In Washington, the Festival of Lights is also a festival of invitations. While the White House Hanukkah party may be the hottest ticket in town—the executive mansion hosts two gatherings on the same day—menorahs are lit at numerous other institutions. Here’s a selection of some less likely places that have hosted observances in recent years.
Embassy of India
Highlights: Vegetarian Indian fare.
Embassy of Austria
Highlights: Parve food, Austrian beer, and mulled wine.
Embassy of Morocco (on hiatus)
Highlights: Moroccan kosher fare.
Pentagon
Highlights: Latkes, sufganiyot (the fried doughnut of the season), and sides.
International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (rotating)
Highlights: International latke bar—with flavors of Italy, Spain, and France—plus a singer crooning in multiple languages.
This article appears in the December 2016 issue of Washingtonian.
