Your Guide to the Interactive Local Media (ILM) Conference 2008 in Santa Clara

The Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, where ILM ’08 will be held, is conveniently located near many attractions — if you even need to leave! There are amenities to sort any measure of visitor from WiFi in every room to scenic jogging paths surrounding the hotel grounds, perfect for keeping fit in the balmy Northern California weather. The hotel also offers its own gourmet dining experiences and a lounge where you can unwind from a long day at the convention over drinks with some of your new found contacts.

At the end of the day, retire to one of the 501 guest rooms with marble baths, Hyatt’s unique “Grand Beds” and views of the city.

The closest airport to Santa Clara, it’s a scant 5 miles from the Hyatt Regency.

A good 30 miles from Santa Clara, SFO has a lot more flights, but no easy way to get to the Hyatt. You may have to gulp rent a car!

Luckily the Hyatt has all the print and copy facilities you could need, because the nearest Kinkos is 2 miles down the road.

No one wants to listen to a presentation by a guy in a wrinkly suit.

3 miles south of the Hyatt and recently remodeled, the Biltmore will make sure you get a good night’s sleep so you can be up in time for convention FUN.

Suites, standard rooms, 250 thread count sheets, a fitness center and pool — all of this located less than a mile from the Hyatt. Good deal.

Walking distance from the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara is California’s Great America, one of America’s great amusement parks. With everything from thrilling roller coasters to family friendly carousels, you could spend more time here than you probably have. They even have a water park! Who needs a convention when you have a WATERPARK?

The Mission Santa Clara de Asis was founded in 1777 and was the first Mission to be named in honor of a woman. You can still attend mass here (find the schedule online ), or you can just go and look around as it is open to visitor’s everyday. Today it sits on the campus of Santa Clara University.

Perhaps the most famous of any Silicon Valley attractions, the WInchester Mystery House is just what it sounds like — a mysterious old house. It was the residence of Sarah Winchester who was the widow of WIlliam Winchester, inventor of the WInchester rifle. After her husband’s death, Sarah began construction on this house and it didn’t stop until she dies come 38 years later. Today, you can go visit the house and tour the 160+ rooms, marvel at the bizarre architecture and get genuinely creeped out.

Explore the history of Intel’s silicon technology at the Intel Museum in Santa Clara. You can put on a sterile suit (like in those funky commercials! ‘member those?), learn about binary code and generally indulge all your geeky tendencies.

Who doesn’t love a bargain?The Great Mall is the largest outlet mall in all of Northern California and quite close to Santa Clara. I think it’s a sign: You. Must. Shop.

Don’t confuse this local treasure with a winery — they are purveyors of MEAD. Made from honey, drank by vikings, enjoyed by all. Their multitudes of mead is available for sale, so you can take a little taste of the Silicon Valley back to your neck of the woods. But be sure to drop in early, these meaderies are in bed by 7.

A cozy diner with standard American breakfast fare. This cafe is popular, so if you’re in a hurry you might be best off grabbing a seat at the counter. After all, the food’s the same!

An Italian and American bistro that also offers an extensive breakfast menu until 3PM.

Whether you’ve got someone you really want to impress or just an unlimited expense account, you may want to check out Parcel 104 while you’re in the neighborhood. With a menu that is constantly evolving based on what’s fresh or just Executive Chef Robert Sapirman’s whim, it’s been consistently rated one of the best in the city. You just couldn’t go wrong at a place that serves Nutella Swirl Ice Cream!

From comforting favorites like Beer Battered Onion Rings to the upper eschelon of dining like Filet Mignon, Birk’s runs the gamut of a steakhouse. Conveniently located, conveniently priced, and with an award winning wine list, Birk’s hits the spot.

Crispy pizza with inventive topping combinations, an impressive Cobb salad and a cozy bar for apertifs. Bonjourno, Piatti!

Feel like skipping out on the convention a little early? Head over to Pedro’s Restaurant for Happy Hour. Load up on FREE appetizers and Margaritas muy baratos (that’s CHEAP). You’ll think better on a full stomach anyway.

Pasta? Check. Pizza? Check. Reasonable prices? Check. Convenient location? Check.
Ok, I think we have a winner for Local Tomato Sauce Dispensary.

If you’re looking for a meal that low on pretension and high on flavor, you might want to check out the Athena Grill. Good, authentic Greek food in a comfortable if not impressive atmosphere.

This fresh and friendly Chinese/Korean restaurant will probably have something to please anyone. But if not, it’s conveniently located on a strip in Santa Clara that is densely populated with restaurants, mainly of the Far East variety. One way or another, no one will go hungry if you try out Tong Soon.

This cafeteria-style deli with a salad bar and grill offers decent greasy spoon breakfasts and hot and cold sandwich lunches. It’s not gourmet, but sometimes you just want a sandwich.

Stop in at Pepper Lunch for Udon Noodles, Angus Rib Eye or all manner of traditional and not-so-traditional Japanese dishes. Despite the name, they’re also open for dinner most nights.

If you’re really looking to shake things up and have an adventure, try Club Bahia in neighboring Sunnyvale. A diverse crowd enjoys weekly drag shows, stiff drinks and a colorful scene.

Don’t miss the big game just because you’re at a conference. Grab a beer and watch it at Bronco’s.

Scantily clad dancing girls and stiff drinks. What more could you want?

Well, probably a lot, but that’s all you’ll find at Candid Club.

Santa Clara’s most popular lesbian dance club. Sorry, Santa Clara’s ONLY lesbian dance club. Either way, guaranteed a good time.

If you stop in at the Office Max, you might notice this place because it’s in the same shopping center. True to its name, the VIPs here are most often Asian-American, but everyone will be friendly whether you fit this description or not. Wash down fried chicken and seafood pancakes with Peach flavored Soju and your night will definitely be off to a good start.

You might throw a strike or you might strike out…you never know when you spend an evening Moonlite bowling.

Escape for a few hours and hit the links at this public golf and tennis club, right next to the Hyatt. If you’re feeling peckish, the club also houses David’s Restaurant with a menu broad enough to please anyone in your group…and pricey enough to put it on the expense account.