Event Favors

Craftsman & Wolves, a modern patisserie, recently opened a new outpost on Pacific Avenue in San Francisco. Menu items include scones with green curry, candied ginger, and coconut, as well as a muffin with a runny egg inside, dubbed “the Rebel Within.” The eatery can provide catering for meetings and events.

New York-based sweets company Treat House recently introduced mallow pops: marshmallows dipped in chocolate and covered in colorful nonpareils. The flavors and decorative colors are fully customizable for events. The pops cost $3 each and are currently available at the Treat House store and for delivery in New York City.

Spindler Confections in Boston sells artisan caramels, chocolates, and brittles and recently opened a brick-and-mortar store in Cambridge. The company provides custom event favors and can create “sugar banquets”—or elaborate sweets tables—for meetings and events.

Soul & Ink in Washington plans to launch a screen-printing truck by the summer after a successful crowd-funding campaign. The mobile unit would be similar to a food truck, but instead of snacks it will offer on-the-go screen-printing services at events. The truck will have its own funky paint job by a local artist and a sound system.

Bay Area made-to-order ice cream shop Smitten Ice Cream recently opened a new El Segundo store in Los Angeles. The location offers the company’s Wagoneering catering program, which brings Smitten’s ice cream machine—known as Brrr—to events. The machine uses liquid nitrogen to churn small ice crystals for extra-smooth ice cream that’s made while guests wait. The company’s ice creams, cones, and sauces are all handmade locally.

Pork & Mindy’s is a new eatery in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Billed as a “fast casual pork” restaurant, the venue offers catering for meetings and events. Menu items include smoked meats, sides, and desserts. Pork and Mindy’s can also bring its smoker to off-site events.

A new option for floral gifts, Miami-based Olyve offers a curated selection of bouquets with tech-forward customer service. Senders receive ongoing status updates and photos and may also choose to record a personalized video message, which is emailed to the recipient upon delivery. Bouquets come in an arty gift box with eye-catching graphic design. The company recently expanded delivery to service five cities: New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, and Philadelphia.

Grande Lakes Orlando has created a new catch-and-release fishing program for guests at the resort’s Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels. In partnership with the Florida Wildlife Commission, 1,000 largemouth bass have been implanted with a coated micro-wire tag that helps detect when they are caught. When guests reel in one of the fish, they have the chance to assist in the measuring, data recording, and releasing of the fish back into the lakes at the 500-acre Orlando resort. The data is being used to determine why certain types of largemouth bass grow faster than others.

A Drybar location is slated to open in Las Vegas in July. The flagship shop on Las Vegas Boulevard in the Miracle Mile Shops will be 2,797 square feet—the brand’s largest footprint to date—and have 20 styling chairs. Drybar Miracle Mile will also have its own built-in DJ booth, a full bar, and a photo booth, as well as an event manager to coordinate groups, all exclusive to the new Las Vegas location.

Alicia Jenelle Events in Toronto recently launched a line of handmade paper flowers. The creations are customizable and can be used as wall decor, gifts, or large floral backdrops. The flowers come in shapes that resemble roses, lotuses, hydrangeas, and peonies.