My recent event at Fathom Gallery in Georgetown, D.C. left me extremely dissatisfied and…read moredisappointed. From the beginning to the end, I felt like an unwanted guest and experienced a complete lack of professionalism, making it necessary for me to share my grievances with others. Despite paying months in advance, I was surprised by additional fees that were only disclosed two weeks before the event. This lack of transparency added unnecessary stress to the planning process, which is unacceptable considering my extensive experience organizing events across the country. While the venue itself is visually appealing and conveniently located, the issues I encountered overshadowed any positive aspects. On the day of the event, I discovered an excessive number of stairs and was repeatedly denied elevator access despite my explicit requests. This was particularly inconvenient as a vendor event organizer and being seven months pregnant. The vendors also had to endure the struggle of carrying heavy boxes and equipment down multiple flights of stairs due to the lack of appropriate assistance. Communication with the venue staff was frustrating and unresponsive. Despite clearly expressing my preference for Apple Music, they insisted on using Spotify and failed to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate my playlist. Given the limited setup time I had, I was unable to address this issue along with the other pressing matters that required my attention. The unprofessionalism exhibited by the staff was astonishing. Guests were told to "go grab coffee" before the event, diverting potential sales from my vendors. Additionally, there was an inexplicable rush to clear out the venue well before the agreed time. The server even resorted to flickering the lights, creating an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere for me and my guests. To make matters worse, some vendors discovered their belongings being moved without consent, and one vendor found her items carelessly thrown outside, unattended and at risk of theft. The overall treatment throughout the event conveyed a distinct lack of hospitality, particularly towards attendees who were women of color. Furthermore, the venue posted pictures of us without our consent, misrepresenting our experience as a "fun group" when it was far from enjoyable and inclusive. Considering the substantial cost of $5000, this event was an utter waste of money, causing unnecessary stress and compromising my dignity. I strongly advise others, especially black women, to steer clear of Fathom Gallery for their events. In conclusion, my experience at Fathom Gallery was horrendous. I sincerely hope the management addresses the numerous issues I have raised, as a venue of this nature should prioritize professionalism, inclusivity, and respect for all customers. Save yourself the frustration and seek a more competent and welcoming venue for your events.

Our recent event at Fathom Gallery Georgetown was amazing!! Meg and Emily went above and beyond to…read moremake sure our event was a success. Fathom prints and frames 10 custom pictures to hang around the gallery and this was a great touch to personalize the space. Our guests loved the venue and we are so looking forward to our next event in the space.

This is an absolutely gorgeous venue for weddings and special events. The room is gorgeous with…read morebeautiful crystal chandeliers and beautiful marble floors. The kitchen is all new and was made available for our caterers to use. It is run by St Stephen the Martyr R.C. Church and they could not be nicer. The cost is the best value in the city as well. I can't believe we found a place so nice and so affordable in the city. I will post some photos later so you can see for yourself how wonderful it is!

McLean Gardens Ballroom is one of my favorite venues to work as a vendor. As a music supplier, I've…read morebeen helping to put on social and corporate events there since 1999. It's a beautiful and classy room perfect for a DJ, string trio or quartet, soloist and small jazz combo. I've helped countless numbers of brides and grooms with their music needs as well as corporate clients (annual parties and meetings) supplying not only music but also, A/V, projection, lighting, lecterns and technical needs for their meetings. (In short, I know this room, its acoustics, what works, what's possible and what simply won't work). When Philippe and Stuart (who I've had the good fortune to work with for the past 14++ years) took over managing this room a few years ago, operations became a lot smoother. Having an 'in house' caterer makes so much sense and reduces wear and tear on the room from outside caterers who need to bring everything in and everything out. So, I really do have a unique history with this Ballroom and highly recommend it for anyone who wants a beautiful room for their event and a top notch catering (and fun) pros who will provide a fun, unique and memorable experience.

So I've thought a long time about how I want to do this review (what with all these businesses…read moresuing for bad review lately) but I just have to do it. We had our wedding reception here in October. I'll start with the positives: + The food is fantastic + The venue is gorgeous + The prices are reasonable This would seriously be a five star review if I could overlook the service issues. I was so excited about our wedding and I seriously thought McLean Gardens Ballroom was going to throw the best event ever until about a month before the wedding. Washington Parties, the exclusive caterers at this venue, and specifically the owner, Philippe, put a pretty big damper on our big day. And not in some sort of Bridezilla "omg why aren't there sugar cubes with the coffee instead of regular sugar" kind of way. More of a "this organization didn't keep their size of the contract" kind of way. About a month before the wedding, Philippe began to be difficult to get a hold of. And when we did talk, it was like we had the same conversation over and over again (it didn't seem like he remembered anything we had talked about in previous conversations or emailed about). And when I would get him on the phone, he would just tell me what I wanted to hear to get me off the phone. He promised me just about anything I asked for. I should have realized it was a sign. So here's everything that specifically went down: - To start off with, they had another event there the day of our wedding. This, in itself, is not unusual or bad. What was bad was the timing. According to our contract, we were supposed to have the room two hours before the event to get set up. Our reception started at 6:00. Their party ended at 5:00. In the end, they worked it out but I found out about this conflict the day before my wedding. I feel like I should also note that we booked the room in April of 2010. When it came time to send out the invitations, I confirmed with Philippe that the time would be ok. He mentioned nothing of the conflict at that time. Stress? Yes. Stress. - We selected three types of DC Brau to be served at our reception, Heiniken, and left it up to the venue to select a couple of domestic beers to serve. They chose Milwaukee's Best and Steel Reserve. Malt. Frikkin. Liquor. At the time, I thought it was funny but after everything that transpired later in the night, it's just one more thing that was screwed up. - According to our contract, they were supposed to serve "mini desserts" with the cake. They were never served. Ok, so any of the above I could have just laughed off. But what happened at the end of the night really soured me on the service for this place: - So Philippe let the Bridesmaids and I keep our stuff in his office (when we actually booked the venue, there was an unused room that we were told we could use while we were there but by the time we had our event it had been rented so Philippe let us use his office). Unfortunately, the door would lock if you pulled it shut behind you so we had to keep it propped open. One of my 'maids accidentally pulled it shut behind her at the end of the evening. Oh crap, well Philippe has the key, right? OH, Philippe left 20 minutes ago. Well crap. Let's ask the assistant he left in charge to call him. Wait, why is the assistant trying to jimmy the door open with a butter knife? Oh, Philippe isn't coming back? But my ID and telephone are inside and I'm flying out for my honeymoon tomorrow morning and I need the ID to get on the plane... So a couple of my drunk guests are starting to talk about breaking down the door (we were obviously not letting them). The assistant turned around and yelled at everyone to just get away from the door and disappears. Did not ask politely, yelled. Doesn't tell us what he's going to do. Doesn't say he's going to try to keep fixing it. From what I understand, he just left and kept going about the business of cleaning up (I didn't see myself so I have no idea). It basically took me calling Philippe up myself on one of my guests phones and begging him to come back. He showed up almost an hour later, unlocked the door (without saying a word to me sitting right there in my wedding dress or even looking at me), and just walked away. From what I understand, he actually yelled at my mother in law and my florist because they were having a glass of wine while they were cleaning up (his exact words were "PARTY'S OVER" as he snatched their glasses away). If that wasn't allowed, fine but he yelled at them. The caterers had shooed everyone out the door by 10:30 (we, contractually, had until 11:00 to clean up). In conclusion, I would not recommend this venue unless Philippe hires someone to manage the events or to assist him. He is a fantastic cook but disorganized and his people skills suck when he's stressed out.

Working with Meg and the team at Fathom Gallery was nothing short of a dream come true. From start…read moreto finish, they were an absolute delight to work with and truly brought every part of my vision for my birthday dinner to life. The space itself is stunning the beautiful brick walls, gorgeous furniture, and large windows create such a warm, stylish, and inviting atmosphere. They also work directly with RSVP Catering, and that experience was just as amazing. Working with Casey and the RSVP team was seamless, and the food was absolutely incredible. Every single guest was raving about it! Everything came together perfectly, and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. I couldn't have imagined a better place (or team) to host such a special celebration. Highly, highly recommend!

Fathom was the perfect space for my 30th birthday celebration with about 40 friends. I am a…read moreprofessional events manager and wedding coordinator, so I have been in LOTS of different DC venues. Feathom is gorgeous and requires almost nothing at all to make it shine. Inside, the brick walls, sleek lounge furniture, professional lighting and big windows make the space feel chic and open. The rooftop is unmatched. Big boxwoods, string lights, flower boxes, professional sound system to set the vibe- it is perfection. My guests were absolutely blown away by every detail and shared that they, too, will soon be hosting their celebrations with Fathom. The space is designed for parties so the planning process is turnkey. They include printing of whatever photos you'd like for the gallery frames and ghost mirror, you simply share the files ahead. Their sound system is wired to have different sound levels in every room (including outside) and it's all easily controlled on an Ipad. You just share a public spotify playlist- could not be easier. There's a fun white board wall for which they provide colorful markers. Their team keeps the bulding clean and organized, and because they host so many events- they have small things you may have forgotten and are generous with offering them to you in a pinch. Emily and Grace are incredible to work with. They make the process easy, providing everything you need right from the start so there are no surprises or stresses in the planning. Ramiro worked our event and was exemplary- going above and beyond with set up, bar service, and break down. Plus, the owners are deeply charitable and support various non-profits in DC. It feels great knowing that a space this lovely is run by such lovely folx.

I attended a private event at Canvas. It's such a great venue, with 3,000+ square feet and capacity…read morefor up to 200 guests. It is located on DC's 14th Street, commonly referred to as Canvas on 14th. The space has indoor and outdoor areas as well as a catering wing (outside vendors are allowed to use that). The event I attended was on the second floor. The space has an outdoor terrace overlooking 14th Street and the inside has high ceilings, causing an even more spacious effect. They offer built-in audio-visual equipment in including screens and projector. This would be a great venue for an art gallery. You can submit event inquiries on their website.

I attended the 2018 Washingtonian Winter Wine Classic event at the Ajax venue. Located under the…read moreAspen apartment complex, this venue is a nice open space for any occasion! The front of the venue has a wall of large floor to ceiling windows -- so you can see the inside of the space from the sidewalk. The entrance was easy to find, and there's plenty of parking in the area from street to the parking lot just on the next block over. The space appeared to be brand new -- either that or it is really well-maintained. The bathrooms are modern and very clean. While I was there for a wine tasting event, I could see this place being used for any event: holiday party, book signing, art gallery....you name it!

I volunteered at a gala here this weekend. It is a large open space, with a wonderful glass…read moreceiling. (Very atrium like) Lots of green/brown marble surrounds you, and a huge elegant staircase it at one end. I can see the stairs being great for a speech or an entry to a wedding reception. If you are looking for an event venue down stairs this is worth checking out.

The S&R Foundation is the focal point of social entrepreneurship in DC. I have been very impressed…read morewith the quality of people and thoughtful programming, as well as the wealth of resources to support entrepreneurs in achieving both financial returns and social impact.