As part of a $10 million renovation, the Rittenhouse luxury hotel upgraded event space and common areas. The remodeled 1,414-square-foot Boathouse Meeting Room accommodates 90 guests. The room's silk walls and plum banquettes create an upscale ambiance, and it features audiovisual capabilities such as cable, a DVD player, an iPod dock, four video sources, and a direct phone line hookup. On the lobby level, the intimate Library Bar comfortably accommodates 20 seated guests.
Modern and industrial in layout, the three-story 3rd Ward Philadelphia warehouse boasts 27,000 square feet of multipurpose floor space. Among the separate event spaces are a 1,116-square-foot first-floor gallery, an 1,249-square-foot roof deck, and an 800-square-foot common space on the second floor. 3rd Ward also houses an iMac computer lab, a metal shop, a wood shop, communal and semiprivate co-working spaces, a textiles lab, a jewelry lab, an art room, and a commercial kitchen.
Penn Museum, home to nearly one million ancient relics, recently renovated two event spaces. The Kintner-Dietrich Galleries comprise three light-filled adjoining rooms totaling 5,500 square feet. Each room holds 200 guests for a seated events, 350 for cocktails, and 300 theater-style. The 5,500-square-foot Widener Lecture Hall accommodates 250 guests and includes a stage and a balcony. During private events, guests can tour the museum, either on their own or with a hired docent.
Relaunched in May, Square 1682 is located adjacent to the lobby of the chic Hotel Palomar Philadelphia. The menu focuses on innovative drinks and dining made with sustainable, local ingredients. For private parties, the Center City spot offers separate sections that accommodates parties of as many as 75 guests; the main downstairs dining room measures just over 1,400 square feet, while a 720-square-foot upstairs event space serves smaller gatherings.
At Top of the Tower, the 27,000-square-foot Vista Room underwent a major renovation before reopening in May. The modern space holds 600 guests and is equipped with audiovisual capabilities such as built-in screens and sound projection. The kitchen serves American fare made from scratch on site, but the true selling points here are the open-air balcony and the amazing view: a 270-degree panorama of the city from 50 stories high.
Chef Rakesh Ramola and his wife, Heather, opened their second Indeblue location in June in Midtown Village. The sexy, inviting eatery serves modern cuisine with hints of complex Indian flavors. The 1,600-square-foot restaurant includes a dining room that seats 70 guests, as well as a 12-seat chef's table.
Open since March, Victoria Freehouse offers a United Kingdom-inspired food and beverage menu in a casual but refined atmosphere. In addition to a 30-seat bar, the 1,200-square-foot space seats 75 guests. The Old City pub's long benches and tables can be arranged for events. Audiovisual capabilities include a mounted television as well as microphones wired into speakers throughout the dining room.
Rustic and industrial, the Goat's Beard seasonal American restaurant opened on Main Street in Manayunk in March. For private parties, a 600-square-foot space accommodates 30 guests, while a 200-square-foot space fits a 12-seat table. The event rooms include access to dedicated bathrooms separate from those for customers in the main dining room.
Pub & Kitchen, a classic American tavern steps from Rittenhouse Square, unveiled a series of upgrades in April. From refinished floors to antique milk glass lighting fixtures to the re-stained bar, the interior now offers an updated and sophisticated look. Inside the 1,500-square-foot space, the main restaurant accommodates 60 guests, while a private dining room upstairs holds 25 for cocktail parties, dinners, and meetings. Alfresco dining is also available during warmer months.
After 11 years in its original location, Eviama Life Green Spa & Boutique recently moved to a 2,000-square-foot light-filled loft in Midtown Village. The space features green elements such as bamboo floors, reclaimed woods, natural fiber insulation and nontoxic paints. The common areas, including a meditation room overlooking Chestnut Street, accommodate as many as 60 guests for cocktails, while six treatment rooms provide privacy for services like organic facials and energy work.
