DC’s Best Kept Secrets: 10 Reasonably Priced Venues to Host Your StartUp Launch Party

It’s commonly known that housing and leasing prices in Washington, DC are among the highest in the nation.

If you are a StartUp founder, entrepreneur, or other independent vendor or artist ready to launch a product, service or album, you know finding a chic, classy and suitable place at a decent price that won’t break your budget to host your launch party or event will be a challenge.

Fret no more, I bugged my contacts, searched past event invites, and did some other research and discovered about 10 best kept secret spots to host an event for a very reasonable and nominal price. These chic nooks have personality and would not break the bank and are modestly priced compared to what you’d pay to host an event at the National Museum of Women in the Arts History Museum which starts at $10,000.

Most of the places on the list require a deposit of $200-$500 at contract signing to secure the date. They all offer discounts to non-profits and tax exempt entities. Some have various rooms to accommodate different size events. Audio visual equipment is usually thrown in and some even have small stages for your big reveal.

The Loft at 600 — Third Floor

For example, a 4-hour event at the swanky event spot The Loft at 600 F will run you just $3,500 and can accommodate 100 people standing or 50 banquets or 60 theater style. It comes with wood-topped tables, intimate seating areas, sofas and leather chairs. It’s ideal for offsite retreats, corporate meetings, training seminars or a cocktail reception in a chic atmosphere.

The Loft at 600- The Lounge/Second Floor

If you don’t mind crossing the river, the best deal around is the relatively new event space (opened August 2014) at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center located on the St. Elizabeth East campus in SouthEast on a secured lot with free parking. You can rent the 1,750 sq. ft Demonstration Hall for just $400 for 4 hours.

Here is what the ten venues are and what they have to offer:

Venue: Ebenezers Coffee House Basement

Address: 201 F St, NE

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill /Union Station

Space Description: A sleek lower level event space ideal for concerts, film screenings, meetings, parties or vending equipped w/sound & video equipment, multiple flat screens & a pull down screen. Fits 100 seated

Cost: Starting at $800 for 4 hours. You could probably get it later during off peak times. Call and find out.

Contact Number: 202–558–6900

Website: www.ebenezerscoffeehouse.com

Venue: We Work Wonder Bread

Address: 641 S St. NW DC

Neighborhood: U Street

Space Description: Transformed Wonder Bread Factory that is a co-work space with meeting and event space. It is limited to those who are members, but open to others on a negotiated basis. Call First.

Cost: Starting $2000

Contact Number: 877–868–8335

Venue: Studio 52

Address: 52 O St. NW DC

Neighborhood: Shaw

Space Description: A 2600 sq. ft NYC-style loft with pre-war details, hardwood floor, high ceilings, exposed brick, wood beams and large windows. Can accommodate 150 standing, 80 seated.

Cost: $2,000 to $5,000 for 6 hours

Contact Number: 301–919–3838

Website: www.studio52dc.com

Venue: R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center

Address: 2730 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.,

Washington, D.C. 20032

Neighborhood: Southeast

Space Description: On the former campus of St. Elizabeth hospital, this building is housed in a secure, fenced in campus with a security guard and free on-site parking; Features renovated event rooms, classrooms, and meeting rooms with advanced Audio Visual capability

Cost: Meeting rooms $20 per hour (5 capacity), Conference Room $40 per hour (15 capacity), Digital Inclusion Center 1,930 sq ft; $100 per hour(50 capacity w/ 20 computers); Lecture Hall $80 per hour; Demonstration Hall 1,750 sq ft , 150 capacity $100 per hour

Contact Number: 202–727–6365

Website: Stelizabetheast.com/

Venue: The Yards Park (Outdoor events)

Address: 355 Water St, SE DC

Neighborhood: Navy Yard

Space Description: New Navy Yard development is a public/private partnership featuring play areas and is perfect for an outdoor wedding or event.

Cost: $2,000, weekdays; $3,000 weekends for 4 hours

Contact Number: 202–465–7080

Website: www.yardspark.org

Venue: Sewall-Belmont Museum

Address: 144 Constitution Avenue, NE

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill

Space Description: Historic museum with terrace, outdoor patio and interior space

Cost: Starting $1,100 for 4 hours

Contact Number: (202) 546–1210

Website: www.sewallbelmont.org

Venue: North Hall at Eastern Market

Address: 225 7thSt. SE

Neighborhood: Eastern Market

Space Description: Inside Eastern Market secret, Newly renovated 3,500 sq. ft event space with historical ambiance, vaulted ceilings, hardwood movable dance floor, gallery walls,

Cost: Starting at $500 for a public event M-Thur, $600 Fri-Sunday to $2,500 for M-Thurs for Private event; $4,300 F-Sunday

Contact Number: 202–345–2861

Website: www.easternmarket-dc.org

Venue: Hillyer Art Space

Address: 9 Hillyer Ct, NW

Neighborhood: Dupont Circle

Space Description: A nonprofit contemporary gallery space in Dupont Circle for up to 175 people standing, 75 people seated featuring hardwood floors,

Cost: Starting $600 for 1st two hours on Tuesday, $150 additional hour thru $1000 for 2 hours Fri-Sunday.

Contact Number: 202–338–0325

Website: Hillyerartspace.org

Venue: Thurgood Marshall Center

Address: 1816 12thSt. NW

Neighborhood: Shaw

Space Description: Historic First Place for meetings, receptions, and small events for up to 200–300 persons, conference space seats up to 60 and historic lounge for up to 100

Cost: Starting at $500

Contact Number: 202–462–8314 or info@TMCSH.org

Website: Thurgoodmarshallcenter.org

Venue: St. Francis Hall

Address: 1340 Quincy St

Neighborhood: Brentwood

Space Description: . A charming event venue built in 1931 & featuring romantic Renaissance architecture. Adjacent to the beautiful Franciscan Monastery in Washington,DC

Cost: Saturdays $6,000, Sundays $4,500

Contact Number: 202–425–6548

Website: www.stfrancishall.com

BONUS

The Loft at 600 F — Fourth Floor Retreat

Venue: The Loft at 600 F

Address: 600 F Street

Neighborhood: Penn Quarter

Space Description: . A Historic building with exposed brick and hardwood floors throughout, accented with comfortable furniture, chic antique decor, modern tech and chic furnishings with lots of large windows letting in natural light.

Cost: Starting at $3,500 for the first 4 hours for the Private Retreat on the Third Floor

Contact Number: 202–431–8516

Website: http://www.theloftat600f.com/

Originally published at jenebaspeaks.com on November 19, 2015.