A Party at the Office
Good Eats: Satisfy staffers with a taco buffet from Southern California-based La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill. For $10.95 a head (plus a set-up fee), the chain will deliver all the fixings for chicken and steak tacos, plus salad, rice and beans, guacamole, and chips and salsa.
Memorable Moment: A game hosted by Atlanta-based Team Trivia can break up office cliques and get everyone interacting. Pricing starts at $350 for an hour with a quizmaster. Supplies are included (except prizes) and the company can tailor questions to the group.
Parting Gift: Colorful bulk candy from New York’s Economy Candy in glass jars or scattered around the conference room does double-duty as decor and take-home favors at the end of the night.
A Get-Together at a Bar
Good Eats: Filling bar snacks like pomegranate goat cheese fritters, applewood smoked bacon strips with horseradish dipping sauce, and bite-sized grilled short rib paninis, from Ridgewells Catering in Washington will give guests something to nosh on while they drink. Snacks for 50 people start at $12 a head.
Memorable Moment: New York-based Jonathan Jacobs, the Vintage DJ can spin holiday classics by Ella Fitzgerald and Bing Crosby as well as lesser-known renditions by Otis Redding and the Ventures. To help get the crowd moving, he’ll bring the Salesmen and the Bitter Sweets, his retro back-up dancers. Pricing ranges from $1,500 to $3,000, and dancers are $100 each.
Parting Gift: I Am Not a Paper Cup, by DCI is made of porcelain with a removable silicone lid—a greener alternative to disposable drinkware. The cups are $20 each, with discounts for orders of 20 or more.
A Big Blow-Out
Good Eats: Feed and entertain guests with dinner by Tyler Florence, Art Smith, or Mario Batali. Booked through agency Chef2Chef appearances typically last two to three hours and can include a custom menu, cooking demonstration, and book signing. Pricing ranges from $10,000 to $150,000 plus travel costs.
Memorable Moment: Watch the C.E.O. jam to Guns N’ Roses at a portable Guitar Hero station. Stations from Everything Entertainment in New York cost $625 and come with the game, a flat screen, and an attendant for four hours.
Parting Gift: The Imbroglio Desk Calendar by French designer Jean Pierre Vitrac will start off the year with a dose of high design. The perpetual calendars are $50 each; discounts are available for orders of 10 or more.
