A Sweet Time
ACKC Cocoa Bar, a joint venture from the owners of Alexandria’s Artfully Chocolate and Kingsbury Confections, offers private tastings for as many as 60 people in its shop near Logan Circle (as well as off-site). Groups can also take a chocolate-making class, where they can create truffles, caramels, or dipped fruit. Either option costs $25 per person, plus a $500 fee to close the store during the week or $1,000 on Fridays and weekends.
Criminal Behavior
Associates can play F.B.I. agent or CSI investigator at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment, which features car-chase simulators and interactive crime scenes. Co-owned by America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh, this new Penn Quarter addition has room for a reception for 500 guests throughout the exhibition spaces on three floors; there is also a rooftop terrace for 300 and a small theater. Private events include after-hours access to the exhibitions.Stadium Fever
Nationals Park, the new home of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, has 10 private suites and three club spaces. On days when there isn’t a game, groups can book private tours, dine in the dugouts, or take batting practice on the field. If that doesn’t knock their socks off, the park’s planners can arrange an appearance from one of the Nationals players.
A Ballpark Perk
If a ball game is in your summer plans, commemorate the outing with the latest baseballs from Bergino, which sport a glossy-coated map of the U.S. highlighting all the major stadiums and retail for $20. Bergino also makes individual city-map balls for Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston.
Wining and Dining
An alternative to the city’s wine bars is Carafe Wine Makers, a 1,000-square-foot microwinery and workshop in Alexandria that allows teams to bottle, cork, and label their own custom wines after choosing their favorite from an initial tasting. The store requires 15 to 30 people per event, which costs between $15 and $18 a head, plus the cost of the wine. And after a day’s work, participants can relax in the tasting lounge.
Just Desserts
For an afternoon break, sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne at Georgetown Cupcake bake their confections in 24 fl avors, including blueberry coffee cake with a citrus glaze, bourbon vanilla with baby-blue frosting, or classic red velvet with a cream-cheese top. A dozen cost $29.
ACKC Cocoa Bar, a joint venture from the owners of Alexandria’s Artfully Chocolate and Kingsbury Confections, offers private tastings for as many as 60 people in its shop near Logan Circle (as well as off-site). Groups can also take a chocolate-making class, where they can create truffles, caramels, or dipped fruit. Either option costs $25 per person, plus a $500 fee to close the store during the week or $1,000 on Fridays and weekends.
Criminal Behavior
Associates can play F.B.I. agent or CSI investigator at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment, which features car-chase simulators and interactive crime scenes. Co-owned by America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh, this new Penn Quarter addition has room for a reception for 500 guests throughout the exhibition spaces on three floors; there is also a rooftop terrace for 300 and a small theater. Private events include after-hours access to the exhibitions.Stadium Fever
Nationals Park, the new home of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, has 10 private suites and three club spaces. On days when there isn’t a game, groups can book private tours, dine in the dugouts, or take batting practice on the field. If that doesn’t knock their socks off, the park’s planners can arrange an appearance from one of the Nationals players.
A Ballpark Perk
If a ball game is in your summer plans, commemorate the outing with the latest baseballs from Bergino, which sport a glossy-coated map of the U.S. highlighting all the major stadiums and retail for $20. Bergino also makes individual city-map balls for Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston.
Wining and Dining
An alternative to the city’s wine bars is Carafe Wine Makers, a 1,000-square-foot microwinery and workshop in Alexandria that allows teams to bottle, cork, and label their own custom wines after choosing their favorite from an initial tasting. The store requires 15 to 30 people per event, which costs between $15 and $18 a head, plus the cost of the wine. And after a day’s work, participants can relax in the tasting lounge.
Just Desserts
For an afternoon break, sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne at Georgetown Cupcake bake their confections in 24 fl avors, including blueberry coffee cake with a citrus glaze, bourbon vanilla with baby-blue frosting, or classic red velvet with a cream-cheese top. A dozen cost $29.

Nationals Park
Photo: Drew Hallowell/Nationals Park

The chocolate displays at ACKC Cocoa Bar
Photo: Courtesy of ACKC Cocoa Bar

An exhibition at the National Museum for Crime & Punishment
PhotoL Courtesy of the National Museum of Crime & Punishment

Nationals Park
Photo: Drew Hallowell/Nationals Park

Bergino's baseballs
Photo: BizBash

The Carafe Wine Makers workshop and microwinery
Photo: Courtesy of Carafe

Georgetown Cupcake's red velvet variety, with cream cheese topping
Photo: Courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake