Cocktail Parties/Receptions

Chinatown dim sum restaurant Ping Pong Dim Sum expanded its operations to Dupont Circle in August with the opening of its second Washington-area location. The 9,000-square-foot restaurant has six dining areas, including one private and one semiprivate, bringing the chain’s total event spaces to 11. The corner outpost is just one block off Dupont Circle and can seat 292 in total. The private dining room at the back of the restaurant can host 54 people for dinner or as many as 100 for receptions. Larger parties of 150 can use the semiprivate bar and lounge, which can be sectioned off from the dining rooms. Buyouts are available for groups as large as 600 inside, with additional standing room for 200 on the patio.

The Hilton McLean Tysons Corner is in the second phase of a three-part, $40 million renovation to its public spaces, dining options, guest rooms, and meeting space. Completed in April, on-site restaurant Härth can seat 110 in its main dining room and has a semiprivate space for 20. There is now 31,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 67-seat amphitheater, 15 breakout rooms, a grand ballroom that can accommodate as many as 1,300 people, and a new 3,000-square-foot junior ballroom that can be divided into three spaces. Upgrades to the 458 guest rooms include new motion-detector lighting, all-white linens, and a lighter palette. The renovations are expected to be completed in the fall.

The United States Institute of Peace got a new permanent headquarters last month with the opening of its 150,000-square-foot building on the National Mall overlooking the Lincoln, World War II, Korean, and Vietnam memorials. In addition to office space, the building has 14 event spaces, including two atriums for 200 and 325, a 230-seat theater, a plaza accommodating 275 for pre-event receptions, and a rooftop terrace that can host 200 people. There is also a meeting center with six conference rooms seating groups of eight to 30 as well as an executive boardroom for 20. On-site parking is available.