A SOUTHERN HOLIDAY
Located in Tallahassee, the Goodwood Museum and Gardens is an old southern plantation now available for events and meetings, with different areas of the property suited to various event sizes. For an intimate gathering of 10 to 12 people, check out the 357-square-foot Old Kitchen.
Larger groups can be accommodated in the Jubilee Cottage, where you can comfortably seat 50 people at tables or as many as 70 people reception-style. The cottage has two bathrooms and a kitchenette, and comes fully equipped with a heating and cooling system. The five sets of French doors across the facade and large fireplace (not functional) add a bit of southern charm to your event.The newly restored Laundry cottage, formerly used by the plantation staff for washing, the cottage has been refurbished to accommodate private events, meetings, and parties. The 448-square-foot space has a bathroom, kitchenette, and full front porch for guests to take in the night sky.
OUT ON THE WATER
Take you party out of the ordinary and out on the water. The Yacht Charter at Harbor Village on the Palm Coast allows you to celebrate the holidays with your coworkers while cruising up and down the Intracoastal Waterway. You can have a leisurely sail between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, or enjoy holiday cocktails on board while heading out to Amelia Island for dinner. The 117-foot yacht is available for private charters seven days a week with a two-hour minimum booking. It's fully equipped with two heads (bathrooms, for you non-sailors), a complete sound system, plasma TV screens, a lounge with fireplace, two bars, and a full kitchen area. The cruiser can accommodate as many as 85 passengers for a seated dinner or 149 reception-style. Catering is exclusive to the yacht charter.
UNDER THE SEA
The Florida Aquarium offers a variety of options for your holiday party that you may not have considered. There are two lobbies and four exhibit areas available for your dinner, cocktail reception, or pure entertainment. Enjoy dinner for 120 people, or a reception for 200, in front of the coral reef panoramic window housing more than 3,000 fish. Another option for dinner is in one of the two main lobbies, which have room for 300 seated guests each. For large-scale events, the property can accommodate as may as 3,000 guests reception-style.
The Aquarium's banquet room, a 2,000-square-foot space, is fully equipped with an audiovisual system, projector, microphone, and a clam-filled tank. This locale is perfect for groups of 30 to 40 people. If a Caribbean feel is what you're after, have your party out at the Explore-A-Shore pavilion. Located right on the water, this area of the aquarium's property can host 175 guests for dinner or 300 for a cocktail reception. In addition, there is a stage ready for your DJ or band to take over and get the party started. It's great for a less formal event, and perfectly suited for an island- or luau-themed event with its Caribbean atmosphere.
When it comes to entertainment, the aquarium offers something you won't find anywhere else: penguins! For an additional fee, you can arrange for the six resident penguins to make an appearance on the red carpet and mingle with your guests, all under the supervision of the resident biologist. Other animals available for direct encounters include baby alligators, a screech owl, and an anaconda. Dive shows are also available upon request.
Catering for the venue is exclusive to Aramark. Doors open for private parties at 6:00 p.m., seven nights a week, and each party is allotted a four-hour time block; additional time can included for an added fee.
ATTENTION SOPRANOS FANS
Calling all mobsters (or wannabe mobsters)! Travel back in time to the age of speakeasies, flapper girls, prohibition, and everyone's favorite mob boss. Winner of the AOL "Best of City Themed Restaurants" award, Capone's Dinner and Show recreates the swinging 1930s in its nightly dinner show, complete with period costumes, singers, dancers, and tons of comedy. New sound and light effects were recently added, further enhancing the experience for all who attend.
Mama Capone's menu offers classic Italian-American food including deep-dish lasagna, spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, baked chicken, and, of course, breadsticks. Food is served buffet-style, so arrive hungry and take advantage of the hearty offerings.
Groups of 15 or more people receive a special discounted rate.
A WINE-LOVING AFFAIR
For more intimate affairs, the Grand Bohemian Hotel's newest addition to the property, the Bohemian Wine Room, is now available for private parties. Upon entering through the glass doors, you can understand how the space got its name, as you immediately see many wine bottles encased in the wall. Adding to the rich and exotic ambience, the other walls are lined with paintings of wild cats, including panthers, lions, and tigers, framed in deep bronze and mahogany. The room is ideal for 14 people, though 16 can be accommodated. Planners can choose to order from the Boheme Restaurant's menu or have executive chef Zachary Martin create a menu specifically for their guests.
THE RACE IS ON
Kick your holiday party into high gear and take your group to Xtreme Indoor Karting in Fort Lauderdale. A great place to blow off some steam and really get your motor running for the New Year, Xtreme has a half-mile asphalt track and 40 European Bowman race karts to choose from. The arcade has more than 120 games, including mini bowling lanes and Nascar simulators allowing you to get an edge up on your competition. In addition, there is a 4,000-square-foot sports bar with one of the largest projection televisions in South Florida, measuring 562 inches long. Xtreme also has seven private rooms that can accommodate up to 250 people each.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE
As the blazing heat of summer begins to let up, what better way to celebrate the holidays than by taking your party outside? Nestled within the Design District, the newly renovated outdoor Grass Restaurant & Lounge features booth-and banquette-style seating, a private dining area, tiki-covered bar, and lots of dance space for when the party really starts going. The open-air lounge gives you the feel of a New York City rooftop without all the traffic, noise, and cold weather. Don't worry about the possibility of a Miami heat wave either—Grass is equipped with fans and a climate control system that blows cool fog throughout the restaurant to keep guests comfortable.
To nourish your guests, chef Michael Jacobs offers up a variety of delicacies. Begin your evening with the pomegranate- and ginger-poached shrimp, or the ever-popular warm goat cheese crumbles with arugula and soy-balsamic drizzle. Moving onto the main course, whether vegetarian or carnivore, Jacobs has a menu full of tasty options to please a variety of diets and palates. Selections range from the smoked beef rib eye with lavender honey, applewood smoked bacon, and Brussels sprouts, to a selection of fresh fish including wild salmon, Florida mahi mahi, and Florida yellow jack.
Then comes everyone's favorite part of the holidays: the indulgent desserts. Among the favorites at Grass are chocolate hazelnut beignets with a chocolate ginger sauce, cashew-crusted pineapple cheesecake accompanied by pistachio ice cream, and "Cookies and Milk," a chocolate ganache with a peanut butter cookie crust served with a rum raisin milkshake. So take the party outside and get a New York vibe right here in Miami.
Located in Tallahassee, the Goodwood Museum and Gardens is an old southern plantation now available for events and meetings, with different areas of the property suited to various event sizes. For an intimate gathering of 10 to 12 people, check out the 357-square-foot Old Kitchen.
Larger groups can be accommodated in the Jubilee Cottage, where you can comfortably seat 50 people at tables or as many as 70 people reception-style. The cottage has two bathrooms and a kitchenette, and comes fully equipped with a heating and cooling system. The five sets of French doors across the facade and large fireplace (not functional) add a bit of southern charm to your event.The newly restored Laundry cottage, formerly used by the plantation staff for washing, the cottage has been refurbished to accommodate private events, meetings, and parties. The 448-square-foot space has a bathroom, kitchenette, and full front porch for guests to take in the night sky.
OUT ON THE WATER
Take you party out of the ordinary and out on the water. The Yacht Charter at Harbor Village on the Palm Coast allows you to celebrate the holidays with your coworkers while cruising up and down the Intracoastal Waterway. You can have a leisurely sail between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, or enjoy holiday cocktails on board while heading out to Amelia Island for dinner. The 117-foot yacht is available for private charters seven days a week with a two-hour minimum booking. It's fully equipped with two heads (bathrooms, for you non-sailors), a complete sound system, plasma TV screens, a lounge with fireplace, two bars, and a full kitchen area. The cruiser can accommodate as many as 85 passengers for a seated dinner or 149 reception-style. Catering is exclusive to the yacht charter.
UNDER THE SEA
The Florida Aquarium offers a variety of options for your holiday party that you may not have considered. There are two lobbies and four exhibit areas available for your dinner, cocktail reception, or pure entertainment. Enjoy dinner for 120 people, or a reception for 200, in front of the coral reef panoramic window housing more than 3,000 fish. Another option for dinner is in one of the two main lobbies, which have room for 300 seated guests each. For large-scale events, the property can accommodate as may as 3,000 guests reception-style.
The Aquarium's banquet room, a 2,000-square-foot space, is fully equipped with an audiovisual system, projector, microphone, and a clam-filled tank. This locale is perfect for groups of 30 to 40 people. If a Caribbean feel is what you're after, have your party out at the Explore-A-Shore pavilion. Located right on the water, this area of the aquarium's property can host 175 guests for dinner or 300 for a cocktail reception. In addition, there is a stage ready for your DJ or band to take over and get the party started. It's great for a less formal event, and perfectly suited for an island- or luau-themed event with its Caribbean atmosphere.
When it comes to entertainment, the aquarium offers something you won't find anywhere else: penguins! For an additional fee, you can arrange for the six resident penguins to make an appearance on the red carpet and mingle with your guests, all under the supervision of the resident biologist. Other animals available for direct encounters include baby alligators, a screech owl, and an anaconda. Dive shows are also available upon request.
Catering for the venue is exclusive to Aramark. Doors open for private parties at 6:00 p.m., seven nights a week, and each party is allotted a four-hour time block; additional time can included for an added fee.
ATTENTION SOPRANOS FANS
Calling all mobsters (or wannabe mobsters)! Travel back in time to the age of speakeasies, flapper girls, prohibition, and everyone's favorite mob boss. Winner of the AOL "Best of City Themed Restaurants" award, Capone's Dinner and Show recreates the swinging 1930s in its nightly dinner show, complete with period costumes, singers, dancers, and tons of comedy. New sound and light effects were recently added, further enhancing the experience for all who attend.
Mama Capone's menu offers classic Italian-American food including deep-dish lasagna, spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, baked chicken, and, of course, breadsticks. Food is served buffet-style, so arrive hungry and take advantage of the hearty offerings.
Groups of 15 or more people receive a special discounted rate.
A WINE-LOVING AFFAIR
For more intimate affairs, the Grand Bohemian Hotel's newest addition to the property, the Bohemian Wine Room, is now available for private parties. Upon entering through the glass doors, you can understand how the space got its name, as you immediately see many wine bottles encased in the wall. Adding to the rich and exotic ambience, the other walls are lined with paintings of wild cats, including panthers, lions, and tigers, framed in deep bronze and mahogany. The room is ideal for 14 people, though 16 can be accommodated. Planners can choose to order from the Boheme Restaurant's menu or have executive chef Zachary Martin create a menu specifically for their guests.
THE RACE IS ON
Kick your holiday party into high gear and take your group to Xtreme Indoor Karting in Fort Lauderdale. A great place to blow off some steam and really get your motor running for the New Year, Xtreme has a half-mile asphalt track and 40 European Bowman race karts to choose from. The arcade has more than 120 games, including mini bowling lanes and Nascar simulators allowing you to get an edge up on your competition. In addition, there is a 4,000-square-foot sports bar with one of the largest projection televisions in South Florida, measuring 562 inches long. Xtreme also has seven private rooms that can accommodate up to 250 people each.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE
As the blazing heat of summer begins to let up, what better way to celebrate the holidays than by taking your party outside? Nestled within the Design District, the newly renovated outdoor Grass Restaurant & Lounge features booth-and banquette-style seating, a private dining area, tiki-covered bar, and lots of dance space for when the party really starts going. The open-air lounge gives you the feel of a New York City rooftop without all the traffic, noise, and cold weather. Don't worry about the possibility of a Miami heat wave either—Grass is equipped with fans and a climate control system that blows cool fog throughout the restaurant to keep guests comfortable.
To nourish your guests, chef Michael Jacobs offers up a variety of delicacies. Begin your evening with the pomegranate- and ginger-poached shrimp, or the ever-popular warm goat cheese crumbles with arugula and soy-balsamic drizzle. Moving onto the main course, whether vegetarian or carnivore, Jacobs has a menu full of tasty options to please a variety of diets and palates. Selections range from the smoked beef rib eye with lavender honey, applewood smoked bacon, and Brussels sprouts, to a selection of fresh fish including wild salmon, Florida mahi mahi, and Florida yellow jack.
Then comes everyone's favorite part of the holidays: the indulgent desserts. Among the favorites at Grass are chocolate hazelnut beignets with a chocolate ginger sauce, cashew-crusted pineapple cheesecake accompanied by pistachio ice cream, and "Cookies and Milk," a chocolate ganache with a peanut butter cookie crust served with a rum raisin milkshake. So take the party outside and get a New York vibe right here in Miami.
Resident penguins at the Florida Aquarium making an appearance at an event.
Florida Aquarium
Resident penguins at the Florida Aquarium making an appearance at an event.
Florida Aquarium
Grass Restaurant & Lounge
Julio Carlos
Yacht Charter at Harbor Village
GinnCompany.com
