1. Long hailed as the city’s top spot for power breakfasts, Seasons restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel became available in January 2009 for afternoon and evening events for the first time since its inception in 1979. The 4,200-square-foot space, known for its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Georgetown’s C&O Canal, can seat 100 or accommodate 350 for cocktails, while the adjacent terrace can hold 40.
2. The American Pharmacists Association Building, which faces the National Mall, opened for events for the first time in September. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building includes the marble-lined Pope Hall Atrium, which seats 168 or holds 270, with room for 300 more on the adjoining Plaza Terrace. Next door, the association’s modern annex is set to open in February with a tented rooftop terrace that will hold 600 and provide up-close views of the monuments along the Mall.
3. A historic freestanding Embassy Row mansion, Parks House opened as an event venue in February 2009. Across the street from the official home of the vice president, the 6,000-square-foot space is rich with antiques and architectural detail and includes a formal living room with a fireplace, a 12-seat dining room, and a remodeled kitchen with a double oven and a large island. The capacity is 180 for receptions, and the 1.4-acre property has room for a tent.
4. Available only to members until November 2008, the 15,000-square-foot Waterview Conference Center is on the 23rd and 24th floors of the Waterview Towers complex in Rosslyn. Along with sweeping views of the Potomac River and Washington, the center offers 14 rooms that accommodate 10 to 200. All meeting spaces feature advanced audiovisual capabilities and high-speed wireless Internet, and most rooms have built-in LCD projectors and screens.
