Put Childlike Fun Back Into Your Events

Just because you are all grown and sitting in a meeting doesn't mean you have to act grown up. Create a different kind of meeting and save a few bucks along the way. Instead of price PER plate - why not see if your caterer has any equipment like a popcorn machine, pretzel machine or even a sno-cone machine? This is just plain fun and brings the best out in all of us. OK - so it is NOT the healthiest of all choices, but a little indulgence here and there never hurt anyone.

Now for that extra kick - and to promote interaction between everyone all you need is a photo booth at the meeting. Check out www.photoboothservices.com. They can work with any space and any type of event. Plus you're guests will have a great keepsake from the meeting.

Get Out And Get Festive

Looking for some REAL holiday inspiration for yourself, your family or even your staff? Look no further - here are some GREAT ideas and places to go - don't worry - all you need to do is call, reserve your space, or show and the inspiration will be there waiting for you! Here are a few festive ideas! Have fun!

OPTION 1: Make a splash in your scrapbook with a family vacation at Great Wolf Lodge, conveniently located in Centralia, Washington between Seattle and Portland. And their Conference Center is also available for corporate and social functions for groups from 8 to 800.


OPTION 2: Get your tickets now for a Seattle tradition. The ACT's 33rd Annual production of A Christmas Carol is playing now. Calll the ticket office at (206) 292-7676. Special group prices for parties of 20 or more are available. Save up to 25%. Call (253) 839-4204 to book now!

OPTION 3: The Argosy Christmas Ship™ festival is a holiday celebration that has been a Northwest tradition for 59 years. Its main purpose is to bring communities together to celebrate the holiday season. Click here to watch a video.

OPTION 4: Book a table for fun, laughs and jaw-dropping acrobatics at Teatro Zinzanni. If this is your first time visiting, you are in for a real treat!

Save the Date: It's A Great Cause!

The Seattle Hotel Association's (SHA) 59-member hotels is proud to announce that H.S. Wright III and Kate Janeway are the honorees of its 12th annual fundraising dinner and gala auction, the "Evening of Hope." The highly anticipated gala will once again raise funds for Plymouth Housing Group, which provides supportive housing for more than 1000 individuals who would otherwise be homeless in downtown Seattle. The event will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel.

Learn more about this great cause and you can attend by clicking here.

City Of Lights

This time of year there is inspiration for your event planning decorations everywhere you look in the form of Christmas lights. Never underestimate the simple additions of twinkling lights to your event decor. And try to be creative in the ways you use lighting at your event. Think outside the box like some of these fabulous examples below.

Tis The Season For Couture Greetings

Couture has been a huge buzz word in pop culture in the last couple of years. If you love couture, and goodness knows we do, then you'll love these completely original, and completely dazzling couture Christmas greeting cards and invitations from Enfin La Voila! Each design is custom created and looks like nothing we've ever seen before.

Enfin La Voila also creates custom stationary and invitations for just about any ocassion so if you have a need for something truly out the ordinar and ultra extraordinary check out the complete collection.

Seasonings Of The Season

Local chefs and food connoisseurs have worked their magic to create exquisite tastes, seasonings and culinary delights that make excellent gifts this holiday. Here are two of our local favorites...

From Volterra in Ballard comes their signature fennel salt and porcini salt, sure to add that extra flair and pizazz to your dishes. Volterra Fennel Salt was launched at the 2006 Winter Fancy Food Show and became an overnight success. After making its red carpet debut in the celebrity gift bags at the Oscars “Night of 100 Stars” gala, it has become wildly popular with celebrities and was even been featured on the set of the “Desperate Housewives”. The boldly flavored Fennel Salt was inspired by Chef Don Curtiss’ travels through Italy. It’s made with freshly toasted, organic fennel seed, organic orange peel, and other traditional flavors of the Italian peninsula. Chef Curtiss personally makes every batch of Fennel Salt to ensure the highest quality. Recreate Volterra’s bread service using Volterra Extra Virgin Olive oil sprinkled with Fennel Salt. It’s a great all purpose seasoning and is particularly delicious in meat and seafood dishes, potatoes and eggs.

The Twelve Rubs of Christmas from Tom Douglas is also on our list this year. What’s more welcome, more delicious, and more exciting than a partridge in a pear tree? A handsome gift box of Tom Douglas Rub with Love Spice Rubs will delight everyone on your holiday list! All 12 of our spice rubs are included in this spectacular gift, from the brown sugar and sweet paprika notes of our best selling Salmon Rub to the smoky chiles, toasted sesame, and dried seaweed tang of Spicy Tokyo Rub to the ultimate BBQ flavors of cumin, coriander, and a touch of cayenne in our Pork Rub. Just pat these spice rubs on salmon, shrimp, steak, burgers, Portobello mushrooms, or baby back ribs- in fact, just about any meat, fish or vegetable you can think of. Sprinkle the rubs into stews, soups, and stir fries, mix up a quick sour cream dipping sauce, or toss some into your scrambled eggs. Spice up the holiday season for yourself, your family and friends.

A Lot-o Gelato!

All of us at banquetevent.com have a hidden sweet tooth, so this ingenious idea we are about to share with you is right up our alley. eCreamery allows you to create custom flavored gelato and have it shipped right to your door, still frozen and ready to eat.

eCreamery’s ice cream & gelato artists can be found churning classic flavors and your own imaginative masterpieces in a small boutique ice cream parlor in the heart of the Midwest in Omaha, Nebraska. Their natural flair for exceptionally delicious & creative flavors has brought them recognition throughout the region!

The gelato is most definitely a spurge as the costs are pretty steep, but this unique idea does make a great gift for thoses with an affinity toward ice cream.

This Is No Accident!

More and more of you are giving the gift of wine this Christmas. If you are one of the winelovers sharing the love, we have a great tip for you.

The Accidental Wine Company takes bottles that have been damaged or tainted in some way and sells them to you at a lower price. After all, there may be something wrong with the bottle, but there is nothing wrong with the wine inside.

A bottle breaks and stains its neighbors, a new label design replaces an old established one, or a winery just closes its doors. A soiled, retired, or discontinued label is suddenly and simply less valuable. But whether it is ruby or straw colored, it still has its legs, and its fruit and perfume. The character and charm remain in tact and by golly, it still commands passion and presence. And, wow, what wonderful taste.

A Hostess Gift With The Mostest

With all those holiday parties you'll be attending this year, here is a great idea for a hostess gift to accompany a great bottle of wine. Check out these completely eco-friendly wine bags from Grassroots Gallery. These stunning wine bags make a statement. Carefully crafted of sumptuous, eco-friendly handmade papers, the bags feature exquisite floral embossing, velvet flocking, hand silk-screened prints and real rose petals. The finishing touch are beautiful velvet or soft cotton handles, a mark of true distinction.