Private events in Balboa Park, from an informal outdoor reception at the Natural History Museum to an elegant sit-down dinner at the Museum of Art, are an exciting option for those planning a business get-together.

Available evenings only from 5 p.m. to midnight, the Museum of Photographic Arts offers sit-down dinners for up to 160, and receptions for up to 400 in its atrium and galleries. The bill runs from $750 to rent the 226-capacity theater alone, to $2,000 for the atrium and galleries, to $2,500 for the entire museum and bookstore. Tables, chairs and guards are included. Special events manager Jill Jones Mason says MoPA's atmosphere is its standout feature.

"It’s a very beautiful, open, airy space. The museum has 24-foot ceilings and beautiful tiled floors. Photography appeals to a lot of different people, where certain art only appeals to some people."

Everything from a small, intimate event to a large party for 2,000 people is available at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. The price varies from $250 for one room to $5,000 for a four-hour party at the Fleet. The 300-seat domed IMAX theater is rented separately, with the $1,500 to $2,500 price tag depending on the time of party and film playing. The interactive, hands-on exhibits and San Diego’s only IMAX theater make the Fleet a unique party experience, says special events manager Jana Purdy, who adds the museum can be used for meetings, dinners and receptions too.

Offering choices from a 10-person conference room for $100 to a 1,500-capacity reception at $5,000, the Hall of Champions "is considered the 'new' hot spot to hold special events," says Marchelle R. Hedrick, event coordinator. Two highlights of this museum are the 2,744-square-foot Center Court with its 56-by-49-foot hardwood floor, 30-foot ceiling and surrounding balcony, and the 68-by-34-foot Zable Banquet Room with 12 1/2-foot ceilings and a 904-square-foot terrace overlooking the park. The prices are for a four-hour event, and include access to exhibits, two security guards, an event coordinator and basic janitorial.

The San Diego Museum of Art allows people to use the museum as a contribution to being a member of its Business Circle. Members can rent the 500-capacity standing and 160-capacity seated Thornton Rotunda and Upper Rotunda, with full access to the permanent collection, for $5,500. The Thornton Rotunda alone, with entrance to the first-floor permanent collection and capacity for 250 standing and 100 seated, costs $3,300. SDMA's multipurpose Copley Auditorium, with capacity for 400 standing and 250 seated, goes for $1,680. The fees are for four-hour events and include security and use of the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Garden. Special events coordinator Gina Phillips says grace and diversity are the museum's unique benefits.

"When you come into the rotunda, it provides elegance and atmosphere. When you call the public relations office of Balboa Park and say you want an elegant party, they automatically suggest the Museum of Art. There are so many options you can tie your event into, not only inside but outside. We have a great variety of art Ð European, American, Asian and contemporary. It will be a unique event that offers enrichment."

Groups of any size from 20 to 7,000 are welcome to choose from a selection of indoor and outdoor venues at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Ronnie Schneider, director of special events, can handle receptions, fund raisers, gala parties and more. Evening private party guests have exclusive access to the museum's traveling and permanent exhibits, plus the laboratory areas. Event prices vary depending on the configuration of the current traveling exhibition, size of the party, and the details and requirements of the individual client. The museum is under construction to double its 85,000-square-foot space by spring of 2001.

"Once the new building is up, we’ll be able to seat 500 guests at a formal dinner, accommodate up to 2000 in reception and have a 300-seat, fully equipped theater," Schneider says. Flexibility and a constantly changing atmosphere are the museum's best qualities. "Other museums are more formal," Schneider notes. "We can be much more flexible in our events. My museum looks different every month."

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Cox Communications recently finished construction on part one of a fiber optic network from north Park Boulevard down to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Trenching began late last year and part two, which extends the network from the Fleet to the San Diego Hall of Champions, is under way. The Fleet and the Natural History Museum will be the first of the park's museums to get connected.

"The fiber optic network allows for Internet access, high-speed data and closed-circuit television for over half a million customers," says Steve Gautereaux, v. p. of network management at Cox. "We provide free cable service to schools, so if a scientist were speaking at the Natural History Museum, we could transport that signal through our network and onto a cable channel and a school could watch it live." Students viewing the Webcast could ask the scientist questions via the Net or telephone. Furthermore, Natural History Museum staff can use the fiber to access the Internet for research. "We hope it’s a teaching tool," adds Gautereaux.
The Fleet Center staff also extols the educational benefits of the fiber. "We think it’s great they agreed to get the cable in," says Jeffrey Kirsch, executive director. "I see it in the future because Cox is interested in getting it out to schools." Kirsch values the network's ability to connect to other museums around the world. "For example, we want to establish a high definition image data bank that is being produced by San Diego scientists and scientists throughout California, such as San Diego Supercomputer Center," he says.

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Douglas C. Evans takes charge as the Old Globe Theatre's new managing director on July 3; Larry Urrutia, the Museum of Art's curator of contemporary California art, retires in June.

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Finally, more than 15,000 people are expected at Park Boulevard and President's Way for food, live chef demonstrations, fine wine and beer, and live jazz, blues and rock music during the second annual Union-Tribune San Diego A La Carte festival on April 29 and 30. Chefs from Tupelo, Kemo Sabe, Pacifica del Mar, Humphrey's and La Provence perform live cooking demonstrations, while music supplied by Street Scene's Rob Hagey includes Buckwheat Zydeco, Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys, Big Time Operator, Super Diamond and more. An entertainment area and a hands-on activity for kids also is part of the fun, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and free for children under 12, with food tastes between $1 and $5. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Call (619) 272-4463.