are happening every day at the ACE Conference Center!  This week was no exception with the completion of our new tented event space!  A tented party can take place almost anywhere, but not every outdoor area can handle a tented party.  We’ve made sure we’ve covered all the bases to make our tented terrace ideal for any party or meeting.  Come take a look!

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Tags: Main Line Weddings, Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies, Outdoor Weddings, philadelphia weddings, Rustic Event Venues, Tented Event Spaces, Tents, Urban Loft Venues

Oldies but Goodies :: From Soulful Swing to remake’s of 70′s Classic Rock

• Comes Love (Billie Holiday)
• Our Love is Here to Stay (Billie Holiday)
• Cheek to Cheek (Ella Fitzgerald)
• This Will Be, An Everlasting Love (Natalie Cole)
• You’re My Best Friend (Queen)
• Betcha By Golly Wow (The Stylistics)
• Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder)
• Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones)
• Cruisin’ (Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow)
• How Sweet it is, to be Loved by You (James Taylor)
• Crazy Love (Van Morrison)
• The Best is Yet to Come (Frank Sinatra)
• You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You (Dean Martin)
• Chances Are (Johnny Mathis)
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Ashford and Simpson)
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You (Frank Valli)
• I Only Have Eyes for You (The Platters)
• Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Doris Day)
• You’re My First, My Last, My Everything (Barry White)
• Love Me Tender (Elvis)
• You’re in My Heart, You’re in My Soul (Rod Stewart)
• I Will (Beatles)
• In My Life (Beatles)
• Something (Beatles)
• May This Be Love (Jimi Hendrix)

Modern Day Music :: Sexy Blues to California Pop Rock and Alternative Rock

• When I First Saw You (Jamie Foxx and Beyonce)
• 24/7 (Kevon Edmonds)
• Marry You (Bruno Mars)
• Blue Eyes (Cary Brothers)
• You and (Lifehouse)
• Finally Forever (Chris Cornell)
• You Want to Make a Memory (Bon Jovi)
• This Never Happened Before (Paul McCartney)
• A Million Ways (The Nylons)
• All That I Am (Rob Thomas)
• Ever the Same (Rob Thomas)
• Bubbly (Colbie Cailet)
• Angels (Robin Thicke)
• The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson)
• If I Ain’t Got You (Alicia Keys)
• I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
• Glitter in the Air (Pink)
• So High (John Legend)
• Beloved One (Ben Harper)
• Wonderwall (Ryan Adams)
• Somewhere Only We Know (Keane)
• Everlong (Foo Fighters)
• When I See You Smile (Bad English)
• Marry Me (Train)
• Underneath it All (No Doubt)
• Everything (Michael Buble)

Country Twang :: Classic Country and Contemporary Nashville

• Come a Little Closer (Dierks Bently)
• Bless the Broken Road (Rascal Flatts)
• Here (Rascal Flatts)
• There You Are (Martina McBride)
• Look at Us (Vince Gill)
• She’s My Kinda Rain (Tim McGraw)
• Crazy (Patsy Cline)
• Your Everything (Keith Urban)
• Amazed (LoneStar)
• Me and You (Kenny Chesney)

[Photos courtesy of Susan Beard Design and Rebecca Barger]

Tags: favorite first dance songs, music for weddings, philadelphia weddings

We’ve found one of the most important things to remember when planning a child’s celebration is to make sure it reflects the child’s personality, hobbies or the theme of the event.  That includes the activities and games that are carefully chosen to entertain the honoree and his or her friends for the length of the party.  For the events with 75-100 children, that’s no easy feat!  For instance, a child interested in hip hop music may want to incorporate street break dancers, airbrushed graffiti t-shirts and “bling your own” cellphones into the party design.  Or, for a child interested in winter sports, perhaps a virtual reality skiing simulator, make your own snow cones, snowboarding digital photos and embroidered fleece hats are chosen.  Once the child has a particular theme or an environment in mind, it’s realitively easy to find activities, games, favors and performers to flesh out the concept.

[Photo:  Airgraphics Entertainment]

Generally, we suggest at least two but up to five different games or activities for the kids “cocktail hour” to keep the children fully engaged and entertained before the dance party begins.  The number of activities varies depending on the style of the activity, the number of children attending and the other entertainment planned.  We also suggest choosing to offer games and activities for the entire party.  Not all children are dancers; hence, why party deejays also incorporate dance floor group games and party activities into the whole evening.  Other entertainers may not want any distraction away from the dance floor after the kids come into the ballroom.  The deejay, band or emcee for the party will work on a party timeline to determine the best scenario for the party, which may or may not include times to open and close the activities throughout the evening to avoid an empty dance floor.

At the ACE Conference Center we’ve worked with countless companies, performers and entertainers who provide a wide range of activities to suit every event.  Some of our recent favorite games and activities for bar and bat mitzvahs include:

• Funky Heads:  Remember the good ‘ole Dance Heads?  Well take it up a notch to Funky Heads!  Kids get to star in a music video without having to sing or dance!  They sit and bop they’re heads to a funky 70’s song that they select which gets superimposed onto the bodies of professional dancers against an animated background.
• Nascar Racing:  This giant 20’ x 25’ track and lifelike driving experience is loved by both girls and boys.  Players stand behind steering wheel consoles and operate radio-controlled race cars on a miniature track.
• Photo Booths:  There are many versions available of the old-fashioned photo booth that you remember from the boardwalk.  Since they don’t require a large space they’re perfect to tuck into the corner of the ballroom for hours of fun!  Guests sit and pose for their four picture black & white or full-color strips. Some even print in duplicate so the host can get a copy of the photo strip as a keepsake.
• Air-Brushed Graffiti T-Shirts:  Each child gets their name or a fun design airbrush painted by an airbrush artist onto a t-shirt.  Plain white tees or tanks are readily available but hats, towels, boxers and a wholla other options can be had.  [Photo of supercool airbrush artistry above provided by Airgraphics Entertainment]
• Vintage T-Shirt Pillows:  For the crafty, take home favor activity, pillows are made using classic or vintage t-shirts!  During the party the t-shirts are cut and sewn into a trendy pillow for take home.

Tags: ace conference center, bar mitzvahs, games and activities, kids parties, party favors

As the first quarter of 2011 comes to a close it’s clear that business travel is on its way back!  We’re happy to see hospitality numbers showing an increase in room sales and conference bookings for a second quarter in a row.  We’re certainly seeing an energetic level of business activity at ACE Conference Center, booking groups for day meetings and week long conferences.  In a technologically-saturated world where video conferencing has helped keep travel costs down, a return to face-to-face meetings is making all the difference in ensuring your company or sales pitch stands out from all the rest.  Those successful bookings mean more incentive travel to keep productive sales consultants motivated, educated and appreciated.  Still kept to a low-key level, corporate retreats are no longer forbidden as companies look to support their managers and invest in their employees.

One major difference our ACE Sales Consultants are seeing is that meeting planners and corporate executives are looking to spend their travel dollars wisely rather than jumping back into the “excessive” end of the pool.  With serious meetings being our focus, offering guaranteed pricing and no hidden fees, conference centers provide a solution to meeting planners in these uncertain times.  The reality is, the hospitality industry may never see that level of corporate travel again, or not for a few more years anyway.  Keeping to a more “reasonable” or downright “frugal” level of business travel is the smart way to keep ANY travel at all at play in the world of big business.  That may mean driving rather than flying; or spending fewer nights on the road; or staying at less expensive hotels; or eliminating all off-premise activities or curtaining those sightseeing adventures.  Some companies are even encouraging employees to make their travel plans in an “eco-smart” manner, including carpooling to regional destinations, taking the E-Train (“E” for economy), renting a hybrid car or selecting a conference center that has their own “Green Initiatives” in place.

Here at ACE, we’ve embraced today’s savvy business traveler with packages that include all meals, meeting space, breakout rooms, audio visual equipment, wifi access, parking and the support of a dedicated on-site planner. We help to keep business travelers focused and productive “on property.”

Smart corporate travel is just standard business practice at the ACE Conference Center.

Tags: Budget Business Travel, Eco-friendly, Green Initiatives Programs, hospitality

What’s a cocktail party without a signature cocktail? Although the concept of a personalized beverage or cocktail isn’t a new one in the world of events, it’s still a fun way to add a personal “splash” to the party scene. Personalized or “branded” cocktails can be served as guests arrive or throughout the event in a manner that incorporated the party color, theme or location.  For instance, for an April wedding where flowering cherry branches are used as centerpieces a pink signature cocktail called a “Love Blossom” may be passed on pretty silver trays.  Or, for a tropical themed anniversary party, displays of Tequila Sunrise’s are displayed on the corners of the bar and named a “Forever Honeymoon.”

Certainly, some enthusiastic brides and grooms embrace the signature drink concept with gusto; putting various concoctions together in the hopes that one magical elixir will spring forth with their own unique twist.  However, before you don your chemistry aprons or head out to the bar to sample recipes, think about what you would want to drink at your own event.  Do you prefer martinis?  Champagne Cocktails?   Wine?   What would you be tempted to drink if you saw it coming your way on an elegant tray?   The answer might surprise you!   For many guests, they reach for a martini or champagne glass if the color itself if pleasing to the eye.  Red, pink and pale orange drinks are welcoming.  Other get excited when a simple glass of champagne is handed to them.  When in doubt, go with what you know.  Rather than deciding on a complicated, new recipe with a thousand different ingredients, you might want to consider classic cocktails you, and many others, already enjoy and are sure to identify as it passes.  Such as a pale pink Cosmopolitan Martini or a vibrant Mango Mojito.  You can serve something that is a family favorite and simply call it what it is, like a Manhattan, a Side Car or White Russian.  Or, you can put our own playful name on it and VOILA!  It’s your own, personalized signature beverage!  Corny for some, never-ending fun for others.

Of course, for those of you who enjoy something new, original and a tad adventurous, there are many intriguing new mixes to tempt you!  Our in-house mixologists are always coming up with delicious seasonal beverages that not only look good but taste sensational!  Here are some of our favorite specialty cocktails for Spring, CHEERS!

The ”Red Cloud” is a sophisticated but simple martini using vodka, pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, honey syrup and a orange twist.  Served in a standard martini glass it’s a sure thing for everyone AND an easy pour for the bartenders.

A “Spring Fling” is made with spiced rum, fresh ginger syrup, tonic water and fresh whole raspberries.  We prefer to serve it in a rocks glass or small snifter, but it could be served in a highball piled high with ice on a hot day.  Light and refreshing with a bit of effervesence, it’s a popular drink with the ladies.

{Photos:  Evantine Design, Melissa Paul, Mallory Samson}

Tags: party planning, signature cocktails, wedding tips

Months, if not years, of careful organization go into planning a wedding. Yet, years ago wedding planning wasn’t as complicated as it is today.  Traditionally, mothers of the bride were the planners, making straightforward black and white decisions based on her taste, budget and social standing. The bride had relatively little to do with it!  But not anymore.  Modern day engaged couples are making decisions themselves or collaborating with their families on how the wedding is shaped and designed. 

Weddings aren’t cut-and-dry these days; they’re more detailed and complex than ever before!  From the moment their engagement is announced, a bride and groom’s normal everyday routine is overtaken with endless options requiring countless hours of research, evaluation and planning.  Lists beget more lists and so on. For many couples, by the time the wedding day actually arrives they’re so consumed with information and expectation that the emotion of the experience is overwhelming.  All those months of planning every noticeable detail just flies by in a blur!  So much so that it’s only after the wedding, when they watch their video, that they relive every moment of the day as it unfolded.  (a HUGE wonderful reason we love working with videographers and cinematographers).  But stepping back and remembering that’s it not about perfection is the healthy perspective to take.  Instead, allow the wedding day to be about that elusive ecstatic feeling of committing for life to the person you love, and having your closest family and friends there to share in that commitment.  No doubt, planning a wedding celebration can be exciting and enjoyable but infinitely stressful as well.  But the real trick is to coordinate without getting buried alive in the process. Particularly when there is much that will be out of your control.  It’s the reality of life. Things may or may not go wrong on the day itself: Grandpa Joe may go on-an-on (and on) with his blessing, the wedding cake may not have the right flowers on it, or the band may play a song that you had on your “do not play or die list”.  Whatever. Who cares? No one will notice goofs or slip-ups but you. Ask any of our Planners here at ACE or any independent wedding planners, and they’ll tell you that no matter how much you coordinate ahead of time SOMETHING will still go awry.  How could it not?  Humans are involved from start to finish and that includes YOU. On the morning of your wedding, take a deep breath, look around, appreciate your friends for traveling from afar and acknowledge the support your family has provided. Let the details zipping back and forth in your buzzing head just fade away.  Trust and believe that the professionals you’ve carefully secured carry the burden of making your dream vision come to life.  The rest is up to you.

All that matters is that the two of you are there and present in the moments that make up the day.  Moments where it’s just the two of you absolutely blissed out with joy: seeing each other for the first time in your wedding garb, grabbing hands as you recess down the aisle, or stealing away for a private kiss away from the crowd.   The wedding day is just the beginning of your marital journey. 

[Photo courtesy of Rebecca Barger]

Tags: philadelphia weddings, wedding coordination, wedding planning

As a suburban Philadelphia event venue that offers multiple spaces for social gatherings, we are privileged to host a wide variety of family celebrations including weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.  But it’s the bar and bat mitzvah parties that seem to be on the rise on our busy event calendar.  In fact, we’ve booked three bar mitzvahs alone this week and it’s only Tuesday!  We’re lucky enough to have several synagogues in the immediate neighborhood around us, such as Congregation Or Ami, Temple Beth Tikvah and Temple Brith Achim, to name a few.  Certainly, most people think of bar mitzvahs as large family celebrations but do you know the religious symbolism behind the party?

The term “Bar Mitzvah” literally means “son of the commandment.”  “Bar” actually means “son” in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish people and much of the Middle East.  The term “Bat” means “daughter” in both the Hebrew and Aramaic languages.  ”Mitzvah” means “commandment” in both Hebrew and Aramaic.  Technically, the term refers to the child who is coming of age and now has the same religious rights as an adult, including being morally and ethically responsible for his or her own decisions and actions.  Oftentimes, it is correct to refer to someone as “becoming a bar (or bat) mitzvah.”  However, the term is more commonly used today to refer to the coming of age ceremony itself, and you are more likely to hear that someone is “having a bar mitzvah” or that your child is  ”invited to a bat mitzvah.”

So, really, what exactly does it mean to become a bar or bat mitzvah?  Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the Commandments in the Torah, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have to their community as adult members.  However, at the age of 13 for boys and 12 for girls, children become of age to observe the Commandments of the religion because they are now able to distinguish right from wrong and take responsibility for their actions.  Specifically, the child formally joins their community by leading the weekly religious service as their first public announcement of that obligation.  The celebrant is required to recite the weekly Torah portion, direct parts of the service and lead the congregation in prayer during the Saturday services at the synagogue.  All in Hebrew!  Quite impressive for a twelve or thirteen year old let alone an adult!   Indeed, it is common practice for the mitzvah celebrant to spend months and months (and months) in Hebrew School at their synagogue studying the Torah cover-to-cover and learning the Hebrew language specifically needed for the ceremony.  But it’s a tremendous achievement for the child and his family to become a bar or bat mitzvah.  Relatives and family friends will travel from far distances to witness and participate in these milestone celebrations as proof of their importance and social standing.

Like a wedding, if not more so, to become a bar or bat mitzvah is something to celebrate!   Generally, from what we have seen over the years, the religious morning service is followed by a kiddush luncheon at the synagogue shared with the other regular congregants.  Then, later that same day, the celebrant’s friends, camp friends and family members gather for a party that includes games and activities as well as dinner and dancing.  That’s where we come in here at the ACE Conference Center!   Mazel Tov!

[Photos courtesy of Susan Beard Design]

Tags: bar/bat mitzvahs, Jewish events, Private Parties, religious events, social events

The ACE Conference Center announces the retirement of Ruth Fleming, Director of Housekeeping, after 20 years of wonderful service and inspiration. Cleanliness is one of the most important features a hotel can offer its guests and we thank Ruth for her dedication, efficiency and hard work.  A devoted and loyal employee, Ruth is adored by the entire ACE Team and she will be sorely missed.   We wish her good health and sunny days! 

Tags: back of the house, housekeeping duties, retirement, service issues

“Clean the World Recycles Soap and Saves Lives!”

Everyone knows that there is a tremendous amount of unavoidable waste in the hospitality business.  Particularly when it comes to bath products.  Thousands, if not millions, of barely-used bars of soap and partially-used bottles of shampoo, condititioner and body lotion get thrown away each and every day.  Meanwhile, impoverished people around the world die every day from acute respiratory infection and disease because they don’t have any soap!  Each year more than five million lives are lost to these diseases with the majority of deaths being among children aged less than five years old.  The simple basic act of hand-washing substantially reduces the spread of these diseases; yet, the essential items for proper hand-washing – SOAP – are unobtainable for millions of people worldwide.

However, there’s now an ingenius non-profit organisation called Clean the World that works with hotels across the country to recycle those partially-used beauty products in an environmentally and hygienically-approved fashion.  Collected bottles of shampoo and bars of soap get sanitized and reformed into usable product for Third World Countries and domestic homeless shelters.  

As a part of our Green Initiatives philosophy, the ACE Conference Center is a proud hospitality partner with Clean the World’s soap collection program. 

As the world’s first, high volume soap recycler, Clean the World ensures that all bars of soap recycled and distributed domestically and abroad are completely safe and will not harm the end user due to disease or pathogens that can be transmitted if proper re-purposing does not exist.  Clean the World worked with ACE to educate our staff on the how-to’s of their soap recycling program, providing containers which our housekeeping staff uses weekly to deposit partially-used bars of soap.  Once collected, the soap is taken to a Soap Recycling plant located just outside of Washington, D.C. to be re-batched and sterilized.  Re-batching applies to 10% moderately to heavily used bars of soap.  The soap is cooked to remove all impurities, then re-formed into 2-ounce bars.  Then they sanitize 90% of the slightly used bars by soaking the bars in a sanitizing solution, and then treating the bars with a steam/pressure combination.   Once sterilized and re-formed, bars of soap are then shipped to countries like Haiti, Guatamala and Ethiopia, among others, where they’re distributed to villages, schools and churches for immediate use. 

For more information on the program please go to www.cleantheworld.org.

Tags: Clean the World Program, Community Involvement, Giving Back, Green Initiatives Programs, Non-profit work

The idyllic, spectacular natural setting of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania makes ACE Conference Center a favorite Greater Philadelphia conference center and event  location for educational, scientific, social and corporate groups. Our relaxed suburban atmosphere promotes creative inspiration, focus on the meeting content and valuable networking and idea-sharing amongst meeting attendees.  Whether your group’s goal is business or recreation (or both), our staff is dedicated and motivated to providing your group the best experience possible.  We have worked with various organizations and groups and pride ourselves on advising our clients on ways to ensure their meetings here are successful, efficient and FUN! 

Multiple function spaces, conference rooms and breakout rooms are available throughout the ACE Conference Center.  Our newly-renovated Lafayette Ballroom (shown above) is ideal for large gatherings and high-tech multi-media shows.   The adjacent outdoor terraces and patios provide ample opportunity to extend the conference space and usable event footprint. 

Additional conference rooms, auditoriums, classrooms and meeting rooms offer every meeting planner a wide variety of options to fulfill their client’s needs.   All meeting rooms have free wireless high-speed Internet access.  Cordless microphones, LCD projectors and additional audio/video equipment are available.    

Along with a savvy knowledge of the Philadelphia area, our Sales Team and Conference Planners can assist with all of your questions and concerns.

Tags: meetings event space conference center philadelphia hospitality