Ideal as an indulgent group activity or meeting break, the Chocolate Lounge & Wine Bar inside the Sugar Factory American Brasserie at Paris Las Vegas now offers wine and chocolate pairings starting at $8. The “Grand Tour” includes six wine pours and paired chocolates, and a sommelier is on hand to lead guests through the options.
Photo: Courtesy of Sugar Factory American Brasserie at Paris Las Vegas
Kehoe Designs’ new Goldsmith Holiday decor scheme includes golden furniture rentals and marble-top accent tables. The collection introduces the new Paloma sofa and also includes bar fronts made from silky, kelly green fabrics and sleek white reindeer sculptures. For small, impromptu gatherings, the company can arrange for decor in as little as seven days; more elaborate events require longer lead times.
Photo: Ryan Sjostrom
The shimmery silver tablecloths from Over the Top Rental Linens in Miami can add a dose of holiday sparkle.
Photo: Courtesy of Over the Top Rental Linens
For in-office holiday celebrations, provide a sugar rush courtesy of John Kelly Chocolates in Los Angeles. “The Slab” is a three-pound truffle fudge bar that can be ordered in 17 flavors and serves 48 people.
Photo: Courtesy of John Kelly Chocolates
Baked by Melissa in New York has introduced a six-foot-tall gumball machine that dispenses the company’s bite-size cupcakes. It can fit as many as 2,000 mini cupcake pods, with a minimum order of 1,000—fill it with December’s winter-themed “Mini of the Month” for holiday events. Rental fees start at $4,200.
Photo: Courtesy of Baked by Melissa
The cake pop trend shows no sign of slowing down. Find holiday dessert table ideas from Cake Pops: Holidays ($15, Chronicle Books) by Bakerella’s Angie Dudley. The book includes two dozen winter-themed cake pop ideas, plus tips for displaying and gift-wrapping the treats.
Photo: Courtesy of Chronicle Books
Windows Catering in Washington is offering gingerbread houses in the form of the White House, the Pentagon, or the Capitol building. Also available as eye-catching holiday party centerpieces: smaller scale, customized versions of offices or homes.
Photo: Courtesy of Windows Catering
Orlando's Wildly Different has a new teambuilding activity that involves guests working together to stuff teddy bears and assemble no-sew blankets to give to kids in need. Wildly Different provides all materials, staff, and coordination with a local charity.
Photo: Courtesy of Wildly Different
Rutland Nurseries can create an outdoor feel at indoor events. The full-service landscape design company, which services Massachusetts and New England, uses live trees to create enchanted forests, winter wonderlands, and more.
Photo: Evan Bradford
The new glittering Diamond event carpets from Toronto-based Reznick Carpets cost $3 Cdn. per square foot and come in four colors: red, purple, gold, and silver. (They can also be shipped to the U.S.)
Photo: Courtesy of Reznick Carpets
The Roger Room has now launched the Roger Room Cocktail Catering and Bar Service program for off-site entertaining. The new group brings glassware and mixologists to events to deliver classic and imaginative cocktails.
Photo: Elizabeth Daniels Photography
Beverly Hills Brownie Company is now open on Beverly Drive, with a menu of 18 signature flavors including chocolate, red velvet, chocolate mint chip, caramel blondie, poppy seed, peanut brittle, and mocha latte. The treats are ideal for in-office holiday celebrations or delivered in gift baskets as corporate gifts.
Photo: Courtesy of Beverly Hills Brownie Company
For a wintry feel in sunny Los Angeles, MagicSnow is available to bring a range of snow-making services and effects to events. Host a family-friendly snowman-building event for corporate groups or go all out by creating a full-scale hill for sledding.
Photo: Courtesy of MagicSnow
For hearty winter catering fare, try the new menu options from Wolfgang Puck Catering, which include duck with figs, butternut squash, heirloom apples, and crispy ginger (pictured). Other new offerings: oysters with mignonette "snow" (aka a finer granita), macaroons in holiday flavors and colors, and mac 'n' cheese served in mini cast-iron cocottes.
Photo: Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering
Give your holiday event a tropical twist: Chef Sam Choy introduced his Pineapple Express food truck in Los Angeles earlier this year. The truck serves Choy’s signature Hawaiian cuisine and has a catering arm that can produce events for as many as 1,000 guests, complete with a pig roast, hula dancers, and ukulele players.
Photo: Courtesy of Pineapple Express Catering
Pick up a pair of the just-launched Boomphones as a corporate gift. The headphones transform into speakers with the push of a button, and they can be used for phone calls, too.
Photo: Courtesy of Boomphones
The W Los Angeles Westwood once again transformed its pool deck into the Chill Rink. Ideal for holiday parties and entertaining, the space has a 1,600-square-feet skating rink and a rink-side lounge decorated by Chad Hudson Events and features a palette of white, black, gold, and silver with pops of neon. Z Gallerie's lighting fixtures and holiday accessories provide holiday sparkle.
Photo: Courtesy of the W Los Angeles Westwood
Owned by TACT Event Management—the company behind venues such as SmogShoppe, Marvimon, and Carondelet—Jeffrey Valet can add a little style to the mundane task of parking cars at holiday events with smart-looking staff uniforms and distinctive vintage chairs for waiting guests.
Photo: Will Keeler
As an indulgent holiday gathering for an intimate group, try the spa and dining experience created by skincare brand Natura Bisse. Offered at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and meant for groups of six to eight people, A Taste of Beauty costs $1,500 per person and includes a 90-minute facial and body treatment followed by a seven-course private seated dinner. (The courses reflect on each step of the facial.)
Photo: Courtesy of Natura Bisse
Female executives will appreciate getting the leather laptop bag from newly launched company LaVie Couture. The bag has colorful suede lining, a detachable chain strap, and comes with an iPad sleeve.
Photo: Courtesy of LaVie
Brown butter plum cake with almond praline and caramel, by 10tation Event Catering in Toronto
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Ontario quail legs filled with Berkshire sausage and wrapped with Niagara prosciutto, by 10tation Event Catering in Toronto
Photo: Emma McIntyre for BizBash
Turkey lollipops stuffed with homemade stuffing and dried cranberries, drizzled with cranberry reduction, by Riviera Caterers in New York
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Chestnut-encrusted filet mignon topped with pumpkin mousse displayed on an indoor barbecue with dry ice, by Riviera Caterers in New York
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Eggnog shots with mini gingerbread cookies, by Schaffer’s Genuine Foods in Los Angeles
Photo: Bridget Kenny for BizBash
Turkey rillettes with cranberry Grand Marnier gelée on sage brown butter croutons, by Schaffer’s Genuine Foods in Los Angeles
Photo: Bridget Kenny for BizBash
Gold-dusted risotto served in butternut squash cups, by Boutique Bites Catering and Events in Chicago
Photo: Tyllie Barbosa for BizBash
Mini turkey sandwiches with cranberry jam, by Boutique Bites Catering and Events in Chicago
Photo: Tyllie Barbosa for BizBash
Crimson agave-scented beet soup sippers with sage gremolata, by Tables of Content in Boston
Photo: Gary Tardiff for BizBash
Cucumber cups filled with red quinoa salad and golden beet chutney, by Tables of Content in Boston
Photo: Gary Tardiff for BizBash
Stackable Sensations' Saviour Universal USB Charger ($8.60 each for 50) can charge two devices at once and includes a logo display.
Photo: Courtesy of Stackable Sensations
Booze is a surefire hit as a take-home gift. Pinhole Press can create custom-branded bottle labels ($10 for nine; bulk pricing available) for wine or any other type of beverage.
Photo: Courtesy of Pinhole Press
Toast's engraved wood iPhone covers ($30; bulk pricing available) can be customized with logos and brand names.
Photo: Courtesy of Toast
The retro-style phone receivers ($30; bulk pricing available) from Native Union plug into most cell phones. A logo can be placed anywhere on the handset.
Photo: Courtesy of Native Union
The flap of the classic canvas-and-brown faux leather bags ($28.40 each for 24; additional bulk prices available) from Pinnacle Promotions can be debossed with a logo.
Photo: Courtesy of Pinnacle Promotions
GelaSkins offers cases (from $15; bulk pricing available) for a whole slew of tech gadgets. Simple logo designs can be ordered through the Web site; for orders or more than 100, GelaSkins' designers work with clients to create customized layouts.
Photo: Courtesy of GelaSkins
Fluf makes durable, reusable lunch and snack bags (from $18; bulk pricing available) that can be customized.
Photo: Courtesy of Fluf
Bikn ($130 for the set; bulk pricing available) from Treehouse Labs is a new tech-savvy lost-and-found system. Just place a tag on anything you don’t want to lose, and your phone finds it.
Photo: Courtesy of Bikn
A branded leather luggage tag and passport case ($83 for the set; bulk pricing available) from Graphic Image comes in several colors and embossed finishes.
Photo: Courtesy of Graphic Image
Earbud headphones ($6.82 each for 100) from Empire Promotional Products come in a customizable container.
Photo: Courtesy of Empire Promos
Baggu offers a range of carryall bags, including the recycled cotton canvas Duck tote ($24; bulk pricing available) that can be screen-printed.
Photo: Courtesy of Baggu
