WHAT’S BETTER THAN A FABULOUS EVENT WITH GREAT COMPANY? A fabulous event with great company and a stunning vista, of course. With some of Texas’ most intriguing (and unexpected) views, these venues won’t disappoint.
ZACH Theatre
ZACH Theatre is Austin’s answer to Broadway. Founded in 1932, ZACH is the longest-running theater company in Texas, attracting 95,000 adults and youth, and employing more than 600 actors, musicians and designers annually.
And now it’s a stunning event venue, too. In 2012, ZACH added the 420-seat, 32,000-square-foot Topfer Theatre to its campus
on the shores of Lady Bird Lake.
The Topfer Theatre includes the Serra Skyline Lounge, with room for 80, and Terkel Terrace, with panoramic views of downtown Austin and an adjacent open-air People’s Plaza.
Designed by Andersson-Wise Architects, the firm that designed Austin’s renowned Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre, the Topfer’s iconic features include vivid Yves Klein-inspired blue metallic panels, nightclublike lounges offering an uninterrupted view of the State Capitol, and channel glass architectural
curtains that open to reveal a Juliet balcony and the People’s Plaza.
The 64,000-square-foot People’s Plaza is equipped with a custom Sperry five-pole tent with heating and cooling capabilities. The tent is designed to accommodate seated dinners that complement the Topfer Theatre’s capacity.
“The space is designed to take advantage of the views of Lady Bird Lake,” says Elisbeth Challener, managing director, “and the vistas from the Serra Skyline Lounge, especially that of Austin’s skyline, almost feel like you’re in a tree house.”
Additional ZACH event spaces include the Whisenhunt Stage and Lobby, a 130-seat theater-in-the-round venue; the Kleberg State, a 230-seat venue with lobby and patio access; and the Nowlin Rehearsal Studio, a 3,200-squarefoot space that accommodates 180 for seated dinners or 250 for cocktail receptions.
“We’re used to orchestrating extraordinary productions,” Challener says, “and that translates into unique events. We’re able to offer one-stop shopping for all of our events, providing catering, event décor and virtually anything else a client needs.”
Since opening its expanded event spaces, the campus has hosted everything from small corporate meetings to companywide retreats with breakout sessions and theater-driven product launches.
Rebecca Feferman, head of media relations for SXSW Film, used the Topfer Theatre and its accompanying lounges as one of its official screening venues for the 2013 festival. “Our attendees raved about the Topfer,” she says. “It was elegant, well-managed, comfortable and served as an ideal setting.”
Hotel Galvez & Spa
Ask Steve Cunningham, general manager of Hotel Galvez & Spa, what sets the venue apart, and he has an easy answer. “The history and elegance of the hotel,” he says of the 102-year-old property. “People walk through the doors and feel like they’ve gone to a different era. The character, the history, our Hall of History displaying artifacts-all of these things contribute to this feeling.”
The hotel’s largest spaces also happen to showcase some of the property’s most stunning views. The Terrace Ballroom, with soaring 18-foot ceilings and plentiful windows, can seat 150 for meals and 250 for receptions. The Music Hall accommodates up to 500 for cocktails, and the Veranda-a 2,500-square-foot sunlit space-seats 190 for meals. A spacious 106-by-88-foot lawn, known as Centennial Green, offers ideal space for special events.
Groups often plan a general session followed by breakouts and a meal on the green, which can be as elaborate as a luau with themed food stations, bars and grilled-on-site pork, Cunningham says.
Hallways along each side of Hotel Galvez add to the ambiance. “I often see people sitting in wicker chairs-all the furniture looks like it is from the 1920s and 1930s-looking out at the ocean,” Cunningham says. “It’s a great view.”
And that goes for the Galvez Bar & Grill, too. Thanks to a recently completed $900,000 renovation project, the hotel’s bar, restaurant and lobby are sporting a refreshed, refined look. The Galvez Bar & Grill now offers twice the capacity on two levels, with booths and seats as well as a community table for casual meetings. The expanded bar serves Prohibition-inspired cocktails and has a pianist on Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
MAX’s Wine Dive
It may not be your traditional view. In fact, MAX’s Wine Dive in Austin doesn’t really have windows at all. But the views from within this underground getaway-it spans an entire city block-are nothing short of spectacular: wine bottle chandeliers and sconces; exposed beams and brick walls; flexible spaces that encourage guests to mingle during parties; oh, and plenty of fabulous wine.
Whether groups rent the entire space or opt for one of three breakout spaces, there’s something special about gathering in a wine cellar, says Tracy Beacham, event sales manager.
Add MAX’S proximity to Austin’s downtown convention center and its penchant for polished comfort foods, like fried chicken and Champagne, and it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite for corporate events.
The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted an event for its customer advisory board in the venue. “We chose MAX’s because it’s ideally located just one block from the convention center, where our meeting was being held,” says Steve Genovesi, senior vice president of sales for the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Their terrific farm-to-table food and friendly service really embraces the excitement of what’s going on in Austin these days.”
MAX’s Underground has capacity for up to 540 guests (350 seated) in three event spaces: the Vintage Room (for 200 guests reception-style and 90 seated), Grand Reserve Room (300 reception-style and 175 seated) and Black Door Wine Lounge (40 receptionstyle and 35 seated). The Underground features works from local Austin artists, MAX’s signature gourmet comfort food and a unique wine selection.
Won’t be in Austin anytime soon? You’ll also find MAX’S Wine Dive in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
