The Arboretum Ballroom host the Diamond Dash
5626 Wooldridge Rd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78414
Supporting Vendors: Fonzie Munoz Photography | Butler Signature Events | Fine Jewelry Outlet | Yolanda’s Specialty Cakes
What do Marilyn Monroe, Diamond Jim, and James Bond have in common?
If you haven’t guessed it by now, it’s a diamond. You know, that little thing commonly called a girl’s best friend. One of the few things that lasts forever.
That helps explain why over a hundred couples swarmed the streets of Corpus Christi on Saturday, August 28, 2010: the 3rd Annual Diamond Dash. The three-day event centered on a high-tech, city-wide treasure hunt where competing couples scavenged the city for the grand prize: a $25,000 diamond ring donated by Corpus Christi’s Fine Jewelry Outlet.
Throughout the event, the participating teams (made up of couples: 1 male and 1 female) received and solved clues that were delivered to their mobile phones. The entire game was played via text message, and location-based clues were delivered back and forth throughout the day.
Diamond Dashes happen across the globe; but never before has it taken a form like that of Corpus Christi’s own.
Three years ago, when Fine Jewelry Outlet’s Adam and Fred Hinojosa decided to host a dash, they brought a vision to it that has outshined even its grand prize.
“The whole goal is to join business owners who can help the community,” said Adam Hinojosa, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of FJO. “In the end, we’re promoting the city.”
Their model is this: attract young people and show them what Corpus Christi has to offer. If we can make that happen, said Adam, that $25,000 donation becomes an investment.
“If you plant that seed, you’re going to reap the harvest,” Adam said.
That motto belongs to his father, Al. A political consultant and former private investigator, Al Hinojosa has built a career by starting at the root of things: in order to complete the puzzle, paint the full picture, or form a sturdy relationship, each project starts with a single piece, a single stroke, or a single handshake.
Clearly, this is a lesson Adam and Fred have inherited.
No detail is too big or too small for the Hinojosas. Walk in their jewelry store, and hung on the walls are portraits of local models wearing the Hinojosa’s own handy work. All their little touches say one thing: community matters.
“We’re all about local,” said Adam. And that means letting Corpus Christi speak for itself.
“We promote our city by getting our own local businesses on board,” said Fred, “and it just so happens we have the same clientele. It all works out, and we all help each other.”
Take the winners of the 3rd annual Diamond Dash, Travis Mangum and Jessica Banfield, for example: on the Sunday following the event, Mangum proposed to Banfield with the ring the couple won. They now plan to utilize many of the vendors who volunteered services for the event, or perhaps pay another visit to a business that was featured as one of the clues.
They may even host their family at the same location: the Arboretum Ballroom and Courtyard. With over 5,000 square feet of space, the Arboretum is a spacious venue perfect for anything from a large corporate dinner gathering to a holiday reunion.
Yet, it eludes a softer atmosphere, as well. For the Diamond Dash, to illustrate the versatility of this space, the ballroom was cordoned off into three themes: Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”; Diamond Jim; and James Bond 007’s “Diamonds are Forever.” Mingled with gem chandeliers and elegant drapery, the ambiance of the multi-purpose ballroom spans anything from high-class to intimate.
“We are a flexible venue that does not try to be all things to all people,” said Arboretum owner Diane Gardner. “Rather, we focus on quality and value for our services, an affordable rental space, and different types of spaces that others don’t have.”
For instance, said Gardner, there’s the Arboretum Ballroom: a clean, bright, and new-feeling space that can accommodate anything from mid-sized family to a large business party. But their prize gem is what’s called the “Black Box.” Opening this fall, the Black Box is a welcoming theatrical space featuring a large, open-ceiling, black walls, and a black floor. All of it lends itself to creativity, experiment, and new ideas.
Finally, the Arboretum courtyard offers a lovely bay-side wedding and reception venue along Ocean Drive, Gardner said. However, its nautical vista and natural setting paints a gorgeous backdrop for a variety of events, such as the 3rd Annual Diamond Dash.
“We have capabilities beyond just a ‘one-size-fits-all’ event venue,” said Gardner. Plus, she said, “We knew that once they saw how committed we were to helping provide a really cool environment with our partners helping out, that we could make a name for ourselves as the ‘go-to’ venue.”
When Hinojosa approached the Arboretum about being the go-to venue for the dash, Gardner didn’t hesitate. “We instantly saw the Diamond Dash as a quality opportunity to help our neighbors execute a cool and creative promotion in the area,” she said.
“We wanted to show the community that we are committed to collaboration in the Corpus Christi business community,” said Gardner, “and to providing a real ‘home away from home’ for the young couples here in the area.”
Great venue for: Meetings, Weddings, Quinceaneras, Large Gatherings, Corporate Events, Banquets, Family Reunions, Fundraisers, Fashion Shows, Bridal Showers, Community Events, Rehearsal Space
For more information call 361-877-0085 or visit www.arboretumballroom.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2010 Gulfscapes Magazine | Craig and Victoria Rogers | PO Box 863 | Port Aransas, TX 78373 | 361-548-6804 | www.gulfscapes.com
The Arboretum in Corpus Christi Photos 2010 Copyright Craig Rogers of Gulfscapes Magazine
