As we enter the thick of the corporate holiday party season, here are some ideas and resources for food, decor, gifts, and more.
1. So Cool Events, the Miami-based ice sculpture and rental company behind the Svedka Ice Bar—the first ice bar at sea, inside Norwegian’s recently launched Epic cruise ship—has launched a new, suspended ice centerpiece just in time for the holiday season. The company’s in-house carvers can incorporate any given theme, logo, or lettering into the centerpiece, which is held up by a clear, acrylic frame so as to not block sidelines. Pricing starts at $175. The company can also create more elaborate ice chandeliers, which start at $1,000.
2. Looking for a sweet holiday gift idea? New bakery Mistti can package their Alfies—a twist on the traditional Latin dessert cookie known as the alfajor—using red and white ribbons, and add edible decorative touches such as snowflakes. The shortbread Alfies come in four flavors: chocolate chunk, triple chocolate, pecan, and chocolate dulce de leche. A minimum three-day advance notice is required on all orders. Pricing is $6 for a box of four and $15 for a box of 12. Mistti can also put together larger orders for groups or parties.
3. If you’re going for a winter wonderland theme at this year’s holiday party, Design Elements can help. President Lani Tolle just introduced new decor elements including Majestic Crystal Columns, which can be rigged or ground-supported and stand up to 20 feet tall. They start at $250 (mirror acrylic cube bases are extra). Allure Accent Panels start at $250 and are four feet wide by nine feet tall, with wireless LED lighting and interchangeable panels like crystals, ball chains, string curtains, textile squares, and acrylic bubbles. Fantasy Crystal Curtains, which work well for stage sets, grand entrances, vignettes, or perimeter decor, start at $50 and come in three-foot-wide sections. Heights for the crystal curtains range from six to 20 feet, and are available in many colors and styles, such as red or burgundy for the holidays. Another new product is the Eclipse DJ Booth, which features wireless LED backlighting and your choice of an interchangeable front—great for branding, themes, or color schemes. It starts at $350.
4. Most people serve wine or bubbly around the holidays, but for a change of pace, Yo Beer Guys, a new South Florida-based beer delivery service, can bring more than 1,000 craft bottles and 150 full or half-size kegs to any location. Santa's Private Reserve, from Rogue Brewery, and St. Bernardus Brewery’s Christmas Ale are just a couple of the dark ales available for winter. Keg service starts at $67 and includes beer, keg container, a three-port keg tap, plastic cups, 30 pounds of ice, and free delivery and pickup. You can also order your favorite beer in bulk, or mix and match a minimum of 24 bottles (ranging from $2 to $10) for a regular tasting crate. The large tasting crate lets you choose six 750-milliliter bottles, which range from $8 to $20. Additionally, the company can put together leather beer gift baskets, starting at $54.99, with assorted snacks.
5. Shiraz Events, a boutique firm with offices in New York and Miami, is offering holiday menus with items such as peppermint iced tea, a specialty beverage called the Candy Cane Swizzle, and a passed dessert made with Kahlua cake, eggnog pudding, and toasted hazelnuts, served in a shot glass with a demi spoon. Pricing varies depending on your individual needs. In addition to catering, Shiraz offers design and production services.
