The Fillmore.

OP -- we're looking at about 175 guests, so probably the smaller boutique-y venues won't work. Please keep the recommendations coming!

I know being different seems like a great thing to do but honestly all the kids care about is a great dj and cool giveways. They never talk about the place when they come home.

Save your money and spend it on a great dj, cool dancers and lots of fun kid food and giveways.

DC is a real pain. You have to rent a bus and parents hate picking up in DC.

If you have over 175, you have to do a large ballroom. Most of the small venues don't work.

Rooftop in Rockville can be good. Bolger Center has been renovated and you can do great stuff in there if you want to spend a lot of money.

Lakewood has a good space but can be too small for over 180.

Good Luck and enjoy. I fretted over too many details that in retrospect my DC did not notice or really care about.

The Hamilton!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just came back from a bat mitzvah in Miami. The reception was held in a nightclub. It was ummm.... Interesting choice for a group of 13 yr olds and elderly relatives.

I went to one of those. Very odd.

I went to one at the Clarendon Ballroom a few years back and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

I know a couple of people who have rented this studio place in Silver Spring, and then you can transform it into whatever you are looking for. Not sure what your budget is.
http://www.dcstudiorental.com/events.html

Anonymous wrote:I just came back from a bat mitzvah in Miami. The reception was held in a nightclub. It was ummm.... Interesting choice for a group of 13 yr olds and elderly relatives.

I went to one of those. Very odd.

HRC in dupont, Longview Gallery downtown- how many guests? Need this info to give you more accurate recommendations. I used to work for a caterer so I can rattle off a bunch of places...

I just came back from a bat mitzvah in Miami. The reception was held in a nightclub. It was ummm.... Interesting choice for a group of 13 yr olds and elderly relatives.

We went to one at Jackie's in Silver Spring that was nice.

What does DS want? I ask, because we are planning DD's bat mitzvah for next year. She wanted simple. She also wanted out doors, but that is problematic because of the time of year. We are using our synagog's social hall. Nothing else set up.

(In my case, I can not afford the hip vibe, and my dd is smart enough to know that hip means so loud that it hurts the ears. Sometimes it is nice to have a nerdy DD)

We are beginning to plan our son's bar mitzvah, which will take place next year. Would love some suggestions as to venues for the party, especially if you can recommend something with modern/hip vibe. Don't want the usual cookie-cutter hotel ballroom and dreadful rubber chicken dinner. Would prefer DC, but close-in Md. suburbs ok too. Thanks.