From sugary sweet ingredients to savory garnishes, cocktails are one of the more inclusive alcoholic beverages, and they are quickly diversifying. In events of all types, they are catered to guests in order to keep their conversations flowing nicely and the atmosphere light. However, not having the appropriate drinks for the setting is a slippery slope that could lead to an all in all mediocre experience. Nobody wants to indulge in a mimosa at a formal dinner party, considering the taste of it and the ambiance it would establish. Guests are more likely to want a citrusy, bitter drink paired with dinner than something sugary, which goes better with a brunch. If you’re having trouble finding the right drinks for your event, take a look below to see which cocktails should be used for birthdays, weddings, and bridal showers.
Sweet for Summer
One cocktail you might consider serving at a birthday party is originally a Cuban highball drink; the mojito. These are a trifecta of sweet, citrus, and mint, which can be a blessing for fatigued guests in the hot Summer weather. The classic version of this signature cocktail is white rum paired with sugar and lime juice. It can be infused with mint leaves or simply have them as a garnish. It is also important to note that over-muddling the mint and lime juice will create an imbalance in the flavor. Using this technique for no more than 5 seconds will give it a memorably zesty taste. There are also variations of the mojito that you could use to coordinate a theme. Two ideas for this are the watermelon mojitos for a sunny, outdoor party, and the frosty coconut mojito for an event in a coastal location. No matter where you serve them, attendees are bound to enjoy its chilling effects and livening flavors.
Classy Weddings
For any traditional wedding, an old fashioned is just the drink to fulfill your guests’ cocktail needs. This is a signature mix popular with formal affairs and is often served with whiskey, sugars, and bitters over ice. It has a charmingly bitter taste, topped with a twist of orange or lemon rind. Despite having been around since 1806, the original flavor of this drink has remained mostly loyal to its prototype, with few variations on it except for brandy and rum. It is even sometimes muddled with a maraschino cherry to sweeten it. Because the winding history of this drink aged so well, it makes for a delightfully classic beverage that invigorates the recipient. Weddings typically use this drink for the very reason that it is traditional, which can be part of the ongoing theme for the occasion. It is best paired with a savory appetizer such as blooming French onions or a spinach artichoke dip.
Bridal Showers
Sangrias have all the requirements to be catered in a bridal shower: a red wine typically mixed with orange juice or brandy and containing chopped fruit. These ingredients create a deliciously potent punch for your guests to enjoy. It is perfect with fruits such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, and more, which shows the expansive coverage of sangrias. That being said, there are certain variations of this drink that should be used correctly for your event. For example, the original red wine sangria will do well at a traditional bridal shower, but the recent innovation of sangria blanca (sangria with white wine) will add more to the modern take on bridal showers. It might be important to know that the traditional sangria attracts older generations, while the sangria blanca attracts younger generations. Depending on your own age group and personal taste, you could maximize the amount of guests at your event.
The Takeaway
Cocktails are becoming more varied and more popular in events of all types. They are part of what fuels the guests in your event to keep them mingling, so it’s important to not only have a scrumptious signature cocktail available for them, but also for it to fit the time and location the event is held in. It is mostly overlooked that drinks can set up a lot for the climate of a party. You can keep your guests entertained with the newest flavors such as sangria blanca, or let them reminisce with an old fashioned. Even experiment by adding different fruits, garnishes, and mixers to your signature cocktails. But most importantly, these alcoholic beverages should be served responsibly so that everyone is safe to drink, as well as have a great time at your special occasion.
Company holiday parties can be a ball. Everyone gathering together, talking and laughing without the stress of the workday resting on them. But it can also be extremely stressful for the one planning it. Follow these 5 easy steps to planning your company parties in Staten Island for a seamless process.
1. Pick a date
Pick a party date early on. Venues get booked up quickly during the holidays and your employees are probably busy with a ton of holiday affairs. You want to pick a date that most of your employees can attend. Weekends can be tough for people with other holiday plans, so some companies choose to host their party in early January after the holiday rush!
2. Pick a venue
Finding a catering hall in Staten Island can be difficult near the holidays. You can can make it easy with a full-service venue like Eve Ultra Lounge. We offer full-service parties from planning, housing, and catering your event inside our hall. Using Eve Ultra Lounge can also reduce a ton of stress in planning your party. We offer full lighting and music packages so you don't even have to hire an AV company. After all, what is a party without music!
3. Choose a caterer
Luckily, Eve Ultra Lounge has in house caterers and can help you plan and pull off your entire meal. Remember, not everyone eats the same way so plan a plethora of different foods to share with the staff. There may also be food allergies so it's best to avoid common allergens like anything with peanuts. This is also the time you will choose your bar. Will it be an open bar or beer and wine? Create your own specialty drink menu. Or add on a cappuccino bar if you are not offering liquor.
4. Choose your decorations
Your full-service catering venue, like Eve Ultra Lounge, should handle all of the decorations for your company party, but anything can be special ordered to put together your own vision. Try not to put together anything denominational though. Go with themes like a winter wonderland with snow on the ground and a sleigh for employees to take pictures in.
5. Pick the entertainment.
Most parties have dinner and music. Pretty simple and straightforward. But if you have your company party in Staten Island at Eve Ultra Lounge you can choose from any entertainment you want to bring in or go with one of their extras packages or both. How cool would it be to add a LED CO2 gun to your dance floor shooting cold air over your guests? Or shoot out a confetti blast cannon or balloon drop during the last couple dances. You can even make the effect of walking on clouds by adding a cloudy smoke to your entrances or dance floor. Add an LED dance robot to a supercharged dancefloor. And no party would be complete without a photo booth for your employees to take pictures or a custom backdrop with your company's logo on it for your employees to take pictures in front of. Add on a red carpet for your employees to make their way down as they go to the best party of their year. And if a dancefloor isn't the kind of entertainment you're looking for Eve Ultra Lounges' catering hall in Staten Island offers aerial dancers performing acrobatics high above the heads of your employees. If none of that is your cup of tea you can even add on a comedian.
Your company party in Staten Island can be anything you make of it. It could be the best party of the year. If you need help planning your event call Eve Ultra Lounge and let us help you make it a night your employees will never forget!
Planning a Catering Menu the Whole Party will Love
One of the most difficult aspects of planning any party, from a birthday party to a wedding reception, is creating a menu that everyone will enjoy. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think. When you use a catering hall in Staten Island, such as EVE, you can work with their catering service to come up with the perfect menu for everyone. We’ll discuss some tips here that will help you with that.
One thing to consider is the theme of your event. A casual birthday party will call for a different type of menu than a semi-formal work party, which is entirely different from the menu for a wedding reception. If your event has an overall theme it will be easier to come up with a menu that matches it. For example, if you’re having a child’s birthday party at a catering hall in Staten Island, the food will be simple and easy to eat while featuring a lot of options for adults. For something like a cocktail party, you’ll want finger foods that aren’t too filling.
Before settling on any food items, you’ll need to make contact with your guests to find out dietary restrictions or food allergies. You may decide to change your options based on this information, or consider providing multiple dish options. It’s common to have two entrees at an event, one with meat and one vegetarian or vegan. In the case of allergies, the catering staff will need to know as soon as possible. They’ll take precautions to make sure there’s no cross-contamination between the allergen-free foods and the other dishes.
Outside of allergies or restrictions, consider your guests’ preferences. They may not have a huge impact on the catering, but some adjustments might need to be made. If you find out that the guest list is almost completely filled by fitness buffs, offering an array of deep-fried and otherwise unhealthy foods probably won’t go over well. These situations could also be resolved by offering more than one option on the menu if you’re able to do that.
Another decision you’ll need to make at your rental catering hall in Staten Island is how the food will be served. A popular option for large events is a buffet-style meal, where all of the food is laid out and guests serve themselves. This is convenient and tends to be the most cost-effective, but it has a much more casual feel than other serving methods. A more formal option would be a sit-down meal. Catering staff will serve guests at their seat, and there will typically be more than one course. This is great for nicer occasions but does limit the time guests have for each dish and is usually the most expensive option.
Novelty methods of food service are becoming more popular such as the food bar – it’s similar to a buffet, but there is an array of ingredients for a certain dish. It could be a taco bar, nachos, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad, pasta, or anything else you can imagine guests putting together. Another fun serving option is a food truck. Food trucks are often available as rentals for events. They will park outside the venue, and you can choose if they are paid in advance for a certain amount of food or if each guest buys their meals individually.
If you take all of these things into consideration and contact your catering service about them, you’ll come up with a menu that everyone will love. Fitting the feel of the event, the restrictions, and preferences of the guests, and the method of service will guarantee a meal that works well and satisfies everyone. Consider contacting EVE to be your catering hall in Staten Island, and work with their own catering service to find what’s best for you.
Party themes aren’t just for kids. Themes are a fantastic way to unify all of the aspects of your birthday party, from the décor to the food, to the music, and the overall feel. There are classic themes that you’ve probably seen before, unique and unusual themes, and themes that are completely customized to you. The possibilities are endless, especially in locations with a lot of resources available to you like New York. Pick a theme that you love, and then find a venue that will suit it. EVE Ultra Lounge and Event Space has levels of customizable space as well as a catering service, so no matter what theme you decide on, you can have your birthday party in Staten Island in their space. Read on for some theme suggestions.
Luau
Turn your birthday party into a Hawaiian Luau. Pass out leis to the guests as they enter the venue. Decorate your party space with palm leaves, hibiscus flowers, coconuts, pineapples, and either real or fake tiki torches. For food and drink, contact a caterer to ask about kabobs, jerk chicken, coconut shrimp, or even a whole pig roast. Fruit salad with tropical fruits makes a great side dish. Mai tais, margaritas, and rum punch are classic tropical beverages.
“Young at Heart”
Decorate your birthday just like you would for a kid. Pick princesses or dinosaurs, or whatever themes the closest party store to your location has. Give your guests goodie bags full of toys that are still fun to fidget with, like tops and bouncy balls. Have catering serve up finger foods that would make any kindergartner happy, that you also happen to love. Get the sweetest and most colorful cake you love. Just let your inner child out, with small adjustments so that adults will enjoy it.
Spa Day
Your birthday parties in Staten Island can feel like an escape to a peaceful getaway. Check spas in New York and head out to one with the best reviews. For a more budget-friendly option, find a venue rental and theme it around relaxation. Your catering service can help you come up with some light finger foods and calming drinks. Pass out bath bombs and face masks as party favors.
Taco Bar
The caterer is key for this birthday party in Staten Island. Contact one about setting up a taco bar, which is a food station with all of the possible components for tacos so that guests can build their own. The freedom to make their own dishes will please every guest, and it’s fun. Theme the rest of the party around tacos, Mexican cuisine, or Mexican culture as well.
Pop Culture
Theme your birthday party after your favorite book, movie, or television show. Peruse the media for any inspiration for any aspect of your party. The first one you’ll probably find is food since it features in almost every piece of media in existence. Use iconic imagery for décor. For some pieces of media, you can even ask guests to dress in costume.
Masquerade
This is one party you can definitely ask for people to dress up. Set the dress code as semi-formal or formal on your invitations, and encourage people to bring their own masks or hand them out as people enter. Find a venue in Staten Island that can offer a dance floor, and consider a live band for an authentic experience. EVE is a good choice for this with their flexibility and huge freedom of choice.
Backyard Barbecue
This birthday party could literally be in your backyard, though you’ll take a lot of stress off yourself by finding an outdoor venue and working with a caterer. Make sure to include all of the barbecue favorites, like hamburgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob, baked beans, cornbread, and so on. This theme is perfect for summer birthday parties in Staten Island.
The 80s
Find a local venue with a dance floor and plenty of space for neon décor. Ask a DJ to exclusively play hits from the 1980s. Tell guests to dress up and tease their hair. Vinyl records make versatile décor, either hanging on the wall, strung up to create curtains, or laid out on tables, maybe even under serving dishes.
A sweet sixteen party can be the highlight of your teenage years. 16 has long been considered a coming-of-age – it’s when you can get your drivers license, you’re through your most awkward years and on your way to adulthood, and your only two years away from legally being an adult. With such an important milestone, how do you throw a party that stands out? Sweet sixteens in Staten Island have the potential to be once-in-a-lifetime events. Read on for some tips on how to have a Sweet 16 to remember.
1. Pick a theme close to your heart.
All of the best parties have a theme that unifies the décor, food, and activities. The theme you choose is only limited to your imagination, but there are certainly some staples – luau, New York City nights, Las Vegas casino, Mardi Gras, and dozens of others you’ve probably seen before. Instead of falling back on an old favorite, stand out by theming your Sweet 16 in Staten Island around something that truly speaks to you. You could throw a party based on your favorite book or movie. You can focus on one of your hobbies, such as a painting party if you’re an artist or animal-themed if you love them. Make it specific to the location you grew up in. Pick a theme that lets everyone know exactly whose party it is, and it will stand out.
2. Find the perfect venue.
The venue can make or break your event. The default location for parties is usually your own home, which works well for a low key occasion with a small guest list. However, if you want to have a Sweet 16 to remember, you’ll need to upgrade. Decide on your guest list, then search for venues in Staten Island that are the right size. Take into account the layout of the building, their rules, and the atmosphere.
A great choice for everyone around Staten Island is EVE Ultra Lounge and Event Space. It has several levels of customizable spaces – it can suit whatever type of party you decide on. You can check on other local banquet halls as well, or you may find a club that has a space for rent.
3. Catering is a must.
Remember your childhood birthday parties, where parents were stuck in the kitchen or over the grill providing food for everyone? Give them the freedom to enjoy the party instead by using a catering service. Find one around Staten Island that serves the food you love or meets your dietary restrictions. Some rental facilities provide catering or have a list of caterers for you to choose from. EVE Ultra Lounge and Event Space is one location with its own catering service and a wide menu to choose from. Contact the chef and staff to come up with a unique menu perfectly suited to your tastes.
4. Get Live Entertainment
DJs are the most common choice for parties nowadays. Since they have access to any recorded music anyone could want, live entertainment has started to fall out of fashion. Your party will be memorable if you have a live band or other entertainers. If your sweet sixteen is in the Staten Island area, you’re guaranteed to find someone that matches the style you enjoy. Fit the music to your theme, as well. Make sure that your venue has room for performers.
5. Forego gifts in favor of donations
With all of the human knowledge at their fingertips in the form of technology, teenagers are becoming less and less focused on possessions. If you have everything you need and want, or the idea of getting presents just doesn’t excite you, consider having guests donate to a charity of your choice instead. A lot of people will request no presents on their party invitations, but guests tend to feel uncomfortable not bringing anything, so they end up carrying in a gift anyway. Donating to a charity relieves that pressure and gives them the option of just giving you a card letting you know they donated. Include a phrase on your invitations such as “In lieu of gifts, please donate money to (charity of your choice).” Or, “The honoree requests no gifts. If you would still like to get them something, consider donating to (charity of your choice).” Adjust the wording to fit the style of your party.
For any traditional wedding, an old fashioned is just the drink to fulfill your guests’ cocktail needs. This is a signature mix popular with formal affairs and is often served with whiskey, sugars, and bitters over ice. It has a charmingly bitter taste, topped with a twist of orange or lemon rind. Despite having been around since 1806, the original flavor of this drink has remained mostly loyal to its prototype, with few variations on it except for brandy and rum. It is even sometimes muddled with a maraschino cherry to sweeten it. Because the winding history of this drink aged so well, it makes for a delightfully classic beverage that invigorates the recipient. Weddings typically use this drink for the very reason that it is traditional, which can be part of the ongoing theme for the occasion. It is best paired with a savory appetizer such as blooming French onions or a spinach artichoke dip.
