Art, Culture and Fruit
See more colors than just Orange in the O.C.
By Morgan Saltz
Southern California is known as a coveted destination for its beaches and its reputation for being home to the beautiful and glamorous. With its portrayal in cinema and on reality television as being a place where plastic surgery and Ferraris are the norm and glamour is all important, the art and culture scenes in Orange County have started to represent the real people of SoCal. With much more substance than some might expect, the O.C. is attracting groups to its cultural centers, museums and public art spaces.
Proof Point No. 1
The ocV!BE, opening in 2024 in Anaheim, will be a community and live entertainment district that will bring two new hotels, more than 30 restaurants, four public plazas, 20 acres of green space, pedestrian bridges and a 6,000-capacity concert venue to the area between Honda Center and ARTIC.
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Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa Only a five-minute walk from the beach, stay in this oceanfront resort close to Huntington Beach Pier. This means you are never far from art—the 10-mile beachfront is a gallery of public art that has been accumulating since the 1960s.
1,100 sq. ft. event space; AV equipment; catering
Anaheim Convention Center Proudly holding the title as the largest convention center on the West Coast, the center recently underwent a nearly $200-million renovation and expansion and is close to Anaheim’s Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center.
53 acres; 1.8 million sq. ft. function space, space flexibility
Costa Mesa Marriott Just around the corner from the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and in the heart of the O.C. arts district is this arts-inspired hotel. Newly renovated to reflect the hip, modern region, the stylish hotel brings flare to its cuisine, décor and accommodations.
5,772 sq. ft. meeting space; 6 event rooms; 6 breakout rooms
Courtyard Santa Ana Orange County Even as one of the smaller cities in the region, staying and meeting in Santa Ana puts you right next to Avantgarden the Art Gallery and Orange County Center For Contemporary Art.
5,045 sq. ft. event space; AV equipment; in-house event services
Irvine Marriott In a college town like Irvine, you can be sure you’re never far away from rich cultural exhibits and activities. Stay right on Campus Drive at Marriott Irvine to be close to the University’s Art Gallery and the Irvine Museum.
30,375 sq. ft. even space; 32 event rooms; 20 breakout rooms
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Monthly Art Walk
Every month, Laguna Beach hosts First Thursday’s Art Walk. The free event provides a trolley service between different participating galleries and includes artist receptions with demonstrations, drinks and live music performances. Participating galleries can be found on the event’s website, many of which are available for hosting private events.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
This Costa Mesa theater stage is taking on Broadway’s biggest hits. There are shows for everybody—from the smash-hit Beetlejuice to the revival of Funny Girl and classics like Les Miserables. Running the Broadway series through October, groups can enjoy Broadway caliber talent in Southern California.
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Orange County Museum of Art
Founded by a group of women in 1962, what started as a small art gallery has now become one of the most modern and talked about art museums in Orange County. Several different private group tour options are available, including an option that includes dining at Verdant, the restaurant’s Café and Bar.
Surfing Heritage & Culture Center
Immerse your event or group activity in Southern California culture and learn about the history and significance of its surfing culture. With artifacts, memorabilia, the boards of famous surfers and with an intention to educate visitors, groups can have a private event or a group tour and share in the joy of catching waves.
Shakespeare by the Sea
With performances throughout Orange County and Los Angeles, Shakespeare by the Sea brings the iconic playwright to outdoor venues in Southern California. Groups can also opt into Bard’s Bites Boxed Picnics and dine al fresco stage-side in Southern California’s beautiful parks.
This article appears in the July/August 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
