The OC Spotlight:

What's New in OC / Southern California   The Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza, a 100,000 square foot outdoor multi-use area designed for outdoor enjoyment and meeting space, officially opened on Saturday, Jan. 12, with a  ribbon-cutting ceremony and a free concert by the Orange County Symphony, Anaheim's resident symphony orchestra. Located off Convention Way at Harbor Blvd., the Grand Plaza creates a pedestrian esplanade that spans from the entrance to the Anaheim Convention Center and flows between the Hilton Anaheim and the Anaheim Marriott hotels. The Grand Plaza provides a uniquely Southern California outdoor environment that can be utilized year-round for a wide variety of events. The pedestrian plaza includes 151 palm trees (more than half of the palm trees in the new design were re-purposed from the existing landscape), 60 orange trees reminiscent of Anaheim and Orange County's citrus industry, a river of lights that will run through the middle of the plaza, water features symbolizing the mountains and ocean, a 48-foot lighted entry monument, and more than 80,000 square feet of colored concrete and pavers. Key elements to the Grand Plaza are its eco-friendly features: The lighting utilizes LED technology, adding to the energy efficiency and longevity of each fixture, and plants chosen for the design are drought tolerant.