Do you know someone with a backyard who will let you host a party? If so, I would ask around and see if you can get a Spanish restaurant to cater a few paellas. Add wine and birthday cake and you are set to go...

Anonymous wrote:Matisse in Chevy Chase DC has a nice private room.

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

Anonymous wrote:You can not ever go wrong with Panda Gourmet on NY Ave. They don't do cake but they'll let you bring one in.

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

Anonymous wrote:I’m envious. I turned 60 in the second month of the pandemic with a short Zoom party. That said, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with this large an indoor gathering without masks nor would many of my friends my age and older. Outdoors is a different story.

But maybe by late March feelings will be different, right? I’m thinking at this point I should proceed with optimism, but fully attuned to the possibility that we would need to cancel/reschedule.

Regarding your birthday, i had something similar for turning 50 last year. People like us can just plan to have the birthday party of our dreams later on when this is over! It’s going to be great!!!🥳

Anonymous wrote:I would do Del Mar private room.

Del Mar is lovely, but way more expensive than $50 a head.

Anonymous wrote:I’m envious. I turned 60 in the second month of the pandemic with a short Zoom party. That said, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with this large an indoor gathering without masks nor would many of my friends my age and older. Outdoors is a different story.

Speak for yourself. I'm turning 60 in August, along with many of my friends this year. We're all hosting big indoor parties at restaurants like OP describes. And no damn masks!

Anonymous wrote:I’m envious. I turned 60 in the second month of the pandemic with a short Zoom party. That said, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with this large an indoor gathering without masks nor would many of my friends my age and older. Outdoors is a different story.

I turned 60 recently and feel/felt the same.

Anonymous wrote:Rent a big white tent for your backyard, and get it catered by a Chinese restaurant.

Op here— love that but we don’t have a backyard. Wish we did! That would be awesome!

Rent a big white tent for your backyard, and get it catered by a Chinese restaurant.

Matisse in Chevy Chase DC has a nice private room.

You can not ever go wrong with Panda Gourmet on NY Ave. They don't do cake but they'll let you bring one in.

I’m envious. I turned 60 in the second month of the pandemic with a short Zoom party. That said, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with this large an indoor gathering without masks nor would many of my friends my age and older. Outdoors is a different story.

Anonymous wrote:Budget is too low if you are interested in a sit-down dinner for 40 people. Probably too low for any kind of open bar even for that many people. I hosted a sit-down dinner at The Salt Line for 25 people for about $3K. You could do sangria and tapas in the back room way Barcelona Wine Bar if you are ok with not sitting down.

I’ll keep thinking!

Thanks! Maybe a "not sitting down" thing would be more fun and lively anyway!

Budget is too low if you are interested in a sit-down dinner for 40 people. Probably too low for any kind of open bar even for that many people. I hosted a sit-down dinner at The Salt Line for 25 people for about $3K. You could do sangria and tapas in the back room way Barcelona Wine Bar if you are ok with not sitting down.

I’ll keep thinking!

Anonymous wrote:Does he want one? I am turning 60 this year. The last thing I want is a party. A quiet dinner with my wife is what I want.

Good point. Normally we do the same. Not sure what is different but when I said maybe we should throw a party, he jumped on board.