August 2007

NEW ATTRACTIONS & MEETING SPACES

Downtown’s Coming Attractions Offer New Options for Off-Site Events

When it comes to urban development, downtown DC is red hot, with new office, retail and residential development on every street. Three new attractions are preparing to open, and with the Washington Convention Center just a few blocks away, it's no surprise to find that the newcomers come equipped with spectacular special events space.

Sidney Harman Hall
For event planners with a flair for the dramatic, The Shakespeare Theatre Company's new $85 million Harman Center for the Arts (opening Oct. 1, 2007) steals the spotlight. The flexible, 60,000 square-foot space can comfortably accommodate corporate gatherings, intimate weddings, charity galas, cocktail receptions and stage presentations alike. It's located on Sixth and F Streets NW, across from the Verizon Center, in the heart of the Penn Quarter arts and entertainment district.

With extraordinary design by architect Jack Diamond, the Harman Center shifts easily to various configurations for events of different shapes and sizes. There are separate orchestra and mezzanine-level lobby spaces that can accommodate up to 800 guests for a cocktail reception or 300 or more guests for a seated dinner. The Center's smaller Forum space is well-suited for wedding receptions, conferences and intimate performances. And because it's an active, working theatre, the facility is built with thick insulation to block out the sounds of the surrounding city, creating a quiet environment for speeches, presentations and music.

The eye-catching facility takes up the first five stories of a newly-constructed eleven-story building. The dramatic façade is designed with a three-story glass window, creating a marquee that attracts passersby to the light and movement within the theatre's lobby.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's original home, the 451-seat Lansburgh Theatre, may also be rented separately to accommodate a 300-person cocktail reception or a 200-person seated banquet. Both the Lansburgh Theatre and Harman Hall are equipped with phone, computer, fax and internet capabilities, sound and video projection and wireless access as well as bar and kitchen areas.

For more information on booking availability or to schedule a tour of the Harman Center's spaces, contact K Williams at (202) 547-3230 ext. 2206 or email EventInfo@ShakespeareTheatre.org.

Madame Tussauds, Washington, DC
The nation's capital is getting the Red Carpet treatment this fall as top celebrities, political leaders and A-Listers move into the newest outpost of the world-famous wax museum, Madame Tussuads, Washington, DC. And with the new museum's private events space, planners will be able to give their guests a brush with celebrity.

Known for its life-like wax interpretations of the stars, the $16 million, 27,000 square-foot project is located at the corner of 10th and F Sts. NW, in the historic Woodies Building. In its DC location, the museum gives visitors an opportunity for up-close interaction with notables like Abraham Lincoln, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Al Gore. They can view replicas of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and pose for pictures in a recreation of the Oval Office.

Mixing in modern celebrities and cultural icons, guests can also rub elbows with Beyoncé, J-Lo and Angelina Jolie and DC's own Duke Ellington, along with professional sports stars and legends like Mohammed Ali. They can even learn the trade secrets used to create the life-like figures with amazing accuracy in the interactive exhibition "Behind the Scenes."

For private parties, the museum boasts a reception area and "Glamour" party space that holds up to 150 guests for cocktail parties, benefits and social gatherings. Guests begin the evening by mingling with the celebs then feast on world-class food prepared by Restaurant Associates. Madame Tussuads, Washington, DC is slated to open Oct.1. For event information, contact Restaurant Associates at (202) 416-8579.

The Newseum
Coming soon to the same downtown neighborhood, the Newseum is another headline-grabbing venue. The high-tech, highly interactive museum is dedicated to the history of the news and how it's been presented through the years. For meetings and special events, there's a two-level, 24,000-square-foot Conference Center that leads guests to breathtaking views of the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court and National Mall. Two large, multifunctional spaces located on the sixth floor are outfitted with movable partitions that adjust to multiple meeting configurations, along with a "green room" equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment for clients to 'prep' before presentations. Smaller rooms for breakout groups, concurrent sessions or event overflow are just a flight up. Think it can't get any better? Celebrity Wolfgang Puck lends his culinary expertise to prepare meals for special events - also making his DC fine dining debut at the Newseum's destination restaurant, The Source. For more information, call 1-888-NEWSEUM.

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