5 New Ideas for Entertaining in Los Angeles

Chef Curtis Stone has launched a new catering company, Curtis Stone Events. Based in Los Angeles, the company caters everything from small dinner parties for five to large gatherings for 300, and it specializes in large-format roasting that showcases the whole animal. The company also offers a cocktail program and staffing and rental services.

LA Photo Party now offers V-R Brush, an immersive, virtual reality-fueled photo booth. Guests capture images of themselves in front of a green screen, then decorate it with digital paints and patterns; customized brand watermarks, overlays, and backgrounds are available. Still photos and behind-the-scenes videos provide a unique, shareable keepsake.

TicketSocket is a highly customizable white-label ticketing, registration, and event management platform. Using plug-and-play tools, widgets, and flexible APIs, the service gives event organizers and venues total control over their brand, data, money, and functionality—rather than sending customers to third-party ticketing vendors.

This Messy Table L.A. specializes in perfectly imperfect grazing tables composed of locally sourced fruits and veggies, cheeses, cured meats, dips, fresh-baked bread, and more. An unexpected alternative to traditional catering, the eye-catching tables can be customized for dietary restrictions and preferences. Tables start at $30 per person; smaller boards start at $15.

For a healthier cocktail party, Los Angeles-based juice brand Little West, formerly known as Clover Juice, has a new happy hour kit with five of its cold-pressed juices that pair well with champagne, vodka, and other spirits. The juices use locally sourced produce that keeps guests hydrated and hangover free thanks to no added sugar or preservatives. The kits cost $62 and can be shipped nationally; alcohol is sold separately.