10 Ideas for Company Holiday Parties in Boston

Blooms of Boston, a new florist, can create quick, simple arrangements for holiday parties. For events this season, the designers have filled Mason jars with mums, bear grass, and Mokara orchids, and placed the jars down the center of a long table. They can also prepare more elaborate arrangements.

New menu items from Gourmet Caterers, designed to be eaten while guests mingle at cocktail parties, include lobster dressed with lemon aioli and served in martini glasses.

Former event designer Shane Ruff began a silk-screening business last year as a division of his company Ruff Studio. Along with pillows and couch covers, Ruff can create custom tote bags, T-shirts, and sweatshirts that can be used as corporate gifts. Depending on the quantity needed and the level of customization, orders can be created in two to three weeks. Ruff's average run of shirts is 150, though he has created a batch of 2,500. Pricing per shirt varies.

Drink & Hunt is a new group activity that combines technology with the elements of a scavenger hunt and a pub crawl. Using Web-enabled phones, teams solve clues that lead them to the next watering hole. The crawl typically takes participants to seven different venues, and holiday themes such as "Ugly Sweater Hunt" are available. Packages for private groups include trivia games, an official scorer, and food discounts at each stop. Drink & Hunt staffers can also arrange for custom T-shirts and hats with corporate or team logos. Pricing ranges from $30 to $47 per person, and the tours can accommodate as many as 200 guests.

At the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Zephyr on the Charles restaurant launched its New England Seafood Market earlier this month. Available for private groups with as many as 100 guests, the interactive dining showcase lets guests choose selections from a raw bar, then watch as chefs prepare the seafood dishes. Hotel staffers can also bring in live jazz bands for events.

The Cupcakory, a food truck that doles out cupcakes, can travel to holiday parties at offices or event spaces. Seasonal flavors include gingerbread, eggnog, and peppermint-chocolate cupcakes, and the truck is also stocked with coffee and hot chocolate. The mobile bakery requires a minimum of 100 guests for event rental. Cupcakes cost $2.75 each, and there are additional fees for travel and fuel.

Saphire Event Group's "Share a Party" concept, designed to accommodate parties with smaller budgets, allows groups to buy out part of a venue and participate in a hosted holiday party that includes hors d'oeuvres, a plated dinner with dessert, dancing, and live entertainment. This year's shared party takes place on December 16 in the Madera ballroom at the Villa in East Bridgewater. Tickets start at $50 each and are available to groups with four to 250 guests. Members of the same group are seated together.

In Quincy, Ginger Betty's Bakery designs customized gingerbread houses to use as event centerpieces or corporate gifts. The houses come in three different sizes, and cost $43, $71, or $135 apiece. Bakers can create custom orders with one to two weeks' advance notice and ship the gingerbread houses to locations throughout the country.

Boston-based ButterGirl Baking Company offers gift-worthy treats packaged in gold boxes tied with silver ribbons. Options include shortbread and sugar cookies shaped like stars and snowflakes. Cookies cost $15 to $20 per dozen, and online orders can be turned around in 24 hours or less. The company delivers throughout New England via UPS.

The Rockettes will perform in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre from December 2 to 28. Tickets range from $20 to $130 each, and groups with 10 or more guests can save up to 20 percent on tickets. Pre- and post-show reception packages are available for groups of 10 to 150 guests. Held in Citi Performing Arts Center's private lounges, the receptions can include lunch and breakfast spreads, cookies and hot chocolate, and bar service.