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General Information (NEW!)
Download general information (pdf), including hours and location of: Registration, Information and message centers, Internet café, Speaker Ready room, Placement service, and Special events and lectures.
Alma Dietz Actinomycete Lecture and Dinner
Monday, August 11. 6:30 PM Reception, 7:30 PM Dinner and Lecture. Cost: $70. To participate, complete form.
Guest Speaker: Russell Hill, Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, MD. "A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner: The challenging hunt for useful marine actinomycetes"
Fun Run/Walk
Tuesday, August 12 (in morning, prior to sessions). Participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt, snacks, and water. Run/Walk route and other details will be posted in the registration area. To participate, complete the Hold Harmless Form and fax to 703.691.7991 or email to meetings@simhq.org.
Student Luncheon
Wednesday, August 13 at 12:30 pm, room tba. Students only. Luncheon will include speed mentoring with SIM board members, awardees and session conveners.
(Sponsored by Apotex Fermentation)
Consultants Table
SIM is sponsoring a Consultants Table at the meeting. SIM consultants may display promotional literature and / or resumes for $25. To participate, complete this form. Contact membership@simhq.org with questions.
The SIM Annual Meeting and Exhibition will be held at the Town and Country Hotel in San Diego, CA. Click here to book your hotel room.
The Town and Country Resort is San Diego's largest privately owned Convention Center featuring 1,000 guestrooms, 250,000 sq ft of flexible meeting space, and experienced hospitality professionals that take care of every detail.
When you stay at the Town and Country Resort, you'll feel more like an honored guest than a visitor. They offer modern accommodations in two towers or ranch-style garden bungalows that capture the feeling of a cozy retreat. The Town and Country Resort room accommodations include a variety of in-room amenities: coffee maker, cable tv, movie channels, in-room pay movies, telephone and voice mail, data port, high speed internet access (nominal fee), video check-out, individual climate control, turndown service on request, iron and ironing board, clock radio, hair dryer, free weekday newspaper and room service (6:00am - midnight). Call for ADA reservations.
Get a dollar off Xpress shuttle service each way between the airport and your hotel using this here.
San Diego, with its sunny days and year-round mild climate, invites you to relax and play. This visitor-friendly city features dozens of world-class attractions within a short drive: SeaWorld, the Wild Animal Park, LEGOLAND®, and the most famous San Diego attraction—the San Diego Zoo, located in beautiful Balboa Park. Another favorite is Old Town, where you can experience the beginnings of San Diego history, shop in the Plaza del Pasado, and dine on great Mexican food. Picture a stroll through beautiful La Jolla as the sun sets over the blue Pacific Ocean.
Gaslamp Quarter – downtown San Diego
In the historic Gaslamp Quarter, consisting of 16½-blocks around Fourth and Fifth Avenues, grand Victorian-era buildings are home to more than 100 of the city's finest restaurants, 35 pubs and nightclubs and 100 retails shops, as well as theaters, art galleries, offices and residential/work lofts. When the sun sets, this downtown neighborhood attracts thousands of diners, shoppers, theatergoers, and nightclub patrons. www.gaslamp.org
Restaurants
Croce’s Restaurants & Bars, established by Ingrid Croce as a tribute to her late husband ‘70s singer/songwriter Jim Croce, is a local landmark combining live jazz and fine dining for more than 20 years. www.croces.com
With rich mahogany paneling and painted caricatures depicting famous San Diegans, George’s on Fifth is housed in one of the most photographed historical buildings in the Gaslamp Quarter and serves American classics, seafood and steaks. www.georgesonfifth.com
Visitors can embark on culinary journeys around the world when dining in the Gaslamp Quarter’s 100 restaurants. Cuisines to be savored include Afghan, Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Persian, Spanish, Thai and more. www.gaslamp.org
Nightlife
Located in an historic warehouse, Stingaree is a luxury restaurant and nightlife destination offering three stories, floor-to-ceiling waterfalls and translucent floating staircases leading to a rooftop bar retreat. www.stingsandiego.com
At Thin, partygoers perch on polished steel barstools and sip Cadillac margaritas in a futuristic setting. In the Onyx Room, located directly downstairs, urban beats move an energetic dance area and swinging lounge. www.onyxroom.com
At Side Bar, hipsters gather for hip-hop beats and house music, cool cocktails and a laid-back, retro, sophisticated lounge atmosphere. www.sidebarsd.com
At Café Sevilla, the DJ plays Latin disco and hip-hop music while flamenco dinner shows heat up the stage on Friday and Saturday nights. www.cafesevilla.com
The Field Authentic Irish Pub & Restaurant offers traditional Irish music, imported draft beer, Irish whiskeys, and award-winning pub fare in a setting that was shipped piece-by-piece from Ireland. www.thefield.com
Arts & Culture/Entertainment
The Horton Grand Theater is home to the hilarious, long running “Triple Espresso—a highly caffeinated comedy.” www.tripleespresso.com
The William Heath Davis Historical House Museum is the Gaslamp Quarter’s oldest surviving structure, a saltbox style home shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in 1850 in San Diego. www.gaslampquarter.org/history/thehouse.php
The Shout! House features dueling piano players sitting face-to-face at grand pianos and performing classic rock ‘n’ roll hits from the 50s to the present, driven by audience requests. www.theshouthouse.com
The Tim Cantor Gallery, www.timcantor.com, features oil paintings, writings and conceptual works of art; CJ Gallery, www.cjartgallery.com, showcases the work of contemporary Asian artists; Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts, www.mjwfinearts.com, displays fine art and works from emerging national and international artists; and Brokers Building Art Gallery, www.brokersgallery.com, offers one of the largest gallery spaces in downtown.
Tours
The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation offers a vivid re-creation of the Gaslamp Quarter’s history with a guided walking tour. Foundation guides share stories from the late 1800s when the area flourished as a red-light district. www.gaslampquarter.org
Shopping
Visitors looking to expand their wardrobe can head to Volcom, www.volcom.com, with clothing for the skateboarding and snowboarding youth; Splash Wearable Art, showcasing Indonesian-inspired fashions; Villa Moda, www.villamoda.com, offering women’s apparel and jewelry; Kurios, www.kurios.com, featuring fashionable clothing and accessories; and Future of Style, www.futureofstyle.com, selling designer urban fashion for men and women.
Guests can decorate their homes with unique pieces from Highlights Lighting, www.highlightssandiego.com, featuring beautifully crafted contemporary lighting; Kita Ceramics & Glassware, www.kitaceramicsglass.com, offering imported wares from Italy and Japan; Avitatt, www.avitatt.com, a furniture and accessories boutique; and Opium Gallery, www.opiumgallery.com, selling exotic furniture and gifts.
Old Town
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park presents the opportunity to experience the history of early San Diego by providing a connection to the past.
Experience life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872. Even today, life moves more slowly in this part of San Diego, where the hustle and bustle is balanced with history and fiestas. Visitors are offered a glimpse into yesteryear, as converging cultures transformed San Diego from a Mexican pueblo to an American settlement. The buildings are old or built to look that way, and the departure from urban sprawl is preserved. Five original adobe buildings are part of the historic park, which includes museums, unique retail shops, and several restaurants.
La Casa de Estudillo is a mansion built around a garden courtyard. La Casa de Machado y Stewart is full of artifacts that reflect ordinary life of the period. Some of the other historic buildings include the Mason Street School (California's first public schoolhouse), La Casa de Machado y Silvas, the San Diego Union Printing Office (site of the city's earliest newspaper office), and the first brick courthouse. The Seeley Stables Museum, with newly rehabilitated exhibits on overland transportation, houses one of the finest wagon and carriage collections.
Visitors can experience a working blacksmith shop, enjoy music, see or touch the park's burros and engage in activities that represent early San Diego.
San Diego became California's first Spanish settlement when a mission and fort were established in 1769.
Relive the exciting early days of California in Old Town San Diego. This charming area minutes from downtown and Mission Valley is home to the beautiful Bazaar del Mundo, Old Town State Historic Park, and a superb shopping and dining district.
Shops & Attractions
You’ll love the Bazaar del Mundo’s tinkling fountain and fiesta atmosphere, where unusual shops with treasures from all over the world surround a flower-scented courtyard. There’s a great toy store for kids and Mexican imports for adults. The “fun” shops have stuff kids love — polished rocks and gemstones, candy, old west souvenirs, and more. Right next door (at San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street) is Old Town State Historic Park. This special complex has the open, “olden-days” feel of San Diego circa 1821–1872, with five original adobes. A short stroll away, Old Town proper boasts great restaurants, a general store, gift shops, antique stores, and more. It’s also the location of the infamous Whaley House, a Victorian mansion and historical museum complete with resident ghosts. For a fun theater experience, visit “The Theatre in Old Town,” at Juan and Twiggs Streets, where there’s “not a bad seat in the house.” Lovely Presidio Park lies a few blocks north of Old Town and features cool green lawns, shade trees, and spectacular views of the bay and harbor. Aficionados of California mission architecture will enjoy the historic Serra Museum.
Dining
With so many fine Mexican restaurants to choose from, it’s no wonder so many San Diegans dine right here. Locals and shop owners say Casa De Bandini cooks the best Mexican food in Old Town; you can savor a sizzling plate of fajitas, fresh tortillas, and a frosty beer in its south-of-the-border-flavored patio.
Logistics
The Old Town State Historic Park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free for five museums. You might want to check out the Robinson-Rose House, which serves as the visitor center. Parking for the Old Town area is available in free lots and along streets, but they can fill up fast during weekends and summers… so why not hop aboard a bright red San Diego Trolley? The Old Town Station is easy to reach from downtown or Mission Valley.
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
California First Church
First of the 21 missions and known as the Mother of the Missions, Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded on July 16, 1769 by Blessed Junipero Serra. It was designated as a Minor Basilica in 1976 by Pope Paul VI. The Mission today is an active Catholic Parish in the Diocese of San Diego.
San Diego Zoo
Join the wild bunch at the San Diego Zoo and discover why folks return again and again to San Diego’s most famous attraction!
Exhibits
The first exhibit you’ll see at the San Diego Zoo is the much-photographed Flamingo Lagoon. Also near the entrance is the Children’s Zoo, which features 30 child-size exhibits, the Petting Paddock, and a baby animal nursery. These are the best stops for children, along with the Wegeforth Bowl (home of the popular Sea Lion Show) and the Hunte Amphitheater shows. Then there’s the Giant Panda Research Station, home to the San Diego Zoo’s most famous residents. Other attractions include Polar Bear Plunge and Elephant Mesa, where you can watch the chimps play and listen to colorful birds sing. The whole family will enjoy the gorilla and orangutan exhibits. And, while it’s easy to be enraptured by the animals, don’t forget that the San Diego Zoo’s broad mesas and steep canyons host an astounding variety of tropical and sub-tropical plants. Many feature interpretive signage with information about their country of origin.
Getting Around in the Zoo
Explore the San Diego Zoo on foot, take a guided bus tour (for an additional charge), or try some combination of both. Keep in mind that walking the entire park can be very strenuous, especially for elderly folks and children (parents may want to rent strollers). The bus tour is ideal for families with children under 6 and for those who prefer to relax as a knowledgeable guide shares stories of the Zoo inhabitants. You’ll see 75 percent of the Zoo on a 40-minute tour. Express buses stop at five locations throughout the Zoo (these stops are also included with the bus tour). For an aerial view of the Zoo and Balboa Park, Skyfari—a great option for families—has east and west terminals.
Dining & Shopping
Dining choices abound throughout the Zoo. Food carts are always close for a quick snack or a cool drink. The Treehouse Café (in the Treehouse complex near Gorilla Tropics) offers casual meals in a beautiful garden setting. Albert’s is another favorite. The Zoo’s world-class gift shops, with their international flavor, make fun destinations on their own.
SeaWorld
Highlights
Where can you look a shark in the eye and live to tell the tale? Only at SeaWorld San Diego! One of California’s premier family vacation and travel destinations, SeaWorld features some fabulous aquatic shows, amusements, and other adventures. No wonder both kids and adults love this place—it’s educational as well as profoundly entertaining.
Aquatic Shows & Exhibits
First on the list are SeaWorld’s aquatic shows. A “must-see” is Shamu’s Adventure (Hint: If you want a big splash, sit in the first 14 rows). Other SeaWorld institutions include Dolphin Discovery, Pirates 4-D, and Pets Rule, where dogs, cats, and pigs get into the act. Meanwhile, at Shark Encounter, you view hundreds of sharks in a huge habitat. Then visit a sea creature we all love—the dolphin—at Rocky Point Preserve, where you can learn about them, watch them play, and maybe even feed one. Other SeaWorld crowd-pleasers include Penguin Encounter (yes, there’s snow in San Diego) and Wild Arctic.
Amusements & Other Great Attractions
Make time for some hands-on fun at Shamu’s Happy Harbor, where kids can climb rope ladders, play in the sand, and pretend to be pirates. Kids especially enjoy California Tide Pool, where they can touch starfish. No SeaWorld visit is complete without a scary ride. Guests over 42 inches can enjoy an exciting journey down rough water, through an underground cavern on Shipwreck Rapids. After the wild voyage, you can relax at Shipwreck Reef Café for a meal or a treat… you may even get to meet animals and their trainers!
For more information check www.seaworld.com or call SeaWorld at (619) 226-3901.
Balboa Park
Highlights
Balboa Park—the heart and soul of San Diego—is a verdant oasis situated minutes from downtown, the harbor, and Mission Valley. Imagine wide green lawns, tinkling fountains, Spanish architecture, lush gardens... Balboa Park’s 15 diverse museums span interests like aerospace, sports, fine art, folk art, history, and dinosaurs. Part with some cash or visit all day for free; Balboa Park’s offers a wide range of low or no-cost activities for the entire family. But be forewarned: You may just find yourself returning to Balboa Park’s 1,200 visitor-friendly acres again and again—just like a native San Diegan!
Getting Oriented
Stop at Balboa Park’s Visitor Center to familiarize yourself to get oriented, pick up an Events Guide, check out the free Tuesday museum schedule, and learn about the Passport Program (if you plan to visit several museums). You can also find out about deals that include admission to the San Diego Zoo at great savings.
Museums & Culture
Visit the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for an unforgettable film experience and over 30 interactive exhibits. Kids love to play around the wonderful fountain adjacent to the Science Center. At the Spanish Village Art Center, watch artists work amid the ambiance of a traditional plaza complete with a flagstone patio, flowers, and fountain. There are playgrounds throughout the Park, along with trails for hikers and bikers. Explore the reflecting pool, visit the Arboretum, stroll the walkways, enjoy the Spanish Architecture or bring a picnic lunch. On weekends, the miniature train—a favorite for kids—runs all day, as does the carousel, with its brightly painted horses and animals. And don’t be surprised to hear the chatter of monkeys or the squeal of baboons—after all, you’re next door to the San Diego Zoo.
Dining & Entertainment
Balboa Park offers a range of dining options. Choose from snack carts, the full-service Prado Restaurant in the House of Hospitality, or the Tea Pavilion at the Japanese Friendship Garden. The Park is also home to the famous Globe Theatres—stop by and check the schedule of plays.
Mission Bay Park
Mission Bay Park is San Diego’s biggest playground. This water wonderland boasts 27 miles of shoreline, 19 miles of sandy beaches, free parking, great playgrounds, picnic sites, barbecues, and basketball and volleyball courts. Plus, it’s minutes from the airport, Mission Valley, and downtown. Since the park covers over 4,000 acres, it pays to stop at the San Diego Visitor Information Center located off I-5 at Clairemont Drive, right on Mission Bay. This attractive center, open from 9 a.m. to dusk, is a treasure trove of info with a gift shop, exhibits, and helpful maps. And it’s the perfect spot to begin exploring Mission Bay. Walk down the wide path that curves around the bay, take off your shoes, and feel the warm sand or maybe dip a toe in the beckoning water. Or hop in the car and cruise East Mission Bay Drive to get a feel for the area.
Mission Bay Park is set up for a range of activities that make it fun for both kids and adults — swimming, skating, bicycling, kayaking, jet skiing and waterskiing, or just relaxing on the beach. You can also take some sailing lessons, rent a boat, or play golf or tennis. Youngsters can frolic in the water or playgrounds. Logistics
Most of Mission Bay Park’s swimming beaches feature rest rooms with showers, along with seasonal lifeguards. Mission Bay’s numerous hotels and resorts bring you close to the action and offer much more than just a place to sleep. The park is also convenient to many other San Diego attractions, including Sea World.
San Diego Harbor
Highlights
Take a harbor cruise and experience San Diego from a dolphin’s perspective. Stroll, bike, or skate to or from Seaport Village. Relax and count the sailboats against the backdrop of the graceful Coronado Bay Bridge. A lovely seafood meal, a ferry boat ride at twilight to Coronado… just a few of San Diego’s endless possibilities.
Harbor Attractions
The Embarcadero (Spanish for wharf) along Harbor Drive covers the area from the Star of India to Seaport Village. Consider starting along the scenic San Diego Harbor and strolling from Embarcadero Marina Park, which borders Seaport Village and the San Diego Convention Center, to the Star of India, the oldest active sailing ship in the world and the pride of San Diego. Embarcadero Marina Park is not only a great place for the kids to run around, but it offers of San Diego’s best views. On the way, you’ll pass Broadway Pier, where the Coronado Ferry and Harbor Cruises depart. A little farther, at Harbor Drive and Ash Street, lies the Star of India. Don’t miss walking the decks of this magnificent ship and discovering San Diego’s rich maritime heritage. The other vessels in the Maritime Museum fleet are also well worth a visit.
Dining & Shops
For lunch, dinner, or anything in between, try Anthony’s Fish Grotto, Fishette, or the upscale Star of the Sea, also at Harbor Drive and Ash. Back at Seaport Village there’s always something happening in addition to the charming shops and diverse restaurants.
Logistics
Harbor Drive has metered spaces. There’s also free parking at Embarcadero Marina Park (by Convention Center and Seaport Village) and 2-hour free parking at Seaport Village (with any purchase). You can also park at the pay lot at Ash Street and Pacific Coast Highway (just east of and parallel to Harbor Drive).