8 Ideas for Fall Entertaining in Washington

A rustic, three-piece pallet bar is one of the new rentals available for fall 2013 from Amaryllis. The overall footprint of the U-shaped bar is about 15 feet long and 6 feet deep, and open crevices on the façade can hold floral arrangements.

As electronic music grows in popularity, so will the use of laser light shows at events. “Laser lighting is going to skyrocket,” says Evoke event planner Jeannette Tavares. “I think more and more lighting professionals will invest in the technology. It really sets a fun tone.” John Farr Lighting Design in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, can provide a club-ready look (pictured).

New photo booth company iEvents launched earlier this year with an 18-megapixel camera and an open-air, frameless photo booth. The iEvents booth can capture as many as 24 guests in one photo. Photos are printed in color or black-and-white in just eight seconds and can be uploaded to social media networks via iPad.

For a teambuilding event with some European flair, boccie is a staple at newly opened Italian restaurant Vendetta. The Vespa-theme bar and eatery’s two 25-foot indoor boccie courts, constructed with gravel, decomposed granite, and compacted oyster shell flour, can be booked for group events.

In addition to home goods, new boutique Salt & Sundry in Union Market stocks locally made artisanal food products. As a culinary-minded corporate gift, try pickles from Gordy’s Pickle Jar, Growl Cold-Brew Coffee concentrate, barrel-aged maple syrup from Langdon Wood, or Snake Oil hot sauce from Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen.

When D.C.-based DJ Biks isn’t touring the world as the official concert DJ for musician Jay Sean, he’s playing at new clubs in Washington, such as Kabin, the Gryphon, and Heist Lounge. Expect a mix of hip-hop, top 40, world music, rock, house, and fusion on his playlist.

Glen’s Garden Market, a new locally minded grocery store in Dupont Circle, offers catering for office meetings and other events. Platters can include vegetable antipasto, sandwiches, deli meats, and cheeses such as Amish-made cheddar and Swiss.

Pastry chef and L’Academie de Cuisine graduate Meg Murray launched Thunder Pig Confectionery earlier this year, offering sweet catering options for events from her commercial kitchen space in Union Kitchen. Thunder Pig’s treats include pies, cakes, salted caramel squares, and raspberry-and-pink peppercorn truffles.