Gathering Place

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

By Katie Wilmeth and Forrest Glenn Spencer

In the hills, along the rivers, in the hotels and the Dales, there is a special space made just for the occasion.

People have a need to meet. We like catered affairs and festive decors; we like others to pamper our needs and service our gatherings. In Northern Virginia, the travel and hospitality industries generate nearly $3 billion in tax receipts, and employ more than 80,000 workers. Venues for these social and business gatherings have become an integral part of our economy and a part of our way of life. We spotlight some of the region’s unique venues to party or do business, while including a guide to an array of other venues that cater to every need.

Alexandria

Lorien Hotel & Spa
This is the latest entrant from the Kimpton chain of boutique hotels and offers spa services (one of the only Kimpton’s to do so) and dedicated meeting space. Three thousand square feet is available and easily dividable into any formation for social events or business meetings, accommodating 35 guests or a few hundred. Chef Robert Wiedmaier and his restaurant have created a cuisine menu that complements every element of this elegant experience. 703-894-3434

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Once the oldest operating pharmacy in the United States, Stabler-Leadbeater is now a private museum with the original apothecary still intact. Available for parties up to 50. On-site staff can give guided tours and enhance the evening with themed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. A preferred vendors list is available that supports Alexandria musicians, caterers and rental necessities. 703-838-3852

Carafe Microwinery
Opened last year, this Old Town shop rents out space for private winemaking events. With the help of a wine expert, visitors get to mix their very own wine, bottle, cork it and take it home. With a minimum two-and-a-half case order, guests will be impressed by a private label commemorating the event, whether it’s a wedding, shower, birthday celebration or business meeting. 703-975-5759

Gadsby’s Tavern
Washington ate here, John Adams argued with people, and Andy Jackson stopped by for a drink. Gadsby’s has been an integral part of this region’s political and social life since the late 18th century. Today, visitors can bask in the rich history with a delicious meal and a drink from the barrel or the wine cellar, just as our colonial founders did when the nation was young. The building houses the Alexandria Ballroom (with original woodwork) for intimate affairs or corporate dinners. 703-548-1288

Arlington

Signature Theatre
The 48,000-square-foot, four-story theater is available for rent on dark nights. This modern theater in the center of Shirlington Village offers its facilities for parties, weddings or lectures for as few as 50 or much as 650. With a theatrical staff on hand, lighting and ambiance are two stand-out features. Lists of caterers and other vendors available. 571-527-1831

Windows Over Washington/Skydome Lounge/Mystery Dinner Playhouse
Located high atop the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City, the Windows Over Washington restaurant offers views from its 14-story vantage point. Under the same roof sits Skydome Lounge, a rotating panoramic cocktail bar with great views of Washington and Northern Virginia that’s decked out in neon lights and a dance floor. It’s Washington’s answer to the Rainbow Room. Add in a performance by the Mystery Dinner Playhouse (based out of Double Tree), and you’ve got one unforgettable evening. Accommodating groups 20 to 200.

Kettler Capitals Iceplex
Party with the Caps! The practice facility for the Washington Capitals ice hockey team can also be rented out for corporate events and birthday parties. This is the place for kids, with basic or deluxe party packages available, hockey-themed parties for boys and the Ice Princess Party Package for girls. At Ballston Commons Mall. 571-224-0555

Clarendon Ballroom
The go-to Arlington venue for everything from company holiday parties to high-school reunions, Clarendon Ballroom provides it all, from catering to music. The fact that there are some award-winning restaurants (Liberty Tavern is right next door, for one) within walking distance means you can keep partying even after your boss has gone to bed. 703-469-2244

Loudoun

Leesburg Animal Park
If you want to walk, talk, squeak and squawk with the animals, Leesburg Animal Park is your destination, one that features an array of exotic animals and facilities that can be rented out for corporate events or birthday parties. The 21-acre zoo provides picnic tables, pony rides and safari wagon rides. We’ll save our joke about how a monkey could do your boss’s job. 703-669-0010

Tarara Winery
Nestled on the bluffs near the Potomac River north of Lessburg, Tarara was voted Best Winery by the readers of Northern Virginia Magazine in 2008. One visit and you can see why: It’s an elegant country estate that also offers individuals or corporations a chance to hold private gatherings or concerts with facilities that include a 6,000-square-foot cave or two covered pavilions. Private wine tastings also available. 703-771-7100, ext. 250

Oatlands Historic House and Gardens
A stately historic estate that’s hosted countless weddings, Oatlands is available for meetings, banquets or corporate picnics. The carriage house meeting room is ideal for up to 60 people, evening events in the carriage house may utilize two adjoining rooms for dinner or cocktails, carriage house field is set for intimate outdoor receptions or company picnics, and the equestrian field accommodates larger groups. 703-777-3174

Raspberry Plain
On 50 acres overlooking the Catoctin Mountain, this Georgian colonial home and estate is one of the region’s historical treasures, complete with a grand conservatory, French doors, sparkling chandeliers and original wood moldings from the 1730s. Rehearsal dinners, business meetings or theme parties make Raspberry Plain a remarkable setting. The mansion house can be divided into three separate rooms, or combined for a total of 80 seated. The glass-paneled grand conservatory can seat upward of 200 and is configured for dinner and/or dancing. The manicured lawns and woodland surroundings are available for outdoor affairs of 200 guests. Located north of Leesburg. 703-777-1888

Lightfoot Restaurant
Located in historic Leesburg, Lightfoot is a grand restaurant with a private event staff. Small luncheons, corporate functions or wedding parties with four rooms are available. Their bridal suite is one of the county’s best-kept secrets and includes a private room for her special day. The Sheridan Room is their largest, for guest groups up to 150. Owners Ingrid and Carrie have established a warm and welcoming restaurant that serves all your needs with a cuisine that will make the experience memorable for many years. 703-771-2233

Thomas Birkby House
This historic site has been the home for many families since the 1770s. To enjoy it for your rent, select from the main house, carriage house or the gardens. Ron Rust and his wife Judy Kozacik have preserved the federal-style architectural qualities of the buildings and grounds while ensuring all the facilities are contemporary to meet the needs of weddings or business meetings. 703-777-2700

Fairfax

Mount Vernon
George Washington truly slept here. And ate here and walked the grounds, as you can, too. The granddaddy of historic sites is open to you as a venue with a new interactive show and upgraded rental facilities. The colonial-style Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant offers its grand hospitality to you and your guests. Included is an auditorium and reception spaces, with a glass-enclosed veranda and sunken garden. Functions start at $500. 703-780-0011

P.J. Skidoos
In business for more than 30 years, this restaurant is a favorite Fairfax hangout and also offers lunch and dinner banquet services, from weddings to religious ceremonies and club functions. With accommodations for 150, Skidoos fulfills that warm neighborhood welcome for a private function that includes wet bar, dance floor, private coatroom, environmental control and free parking. Various menu options available, from buffet, cocktail or main meal. 703-591-4515

National Air & Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
More than 9 million people visit Northern Virginia’s very own Smithsonian museum annually. For those interested, it’s available to host a completely cool (and very large) event underneath airplanes and space shuttles. Unlike most rental facilities, there are strict guidelines that must be followed, and your group will be scrutinized before permission is granted. Fundraisers and events such as weddings and birthday parties are restricted. 202-633-2340

The Grand Atrium at Tysons
Located minutes from Tysons Corner Center, this dedicated banquet facility is perfect for corporate functions in the area. Housed in a dark red-brick building and trimmed with green awnings, one of Northern Virginia’s premiere sites is available for social events, casino nights and black-tie affairs. The facility offers extensive services from catering to music, beginning at $50 per person. 703-698-0228

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
A favorite for weddings. The atrium, which consists of the Iris Room, Garden Room, Lilac Room and terrace, serves as the principal event facility with an indoor stream and fountain and 2,000-square-foot cathedreal skylight, offering space for 170 seated guests or 300 standing. A complete preparation kitchen and vendors lists is provided. The gardens are climate-controlled and seasonally landscaped. Located off 267 in Vienna, near Wolf Trap. 703-255-3631

Great Falls Grange
The Fairfax County Park Authority owns and operates nearly a dozen historical properties, including the Great Falls Grange, which was built in 1929 and is suitable for seated guests of 150, or a cocktail party of 200. Any type of ceremony can be held in the facility, complete with contemporary necessities. The 8-acre site includes picnic tables and a playground, and the neighboring Forestville Schoolhouse can be made available for small seminars. Located on Georgetown Pike, Route 193 West. 703-827-0609

Fauquier

Marriott Ranch
Nearly 50 miles west of the Beltway in Hume is a corporate and social retreat with everything from scavenger hunts in Range Rovers to cooking classes. Forty-two hundred acres of activity space and 3,800 square feet of meeting space are available with private guest rooms or formal garden receptions. There’s even an “Old West” street with barbecue pits and picnic tables. 540-364-2627

Black Horse Inn
For more than 150 years, the Black Horse Inn has been a site of comfort and care, first as a hospital during the War Between the States and now as a nine-room bed-and-breakfast. Ideal for corporate retreats and weddings, the site includes private rooms and a gazebo. Regional activities include wine tasting, fox hunting and horseback riding. Canopied beds and Jacuzzis are valued added pleasures in this outside-the-Beltway inn. 540-349-4020

Ashby Inn
Only 40 minutes from Dulles in the rolling green hills of our hunt country is the 1829 Ashby Inn, a romantic and secluded getaway that is perfect for any wedding, and available for any gathering. The back lawns and patio with a view of the Blue Ridge foothills is the stuff of wedding planners’ dreams. Imaginative formal and buffet menus are constructed around any affair. 540-592-3900

Stafford

Potomac Point Winery
This winery has a number of rooms for banquets and parties—from a ballroom for large parties to a wine cave for more intimate events. This Mediterranean-style estate offers a number of Vines to Vows wedding packages, and rates range from hourly to full day, it’s all yours for a party of two or a gathering of 250. Potomac Point is located on the historic Widewater Peninsula near Quanitco. 540-446-2250

Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont
Gari Melchers was an American painter and sculptor who moved to Northern Virginia during WWI. Ten years after his death in 1942, his home and studio were bequeathed to Virginia, and today they are open for tours and available for events in the pavilion, which includes banquet seating for 100. The estate’s woodlands-surrounded gardens with summer house overlooking the Rappahannock River are also rentable for weddings and other festivities. 540-654-1015

The Riverside Center Conference Facility
Touted as Fredericksburg’s premiere multipurpose facility, this conference facility and adjoining dinner theater can host up to 450. Unlike other facilities, its versatility makes the center ideal for training seminars, trade shows and job fairs—an hour’s drive from D.C. on Interstate 95. If you want to get married in the historic region of Fredericksburg, Riverside Center should be on your must-consider list. 540-370-4300

Prince  William

The Old Manassas Courthouse
The big man himself, President Taft, was here for the 1911 Peace Festival. Located in Old Town Manassas and surrounded by the rich history of the area, this architectural treasure was restored and rehabilitated eight years ago to include an elegant ballroom with tall glass windows looking down upon the manicured grounds, a prep kitchen and ease of access through a welcoming first-floor foyer. Tenting options are available on the grounds, too. The Courthouse is one of four rental options through county services in Prince William, starting at $350. 703-499-9812

Foxchase Manor
In the heart of Virginia Hunt Country is a Jeffersonian manor that includes two ballrooms. Through the marbled entrance hall, you can choose the grand ballroom with its 18-foot ceilings, 45 crystal chandeliers and accommodation capacity of 600 guests. The small ballroom seats half, and both rooms open upon the other for one impressively sized gathering. Both rooms are ideal for any wedding or corporate event with complete facilities for caterers. 703-369-3638

National Museum of the Marine Corps
The first thing you notice is a titled mast atop a 160-foot glass atrium. Housed on a 135-acre site in Quantico is the new museum honoring America’s Devil Dogs and Leathernecks. But this facility is more than a museum exhibiting the Corps’ honored history. It includes a memorial park, parade grounds, a hotel, and conference and event facilities. Eight hundred and fifty seated guests, or 1,000 standing, can enjoy the opulent surroundings with catering provided by Guest Services, Inc., and admire the heritage of the brave men and women who defended our freedoms with their lives. Private access to exhibits and galleries also available. 703-649-2352

Piedmont Club
Thomas Jefferson knew this land well, but it wasn’t until Tom Fazio designed a world championship course that Haymarket landed on the map. While golf is the main theme, the good folks at the Piedmont Club offer indoor or outdoor facilities for any event imaginable. Every service and nuance conceivable is available, ranging from a dance floor to ice sculptures and personalized wine bottles, as well the usual chairs, tables and china options. Various packages are available for weddings and bar mitzvahs, or board meetings, or baby showers. Shout “Fore!” and watch the birdie. 703-753-5922

(April 2009)

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