The world headquarters for the Mary Kay cosmetics empire, Addison, TX, which is approximately 15 miles north of Dallas, is full of surprises. The entire town is fully Wi-Fi equipped (although coverage is not always free) and it is among the few places in the area where restaurants may serve alcohol by the glass. Planners will find a wealth of venues in Addison, thanks to the workforce that swells the town's population of less than 20,000 by five times each workday.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is approximately 12 miles to the southwest, but there is also, Addison Airport, which is the third largest general aviation facility in the U.S., perfect for corporate charters. On its grounds is the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, which allows events to be held with historic planes as a unique backdrop.
The Addison Conference Centre, right off the Dallas North Tollway, contains 6,600 square feet of conference space, catering to groups of up to 600. The Addison Theatre Centre, home to the WaterTower Theatre Company, has two areas seating 200 and 70 persons, respectively. The Stone Cottage, recently renovated, hosting up to 55 persons is a historical property.
Among the larger hotel venues in Addison are the 559-room InterContinental Dallas, with a whopping 110,000 square feet of meeting space; and the 446-room Crowne Plaza Dallas-Addison, with 30,000 square feet. (Also notable are the 548-room Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria, 145-room Courtyard Dallas Addison/Midway and 103-room Holiday Inn Addison.)
Restaurants offer a range of cuisine and style. Upscale Buttons Restaurant can seat 215 and has private event space, a music stage, a dance floor and a Southern menu, Relatively new is the Lion & Crown, a British pub that has decor from original bars brought over from England; its Victorian fireplace and darts and chess boards complement a British menu and a private room for 50. On Belt Line Road are Richard Chamberlain's celebrated restaurants: Chamberlain's Steak and Chop House has four private rooms seating 160 persons in total, while Chamberlain's Fish Market Grill has four private rooms seating 114 in total. The city's upscale Ethiopian restaurant, The Queen of Sheba, receives good reviews and has delicious food (although some might consider the sharing of large plates of the spongy bread-like wraps – called injera – more of a team-building experience).
