As we enter the thick of the corporate holiday party season, here are some ideas and resources for food, entertainment, gifts, and more.
1. Kehoe Designs' 2010 holiday-party decor includes modern wreaths, trees, and floral arrangements in three decorative schemes. The "All That Glitters" collection incorporates oversize pinecones dipped in gold and silver, "Holiday Royale" includes velvety poinsettias and gold-glitter ferns, and the "Mocha Twist" pieces include golden pheasant feathers and metallic leather leaves. Designers request a week's notice.
2. Local company Sweet Galit offers custom gift baskets filled with homemade goods. Using ingredients such as fruits from local farms, owner and pastry chef Galit Greenfield prepares items such as jam, carrot cakes, and cookies. Baskets range from $30 to $100, and can be delivered to offices in the city and suburbs. Greenfield requests three days' advance notice for orders.
3. The Broadway in Chicago Production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas will run at the Bank of America Theatre from December 15 through January 2. The romantic comedy includes classic Berlin songs such as "Blue Skies" and, naturally, "White Christmas." Group ticket sales are available for blocks of 15 or more, and hosts may opt to enlist Broadway in Chicago's "suite service." The entertainment package costs $30 a head (in addition to ticket prices) and offers a private suite for as many as 45 guests. Open 45 minutes before the show and again at intermission, the suite offers its own bar, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, private restrooms, and a coat check.
4. The spa at Dana Hotel and Spa, which can be rented for groups of 40, is offering special holiday-themed treatments through December 25. Offerings include the Organic Peppermint manicure and pedicure, which uses scented oils and comes with a mug of spiked hot chocolate. The Holiday Spirit Aromatherapy massage incorporates orange, cinnamon, and spruce fragrances, and the 80-minute Winter Wonderland facial restores moisture.
5. Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co.'s "Holiday Lights" tour invites as many as 36 guests to hop on a wreath-adorned trolley for a ride past the city's holiday sights. Stops include the Santa-themed windows at Macy's on State Street and the 40-foot Christmas tree on Daley Plaza. The narrated tour, which also involves caroling, has a fixed rate of $23 a head. Minimum group size is 25 guests.
6. Sweet Baby Ray's Catering and True Cuisine have teamed up to offer holiday-themed menus. Targeted at groups of at least 150, the "Santa's Workshop" packages range from $7.99 to $8.99 per head, and include menu items such as turkey with cornbread stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, and holiday cookies.
