438055 Tue Sep 04 12:54:38 -0700 2007 6 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 2909613 Does anyone know of a good place to rent out for a birthday? We would probably have 20 or so people and NW DC would be preferable. I was thinking of calling a few bars to see about renting a basement. Has anyone does this? Tue Sep 04 12:54:38 -0700 2007 118149 Scout360 1 2909745 What exactly are you looking for in the party? Are you just wanting to drink or eat as well? Is there a price range? What age is the majority of the group? Is there a particular setting or vibe you are going for or are you just looking for a place that will handle that many people? More details would be good. Tue Sep 04 13:22:34 -0700 2007 2909613 76776 Elyssa 2 2909823 That would be helpful :) We wouldn't need food (as long as they allowed us to bring in a cake), and as long as it's at a bar people could buy their own drinks. We are pretty laid back twenty somethings so nothing too stuffy or fancy. I wouldn't mind a dive at all, just some place with an extra room or basement. Not really sure on the price range yet... Tue Sep 04 13:39:43 -0700 2007 2909745 118149 Scout360 3 2909964 If you are looking for someplace where you can rent out a basement (or in this case the top floor) and don't mind a dive I would suggest The Childe Harold's in Dupont Circle. A friend of mine had her birthday party there and I'm pretty sure if you have enough people you can rent out the top floor either for free or a reduced price. You would have to call about the cake though. When I was there there was music and our own cash bar. Worked out great---and downstairs in the basement is certainly a dive! You should give them a call. Otherwise you might want to contact Bourbon in Adams Morgan and see if you can rent out their back porch or upstairs room. Not a dive but a fun place for 20-somethings...not stuffy at all. Another option would be to see if you can rent out either the top floor of Adam's Mill or the back room at Millie and Al's. Those are pretty divey! And I know people who rent out parts of Adam's Mill for holiday parties so I'm sure it's available. Not sure about the charge but they should allow you to bring along a cake. Tue Sep 04 14:11:28 -0700 2007 2909823 76776 Elyssa 3 2910042 There was a discussion here a while back about BYOC (Bring Your Own Cake) in which several people reported that it was pretty much standard practice, at least in civilized restaurants, to have a 'plating charge' if you brought in a cake, generally on the order of the typical price for a dessert at the restaurant. Some people were really defensive (on the side of the restaurant) about this with comments like "You wouldn't bring your own steak to a restaurant would you?" and gave all sorts of reasons why this costs the restaurant money. I thought it was all kind of nickel-and-dime silly considering how much money the party spent on the rest of their meal, but you might want to specifically ask about this when you find a likely candidate. Otherwise you might be in for for a hundred buck surprise. Tue Sep 04 14:30:51 -0700 2007 2909823 10624 MikeR 1 2909851 A few years ago my wife and I threw a little birthday party for ourselves. We had the same idea as you, and after poking around a bit, ended up doing it at the ChiCha Lounge on U Street. We did NOT have a separate room. it's been awhile so memory is kinda fuzzy on the details! We talked with management about what we wanted to do......have a bunch of friends come in and hang out together. The only special thing we wanted was to bring in a cake or two. The Lounge was great about it, and held cakes for us and let us use plates etc. This was a while ago, but wanted to mention it since it sounded similar to your needs. Tue Sep 04 13:45:19 -0700 2007 2909613 18147 Geoff 1 2910240 Thanks for the suggestions! I don't absolutely need a separate room, it's just that my birthday is on a Sat. and I don't want my friends to be lost in the crowd. I also think it'll be easier with a cake. I can definitely see why there would be a debate over bringing the cake, it's just that I can't imagine many bars would make a good cake, especially the small sort of divey (though it doesn't have to be divey) places I was considering. I will be sure to ask them about that. I will start calling around tomorrow! Tue Sep 04 15:25:02 -0700 2007 2909613 118149 Scout360