Akos Orosz, bar manager at craft cocktail bar Westbound in Los Angeles, is known for making a hot Christmas Tree Punch with Becherovka, one of his favorite herbal liqueurs. He combines it with cranberry, lemon, and pineapple juice, then adds a dash of bitters and a handful of pine tree needles before warming it up.
Photo: Courtesy of Westbound
“Punches can be a little more user-friendly to people that aren’t in the mood for such a strong cocktail,” says Ann-Marie Verdi, co-owner and beverage director of Los Angeles’s the Bellwether. “We make the perfect punch for fall and winter by infusing tequila with fresh cranberries, really capturing the colder season’s best flavors.” The punch is known as the #5 Cocktail on the menu.
Photo: Marie Buck
![Bartender Noel Bughao of the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves up the Last Leaf, which contains Maker’s Mark Private Select bourbon, sour apple liqueur, pomegranate and lemon juices, and a syrup made with cinnamon and cardamom; it’s garnished with a spiced apple chip. “The result is a memory of home—the leaf is a tribute to fall and [leaves] falling.”](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2017/10/last_leaf_002.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Bartender Noel Bughao of the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves up the Last Leaf, which contains Maker’s Mark Private Select bourbon, sour apple liqueur, pomegranate and lemon juices, and a syrup made with cinnamon and cardamom; it’s garnished with a spiced apple chip. “The result is a memory of home—the leaf is a tribute to fall and [leaves] falling.”
Photo: Ray Sepesy
“This has a lot of the appeal of an Irish coffee, but with more delicate, nuanced flavors,” says Morgan Schick of the San Francisco Proper Hotel about the Mile End Toddy, which contains rye whiskey, Cointreau, and Earl Grey tea with marmalade. “The pithiness of the marmalade and the floral notes in the Earl Grey make a nice counterpoint to the rich vanilla and toffee of the whiskey. Perfect for looking out over the fog next to a fire.”
Photo: Courtesy of San Francisco Proper Hotel
![“During the winter months, I love working with Dram Pine Syrup. It can be incorporated into so many different types of cocktails and personifies the taste and smell of the season,” says Teodora Bakardzhieva, partner and beverage director at Publico Kitchen & Garden in Boston. “The pine garnish [of the Pine Old Fashioned] brings that element of surprise and delight to the cocktail that makes it memorable for guests.”](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2017/10/img_381.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
“During the winter months, I love working with Dram Pine Syrup. It can be incorporated into so many different types of cocktails and personifies the taste and smell of the season,” says Teodora Bakardzhieva, partner and beverage director at Publico Kitchen & Garden in Boston. “The pine garnish [of the Pine Old Fashioned] brings that element of surprise and delight to the cocktail that makes it memorable for guests.”
Photo: Courtesy of Publico Kitchen & Garden
“Love it or hate it, pumpkin infusions are here to stay,” say Parker Boase and Gregory Lucas of Liquid Lab NYC. “We personally like to pair it with egg whites to give it that frothy consistency and additional spices for an added kick.” The Allspice Pumpkin Flip contains spiced rum, five-spice pumpkin syrup with allspice and pumpkin spice, fresh lemon and pineapple juices, plus an egg white.
Photo: Courtesy of Liquid Lab NYC
Adil Yamin, beverage director at Heirloom Hospitality in Detroit, serves up a RyeChai with WhistlePig 10-year rye whiskey, Averna Amaro, angostura, and hot chai tea. It’s garnished with angostura and Averna-infused whipped cream, a cinnamon stick, lemon spiral, and shaved dark chocolate.
Photo: Courtesy of Heirloom Hospitality
Mixologist Kristy McKinney at the Havana Beach Bar & Grill at the Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach, Florida, offers up a flight of eggnog concoctions, including Eggnog Brulée with Bulleit rye whiskey, whipped cream, and turbinado sugar; Havana Nog with Coco Lopez cream of coconut, Appleton Jamaican dark rum, pineapple juice, and freshly toasted coconut; traditional eggnog; Merry Cherry Eggnog with Spring 44 gin, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, and whipped cream; and Eggnog Espresso with Kahlua, Godiva white chocolate liqueur, and espresso ganache.
Photo: Courtesy of Havana Beach Bar & Grill
The Hesitant Elephant cocktail at Cindy’s in Chicago contains Rittenhouse rye, Sailor Jerry rum, Campari, Averna, cold-brewed coffee, cinnamon, and fresh citrus juices. It’s then topped with Edmund Fitzgerald porter.
Photo: AJ Trela
The High ‘n Dry cocktail from mixologist Leigh Lacap at Campfire in Carlsbad, California, combines gin, Douglas fir bitters, blanc vermouth, Indian tea, and cucumber.
Photo: Courtesy of Campfire
“Around the holidays you’ll find most bartenders diving into ingredients that are both seasonal and have the ability to really bring people back to holiday memories,” says Brian Stewart, Belvedere Vodka’s U.S. mixology ambassador. “Warm drinks that use ingredients including nutmeg, cinnamon, apple cider, and cranberries are very popular as the temperature dips. I had a pear tree in my backyard growing up that had a rosemary bush right under it. Because of this, winter herbs with sweet fall fruit remind me of home, which is why you see that combo a lot in my cocktails.”
Photo: Courtesy of Belvedere Vodka
Edible
Available for nationwide delivery, Black Seed’s original hand-rolled bagels, $60 via goldbely.com, can be shipped as a carbo-loaded package containing a dozen bagels with cream cheese and classic smoked salmon.
Photo: Courtesy of Black Seed
Custom
Inspired by its location in California wine country, Tote&Able designed its wine and beverage canteen, from $21, to hold 750 millileters (a full bottle of wine) or 25 ounces of water. The heavyweight cotton canvas canteens roll up when not in use and feature aluminum carabiners to attach to a belt, backpack, bike, or purse. There is a minimum for custom orders of 48 pieces, with a one-time setup fee and no custom print charges.
Photo: Courtesy of Tote&Able
Custom
Specializing in personalized gifts for men, Swanky Badger offers a selection of practical options, including phone wallet cases, $29.99, for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. The cases are available in brown, white, gray, blue, and black and can be embossed on the front or inside.
Photo: Courtesy of Swanky Badger
Custom
Monogram note sets, $32, from Sugar Paper feature black ink on a bright white card with a gold border, paired with a white envelope with a black-and-white pinstripe liner.
Photo: Courtesy of Sugar Paper
Custom
Janet Helm designs custom tartans for big-name clients like Coca-Cola and the City of Vancouver. The one-of-a-kind patterns are used to create items such as scarves, umbrellas, blankets, commemorative plates, and more. Her signature lambswool tartan scarves with fringed ends are also available in a variety of existing patterns. Pricing is available upon request.
Photo: Janis Nicolay
Custom
Clava’s leather drawstring wine pouches, $60, can be embossed with a monogram or a phrase for an extra fee. An embossed mini leather gift tag, $10, can be added for even more personalization, with options like “Thank You” and “Salut!” The pouches are available in 13 colors.
Photo: Courtesy of Clava
Charitable
Causebox, a subscription box service geared toward women, contains five to eight seasonal lifestyle products, such as jewelry, homewares, skin care products, and accessories, from brands that focus on ethical and sustainable production, donate a percentage of profits to charity, or aim to inspire and empower others. The boxes cost $54.95 a quarter for quarterly membership or $49.95 a quarter for an annual membership; the boxes are delivered four times a year.
Photo: Dan and Tyler Photography
A festive table design, styled by Tinsel Experiential Design, features the sparkly Emerald Sequin Taffeta linen from Miami-based Nuage Designs. Pricing starts at $35.
Photo: Sofia Negron
A cozy caramel cowhide rug is available in San Francisco from Yeah Rentals. Pricing is available upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Yeah Rentals
Rosemary potato salad skewers from Truffleberry Market in Chicago add a touch of fragrant greenery to the menu.
Photo: Courtesy of Truffleberry Market
Brooklyn-based the Gathery, along with hostess and lifestyle blogger Camille Styles, designed Cointreau’s Art of La Soiree event in October 2016. Guests learned how to package a holiday gift and received custom calligraphed gift tags.
Photo: NBarrett Photography
Set the mood with the Cedar & Citron Black Axiom Candle, $25, from Skeem Design. The reusable matte-black, cut-glass jars are accented with gold metallic lids. They also make sweet-smelling seasonal party favors.
Photo: Courtesy of Skeem Design
The Hunter Green Lounge Chair, $330, from Miami-based Ronen Rental features a Douglas fir frame with fabric cushions.
Photo: Courtesy of Ronen Rental
The Snow Cap cocktail kit, $122, from artisanal food purveyor Mouth includes three bottles of booze—Amaro delle Sirene, Alander spiced rum, and King’s County chocolate whiskey—along with recipes to mix up spiked coffee drinks.
Photo: Courtesy of Mouth
Matthew Schechter of Interior Foliage Design in New York predicts that floral elements like cymbidiums, dianthus, and hypericum berries will continue to be popular for arrangements.
Photo: Courtesy of Interior Foliage Design
New York-based event design company Tinsel Experiential Design created a formal holiday dinner for Spotify at 180 Maiden Lane in New York in December. The space was transformed into a sophisticated ski chalet with playful elements like fire pits, indoor snowdrifts, and a furry stuffed bear for photos.
Photo: Quyn Duong
The dining table at the Spotify event featured classic plaid napkins and evergreen sprigs.
Photo: Quyn Duong
During the post-dinner dance party at the Spotify holiday event, Levy Lighting mimicked snowfall using a combination of moving lights.
Photo: Quyn Duong
Chef Tatiana Rosana of the Envoy Hotel in Boston says “a tortilla espanola is a quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing dish that can be used as a main, side, or starter to any meal. Fluffy eggs are baked in a cast-iron skillet with a splash of cream, thin slices of potatoes, savory onions, and parsley until browned. Slice it into wedges and serve it warm with a fresh salad, juicy steak, or just a drizzle of olive oil.”
Photo: Jason Wessel
Guests can be on the naughty or nice list with this living Santa “statue” from Smash Party Entertainment.
Photo: Courtesy of Smash Entertainment
Couscous with oranges, cherries, and kale served in carved-out fruit from Truffleberry Market brightens up any party menu.
Photo: Courtesy of Truffleberry Market
Last year, the Gathery designed a whimsical holiday press preview for Sephora in New York. The “home for the holidays” theme featured five traditional environments completely decoupaged in custom wrapping paper, some of which was derived from the brand’s color palette. The dining room setting included hot pink walls and a matching tablescape, complete with a paper turkey.
Photo: Courtesy of the Gathery
“Lighting, projection, and mapping are playing a major role in decor and theme development,” says Lizz Torgovnick, chief creative officer at New York-based event agency Sequence. “Clients are open to these larger-scale digital ideas since they can be seen across the room and fill the space in an immersive way. We’re using it to enhance and amplify the physical decor elements, which is a different way to use their event decor budget.”
Photo: Courtesy of Sequence
Interior Foliage Design's Matthew Schechter says to expect blooms in solid colors this season. Think red ranunculus and cranberry branches paired with silver vases and votives.
Photo: Courtesy of Interior Foliage Design
Disco Cubes, large, hand-crafted ice cubes, can be customized for any cocktail or event with company logos, frozen origami figures, herbs and garnishes, and more. Pricing is available upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Disco Cubes
During the holidays, D’Amico Catering serves a bison tartare with harissa, pickled mustard seed, Greek yogurt, and lavos as an hors d’oeuvre. The pickled mustard seeds add color and a pop of flavor.
Photo: Courtesy of D'Amico Catering
Cort Events recently released its line of Posh bars, lighted bars with polished aluminum frames and white acrylic panels. Available with battery-operated or plug-in LED lighting, the bars are able to rotate between blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, or yellow glowing colors. The Posh corner bar and the Posh six-foot bar are available nationwide; pricing is available upon request.
Photo: Levi Ellyson/501 Studios
For the Orthopaedic Institute for Children’s “Stand for Kids” Gala, held at the MacArthur in Los Angeles in June, CL22 Productions created a “Venetian carnival meets rock ‘n’ roll” space filled with rich, jewel-toned floral arrangements.
Photo: Courtesy of CL22 Productions
A marketplace station inspired by an exotic bazaar at the Orthopaedic Institute for Children gala was stocked with colorful accessories such as masks and fans.
Photo: Courtesy of CL22 Productions
Paper goods company Cheeky’s disposable Terrazzo collection, which includes plates and cups, features specks of playful colors. Pricing starts at $3.29.
Photo: Courtesy of Cheeky
Gold Moroccan poufs are available in Los Angeles and San Francisco from Yeah Rentals. Pricing is available upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Yeah Rentals
At his restaurant Tavern62 on New York’s Upper East Side, chef David Burke’s Apple Cider Doughnut “Tower” with Apple Cappuccino looks like a stack of edible gifts.
Photo: Silvia Krawczyk
Burke also serves up a Pecan Tart with Moonshine Caramel for the holidays.
Photo: Courtesy of Tavern62
The Sugarplums, a trio of women who sing holiday music with a ’50s flair, perform at public, private, and corporate events, including holiday festivals, sing-alongs, tree lightings, and more. Pricing is available upon request. The group can be booked through Sunset Singers in West Hollywood.
Photo: Courtesy of the Sugarplums
A Silver Topiary living character from Smash Party Entertainment brings the metallic look to life.
Photo: Courtesy of Smash Entertainment
This sparkly dining table setup features the Black and Gold Koi linen, from $15 to $95; the Rose Gold Phoenix Chair, $12.95; and the Gold High Back Wing Chair, $150, from Nuage Designs.
Photo: Courtesy of Nuage Designs
Just Bars’ Gatsby Gold Collection includes matching bars, high-top tables, and communal high-top tables, with either black or white glossy tops. Available in South Florida, Orlando, Tampa, Naples, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego, the bars cost $600 each.
Photo: Courtesy of Just Bars
Tinsel Experiential Design created a moody, gothic masquerade-ball setting with dark pewter seating arrangements for IP Soft’s 2016 holiday party. The event took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York in December.
Photo: Courtesy of Tinsel Experiential Design
“Rosemary is the ultimate luxury. It smells amazing and is extremely comforting and relaxing,” says Interior Foliage Design’s Matthew Schechter.
Photo: Courtesy of Interior Foliage Design
Schechter says silver and rose gold planters will be mainstays this year, and will remain strong into early 2018.
Photo: Courtesy of Interior Foliage Design
Help out guests who may have had too much bubbly by including ClearVia. The probiotic blend, $14.99 for a pack of five, purportedly helps the body break down alcohol and alleviates the groggy effects of a hangover the next morning.
Photo: Courtesy of ClearVia
Bedazzle My Bonbons recently introduced Dazzle Your Drinks, colorful, sparkling sugar for decorating the rims of cocktail glasses. The sugar, which is available in 24 colors, costs $18 per one-pound bag with a three-bag minimum purchase; one bag can rim as many as 200 glasses and will store for two years.
Photo: Courtesy of Bedazzle My Bonbons
At IP Soft's holiday party in New York in December, event designer Tinsel & Twine created a masquerade ball full of surprises—such as real performative hands distributing masks and beckoning guests to continue forward as they entered. Other key details included a modern gothic photo booth with a fallen chandelier, black leather chaise, graffiti portraits, and an eye-catching neon sign bearing the IP Soft logo.
Photo: Courtesy of Tinsel & Twine
D.I.Y. versions of cocktails served in miniature liquor bottles can be an easy catering option, says Riviera Caterers co-founder Bobby Stern.
Photo: Blaise Joseph Photography
From left: DJ Saint Clair, DJ Chase B, DJ Ross One
Photo: Nick Dale (Saint Clair), Courtesy of DJs (All Others)
Online candy store HunnyBon offers an assortment of gummy candies and chocolates that are all organic, vegan, and non-GMO. A six-piece gift box, $39, can fit any combination of candies, while smaller favor boxes are also available for parties and events. Same-day delivery is offered in New York, with shipping available throughout the United States.
Photo: Melanie Duault
Every month, food subscription service Try the World ships theme boxes with authentic foods from different countries. Each box contains hard-to-find gourmet products that have been selected by local experts and celebrity chefs. Destinations have included Spain, France, Morocco, Argentina, Japan, Italy, Turkey, and most recently Brazil. Gift subscriptions and single-box orders are available, starting at $39 for one box, $35 per box for a three-month subscription, and $33 per box for a six-month subscription. Try the World also offers customized corporate gift boxes with branded packaging. Subscription shipping is available throughout the United States, while the individual snack boxes ship globally.
Photo: Courtesy of Try the World
The Stojo Pocket Cup, a 12-ounce reusable cup, easily collapses into a portable leak-proof disk. Its integrated heat sleeve can be customized with logos for corporate gifting. The cups cost $15 each and come in orange, blue, pink, green, red, and black. Plus, custom Pantone colors are available for larger orders.
Photo: Choi Wooyong
A VR viewer, $4, from Scarborough & Tweed allows users to turn their phones into a virtual-reality headset with any VR app.
Photo: Courtesy of Scarborough & Tweed
A cashmere knit color-block scarf for $445 from St. John Sport makes a chic and practical take-home gift for winter parties.
Photo: Courtesy of St. John Knits
Office furniture and accessories retailer Poppin offers an array of customized supplies for companies, from soft-cover notebooks to tape dispensers, available in bright, eye-catching colors. Pricing ranges from $1.50 to $22.
Photo: Courtesy of Poppin
L.A. Burdick Chocolate offers a selection of corporate gifting options, including almost-too-cute-to-eat mice—which are available in dark, milk, and white chocolate and feature toasted almond ears and silk tails—as well as penguins made with whipped dark chocolate and lemon ganache filling. Pricing ranges from $16 for a classic gift box to $1,000 for a treasure chest filled with sweets.
Photo: Tom Moore
A classic French press coffee maker from Bodum features a modern, geometric frame with a clear glass beaker. It’s available in both white and black for $40 each, and gold for $60, through Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel
Floral expert Eric Buterbaugh’s EB Florals by Eric Buterbaugh four-wick candles, $295, come in classic scents such as rose, lavender, and jasmine and are housed in luxe black vessels.
Photo: Eric Buterbaugh
At Herbalife's 2015 holiday party, held at the company’s Torrance, California, offices, Zen Arts provided stilt walkers dressed in elaborate animal costumes to entertain the crowd.
Photo: Sean Twomey
For the corporate holiday party at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, event design and production company Sterling Engagements created an outdoor winter wonderland with string lights and snowflake projections.
Photo: Maya Myers
Shawna Yamamoto Event Design filled large metallic bowls with snow-dusted branches, gold-foiled greenery, and white orchids for the corporate holiday party last year at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.
Photo: Maya Myers
For a family-friendly holiday party at a private home in Los Angeles in December 2015, Seed Floral set up a wreath-making station and make-your-own snow globe and ornament stations.
Photo: Courtesy of Seed Floral
Bowlmor Lanes provides party packages that include up to two and a half hours of bowling, along with customizable food options like pizza cupcakes and beverage menus. Plus, Bowlmor just launched a new online platform for booking its locations across the United States.
Photo: Ty Milford
Last year, Groupon hosted a “007”-theme holiday party at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Event Creative decked the venue with James Bond-inspired decor. One of the evening’s interactive activities, or “missions,” was to snap a photo in front of a step-and-repeat featuring a spy plane.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Minted’s new holiday collection features midnight-blue tabletop accessories—including place cards, $41 for 15, and menus, $54 for 15—with a gold accent pattern that works well for a New Year’s Eve event.
Photo: Courtesy of Minted
As part of Stella Artois’ 2015 holiday campaign, the beer brand created a public activation at Skylight at Moynihan Station in New York. Guests entered a dark, empty room lit by a canopy of interactive “stars.”
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Stella Artois
Spin, a network of ping-pong social clubs, offers three daytime holiday packages, each of which includes two hours of ping-pong, passed bites, and beverages. Spin currently operates clubs in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
Photo: Noah Fecks
The holiday punch kit, $97, from Mouth contains gin, bubbly, a hibiscus cocktail mixer, and bourbon-infused cherries for garnish—everything but the punch bowl.
Photo: Courtesy of Mouth
For cocktail parties, chef Anthony Bucco of Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey, suggests a modern passed hors d’oeuvre like his quail egg, trout roe, and chicken skin dish, which is presented in a shot glass and topped with yogurt foam, chopped pistachios, and more chicken skin. Bucco also serves potato croquettes topped with crème fraîche and orchid leaves for the holidays.
Photo: Courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
Just Bars recently launched its Mirrored Wave collection, which is available as a designer bar in various configurations, a high-top table, and a communal high-top table. All are available with white or black tops. The collection ranges in price from $150 to $600 and is available for rent in Orlando, Tampa, Naples, and South Florida, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Photo: Courtesy of JustBars
In the third event of Rent the Runway’s Holiday Field Notes series in December 2015, Salt & Sundry owner Amanda McClements shared her tips for creating a bar cart and showed how to mix the perfect holiday punch.
Photo: Reema Desai
Custom-designed laser-cut signage from 43Layers can help guests find the food or bar. Pricing is approximately $150 depending on the size of the sign. The San Francisco-based design company also offers custom stir sticks with initials or two letters that cost $1.88 each.
Photo: Courtesy of 43Layers
New York-based candy line Sweet Saba offers a collection of whimsical, artistic handmade treats in the shape of watches, lipsticks, and more, starting at $15. Plus, the candymaker will be introducing a holiday collection, along with new items at Eataly, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and at the Miami Beach Convention Center during Art Basel. All candy ships worldwide, and custom orders, from sculptures to event favors, are available upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Sweet Saba
Last year, Mockingbird Hill in Washington invited guests to its first Miracle on Seventh Street pop-up bar, which was decked out in festive decor and featured a completely revamped holiday-theme drink list with specialty cocktails. Activities included Christmas movie nights, Manischewitz pong competitions, and cookie-baking classes.
Photo: Joy Asico
A customizable invitation from Minted features a metallic martini and comes with free recipient addressing. Fifteen flat cards cost $44.
Photo: Courtesy of Minted
At Tasting Table’s Open Market Chicago event at Revel Fulton Market last December, guests posed in front of a Santa-approved photo booth featuring a wall full of colorful ornaments.
Photo: Jared Powell Photography
Back this year, Counter Culture Coffee’s holiday blend Iridescent will be available online beginning in November and featured at select cafés around the country. The limited-edition coffee features chocolatey notes and is packaged in a gift-worthy box. Plus, the roaster donates a nickel per pound from all coffees sold to fund projects in coffee-growing regions. Pricing starts at $15 for a 12-ounce bag.
Photo: Courtesy of Counter Culture Coffee
Perfect for a New Year’s fete, Little Miss Party Planner’s holiday-theme Little Miss Party in a Box includes balloons, napkins, plates, flatware, confetti, and more in festive patterns. The collection, $78, serves eight people and will be available in November.
Photo: Courtesy of Little Miss Party Planner
Podo is a tiny app-controlled camera that turns any surface into a portable photo booth. The device sticks and un-sticks thanks to its reusable and washable “sticky pad.” Users can manipulate their phones to preview and control the shot; the images and videos are then wirelessly transferred to the phone. It’s available in blue, red, black, and white and gold, and costs $99.
Photo: Courtesy of PodoLabs
Employees can design their own snowman (or snowwoman) with repositionable wall decals from WallCandy Arts. Each wall sticker, $38, is removable, reusable, and safe for surfaces.
Photo: Brooke Fasani
Jars by Dani creates cake jars and can customize colors and toppings along with logos and messages for any event. Flavors include white chocolate, cookie dough, fudge brownie, and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Jars by Dani
For a nonalcoholic option, try the hot chocolate kit from artisanal food purveyor Mouth. Kits, $53, contain a mix of hot chocolate pops, cocoa mix, handmade marshmallows, and peppermint sticks for stirring.
Photo: Courtesy of Mouth
A playful frosted cookies-printed place mat from Minted is available in various table runner sizes and as a napkin; place mats cost $24.
Photo: Courtesy of Minted
San Francisco-based Smitten Ice Cream will introduce two new seasonal flavors this season: New, Old Fashioned Pecan Pie, available in November; and Chrismukah, available in December. The latter, commemorating the dual holiday, combines homemade chocolate gelt (aka, chocolate coins) and Christmas cookies into a smooth, sweet cream flavor. Pints cost $11 each.
Photo: Tory Putnam
Photo: Lauren Kallen/WeWork
WeWork hosted its first “giving back” days in December, in which each location hosted a holiday-theme event for a local nonprofit.
Photo: Lauren Kallen/WeWork
As guests entered the Aragon Ballroom, models dressed as "hired spies" passed flutes of champagne. The so-called spies also gave guests "missions," or fun, thematic tasks to complete throughout the evening.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Event Creative decked the venue with 007-inspired decor. One of the evening's interactive activities, or "missions," was to snap a photo in front of a step-and-repeat featuring a spy plane.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Another one of the missions: posing for a photo in front of a golden "007" logo that appeared at the top of a stairwell.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
Guests could also pose for photos in front of a gun-barrel backdrop, with models dressed as Bond girls.
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography
Hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa performed at around 10 p.m.
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography
A long custom bar from Event Creative was stationed on the first floor.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
The illuminated bar had the image of a safe embossed with Groupon's "G" logo.
Photo: Marcin Cymmer
