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Short Takes - South February 2010

Museums & Attractions 

  • The Memphis Brooks Museum will be presenting Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present from June 26 through Sept. 26. The exhibition, organized by the Brooklyn Museum in New York, comprises behind-the-scenes images of artists such as R.E.M. at a lunch counter; live performances including the complete series of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar at the Monterey Pop festival; a range of portraits including Philip Townsend’s photographs of The Rolling Stones before they had a record deal; and finally the original source material for album covers taken by artists such as Andy Earl, Bob Whitaker, Jean-Paul Goude, Bruce Weber, David LaChapelle and Storm Thorgersen. Among the many artists captured are Tupac, Kiss, Bjork, The Ramones, Prince, Amy Winehouse and Metallica. For more information, call 901.544.6200 or visit www.brooksmuseum.org.
  • Half Moon, located at Rose Hall, Jamaica, is introducing a new interactive group program, the Villa Cook Off challenge. Groups are divided into teams with each team receiving a mystery basket consisting of over 10 items to make one meal, using all the items in the basket in just one and a half hours. Teams are judged by Half Moon’s executive chefs based on taste, balance, originality, creativity and preparation skills. The Villa Cook Off complements the resort’s new culinary offerings, including a new wine cellar and new signature restaurant Sugar Mill, which melds influences from Africa, Asia and Europe. The resort also has an on-property indigenous herb garden. For more information, call 800.626.0592 or visit www.halfmoon.com.

Programs & Packages

  • Planners who book a meeting through Visit Jacksonville can save with the new Cash for Contracts program, catering to groups with tighter budgets. Groups booking a minimum of 50 room nights in Jacksonville, Fla., will receive $5 for every room contracted. All contracts must be signed by Sept. 1, and if groups book their meetings by March 31for any time between July through December 2010 or the same time period in 2011, they will receive double their dollars in the Cash for Contracts promotion. For more information, call 904.798.9111 or visit www.cashforcontracts.org or www.visitjacksonville.com/meeting-planners.
  • During the first half of 2010, Steinhatchee Landing Resort in North Central Florida is offering planners of religious groups, conferences, corporate retreats and small meetings a 50 percent discount on accommodations and meeting space. Planners must reserve a minimum of 10 individual cottages. The offer is good through June 15 and groups must mention "groups welcome" when booking. The resort offers 50 one- to four-bedroom cottages, a 2,400-square-foot conference center and adjacent meeting space, a 2,000-square-foot chapel and expansive lawns for outdoor meetings and events. Possible areas for hosting team-building events include the property’s many gazebos, its croquet lawn, pool and pavilion area. The lodge can also arrange group fishing trips, off-property canoe and kayak adventures, pontoon boat cruises and guided nature excursions for bird watching. For more information, call 352.498.3513 or visit www.steinhatcheelanding.com.