What is The Space?
Looking around the web site for The Space, the new private club and concierge service that's opened recently across 9th Street from the Washington Convention Center, you get the sense that its proprietors want you to think it's a stuffy lounge space reserved for the wealthy -- there's the wedding invitation-style scroll fonts, the vague descriptions of what exactly this place is trying to be ("For those who love traveling, living, dreaming and discovering,") and the membership application that asks for credit card details without anywhere disclosing what the fees might be. It's the web design equivalent of "if you have to ask, darling, then you probably can't afford it."
The interior of The Space turns out not to be too pretentious (think partially paint-stripped white ceilings, nice comfy black and white couches, unfinished floors and plenty of rose petals floating in water), but after a conversation and tour with managers and event planners Jodi Silis and Wilmot Mwandanda, it would be easy to come away with the impression that their web site is having the desired effect. When asked about The Space's mysterious billing on the web, they replied that they "kind of like it that way."
So though it's hard to say what The Space definitely is, here's at least a few things about it that are true:
Photo courtesy The Space
>> The renovation of this old carriage house, undertaken by owner Karen Cox, has been tastefully done. You could hold a small, semi-formal wedding reception in the main room, and have a casual drink on the comfortably appointed, rather large roof deck.
>> Right now, The Space is open to the public, but at a date uncertain in the future, it will become open only to dues paying members and their guests (up to three at a time).
>> Drinks are on the expensive side. A Maker's Mark on the rocks is $10. They also plan to serve small appetizers, but no substantial food.
>> Memberships come with access to concierge services from Cox's company, International Life Styles, which offers services like private chefs and personal shopping.
>> The Space offers wireless internet access, and a few business meetings have been held there since it opened.
>> The entire venue can hold up to 150 people.
>> Silis and Mwandanda say that they don't want The Space to be unapproachable, and that anyone should feel free to apply.
But so many unanswered questions remain. How much does the membership cost? They won't say, unless you're willing to fill out a membership application and come in for an interview. What kind of people are they hoping will join? Why, all different kinds of people, of course. And maybe they're sincere -- unexpected visitors to The Space are generally made to feel quite welcome, and Silis and Mwandanda couldn't be nicer. But exactly what different kinds of people are looking to join a private club that offers excellent connections and rates on personal chefs?
The Space is by no means D.C.'s only private club, but it's one of the only ones that hasn't already been in existence for ages, with a well-established membership base that makes additions mostly by recommendations from existing members. Does belonging to a private bar and lounge that hosts concierge services and special events at 9th and N Streets NW appeal to you? Are you curious enough about all the mystery to fill out an application?