Here are the latest ideas, products, and other new things from across North America to have on your radar this winter.
Lindsey Shaw Catering in Toronto offers a new passed appetizer of birch-glazed Atlantic salmon with apple and ginger slaw, served in mini Asian-style bowls with chopsticks.
A rustic, three-piece bar made from wood pallets is now available to rent in the Washington area from Amaryllis. The footprint of the U-shaped bar is about 15 feet long and 6 feet deep, and open crevices on the façade can hold floral arrangements.
Soar above San Diego’s Mission Bay via jetpack through Jetpack America. Groups can select half- or full-day options, and multiple “Jetlev” packs can be deployed to accommodate as many as 72 people.
For a conference in Philadelphia earlier this year, Âlocal florist Sullivan Owen Floral & Event Design created an eye-catching photo backdrop adorned with fresh flowers. Owen has since brought the backdrop to other events in the area and is working on new variations.
Is D.I.Y. pickling the next big trend in food-focused teambuilding activities? Walt Disney World in Orlando is offering new interactive food experiences for private events, including a canning and pickling station featuring pickles, sauces, conserves, and jams. Guests work together to create custom flavor pairings and take home the final products.
A professional photo studio on wheels, New York–based Motorbooth lets guests climb into the truck’s cargo bay to strike a pose. The Web-connected booth prints 4- by 6-inch photos, custom green-screen backdrops are available, and the exterior of the all-white truck can be covered in graphics. Rental fees start from $5,000 per day.
Bantam Bagels whips up bite-size bagel balls injected with flavored cream cheeses and topped with fresh ingredients, such as pepperoni and tomato. The company caters events anywhere in Manhattan, with a minimum order of $50 and a $15 delivery charge.
Available in the Los Angeles area from Town & Country Event Rentals, the oversize brass, nickel, and bronze Moroccan hanging lamps add an exotic touch to event spaces. Pair the lamps with the company’s new Kaleidoscope line, a colorful collection of modern furniture.
Talk about breathing life into a meeting break: groups can now book tickets for the VooDoo Skyline at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The motor-powered, aerial zipline sends guests flying more than 800 feet from the hotel’s 50-story Masquerade tower to the roof of another building and can accommodate two riders at a time.
Dallas-based Good Guy Mobile Internet offers portable Web connectivity kits. For $250 a day, each hub provides wireless Internet for as many as eight devices.
Nimble Well is a new Chicago company that specializes in uncommon rental items such as vintage cake stands, bowls, and napkins. Coming soon: a line of natural wood pieces, including 10- to 22-inch black walnut rounds and 18-inch shagbark hickory tabletop risers, as well as hand-painted backdrops.
Aiming to make office birthday parties easier to plan, Café de Boston offers a “Birthday in a Box” package, $50, which includes a cake with a custom message, candles, a card, and a $5 gift card to the café. The eatery, located in Boston’s financial district, asks that orders be placed 48 hours in advance.
